Dr. Alex Ramirez was installed as the President of the American Association of Swine Veterinarians on February 28, 2017 during the association’s 48th Annual Meeting in Denver, CO. He succeeds Dr. George Charbonneau who is now immediate Past President. Dr. Scanlon Daniels has ascended to President-Elect. The newly elected Vice President is Dr. Nathan Winkelman.
AASV President Dr. Alejandro "Alex" Ramirez (ISU ’93) grew up in Guadalajara, Mexico. He obtained his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from the Iowa State University (ISU) College of Veterinary Medicine and joined Valley Veterinary Center, a mixed animal practice, in Cherokee, IA. In 2004, Alex left practice and returned to ISU to pursue a teaching career. He obtained a Master of Public Health degree from the University of Iowa and concluded a PhD at ISU in 2011.
Dr Ramirez joined AASV in 2002. He first served as a substitute judge for the student presentations at the AASV Annual Meeting. Shortly thereafter he was asked to co-chair the student oral competitions. He has also co-chaired the Collegiate Activities Committee for the past few years and has served on the Journal of Swine Health and Production Editorial Board since 2010. He represented District 6 on the AASV Board of Directors from 2013 to 2015.
When asked to comment on his thoughts about the future of AASV and his tenure as president, Dr. Ramirez said, "I am excited about this honor and opportunity to lead AASV as our great association and its members continue to focus on helping advance the health and wellbeing of the pigs we care for. We need to continue protecting public health through securing a wholesome and safe protein source to feed the world."
AASV President-Elect Dr. C. Scanlon Daniels (ISU ’98) grew up on a family owned and operated livestock enterprise in central Iowa. He attended Iowa State University where he received a BS degree in Animal Science and DVM degree. He also has a MBA from the University of Guelph. Dr. Daniels has been previously employed as a staff veterinarian by Iowa Select Farms and Seaboard Foods. Currently he and his wife, Dr. Angela Daniels, operate a diversified food animal veterinary practice, laboratory and multi-species contract research organization in Dalhart, TX. Dr. Daniels has been active in multiple AASV committees and has served on the AASV Board of Directors representing District 7 on two occasions.
AASV Vice President Dr. Nathan Winkelman (UMN ’84) was raised on a diversified crop and livestock farm near St James, Minnesota. The family farm included a farrow-to-finish swine operation, beef cow-calf herd, feedlots, laying hens, and fieldwork. Dr Winkelman credits his veterinarian uncle, FFA instructor, and local veterinarians for his desire to become a veterinarian.
Dr Winkelman received a BS degree in Animal Science and DVM from the University of Minnesota. Upon graduation, he joined a swine-exclusive veterinary practice in Morris, MN with Drs Rod Johnson and Tony Scheiber. Currently, Dr Winkelman is a partner with Dr Adam Mueller in Swine Services Unlimited, Inc, a swine research and consulting practice in Rice, Minnesota. Their business focus is consulting with loyal, progressive pork-producer clients, some of whom they’ve seen each month for over 35 years! Swine Services Unlimited, Inc, is also a contract research organization conducting swine disease trials, with a special emphasis on Lawsonia intracellularis challenge studies.
Dr Winkelman and his wife Deb Bryant (also a veterinarian) raised two children and enjoy a "hobby-farm menagerie" with horses, goats, chickens, dogs, and cats (no pigs, of course) in Sartell, MN. Nate has served on the AASV Board of Directors and currently sits on the AASV Foundation Board where he chairs the Foundation’s Research Project Selection Committee. In addition, Dr Winkelman is an active participant in the AASV/National Pork Board Operation Main Street project giving presentations to various groups to raise awareness about modern pork production.
Asked to comment on what his election meant to him, Dr Winkelman responded, "I sincerely look forward to the opportunity and challenge to serve the AASV in this capacity. The AASV organization and all my friends and colleagues have been an integral part of a successful career in swine medicine. Thank you all." He also expressed his appreciation to Dr. Brian Schantz for his willingness to also run for the office. "He was the first to congratulate me, wish me well, and advised me against incessant late night tweets during my time in office," noted Dr. Winkelman.
AASV Past President Dr. George Charbonneau (OVC ’81) grew up in Arnprior, Ontario. He obtained his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from the Ontario Veterinary College and established a veterinary practice serving southwestern Ontario. George is currently a veterinarian at South West Ontario Veterinary Services and is based in White Lake, Ontario. Dr. Charbonneau has served as the President of the Canadian Association of Swine Veterinarians and the Ontario Association of Swine Veterinarians. He was involved in the formation of and served as the initial chairman of the Ontario Pork Industry Council. He also represented Canadian swine veterinarians as a District Representative on the Board of Directors of the American Association of Swine Veterinarians. He was the 2012 recipient of the AASV Swine Practitioner of the Year award.