More Than an Award: What Being an AAHA
Practice of the Year Finalist Means to Us
There are some moments in the life of a veterinary practice that make you stop and take a moment to appreciate how far you have come. Being selected as a finalist for the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) Accredited Practice of the Year is one of those moments for our team at Palouse Animal Wellness & Surgery Center.
When we learned that PAWS had been selected as one of four finalists from practices across the country, we were honored, humbled, and honestly, a little overwhelmed. It is a tremendous recognition—but what makes it especially meaningful to me is what this recognition represents.
AAHA accreditation has been part of our practice for many years. We voluntarily choose to meet hundreds of standards covering patient care, anesthesia, surgery, pain management, safety, diagnostics, medical records, team education, and many other aspects of veterinary practice. Accreditation isn’t something we do simply to put a logo on our door. It is a commitment to continually evaluate what we do and ask ourselves, Can we do this better?
That mindset has become part of who we are.
It’s About the Team
One of the first things I thought about when we received the news was our team.
An award like this doesn’t belong to one veterinarian or one person in leadership. It belongs to the people who show up every day and care for our patients, answer the phones, clean the kennels, prepare for surgery, educate clients, monitor anesthesia, manage medications, maintain equipment, handle difficult conversations, comfort frightened pets, and support one another when the day doesn’t go according to plan.
Veterinary medicine is a team sport.
Our team has embraced the idea that excellence isn’t a destination. There is always something new to learn, a process that can be improved, or an opportunity to provide a better experience for a patient or their family.
That is one of the things I appreciate most about AAHA. The standards give us a framework, but it is our people who bring those standards to life.
Education Is at the Heart of What We Do
Our mission at PAWS is built around three words: Education, Enhancement, and Excellence.
Education has always been particularly important to me. We have the privilege of not only educating our clients but also helping educate the next generation of veterinary professionals.
Over the years, our practice has welcomed veterinary students, veterinary technician students, undergraduate students, and high school students who are interested in veterinary medicine. We enjoy sharing what we have learned and giving young people an opportunity to see what this profession is really like.
Some of those students will eventually become veterinarians. Others will become veterinary technicians or pursue entirely different careers. Either way, if we can encourage a young person to learn, ask questions, care deeply, and consider how they can make a difference, then we have accomplished something worthwhile.
Excellence Is a Journey
Being an AAHA Practice of the Year finalist also reminds us that excellence isn’t about being perfect.
It is about being willing to improve.
Medicine is constantly changing. New diagnostic tools, treatments, surgical techniques, medications, and technologies give us opportunities to provide better care than was possible even a few years ago. But staying current requires a commitment to continuing education and a willingness to change the way we do things.
Sometimes improvement means adopting a new technology. Sometimes it means changing a protocol. Sometimes it means recognizing that something we have always done could be done better.
AAHA encourages that mindset of continuous improvement, and that has been incredibly valuable to our practice.
Enhancement Is Why We Do It
Ultimately, though, our work isn’t just about medicine.
It is about the relationship between people and their pets.
We believe the human-animal bond enhances people’s lives, and we count it as a privilege to be part of that relationship. When we help a dog feel better so it can go hiking with its family again, or help a cat live comfortably for several more years, we aren’t simply treating an animal—we are helping a family.
That is what makes veterinary medicine so rewarding.
My Christian faith also influences how I approach that responsibility. I believe every person deserves to be treated with compassion, honesty, and respect, and that every animal deserves loving and attentive care. For me, excellence in veterinary medicine and compassionate service go hand in hand.
Thirty Years—and Still Looking Forward
PAWS has been fortunate to serve the Palouse for more than 30 years. What began as a single-doctor practice by Dr. Don Kubasch has grown into a team of three veterinarians and 25 team members.
While our practice has changed considerably over those years, our purpose has remained remarkably consistent: to provide excellent care, educate our clients and our team, and enhance the lives of the people and animals we have the privilege of serving.
Being recognized as an AAHA Practice of the Year finalist gives us an opportunity to celebrate that journey.
But perhaps more importantly, it gives us an opportunity to say thank you.
Thank you to the team members who have invested their time and talents into PAWS. Thank you to the clients who have trusted us with their beloved companions. Thank you to the students and young people who have allowed us to be part of their educational journey. And thank you to our community for supporting an independently owned veterinary practice for more than three decades.
We are incredibly proud to be one of four finalists for the 2026 AAHA Accredited Practice of the Year.
Whether we ultimately receive the award or not, being named a finalist has already accomplished something important: it has reminded us how fortunate we are to have an amazing team, wonderful clients, and the opportunity every day to do work that matters.
And tomorrow, we’ll come back to work and keep doing what we’ve always tried to do—learn a little more, strive for excellence, and enhance the lives of the people and pets we serve.
That’s what PAWS is all about.
