American Association of Swine Veterinarians – March 1-4, 2025

Event

The American Association of Swine Veterinarians (AASV) held its 56th annual meeting from March 1-4 in San Francisco.

Program

The meeting drew 900 attendees, including veterinarians, veterinary students, and exhibitors. The theme was “Be the Pig’s Champion.” On offer were 10 pre-conference seminars, two general sessions, a research session, sessions from industry partners, a student seminar, and a poster session.

Veterinarians and students learned about boar stud issues, pork safety, pig welfare, artificial intelligence, biosecurity, swine lameness, and public policy. Other topics included porcine epidemic diarrhea virus elimination, foreign animal diseases, what individual pig care looks like to the swine veterinarian, and influenza prevention and management. Speakers described the role of the pig’s champion and challenged attendees to be that champion.

Dr. Clayton Johnson, a partner at Carthage Veterinary Service, presented the Howard Dunne Memorial Lecture, titled “The Challenges and Opportunities of Becoming the Pig’s Champion.” Dr. Cara Haden, director of animal welfare at Pipestone Veterinary Services, delivered the Alex Hogg Memorial Lecture, titled “Who Gets to Be the Pig’s Champion?”

Dr. Anna Johnson, professor and chair for faculty excellence in animal science at Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine, delivered the inaugural Angela Baysinger Memorial Lecture, “Advancing Pig Welfare Together: Standing on the Shoulders of Angela.” Dr. Baysinger (see obituary) was a past president of the AASV.

Awards

Swine Practitioner of the Year

Dr. Bryan Myers (Iowa State ’88), Farley, Iowa, won this award, given to a swine practitioner for proficiency and effectiveness in delivering veterinary service. Dr. Myers works for Pipestone Veterinary Services, serving as a practicing veterinarian, relationship manager, and director of health for the East region. He is known for his expertise in swine medicine, disease prevention, and livestock management practices. Earlier in his career, Dr. Myers practiced mixed animal medicine in northeast Iowa for 20 years.

Young Swine Veterinarian of the Year

Dr. Brandi Burton (Illinois ’19), Humboldt, Iowa, won this award, given to an AASV member for exemplary service and proficiency within five years of graduation. Dr. Burton is president and managing partner of Suidae Health and Production. She serves as the AASV’s alternate representative on the AVMA Clinical Practitioners Advisory Committee. Dr. Burton is a past chair of the AASV Early Career Committee and helped develop new resources for early-career swine veterinarians, including the AASV Early-Career Swine Veterinarian Development Program.

Meritorious Service Award

Dr. Terri O’Sullivan (Guelph ’98), Guelph, Ontario, won this award, given for outstanding service to the association. Dr. O’Sullivan is an associate professor in the Department of Population Medicine at the University of Guelph Ontario Veterinary College. Earlier, she practiced mixed animal medicine for more than a decade in rural Ontario, focusing on food animal medicine. She has served as executive editor of the Journal of Swine Health and Production since 2012.

Outstanding Swine Academic of the Year

Dr. Pat Halbur (Iowa State ’86), Ames, Iowa, won this award, given to an AASV member employed in academia who has demonstrated excellence in teaching, research, and service to the swine veterinary profession. Dr. Halbur is chair of the Department of Veterinary Diagnostic and Production Animal Medicine at Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine and executive director of the university’s Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory. During his tenure, he has also served as associate dean for public services and outreach as well as interim dean of the veterinary college. Dr. Halbur is a past president of the American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians and the Iowa VMA.

Technical Services/Allied Industry Veterinarian of the Year

Dr. Amanda Sponheim (Illinois ’08), Osage, Iowa, won this award, recognizing veterinarians for proficiency and effectiveness in delivering veterinary service to companies and clients and for tireless service to the AASV and to the swine industry. Dr. Sponheim is a senior key account veterinarian in the swine division at Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health. In her role, she provides technical support to swine accounts, oversees field trials, investigates disease outbreaks, presents technical information to veterinary audiences, and manages veterinary student interns. Dr. Sponheim has served on the AASV Student Recruitment Committee and chaired the veterinary internship program the committee offers in partnership with the National Pork Industry Foundation.

Howard Dunne Memorial Award

Dr. John Waddell (Illinois ’81), Troy, Missouri, won this award given to an AASV member who has made important contributions and provided outstanding service to the association and to the swine industry. Dr. Waddell is a professional services veterinarian with Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health. Earlier in his career, he practiced large animal medicine for 30 years in rural Nebraska. A past president of the AASV, Dr. Waddell has served on several of its committees, including the AASV Executive Committee. He is a past chair of the AVMA Council on Biologic and Therapeutic Agents and AVMA Clinical Practitioners Advisory Committee and has served on the AVMA Legislative Advisory Committee.

AASV Foundation Awards

Hogg Scholarship ($10,000): Dr. Kelly Greiner (Iowa State ’01); Dr. Conrad and Judy Schmidt Family Student Debt Relief Scholarship ($7,500): Drs. Jordan Buchan (Guelph ’22), and Anthony Holowka (Lincoln Memorial ’22). AASV Foundation-Zoetis Foundation Student Debt Relief Grants ($7,500): Drs. Kayla Blake (Auburn ’18), Daniel Boykin (North Carolina State ’16), Daniel Carreno (North Carolina State ’17), Kayla Castevens (North Carolina State ’20), Gabi Doughan (Iowa State ’21), Corrine Frugé (Illinois ’17), Heather Kittrell (Louisiana State ’15), Brigitte Mason (Illinois ’16), Megan Nickel (Iowa State ’19), and Chris Olsen (Iowa State ’16)

In addition, the AASV Foundation awarded nearly $100,000 toward four research proposals, $25,000 in scholarships to 15 veterinary students, and stipends of $750 to veterinary students selected to participate in the oral session, sponsored by the Zoetis Foundation.

Also at the meeting, the AASV awarded $4,000 in scholarships to 15 veterinary students via the Veterinary Student Poster Competition, sponsored by United Animal Health. Annika Senn, a first-year student at Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine, was awarded the David A. Schoneweis Scholarship ($1,000).

Business

Fourteen of the association’s committees met to discuss important issues in swine health, public health, pig welfare, and membership services.

Officials

Drs. Locke Karriker, Ames, Iowa, president; Rebecca Robbins, Amarillo, Texas, president-elect; Chris Rademacher, Polk City, Iowa, vice president; and William Hollis, Carthage, Illinois, immediate past president