Once again, the AASV Annual Meeting offered excellent opportunities for students to learn about swine medicine, network with each other, connect with swine faculty, and meet veterinarians and potential mentors.
Annual AASV student membership is $15. Student member registration to the Annual Meeting is free and includes access to all educational sessions and activities, including the preconference seminars on Saturday and Sunday – a real squeal-of-a-deal! As usual, AASV’s Student Recruitment Committee offered several conference activities designed especially for veterinary students, including the Swine Medicine for Students preconference seminar, a vet hunt, a speed networking opportunity for upper-class students, and the Swine Student Trivia event.
Student Trivia
Merck Animal Health creatively hosted and sponsored prizes for a virtual "pub-style" trivia event via Webex breakout rooms. Thirty-one students from eight veterinary schools participated, and all teams competed extremely well! The team OSU#1, including Ohio State University students Corvin Mull, Justin Moeller, Lucas Buehler, Rachel Patton, and Alex Amador, won the top prize: Merck logoed jackets, Bluetooth speakers, and tumblers. The second-place team, Full Boar, including Iowa State University students Amanda Anderson, Emily Pratt, Calie Burgart, Juli Henderson, and Maddi Herring, received Bluetooth speakers, and tumblers. The third-place team, Pig Eye USA, including University of Minnesota students Megan McMahon, Tyler Dick, Seth Melson, Lindsay Miller, and Leyton Becker, received tumblers. AASV student delegate Amanda Anderson coordinated the sign-ups, while AASV Student Recruitment Committee chair Dr Chelsea Hamilton and member Dr Corinne Bromfield emceed the event. While only student teams were eligible to participate, anyone attending the Annual Meeting was welcome to observe and cheer on the teams.
Vet Hunt
The Virtual Vet Hunt encouraged veterinary students to participate in the virtual educational sessions by asking a speaker a question in the chat box. Sharing the question and an explanation of what was learned provided each student a chance to win swine swag or other prizes, sponsored by Merck Animal Health.
Speed Networking
Students yearned to connect with mentors this year more than ever, and even in a virtual setting, the AASV Student Recruitment Committee was able to offer an efficient networking activity for veterinarians and veterinary students. The one-hour interview session took place March 2 via Zoom breakout rooms. It was a relaxed and enjoyable way to meet swine-savvy students and mentors, future interns, or even potential new employees or employers. Fourteen upper-class veterinary students met with fourteen veterinarians, spending 3 minutes to visit with each other in speed-dating style.
Students made meaningful connections and appreciated the opportunity to practice their interviewing and networking skills even if participating veterinarians were not hiring. In addition to helping students become more proficient at discussions with potential employers, veterinarians also used the opportunity to screen potential candidates for jobs or preceptorships.