Interview of Lei Philbrick
Olympic Koi, Goldfish & Watergarden Club's Koi Health Advisor

Lei Philbrick is a wonderful lady who joined our club about 10 years ago.  I want to tell you a little about her. Lei is married and lives in Silverdale with her husband Mike, her four cats (Stevie, Broadway, Benjemin, and David), and her 16 koi. Lei has over 20 years experience with the health of animals. Lei finished a two year program at Port Steilacoom Community College. She then became a veterinarian technician and has worked in the field for many, many years. Lei has been a koi keeper since 1985 and still has two of her original koi.

Lei is a KHA (Koi Health Advisor) associated with the AKCA (Associated Koi Clubs of America). Lei has been a KHA since 2006, when she attended the AKCA convention in Buffalo, NY. Olympic Koi, Goldfish and Water Garden Club sponsored Lei in becoming a KHA. Having a KHA in our club is a tremendous advantage for us. Everything Lei does for our club members is voluntary. She is only allowed to charge for supplies used, and for transportation costs. In the four years since Lei became a KHA she has become an Advanced Koi Health Advisor, due to the extended classes online and because of all her hands-on training handling and treating our koi.

There are many KHA's across the country but Lei is the only one in our club.  In order to become a KHA you must finish an intense one year course online and complete a wet lab, which Lei did in Buffalo. The idea of having KHA's is to have someone that novices and experienced koi people alike can have a place to go, to get current and correct information regarding the health of our koi and our ponds. Today there is SO much information regarding koi health on the Internet, it's sometimes hard to filter through the "what is" and "what's not".  Having someone like Lei is good to have around when one of our koi get sick. If you are interested in becoming a KHA, the AKCA is always looking for new advisers. The program is in the middle of an overhaul right now, so be expecting some exciting new things very soon.  To find out more about becoming a KHA, please visit www.akca.org for more information.