Celebrating the People Behind Exceptional Care: Introducing Our 2026 CSR Award Winners
October 8, 2026
Each year, the CSR Above & Beyond Awards recognize those who stand out for the way they care for clients and patients, support their teammates, and make a difference in their hospitals.
From welcoming pet parents and coordinating communication to providing reassurance during difficult moments, this year’s winners exemplify the compassion, professionalism, and dedication behind exceptional client care. Their nominations highlight the many ways CSRs go above and beyond to keep clients supported and veterinary teams connected.
🏆 Grand Champion CSR Winner
Joann B. – Animal Emergency and Specialty Hospital of Byron Center, MI
Joann consistently demonstrates what it means to take ownership of the client experience. She makes sure clients feel informed and supported, while also paying attention to the small details that can make a difficult visit a little easier.
Recently, Joann stayed after her shift to scrub stains from the exam room floors because she didn’t want clients waiting for medical care in a space that didn’t reflect the hospital’s standards. No one asked her to do it – she simply saw something that could be better and took care of it.
👏 CSR Champion Above & Beyond Award Winners
Kayra P. – Eastern Carolina Veterinary Medical Center – Wilmington, NC
As Daytime ER Lead and a Cultural Ambassador, Kayra is someone who notices where help is needed and steps in. She supports training and onboarding, improves workflows, and looks for ways to make things better for both her team and the clients.
On Easter Sunday, Kayra assisted an elderly gentleman from an assisted living facility who had come to the hospital to euthanize his deceased son’s last cat. When she realized he couldn’t arrange transportation back to his assisted living facility, Kayra used her own Uber account to secure his ride and personally helped him safely into the vehicle.
Casey B. – Massachusetts Veterinary Referral Hospital – Woburn, MA
Casey is a trusted teammate known for her compassion, resourcefulness, and ability to support people through their most difficult moments.
Casey took ownership of organizing and improving the hospital’s cremains tracking, communicating with its crematorium partner, and helping ensure pets’ remains are returned to families promptly.
Much of that work happens behind the scenes, but Casey understands what every detail represents: a beloved pet and a grieving family. As her nominator shared, Casey “makes our hospital better in ways that are both immediately visible and quietly essential.”
Zach S. – Wisconsin Veterinary Referral Center – Waukesha, WI
“Zach is the type of team member who makes the people around him better,” his nominator said.
He’s always willing to help, whether that means supporting a coworker through a difficult situation, taking something off someone else’s plate, or finding another way to pitch in. Zach takes the time to build genuine relationships and has an impressive ability to recognize specialty clients and their pets, sometimes before they even walk through the door.
This year’s honorees are a powerful reflection of the impact CSRs have every day. Congratulations to our winners and thank you to CSRs across Ethos for the care, commitment, and heart you bring to veterinary medicine.
Ready to build a meaningful career in client care? Explore CSR opportunities at Ethos.