Swine veterinarians will be gathering in San Francisco, Calif., on March 1-4 for the American Association of Swine Veterinarians (AASV) Annual Meeting. The theme of this year’s conference is “Be the Pig’s Champion.”
“Veterinarians are uniquely qualified through their training to serve as the pig’s champion among all of the other stakeholders in swine health and management,” says Locke Karriker, DVM and program chair of the AASV Annual Meeting. “The goal of this year’s meeting is to celebrate the role of veterinarians in caring for and advocating on behalf of pigs in whatever environment they are found.”
Many of the traditional favorite sessions continue this year, such as Practice Tips, Research Topics and discussions about how to advance disease elimination, explains Karriker, Morrill Professor and Director of the Swine Medicine Education Center.
In line with this year’s theme, the 2025 scientific program has something for everyone, says Abbey Canon, DVM, AASV director of public health and communications. Seminars will dive into artificial intelligence in swine medicine, effective herd visits as early career veterinarians, care of pigs that aren’t raised for immediate consumption, global hot topics and influenza to name a few.
New sessions include a Pre-Conference Seminar on using AI (ChatPIG) and a session focused on individual pig medicine in the concurrent sessions on Monday. Attendees will also be invited to attend the first Angela Baysinger Memorial Lecture on swine welfare.
“Dr. Karriker put together an extraordinary program planning committee with many early-career veterinarians who had not previously served on this committee,” Canon says. “This group recognized what is important to the health of all pigs and what is important to any veterinarian who sees swine. They put together a scientific program that will exceed your educational expectations.”
A Little Advice
The AASV Annual Meeting is packed full of opportunity.
“Soak it all in, engage with your colleagues and consider attending an AASV Committee meeting on Saturday,” Karriker says.
Canon reminds attendees to take a close look at the scientific program in advance as well as the social activities to best plan your day.
“Don’t be shy – really! This is among the most welcoming environments for current, future, or potential swine veterinarians,” she adds. “Introduce yourself to a speaker, link with someone on the mobile app, attend a committee meeting, visit the tech table exhibits, congratulate an award or scholarship recipient, or just say hi to someone during a break. You never know where a new connection might lead you.”
For Canon, this meeting is special because of the people it draws each year.
“We have a fantastic lineup of speakers and timely topics, celebrations to honor and acknowledge the hard work and talent of veterinarians and students, fun social and networking activities,” Canon says. “But my favorite part – the part that keeps me going on day 5 as a staff member with very little sleep – is seeing familiar faces and welcoming new ones. I get especially energized after visiting with students during the student reception on Sunday evening and meeting the up-and-coming generation of veterinarians.”
Learn more about the AASV annual meeting, see the schedule, and view the lineup of speakers here. Onsite registrations will be available beginning on March 1 for veterinarians, veterinary students, and current AASV affiliate members.
[Source: Farm Journal’s Pork 26 February 2025 by Jennifer Shike]