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AASV Foundation News (May 2013)

Foundation News
AASV Foundation holds successful 2013 auction
The lively foundation auction raised a record amount totaling $139,021! This tremendous effort eclipsed the $100,000 goal set by the auction committee, resulting in the foundation receiving an additional $100,000 through the incredible generosity of MVP Laboratories and MJ Biologics. The money raised supports foundation programs, including student travel stipends, research projects, scholarships, student externships, summer internships, awards, and other opportunities to enhance the personal and professional aspects of swine veterinary medicine.

Auctioneer and AASV Executive Director Dr Tom Burkgren called the auction with the assistance of veterinary student Shamus Brown (ISU) and Dr Jess Waddell. This year’s auction also included a raffle in which participants purchased tickets for a chance to win one of four fabulous prizes. The raffle netted $23,800 for the foundation. The foundation thanks all those who participated in the auction by bidding on or donating items, as well as those who served on the auction committee chaired by Dr Daryl Olsen.

A special thanks goes to the ring men: Shamus Brown, Tom Burkgren, Darrell Neuberger, Daryl Olsen, David Reeves, Max Rodibaugh, Jess Waddell, and John Waddell, who kept the bids coming, and the following, whose behind-the-scenes and front-end help were invaluable: Judi Bell, Kay Kimpston-Burkgren, Sue Kimpston, Karen Menz, Karen Richardson, Lee Schulteis, Sue Schulteis, Tina Smith, Harry Snelson, and Taylor Wherry.

An extra-special thanks goes out to Lee Schulteis and Kent Schwartz for driving the truck and trailer containing all the auction items and meeting materials from Perry, Iowa, to San Diego and back again.

The AASV Foundation is grateful to everyone who purchased a raffle ticket or bid on items in the live and silent auctions, enabling us to surpass our goal of raising $100,000! We are pleased to recognize and thank the following bidders who purchased one or more items at the auction:

Dr Matt Anderson

Dr Paul Armbrecht

Andrea Baker

Dr Butch Baker

Dr Dave Bomgaars

Dr Tom Burkgren

Dr George Charbonneau

Dr Cary Christensen

Dr Scanlon Daniels

Dr Dean Dau

Dr Todd Distad

Dr Tara Donovan

Elanco Animal Health

Dr Keith Flanagan

Dr Christa Goodell

Dr Kelly Greiner

Dr Doug Groth

Dr Jeff Harker

Dr Dale Hendrickson

Ben Hollis

Dr Lynette Holman

Dr Erin Johnson

Dr Rod Johnson

Dr Kerry Keffaber

Dr Jason Kelly

Dr Paul Knoernschild

Dr James Kober

Dr Chris Kuster

Dr Ruth Loula

Dr Jim Lowe

Dr Rodger Main

Dr Charles Martin

Dr Dan McManus

Dr Luke Minion

Dr Bill Minton

Dr Darrell Neuberger

Nancy Olsen

Dr Mike Pierdon

Dr Sarah Probst Miller

Dr Max Rodibaugh

Dr Brian Roggow

Dr Paul Runnels

Dr Steve Schmitz

Dr Kent Schwartz

Dr Mike Senn

Dr Pete Sherlock

Dr Randy Simonson

Dr Steve Sornsen

Dr Bill Starke

Dr Steve Stone

Dr Jeremy Stuart

Suidae Health and Production

Dr Harold Tilstra

Dr John Waddell

Dr Mark Wagner

Dr Douglas Weiss

Dr Ron White

Dr Warren Wilson

Dr Nathan Winkelman

Dr Paul Yeske

Zoetis

AASV Foundation announces recipient of Hogg Scholarship

Dr Meghann Pierdon was named the 2013 recipient of the AASV Foundation Hogg Scholarship. The scholarship was presented by Mary Lou Hogg during the association’s annual meeting in San Diego, California.

Established in 2008, the scholarship is named for Dr Alex Hogg, who was a leader in swine medicine and pursued a master’s degree in veterinary pathology after 20 years in a mixed-animal practice. The scholarship is awarded annually to an AASV member who has been accepted into a qualified graduate program to further his or her education after years as a swine practitioner.

Dr Pierdon earned her veterinary medical degree from the University of Pennsylvania in 2005 and is currently pursuing a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Pennsylvania, investigating strategies to improve welfare when mixing sows into groups. Dr Pierdon began her veterinary career as a staff veterinarian with Country View Family Farms and was a partner in a private swine practice before joining Elanco Animal Health as a swine technical consultant.

Dr Pierdon plans to use the scholarship to support her pursuit of board certification in the newly formed American College of Animal Welfare. This college will generate a group of experts that will be looked to by consumers and food groups for information on how to improve animal welfare. It is critical that the voice of the swine veterinarian be represented. Once she achieves board certification, Dr Pierdon plans to pursue a career path that will let her continue to do research as well as use consultation to bring expertise on animal welfare to producers throughout the swine industry.

When asked about the significance of the scholarship, Dr Pierdon said, “My love of science and animals led me to pursue a career in veterinary medicine, and board certification in the American College of Animal Welfare will allow me to merge my passion for animal welfare and science. My goal is to help the swine industry use science to tackle the animal welfare issues that face us now and will continue into the future. No single issue is as pressing or important to the future of our industry as animal welfare, and I hope that I can honor Dr Hogg’s legacy by advancing this worthy goal. I am honored to receive this prestigious award.”