Dr. Randy Jones was installed as the president of the AASV at the association’s annual meeting in Phoenix, Arizona. He succeeds Dr. Paul Ruen who is now immediate past president. Dr. Tara Donovan has ascended to president-elect. The newly elected vice president is Dr. Matt Anderson.
AASV President Dr. Randy Jones (NCSU ’85) is the owner and operator of a veterinary practice limited to swine health and medicine in Kinston, N.C. Prior to that, he was a mixed-animal practitioner for nine years. A member of the AASV since 1985, Dr. Jones was serving his second term as an AASV board member representing southeastern United States before his election to the office of vice president. He is a former president of the North Carolina Veterinary Medical Association, and active member of the American Veterinary Medical Association. Dr. Jones grew up on a cow-calf farm in western North Carolina.
Dr. Jones remarked that he was "looking forward to the coming year as President of the AASV. The AASV will continue to serve its member veterinarians, by providing them the information and CE opportunities needed to help swine producers. Our clients continue to look to us as veterinarians to be the leaders in disease control and elimination. Swine veterinarians will also continue to partner with the AVMA, other commodity groups and the NPB to promote animal well-being and food safety. We have a responsibility to the American consumer to provide an economical and sustainable food supply. Our efforts in meeting these goals need to be communicated to the public."
AASV President Elect Dr. Tara Donovan (KSU ’98) is the Vice-President of Veterinary Management for The HANOR Company, one of the country’s top pork producers with operations in six states and over 500 employees. After joining the company 10 years ago as a herd veterinarian, her responsibilities now encompass integration among all aspects of pork production in addition to the traditional role involving production, research and development. Dr. Donovan has been active on several committees including chair of the Human Health and Safety Committee. She has also been an active member of several working groups for the National Pork Board and a member of the National Pork Producers Council Antibiotic Working Group.
AASV Vice President Dr. Matt Anderson (ISU ’99) is a Minnesota native who grew up around hogs, cattle and crop farming near Stuart, Iowa. After graduating from Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine, Dr. Anderson started his veterinary practice career in Morris, Minn. He has been a partner/owner in Suidae Health and Production in Algona, Iowa for the last 11 years. Suidae is a seven veterinarian, swine-only practice focused on providing full-service swine veterinary care as well as swine health and business consulting. The practice also has business initiatives in production management and research.
Dr. Anderson has been actively involved in the AASV for a number of years and served the association in several different roles. He currently serves on the AASV Swine Health Committee and represents AASV on the board of the Professional Animal Auditor Certification Organization (PAACO). He has been a frequent guest speaker at professional meetings and industry events. In addition to AASV, he is also a member of the Iowa Veterinary Medical Association and the American Veterinary Medical Association.
Dr. Anderson has had the good fortune of working with clients across the U.S. and in a number of other countries on three continents. Dr. Anderson commented, "It is a great honor to have been elected AASV Vice President. I am anxious and excited to serve the members of the AASV, which has contributed so much both professionally and personally to my career."
Immediate Past President Dr. Paul Ruen (MN ’92) is a practitioner at the Fairmont Veterinary Clinic in Fairmont, Minn., a predominately swine practice that also provides management services to clients. Active in the AASV since 1988, Dr. Ruen was a district director on the AASV Board of Directors from 2005 to 2008. He was elected vice president in 2008, serving a one-year term and ascending to the office of president-elect in 2009. During the 2002 International Pig Veterinary Society meeting in Ames, Iowa, Dr. Ruen served on the Production and Management Scientific Committee. He is a frequent speaker and lecturer at the AASV annual meetings and the Leman Conference in Minnesota. Dr. Ruen grew up in southeastern Minnesota on a diversified livestock and grain farm.