Dr Lisa Tokach, chair of the AASV Foundation, announced the selection of three research proposals for partial funding during the foundation’s annual luncheon on March 8th in Atlanta, Georgia. The foundation granted a total of $60,000 to support efforts by researchers at the University of Minnesota and Iowa State University.
The Foundation granted $18,372 to Dr Cesar Corzo and co-investigators from the University of Minnesota to fund the proposal, “Assessing time to negative processing fluids in breeding herds after a Senecavirus A (SVA) outbreak.” The three objectives of the study are to estimate the time to negative after an SVA outbreak by using processing fluids, assess the role of heat-check boars in the perpetuation, persistence, and transmission of SVA within a farm, and estimate the production losses associated with an SVA outbreak. This project will lead to a better understanding of herd-level SVA epidemiology and implementation of aggressive programs for system-level elimination. Results will be shared as a summary in producer-oriented publications, in a peer-reviewed journal, and as oral presentations at swine veterinary conferences (eg, AASV Annual Meeting and Allen D. Leman Swine Conference).
Dr Jianqiang Zhang and co-investigators from Iowa State University received $18,372 to “Explore the unrecognized viruses potentially causing vesicular lesions in pigs.” They plan to conduct follow-up testing on selected foreign animal disease (FAD) cases to explore the unrecognized agents potentially causing vesicular lesions in pigs and develop appropriate diagnostic assays for the identified agents. Investigators will share results at various swine meetings and expect one publication in a peer-reviewed journal.
Dr Edison Magalhaes and co-investigators at Iowa State University were awarded $23,256 to fund the project, “Measuring the effect of diseases on the productivity of growing pigs raised in field conditions.” The overarching goal of this project is to develop an automated on-going model to allow veterinarians to measure disease-associated determinants of swine wean-to-finish mortality. Results will be shared with the swine industry in the form of a scientific manuscript and submitted for consideration for presentation at swine conferences.
Dr Teddi Wolff chaired the scientific subcommittee responsible for reviewing and scoring the proposals received for consideration, and she joins the Foundation in thanking Drs Steve Henry, Brett Kaspers, Aaron Lower, Max Rodibaugh, and Barry Wiseman for their participation on this important subcommittee. Each of the 13 proposals submitted was given careful consideration.
An overview of past and current projects funded by the foundation is available at aasv.org/foundation/research.htm. The foundation will issue its next call for research proposals in the fall of 2020.
Phibro Animal Health contributes $100,000 to AASV Foundation with its fourth endowment match
In the last of its 4-year commitment, Phibro Animal Health is contributing $25,000 to the AASV Foundation endowment, thanks in part to contributions by AASV members. In 2016, the company pledged to donate up to $100,000 over 4 years by matching $25,000 of the endowed contributions made by AASV members each year. Phibro’s most recent match brings the company’s total donation to $100,000.
AASV member contributions to the Leman, Heritage, and Legacy programs are endowed and count towards the match total. Please thank Phibro Animal Health for their ongoing commitment to support swine veterinarians and the AASV Foundation!
Laura Carroll receives AASV Member Student Debt Relief Scholarship
Dr Laura Carroll, a 2016 graduate of North Carolina State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine and continuous member of the American Association of Swine Veterinarians (AASV) since joining as a student, received the AASV Member Student Debt Relief Scholarship in Atlanta, Georgia, on March 9th during the association’s 51st annual meeting.
The purpose of the $5000 scholarship is to help relieve the student debt of recent veterinary graduates engaged in swine practice who still have significant debt burden. Qualified applicants must have been engaged in private practice with at least 50% of their time devoted to swine, providing on-farm service directly to independent pork producers.
For the last four years, Dr Carroll has been a veterinarian at Four Star Veterinary Service in Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania, where she dedicates her entire time in practice to swine medicine. She oversees health on sow farms, grow-finish sites, and farrow-to-finish farms. Passionate about keeping small family farms alive and profitable, she serves a diverse clientele including niche-market farms, show pigs, and pet pigs. She enjoys spending time on farms and developing strong relationships with clients.
As an early career swine veterinarian, Dr Carroll regards AASV as a valuable resource. Opportunities for student and professional development, veterinary information, peer support, and mentorship offered through AASV have helped to increase her knowledge base and effectiveness as a practitioner.
The scholarship was initiated with a generous $110,000 contribution to the foundation by the Conrad Schmidt and Family Endowment. Dr Schmidt, a charter member of AASV, explained, “Together, Judy and I noticed that many new DVM graduates interested in swine medicine begin their professional life with heavy educational debt obligations. As a long-time AASV member and animal industry supporter, it was our desire to help AASV members who have dedicated their professional skills to swine herd health and production. We hope that this endowment will grow over time to assist in reducing the educational debt load of AASV members as they begin their professional journeys.” This is the second year this scholarship has been awarded to an AASV member veterinarian.
