United States Animal Health Association – October 10-16, 2024
Event
The United States Animal Health Association (USAHA) held its 128th annual meeting from October 10-16, 2024, in Nashville, Tennessee. The meeting was held jointly with the American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians (AAVLD).
Program
The meeting drew more than 1,200 attendees. Rob “The Sharkfarmer” Sharkey, Bradford, Illinois, presented the keynote address, discussing his work through adversity to continue his family farm, and his use of unique methods to secure his family’s future. The program also featured Dr. Jonathan Runstadler, Tufts University, who presented “The Past, Present, and Future of Influenza.”
Awards
USAHA Federal Partnership Award
Dr. Steve Olsen (Kansas State ’85), Ames, Iowa. Dr. Olsen is a research veterinary medical officer with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Service’s National Animal Disease Center. His research on brucellosis in cattle, bison, elk, and swine has directly supported federal and state cooperative brucellosis eradication efforts. Dr. Olsen’s research focuses on vaccines and vaccine platforms for cattle, bison, and elk.
USAHA Medal of Distinction
Barbara Determan, Early, Iowa. Determan is president of Heartland Marketing Group and a past president of the USAHA. She has also served as the district-at-large representative on the association’s Executive Committee. During that time, Determan made significant contributions through her perspectives as a producer representative of the National Pork Producers Council and her expertise in public relations and marketing.
APHIS Administrator’s Award
Dr. Brian Hoefs (Wisconsin ’98), St. Paul, Minnesota. Dr. Hoefs is Minnesota state veterinarian and the executive director of the Minnesota Board of Animal Health. During his career, he has worked in equine, mixed animal, and small animal medicine, and academia, and served as an animal humane officer and biosecurity specialist for a broiler company.
National Assembly of State Animal Health Officials Service Award
Dr. Annette Jones (California-Davis ’98), Sacramento, California. Dr. Jones is California state veterinarian and director of animal health and food safety services for the California Department of Food and Agriculture. From 2022-24, she served as president of the National Assembly of State Animal Health Officials.
Business
Twenty-five resolutions were approved. They are available in the resolutions section of the USAHA website.
Officials
Drs. Peter Mundschenk, Las Vegas, president; Charlie Broaddus, Richmond, Virginia, president-elect; Justin Smith, Manhattan, Kansas, first vice president; Kathryn Simmons, Washington, D.C., second vice president; Kate Levine, Montpelier, Vermont, third vice president; Beth Thompson, Pierre, South Dakota, treasurer; and Steve Crawford, Concord, New Hampshire, immediate past president
A version of this story appears in the March 2025 print issue of JAVMA