LAKEWOOD, Colorado – October 2, 2018 – The American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) Board of Directors awarded the first-ever AAHA Dedicated Service Award during the inaugural Connexity by AAHA conference to Link Welborn, DVM, DABVP, CCRT.

Welborn is a past president of AAHA and owner of four small-animal hospitals in Florida.

The AAHA Dedicated Service Award is awarded to a veterinarian, an AAHA member in good standing, involved in or retired from clinical private or academic practice, who has demonstrated at least 20 years of commitment and service to AAHA, the profession, the community, and his or her patients, as well as excellence in small-animal medicine. The award is not awarded annually and is given at the discretion of the AAHA Board of Directors.

“It was so fitting, and truly an honor to present the very first AAHA Dedicated Service Award to Dr. Link Welborn. He has accomplished so much for AAHA and enriched the entire profession during his career. I can think of no one more deserving of such special recognition,” said AAHA Chief Executive Officer Michael Cavanaugh, DVM, DABVP (Emeritus). “Presenting the award during our inaugural Celebration of Excellence at Connexity made it all the more special. My thanks as well as hearty congratulations to Dr. Welborn!”

Welborn has led an accomplished career in the veterinary profession. Among his esteemed accomplishments are his past AAHA presidency, chairman role on AAHA task forces that produced revisions to the AAHA Standards of Accreditation for small-animal practices, the first AAHA Standards of Accreditation for specialty practices, and contributions to the 2011 AAHA Canine Vaccination Guidelines. He was also a contributing member of the AAHA-AVMA task force that developed guidelines for canine and feline preventive care. In addition, he served as AAHA delegate to the AVMA House of Delegates from 2009 to 2016.

Connexity by AAHA will open its doors again at the JW Marriott Hotel of Indianapolis, Indiana September 12–15, 2019. For Connexity by AAHA conference details visit aaha.org/connexity.