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The theme this year, “BE THERE!”, emphasized the importance of being present in each moment. Program chair and AASV President-elect Dr. William Hollis called on all members to Be There.
As reported during the annual AASV business meeting March 7, the meeting drew 958 total attendees, including 528 paid registrants and 80 veterinary students from 19 universities. The total attendance also included 240 exhibit representatives from 93 companies and organizations and six media representatives. Including the United States, 22 countries were represented. These preliminary numbers are yet to be confirmed.
The meeting participants enjoyed the opportunity to listen to 227 speakers and poster presenters by attending numerous educational sessions, including 11 preconference seminars, two general sessions, three break-out sessions, one research topic session, three industrial partners sessions, the student seminar, and a poster session featuring posters from students, researchers, and industrial partners.
Preconference seminars included topics about PRRS virus monitoring and diagnostics, pen gestation, antibiotic stewardship and sustainability, pig survivability, boar stud health and biosecurity, data integration to support real-time decision making, new technologies, and an introduction to understanding swine business. Several committees collaborated to offer professional development across the categories of physical, mental, financial, and social health. Saturday’s PRRS Monitoring and Diagnostics preconference seminar drew the most preregistered attendees. As always, the Swine Medicine for Students preconference seminar was well attended by veterinary students. Sunday afternoon, veterinary students highlighted their research and experience to a large crowd during the student seminar.
The ever-popular practice tips session, named in honor of the late Dr. Max Rodibaugh this year, was voluntarily judged by Drs. Daniel Boykin, Lauren Nagel, and Tom Painter, and chaired by Dr. Melissa Billing. Dr. Jim Kober’s presentation titled, “Never say ‘Why me?’”, followed by Dr. Terri Specht-Benson, “Teasing boars: Epididymectomy in farrowing house pigs,” and Dr. Brent Sexton, “High-volume bronchoalveolar lavage: Long name, quick process for Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae exposure.”
Dr. Egan Brockhoff, independent contractor serving as the Veterinary Counselor for the Canadian Pork Council, opened the Monday general session with the Howard Dunne Memorial Lecture. During his presentation, titled “Be There: Be the Leader for the Pig, the Client, the Customer,” he noted that while leaders come in all forms, they must be engaged. Those who “show up” make decisions and govern those who do not.
Dr. Attila Farkas, a veterinarian at Carthage Veterinary Service, Ltd., presented the Alex Hogg Memorial Lecture titled “Seizing Opportunity within Swine Veterinary Medicine.” After a tribute to Dr. Hogg and the many mentors and experiences that shaped his life, Dr. Farkas encouraged attendees to welcome collaboration, embrace change, influence developments, and adapt to what the future brings.
Speakers during the second half of the Monday general session described next generation challenges for which swine veterinarians should be prepared, shared challenges with the egg industry, and suggestions for the swine industry.
The Monday afternoon concurrent sessions challenged veterinarians to think critically about biosecurity, evaluate current disease challenges, and consider how to best be prepared for foreign animal diseases. The Tuesday general session facilitated important conversations in porcine epidemic diarrhea virus control and elimination and in nutrition and animal health.
Recipients of AASV Foundation-funded programs, including veterinary student scholarships, Alex Hogg Memorial Scholarships, Dr. Conrad and Judy Schmidt Family Student Debt Relief Scholarships, and research grants were announced. The Foundation also honored its newest Heritage and Legacy donors. AASV announced the recipients of the student podcast award (Sarah Albers), and the practice tip winners.
The AASV Awards Reception was held Monday night, followed by the AASV Foundation’s annual fund-raising auction. Dr. Nathan Winkelman, 2019 AASV president and 2023 AASV Awards Selection Committee chair, introduced the recipients of the Swine Practitioner of the Year Award (Dr. Tara Donovan), the Howard Dunne Memorial Award (Dr. Joe Connor), the Meritorious Service Award (David Brown), the Outstanding Swine Academic of the Year Award (Dr. Gary Althouse), the Technical Services/Allied Industry Veterinarian of the Year Award (Dr. Lisa Becton), and the Young Swine Veterinarian of the Year Award (Dr. Jessica Davenport).
March 14, 2023 - AASV
