Swine veterinarians shine
| At the American Association of Swine Veterinarians annual meeting, Dr. Rick Sibbel, Ankeny, Iowa, took the reigns as president, replacing Dr. Lisa Tokach, Abilene, Kan. Dr. John Waddell, Sutton, Neb., ascended to president-elect, and Dr. Tom Gillespie, Rensselaer, Ind., is the new vice president. The meeting was held March 8-11 in Orlando, Fla. Total attendance at the AASV meeting was 796, including 466 paid registrants and 65 veterinary students; attendees included representatives from 18 countries. Speakers numbered 164. Live and silent auctions at the meeting raised over $14,000 for the AASV Foundation. At a lunch reception on March 10, the AASV Foundation honored several students. Jason Kelly, a Purdue University student, received a $5,000 scholarship for best student presentation, which was financially supported by Alpharma Animal Health. Seven student presenters received $2,000 scholarships: Dana Beckler and Keith Kinsley, University of Minnesota; Molita Birchen and Erin Johnson, University of Illinois; Heather Gunn, University of Guelph; Adam Moeser, North Carolina State University; and Raphael Vanderstichel, University of Prince Edward Island. Eli Lilly & Company Foundation, on behalf of Elanco Animal Health, provided the financial support for these seven awards.
Dr. Brodersen practices swine production medicine in Hartington. His practice services swine farms throughout the Midwest. His wife, Joan, remarked that her husband, after being in practice 23 years, still looks forward to going to work every morning. Dr. Brodersen has been active in veterinary and producer organizations throughout his career. He is past chair of the AASV Foundation. For many years, he has served on the Nebraska Pork Producers Pseudorabies Task Force, and he has completed terms on the Nebraska VMA's Continuing Education, Legislative, and Disease Control committees. Dr. Brodersen received his DVM degree from Iowa State University in 1979.
Dr. Friendship is a professor in the Department of Population Medicine at Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, where he advises postgraduate veterinary students, and teaches graduate and undergraduate courses in swine health management and production. He also conducts research in the areas of swine reproductive health, prebiotics, probiotics, and growth performance of newly weaned piglets. For many years, he has been the editor of the Ontario Swine Research Review, coeditor of the swine production management series for the Compendium of Continuing Education, and creator and executive editor of Pig Pens, a swine research newsletter. Dr. Friendship coordinated the swine research program at the University of Guelph from 1992-2002. Prior to joining the faculty as a lecturer in 1979, he was a private practitioner in Seaforth, Ontario. Dr. Friendship is immediate past president of the Ontario Association of Swine Practitioners and a diplomate of the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners. He graduated from the University of Guelph in 1977.
Dr. Trayer is founder and partner of an eight-person practice that focuses on swine and dairy production medicine. He has been involved in research studies on swine respiratory disease agents. Dr. Trayer served as the AASV delegate to the AVMA in the 1990s and as the publications chair for the association's boar stud guidelines from 1994-1997. Currently, he is on the AASV Boar Stud Committee. He earned his DVM degree from The Ohio State University in 1979. Next year, the AASV will meet March 6-9 in Des Moines, Iowa. | ||
The annual banquet dinner, later that day, culminated in an awards presentation. Dr. Ron Brodersen, Hartington, Neb., was named the 2003 Swine Practitioner of the Year. The award recognizes swine practitioners who demonstrate exceptional service to their clients. Dr. Brodersen thanked his wife, family, and the mentors in his life, including his father, "who taught me about animal husbandry."
Dr. Robert Friendship was awarded the Howard Dunne Memorial Award, for making important contributions and providing outstanding service to the association and the swine industry. "I'm very honored and truly appreciative of the award," Dr. Friendship said, as he received the award.
Dr. Tim Trayer of Denver, Pa., received the Meritorious Service Award. Citing the people who influenced his life, Dr. Trayer expressed gratitude to his encouraging professors and supportive swine practitioners. He also thanked his father and wife of 30 years, Deb, who "truly is my mentor."