Contact: Anissa Riley, College of Veterinary Medicine
The Tuskegee University College of Veterinary Medicine (TUCVM) proudly announces that its Veterinary Teaching Hospital (VTH) has earned accreditation again from the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA). This recognition places TUCVM’s VTH among an elite group of approximately 15 percent of veterinary hospitals nationwide that have met the rigorous standards of excellence established by AAHA for quality care, patient safety, and hospital management.
“We are honored to be among the approximately 15 percent of veterinary hospitals nationwide that have earned accreditation from the AAHA, a distinction that reflects our unwavering commitment to the highest standards of veterinary excellence,” said Dr. Nelson Diaz, Hospital Director at TUCVM and Associate Professor of Small Animal Community Practice.
To achieve this distinction of veterinary excellence, hospitals must undergo comprehensive evaluations on nearly 50 mandatory standards that cover all aspects of veterinary practice—from patient care and pain management to staff training, medical record keeping, and facility safety. By earning this accreditation, TUCVM’s VTH demonstrates its continued dedication not only to excellence in patient care but also to providing veterinary students with the highest quality clinical training environment.
“The TUCVM faculty, staff, interns, and students, under the leadership of Dr. Diaz, are to be commended for their ongoing work to ensure that AAHA accreditation guidelines are followed and that the teaching hospital is properly equipped and managed to serve our clients with compassionate care,” said Dr. Ebony Gilbreath, dean of the Tuskegee University College of Veterinary Medicine.
“We are committed to providing excellent care for our current and future clients as we prepare for the expansion of our veterinary teaching hospital, with the new Small Animal Hospital expected to be completed in Fall 2027 following our recent groundbreaking ceremony,” Dr. Gilbreath said.
To maintain accredited status, Tuskegee University’s small animal hospital must continue to be evaluated regularly by the association’s consultants. The AAHA accreditation of animal hospitals is voluntary; however, this accreditation is a strong indication that a veterinary practice delivers quality medicine which positively impacts its status among patients, clients, and the veterinary hospital team and raises the bar for the entire veterinary profession. To learn more about the AAHA accreditation process, visit
https://www.aaha.org/about-accreditation.
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