When Katherine Lenz was accepted into the RUSVM Vet Prep program, she knew her journey would be unique and empowering. Little did she know, the competence and resilience she nurtured on the island, would be recognized by an international organization – the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA).
Katherine is this year’s winner of the prestigious 2020 AAHA Award for Proficiency in Primary Care.
Each year, the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) recognizes a fourth-year AAHA student member who shows outstanding clinical proficiency in veterinary primary care. All fourth-year students attending a veterinary college with an AAHA-accredited teaching hospital are eligible to win.
Lentz will receive five years of complimentary AAHA membership, including subscriptions to the online JAAHA, Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association and Trends magazine, as well as $100 off registration to AAHA’s Veterinary Management Series: Practice Essentials.
Katherine shares that receiving the award is a reminder to continue working as hard as she can to become a veterinarian.
“This achievement was so unexpected and I am truly thankful to be recognized for my accomplishments. I am humbled to think of how many other future colleagues are just as deserving of this award and wish to honor them as well. It is especially encouraging in clinical year, as we are seeing patients daily and need to be able to continue growing our knowledge base and utilize our instructors’ knowledge and experience to gain proficiency in our craft. We have such an incredible opportunity to learn and grow for a year in clinics before entering practice, and I am so grateful that I have had my abilities recognized so early and by such a highly respected organization.”
AAHA cares about excellent veterinary medicine, which is built on high-quality primary care,” said AAHA Chief Executive Officer, Michael Cavanaugh, DVM, DABVP (C/F) Emeritus. “We are thrilled to join with the Association of American Veterinary Medical College’s Primary Care Veterinary Educators to honor Katherine Lentz with this award, and once again highlight the importance of treating the types of cases primary care veterinarians see on the frontlines of pet health every day.”
Katherine Lenz is from Maryland and is completing her clinical year at Louisiana State University.