When asked to comment about receiving the scholarship, Dr Carroll replied, “I am honored to have been selected for the student debt relief scholarship. Like many new graduates, trying to manage educational debt while growing professionally can be a challenge. Receiving this scholarship will help to alleviate some of that burden, and I am truly grateful to the Schmidt family for their generous support.”
Inaugural David A. Schoneweis Scholarship presented at Annual Meeting
Karissa Frealy, a second-year student at Oklahoma State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine, was awarded the inaugural David A. Schoneweis Scholarship during the American Association of Swine Veterinarians Annual Meeting in Atlanta, Georgia.
The children of the late Dr David Schoneweis established a scholarship in his memory to benefit swine-interested students from Kansas State University (KSU) and Oklahoma State University (OSU). The $1000 scholarship is awarded to a student or students from KSU or OSU who participate in the student oral or poster presentations during the meeting based upon a selection rubric prepared with the oversight and approval of the Schoneweis family.
Frealy presented her research poster, “Evaluating the use of processing fluids for sow herd monitoring of porcine circovirus type 2,” during the Veterinary Student Poster Session March 8 and 9. She was one of 39 students presenting a poster.
Dr Schoneweis was born in Clay Center, Kansas and earned his doctor of veterinary medicine degree from KSU in 1956. He served two years in the Army Veterinary Corps before teaching clinical sciences at OSU for six years. After two years in private practice in Lawrence, Kansas, he joined the KSU College of Veterinary Medicine faculty in 1966, where he received his master’s degree in surgery and medicine in 1971 and taught food animal medicine for 30 years. Dr Schoneweis was a charter member of the American Association of Swine Practitioners (AASP) and served on the association’s Board of Directors in the late 1970s and early 1980s. In 1997, he received the AASP Meritorious Service Award for his lifetime of support for the association and in recognition of his work with students as a professor of food animal medicine at KSU and OSU.
Thankful for the scholarship, Frealy said, “I am so very excited and honored to be receiving the first David A. Schoneweis Scholarship. I am deeply appreciative to the family of Dr Schoneweis for generously providing this award, and I feel privileged to receive it. To the family of Dr Schoneweis, thank you.”
Legacy funds added to Foundation endowment
The American Association of Swine Veterinarians Foundation (AASVF) is committed to fund research, scholarships, externships, tuition grants, and other programs and activities that benefit the profession of swine veterinary medicine. The Foundation relies on the generous support of donors to fulfill this commitment.
During the recent AASV Foundation Luncheon in Atlanta, Georgia on March 8, 2020, AASVF Chair Dr Lisa Tokach announced the establishment of a new Legacy Fund. The Legacy Fund represents the highest level of the Foundation’s triad of endowed giving programs (Leman, Heritage, and Legacy), with a minimum $50,000 contribution required to establish a named endowment.
This year, the John Waddell family contributed funds to establish the Waddell Family Legacy Fund. John Waddell and son Jess Waddell are both AASV members and were present to accept the Foundation’s appreciation and recognition during the AASV Foundation Luncheon.
If you are ready to lend your support and help build the endowment to ensure future support of the swine veterinary profession, visit aasv.org/foundation or contact the foundation by phone, 515-465-5255, or email, aasv@aasv.org.
AASV Foundation endowed giving programs
Leman
Named for the late industry leader and former AASV president Dr Allen D. Leman, this giving program confers the title of Leman Fellow upon those who contribute $1000 or more to the foundation endowment.
Heritage
The Heritage Fellow program recognizes contributions of $5000 or more. In addition to monetary donations, other giving options such as life insurance policies, estate bequests, and retirement plan assets may be used.
Legacy
A donor, multiple donors, or a veterinary practice may establish and name a Legacy Fund with a gift of $50,000 or more. The fund may be named after the donor, another individual, or group. The donor designates which of three foundation mission categories the fund’s proceeds will support: 1) research, 2) education, or 3) long-range issues.
Auction raises $103,000 for AASV Foundation
The 2020 American Association of Swine Veterinarians Foundation (AASVF) held its annual fundraising auction on March 9th during the 51st AASV Annual Meeting in Atlanta, Georgia.
The funds raised during the auction support foundation programs including student travel stipends, research projects, scholarships, student externships, awards, support for veterinarians pursuing board certification in the American College of Animal Welfare, and other opportunities to enhance the personal and professional aspects of swine veterinary medicine.
