Dr. Hirota grew up in Tacoma and joined the Harbor Animal Hospital team in Fall 2021. During her undergraduate degree, she studied sociocultural anthropology and completed her B.A. at the University of California, Berkeley. While she originally intended on studying human medicine, an amazing shadowing experience at a wildlife park changed her course. After Berkeley, she moved to Scotland to complete her studies at the Royal School of Veterinary Studies in Edinburgh.

While studying in the U.K., Dr. Hirota enjoyed traveling in Europe and hiking with her dog and partner around the English countryside and Scottish isles. In practice she enjoys establishing strong relationships with her clients and providing mentorship for younger students. Clinically, she is interested in ophthalmology, internal medicine, and preventative care. Outside of small animal work, she has participated in conservation research of local marine mammals, including fieldwork off the North coast of Scotland doing population monitoring of local bottlenose dolphins and Minke whales, and has also assisted with monitoring the strandings of gray whales in the Pacific Northwest. Since moving home, she has enjoyed exploring Washington’s beaches and trails with her partner and their two dogs Kona and Bowie.