FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Cassie Morrison, 215-884-6499
cassie@comsolutionsgroup.com
ALACHUA, FL– When Maria Morgan, MBA, CVPM, grew frustrated by the time-consuming and ever-changing process of preparing pets for international travel, she saw an opportunity to create a better solution. Drawing on years of firsthand experience managing complex pet travel cases, Morgan co-founded Passpaw, a cloud-based platform that simplifies pet travel compliance for veterinary teams while reducing administrative burden and improving the client experience.
In recognition of her innovation and its potential to transform veterinary practice management, the Veterinary Hospital Managers Association (VHMA) has named Maria the inaugural recipient of the Kelly Clay Innovation Award. The award honors the legacy of Kelly Clay (1975–2024), a passionate advocate for veterinary innovation and veterinary practice management.
"Maria Morgan embodies the spirit of innovation that defined Kelly Clay's legacy," said Christine Q. Shupe, CAE, VHMA Executive Director. "By transforming a real-world challenge into a practical solution, Maria has created a tool that helps veterinary teams work more efficiently while allowing them to focus on what matters most: delivering exceptional patient care. Her work demonstrates how innovation from within our profession can create lasting, meaningful change."
"Kelly believed deeply in the potential of veterinary teams. That people within practices possessed the ingenuity, passion, and determination to solve hard problems if their entrepreneurial spirit is unleashed. Maria's Pawpass innovation is a perfect example of this and Kelly would be proud to solution being recognized," said Adam Little, DVM
As the inaugural recipient, Maria will receive a $2,500 cash prize, a one-year VHMA membership, complimentary registration to the VHMA 2026 Annual Meeting and Conference, and access to a network of more than 5,000 veterinary management professionals.
Turning Frustration into Innovation
Maria's career in veterinary medicine began long before she became a hospital administrator. As a teenager, she worked in her uncle's veterinary practice, then later earned a bachelor's degree in international business from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, and an MBA from Chapman University.
Maria returned to the veterinary industry when she and her husband purchased Quail Animal Hospital, a startup practice in Irvine, California. There, she became increasingly involved in helping clients navigate the complexities of pet travel requirements.
As demand for pet travel services surged during the COVID-19 pandemic, Maria found herself managing an increasingly complex web of country-specific regulations, USDA requirements, health certificates, and client communications.
"I remember thinking, 'Why is it easier to apply for a loan than it is to complete this paperwork?'" Maria said. "The rules kept changing, there were so many moving pieces, and I knew there had to be a better way."
That question became the foundation for Passpaw. Working alongside family members with engineering and software development expertise, Maria helped launch the platform in 2024. Today, Passpaw streamlines pet travel by organizing country-specific requirements, validating documentation, prioritizing tasks, and keeping veterinary teams and clients connected throughout the process.
Although developing the technology presented its own challenges, the biggest obstacle has been encouraging practices to rethink long-standing workflows and embrace new approaches to solving familiar problems.
Innovation Starts Within the Profession
Created to honor ideas that improve veterinary practice management and patient care, the Kelly Clay Innovation Award recognizes the type of practical, meaningful innovation that Morgan believes can only come from those working within the profession.
"I was shocked," Maria said, recalling her reaction when she opened the award notification. "It's truly an honor because I believe the best solutions come from the people working in it every day. We understand the challenges, and when we share our ideas and collaborate, we can create tools that make a real difference."
Maria hopes her recognition inspires other veterinary professionals to speak up about challenges they encounter and pursue solutions that can strengthen the field.
"If you see a problem, talk about it," she said. "Share your ideas, seek feedback, and find people who can help bring them to life. Innovation doesn't have to come from outside our profession. Some of the best solutions come from those of us experiencing these challenges every day."
About the Kelly Clay Innovation Award
Established in 2025 by the Veterinary Hospital Managers Association, the Kelly Clay Innovation Award honors the legacy of Kelly Clay (1975–2024), a passionate advocate for veterinary innovation and veterinary practice management. Funded through the generosity of Kelly's friends, family, and collaborators following her passing, the annual award recognizes individuals whose ideas improve veterinary practice management and advance patient care while continuing Clay's belief that innovation should be accessible to practices of every size. To learn more about the Kelly Clay Innovation Award or apply, visit https://kelly-clay-innovation-award.netlify.app/#.
About the VHMA
The VHMA, a nationally recognized thought leader, provides training, education, and resources to over 5,000 members. Its certification programs support veterinary practice
management professionals by developing competence and encouraging standards. VHMA serves as a trusted resource for industry insights and advocacy, helping to shape the future of the veterinary profession. For more information, visit www.vhma.org.
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