Veterinary Student Activities
It is part of the mission of the American Association of Swine Veterinarians to “mentor students, encouraging life-long careers as swine veterinarians.” To help fulfill this mission, the association encourages veterinary students to attend the AASV Annual Meeting and offers a variety of activities for student participation during the conference:
Free Registration
Registration for the AASV annual meeting is FREE for AASV Veterinary Student Members (pre-DVM). Registration includes attendance at the scientific sessions, the online conference proceedings, Monday luncheon, Monday awards reception, Tuesday breakfast, and admission to the company-sponsored social events. In addition, veterinary students may register for the preconference seminars free of charge!
Free Seminar Registration
Students may register for the numbered preconference seminars free of charge (one seminar on Saturday and one on Sunday). If registering online, the system will recognize your Student registration and allow you to add seminars to your registration at no charge.
$300 Travel Stipend
Each veterinary student who attends the AASV Annual Meeting receives a $300 (US$) travel stipend, courtesy of Vaxxinova and the AASV Foundation! To qualify, you must be a current (2024-25) AASV Student Member AND you must pre-register for the meeting by February 7. After registering, you will receive an email message within a few days, confirming that you qualify for the stipend. If you don’t receive the confirmation message, contact AASV prior to the meeting to make sure you are registered! Pick up your check in person at the meeting registration desk.
Student Room Sharing Interest Form
The AASV Student Engagement Committee has created a sign-up to help connect students who are interested in sharing hotel rooms and dispersing the expense across multiple students. Complete this interest form by January 5th, 2025. After the deadline, the responses will be shared with all interested students and you will be welcome to make arrangements amongst yourselves. Contact Dr. Amanda Anderson Reever (amanda_reever@suidaehp.com) with any questions or survey concerns.
Committee Meetings
As always, students are invited to join veterinarians during AASV committee meetings the morning of Saturday, March 1. You can find the list of committees, meeting times, and room numbers in the program booklet and the AASV mobile app. Although students are not eligible to vote, you are welcome to listen, ask questions, and add your input.
Interview a Speaker (receive $200)
AASV provides an opportunity for up to 30 veterinary students to record a 15- to 20-minute audio interview with a speaker at the meeting. Participating students receive $200. Learn how to apply by January 17.
Vet Hunt
This fun activity provides the opportunity to network with veterinarians at the conference. When you arrive at the meeting, look in your registration packet for the list of participating vets, then introduce yourself, visit with, and collect the business cards of at least ten of them to qualify for the prize drawing held during the Merck Student Reception on Sunday evening (see below).
Student Trivia Event
Join fellow students from 6:00 to 8:00 PM on Saturday evening, March 1 for a fun-filled, interactive evening of Swine Veterinary Medicine Trivia, hosted by Merck Animal Health. Doors open at 6:00 PM for appetizers and drinks; the game starts at 7:00 PM. Teams are randomly assigned the night of the event and prizes are awarded to the winners. Preregistration requested.
Student Breakfast
Enjoy a breakfast buffet, compliments of the AASV, with fellow veterinary students and faculty advisors on Sunday, March 2 at 6:30 AM.
Student Preconference Seminar
For several years now, the AASV has offered a very popular preconference seminar on Sunday morning, designed especially for new and soon-to-be veterinarians: Swine Medicine for Students. Registration is free for veterinary students as well as ’23 and ’24 DVM graduates.
Student Seminar
Some say the best presentations of the meeting are made during the AASV Student Seminar on Sunday afternoon March 2, 1:00 – 5:15 pm). On the basis of submitted abstracts, 15 students have been selected to make presentations of research, case studies, and literature reviews. The Zoetis Foundation provides funding for a $750 award to each student presenter. The students’ oral and written presentations are judged, and a $5,000 scholarship, funded by the Zoetis Foundation, is awarded to the top presentation. Elanco Animal Health provides $20,000 to fund 14 additional scholarships of varying amounts to the runners-up.
Student Poster Session
Veterinary students present research and case studies in poster format on Sunday, March 2. The display begins Sunday at 12:00 noon, with the poster authors available for discussion until 1:00 pm. The posters will be available for viewing until 5:00 pm, and again on Monday from 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM. The Zoetis Foundation funds a $500 award to each participating poster author. Additionally, posters #1 – #15 will be judged by a practitioner panel for the awarding of scholarships, sponsored by United Animal Health.
Speed Networking
This activity for 3rd- and 4th-year veterinary students provides an opportunity to practice interview skills and learn about externships and job openings, while networking with swine veterinarians. The Speed Networking will take place from 5:30 to 6:30 PM on Sunday, March 2. Preregistration requested.
Student Reception
Don’t miss the Student Reception sponsored by Merck Animal Health on Sunday, March 2 from 8:30 – 11:00 pm. You’ll find plenty of snacks & beverages along with truly magical entertainment. Turn in your Vet Hunt worksheet and hang around for the prize drawing. You’ll want to make the most of this opportunity to interact with students, swine veterinarians, researchers, and industry representatives in an informal setting – who knows, you might line up your next externship or identify a potential job opportunity!
Student Scholarship Presentation: Monday Luncheon
The announcement of the recipients of the AASV Foundation Veterinary Student Scholarships, funded by the Zoetis Foundation and Elanco Animal Health and the Student Poster Competition Scholarships, sponsored by United Animal Health, takes place during the AASV-AASV Foundation Luncheon at 12:30 PM on Monday, March 3. The recipients of the AASV Foundation – Merck Veterinary Student Scholarships are also announced at this time. Join the AASV in recognizing and congratulating all of these award recipients!