Auctioneer Dr Shamus Brown called the auction assisted by Wes Johnson, who generously lent his capable clerking services. The exciting live auction raised $62,100 in addition to the $13,380 collected during the silent auction and cash donations of $23,550, including a $5000 donation by Four Star Veterinary Service, LLC, in honor of Dr Dale Hendrickson. As the fundraising ended at $99,030, Carthage Veterinary Services donated an additional $3970 to end the night with $103,000 to the AASVF. All bidding in the silent auction was paperless; bids were submitted electronically via ClickBid.
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 co-chaired by Drs Butch Baker and John Waddell. Visit aasv.org/foundation/2020/auctionlist.php to view auction results.
Special thanks goes to bid-takers Butch Baker, Joel Burkgren, Tom Gillespie, Jordan Graham, Jeff Harker, Terry Metcalf, Chase Stahl, Jess Waddell, and John Waddell who watched and encouraged bidders. The auction was a success because of the behind-the-scenes and front-end help from Miranda Ayers, Joel Burkgren, Kay Kimpston-Burkgren, David and Karen Menz, Karen Richardson, Lance Daharsh, Jenni Patience, Sherrie Webb, Lee and Sue Schulteis, Tina Smith, Abbey Canon, and Harry Snelson.
An extra-special thanks goes out to Lee Schulteis and David Menz for driving the truck and trailer containing all the auction items and meeting materials from Perry, Iowa, to Atlanta and back again.
And the winners are…
Thank you to ALL who made a contribution or placed a bid on items in the live and silent auctions.
Thanks to your generosity, the auction raised $103,000 for the AASV Foundation!
We are pleased to recognize the winning bidders who purchased one or more items at the auction:
Matt Anderson Paul Armbrecht John E Baker Mary Battrell Lisa Becton Stephanie Betbeze Bob Blomme Shamus Brown Carthage Veterinary Service, Ltd Joseph Connor Todd Distad Four Star Veterinary Service Tom Gillespie Christa Goodell Douglas Groth Dwain Guggenbiller Daryl Hammer Jeff Harker Peggy Anne Hawkins Daniel Hendrickson Jeff Husa Kerry Keffaber Todd Kelly Ross Kiehne John Kolb Justin Kuecker Ron Lane Sophia Leone Tim Loula Jim Lowe Rodger Main Dale Mechler Michelle Michalak Jason Miller Bill Minton Eric Moore Brent Pepin Phibro Animal Health Michael Pierdon Jessica Risser Brian Roggow Cameron Schmitt Sue Schulteis Kenny Seidel Randy Simonson Steven Stone Amber Stricker Swine Services Unlimited, Inc (Nate Winkelman and Adam Mueller) Dennis Villani Liz Wagstrom Teddi Wolff Paul Yeske
Ten veterinary students receive $5000 scholarships
As part of its ongoing commitment to the next generation of veterinarians, Merck Animal Health, in partnership with the American Association of Swine Veterinarians Foundation (AASVF), announced the 2020 recipients of the AASVF/Merck Animal Health Veterinary Student Scholarships March 9, 2020, at the 51st Annual AASV Meeting.
“The AASV Foundation is grateful to Merck Animal Health for its continued support of the AASVF/Merck Animal Health Veterinary Student Scholarship program,” said Dr Harry Snelson, AASV Executive Director. “Support of this program exemplifies Merck Animal Health’s commitment to the swine veterinary profession by helping identify future swine veterinarians and assist with their educational expenses.”
The recipients, who will each receive a $5000 scholarship, are:
- Amanda Anderson, Iowa State University, Class of 2022
- Sam Baker, Iowa State University, Class of 2022
- Nicholas Benge, Iowa State University, Class of 2022
- Valeria Johnson, Michigan State University, Class of 2022
- Brooke Kitting, University of Pennsylvania, Class of 2022
- Nikole Mader, University of Minnesota, Class of 2022
- Sabra McCallister, North Carolina State University, Class of 2022
- Megan McMahon, University of Minnesota, Class of 2022
- Svetlana Ponsin, University of Saskatchewan, Class of 2022
- Zoe Wolfe, North Carolina State University, Class of 2022
The scholarship program, now in its fifth year, was funded by a generous $50,000 contribution from Merck Animal Health, assisting the foundation’s mission to support the development and scholarship of students and veterinarians interested in the swine industry. Second- and third-year students enrolled in American Veterinary Medical Association-accredited or recognized colleges of veterinary medicine in the United States, Canada, Mexico, South America, and the Caribbean Islands are eligible for the scholarship. Learn more at aasv.org/foundation.