Meet the 2026-2027 Don Low/CVMA Academy Scholars

Raised by physicians and surrounded by animals as a child, veterinary medicine might have seemed an obvious career choice for Dr. John Nichols. Instead, it would take a series of “happy little accidents” to ultimately set him on that path. An emergency during senior year studies at UC San Diego sparked the initial interest in medicine. Then a chance summer job exposed him to the practice of advanced veterinary care and inspired the pursuit of veterinary education at Western University of Health Sciences.

After graduation, Dr. Nichols completed a small animal rotating internship at North Carolina State University. It was there, through the intensity, complexity, and collaborative nature of emergency and critical care, that he found his professional home.

 

For the past 12 years, Dr. Nichols has practiced at VCA Animal Specialty Group in San Diego. As the hospital expanded specialty care services and launched its own internship program, Dr Nichols discovered a passion, not only for patient care, but also for mentoring the next generation of veterinarians. 

 

As a 2026–2027 Don Low Scholar at the UC Davis Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, Dr. Nichols looks forward to advancing his clinical expertise in emergency and critical care while continuing his commitment to education, mentorship, and excellence in patient care.

 

Dr. Irene Nakaoka earned her undergraduate from Yale University in Chemical Engineering, and her Master’s in Chemical Engineering from UC Davis.  While in her Master’s program, she realized working with the mice was the favorite part of her project, and switched over to Veterinary Medicine instead.  She completed her DVM in 2001 from UC Davis, and later became a Diplomate of the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners, Board Certified in Feline Practice.  After being in a feline only practice for 20 years, she switched gears and began doing Urgent Care and General Practice.  She is currently the Medical Director at a local hospital, and is a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), the California Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA), Sacramento Valley Veterinary Medical Association (SVVMA).   

 

She has a special interest in feline medicine, dentistry, and ultrasound, and is deeply honored to be chosen as a part of the 2026-2027 Don Low/CVMA Academy in Cardiology.  Dr Irene Nakaoka hopes to advance her knowledge and clinical skills in Cardiology, while collaborating with students and faculty.