I am humbled and honored to be considered a nominee for vice president of the greatest association I have ever had the privilege to serve. I have benefited immensely from the many opportunities provided by our association and firmly believe in giving back, just as our predecessors have done for us. From participating in the inaugural AASV student competition in 1995 (the prizes were much smaller then), to chairing the Annual Meeting Research Topics session for the past 15 years, to serving as Chair of the Pharmaceutical Issues Committee, to currently representing District 6 (Iowa) on the AASV Board of Directors, I have gained a deep appreciation for the issues and concerns of our members and our association.
I was born and raised on a 50-sow, 300-acre diversified crop and livestock farm in southwestern Minnesota and attended a small school with a strong FFA program. There, I learned the value of hard work and developed a love for agriculture. Although I initially pursued a pre-medicine track in college, I realized I needed to stay in agriculture while working with a litter of pigs. After spending time with the Worthington Veterinary Medical Center, I knew a career as a swine veterinarian was my path. After graduating from the University of Minnesota in 1998, I joined my neighbor, Dr Brad Freking, as he was starting up New Fashion Pork. This experience gave me insight into all facets of swine production and how to integrate sound business decisions into veterinary practice. Starting in 2009, I spent five years with Smithfield Foods where I had the opportunity to collaborate with a team of veterinarians before moving to Iowa State University in 2014, where I now share my practical experiences with the next generation of swine industry leaders.
The strength of our association lies in our membership and collective commitment to address the challenges our colleagues and clients face. Some of the challenges that will require our collective talent and collaboration include:
1. Swine veterinarian retention
I was fortunate to work with the Early Career Committee to develop and execute a survey of veterinarians who have left veterinary practice or our industry altogether (aasv.org/video/annual-meeting/2024-annual-meeting-video/2024-rademacher). We have opportunities to improve practice efficiency to compete within the veterinary space and a duty to ensure everyone in our profession feels valued and welcomed.
2. Foreign animal disease preparedness
While we have made significant progress in this area, there is still work to be done. We need to continue guiding our clients toward better preparedness. The codification of the US Swine Health Improvement Plan certification program and its possible application with an endemic disease, like porcine epidemic diarrhea virus, as well as increasing the number of Certified Swine Sample Collectors are examples where our association can lead the way.
3. Innovation
We must be at the forefront of using technological advancements to improve our practice and enhance swine health and well-being. Integrating telemedicine and other technology to enable veterinarians to use their time more efficiently is one example.
4. Mentorship
The AASV has sponsored wonderful opportunities for young veterinarians to receive mentorship. One of the unique strengths of our association is that we are a relatively small, close-knit group of veterinarians willing to invest their time and expertise in helping the next generation, as was done for us when we began our careers.
5. Education for present and future veterinarians
We must continue advocating and exploring opportunities to recruit and educate the future leaders of our association while providing valuable educational experiences for our current members. It is crucial that we monitor the decline in swine medicine programs in US veterinary colleges and vigorously advocate against this trend.
The American Association of Swine Veterinarians is the finest organization I have ever been a part of. We face many challenges moving forward, but as we have in the past, we will confront them head-on and evolve to meet the needs of our clients and the pigs we care for. I am grateful for the opportunity to run for vice president, and I thank you for your time and consideration.
Chris Rademacher, DVM