Dr John Waddell, chairman of the AASV Foundation, announced the selection of four research proposals for funding during the foundation’s annual luncheon on March 4th in San Diego, California. The foundation granted a total of $60,000 to support efforts by researchers at Iowa State University and the University of Minnesota.

A $30,000 grant was awarded to fund the project “Refining PRRSV classification system and sequencing reports to better characterize genetic diversity and relatedness of PRRSV,” to be carried out by Dr Jianqiang Zhang and co-investigators at Iowa State University (ISU). The study will analyze an ISU Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory (VDL) dataset of 37,345 PRRSV-2 (North American type) ORF5 sequences spanning 2000 to 2017, in order to refine a previously described lineage classification system. The resulting thorough phylogenetic lineage classification system will 1) help describe genetic diversity and relatedness of PRRSV-2 in the US, 2) improve sequence reports of diagnostic cases, and 3) determine the prevalence and geographic distribution of PRRSV-2 in the US in regards to lineages and RFLP patterns. It is hoped that the classification system will provide a basis for further characterization of the antigenic relationship and cross-protection between different PRRSV-2 lineages in future studies.

Dr Daniel Linhares and various co-investigators at Iowa State University received funding for two separate projects. The foundation awarded $12,582 for Dr Linhares’ proposal to study “The effect of attenuated PRRSV mass vaccination on subsequent downstream mortality.” The goal of the project is to assess the impact of quarterly modified live virus (MLV) mass vaccination of PRRSV-stable breeding herds on grow-to-finish mortality using natural experiments under field conditions. The results will provide information to help swine veterinarians make better informed decisions regarding the use of PRRSV MLV and other interventions in the sow herd to reduce wean-to-market mortality.

The foundation granted an additional $8,418 to carry out Linhares’ second proposal, “Monitoring ISU VDL data for signs of emerging diseases.” This project will develop and incorporate analytical tools for the automated detection of significant changes in test results of major swine pathogens, allowing early identification of disease threats affecting swine.

Dr Perle Boyer at the University of Minnesota received a grant of $9000 to fund her proposal to develop day-one competencies for swine veterinary graduates. The project will be carried out by a faculty task force at the University of Minnesota, with input by swine practitioners from across the US and Canada. The resulting prioritized list of skills will be published and shared with other colleges of veterinary medicine and made available to veterinary students at the AASV annual meeting and on the AASV website.

Dr Nathan Winkelman chaired the scientific subcommittee responsible for reviewing and scoring the proposals received for consideration, and he joins the foundation in thanking Drs John Baker, Tim Blackwell, Peggy Anne Hawkins, Martin Mohr, and Jerry Torrison for their service on the subcommittee.

An overview of past and current projects funded by the foundation is available at www.aasv.org/foundation/research.htm. The foundation will issue its next call for research proposals in the fall of 2018.

Foundation honors Schmidt with prestigious Heritage Award

Dr Conrad “Connie” Schmidt received the American Association of Swine Veterinarians Foundation’s Heritage Award during the AASV’s 49th Annual Meeting in San Diego, California. Dr John Waddell, AASV Foundation chair, presented the award to Dr Schmidt on March 4th. He becomes the fourth recipient of the award which recognizes individuals who have lifelong outstanding achievements in swine veterinary medicine. It is only awarded when a deserving individual has been nominated and selected. Awardees have demonstrated their worthiness through their membership in the AASV, service to the AASV, and service to the North American swine industry.

Dr Schmidt graduated from the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine. For 30 years he was an owner and staff member of a large veterinary practice specializing in production animal medicine. Dr Schmidt has received various honors from the American Association of Swine Veterinarians and state association for his leadership position in the animal production industry.

As a partner in the Veterinary Medical Center PA of Worthington Minnesota, he served as the President of Oxford Veterinary Laboratories as well as senior staff member for the clinic. Dr Schmidt served as a Vice President of UpJohn Animal Health, as well as Pharmacia. In 1987 Dr Schmidt was recognized by the State of Minnesota as the entrepreneur of the year.

Currently Dr Schmidt is President of CB Schmidt and Associates LLC. For more than 12 years, Dr Schmidt has been very active in establishing technologies that will improve and maintain electronic data and health records in the animal production arena. He also has been actively involved with developing and evaluating various pathways to use natural substances as well as various microbial components to improve animal health and wellness.

When asked to reflect on his career as a swine veterinarian and his involvement with AASV, Dr Schmidt replied, “Since the inception of the AASV and the AASVF, I have found that swine veterinarians, as well as our association, are truly committed to our veterinary profession, animal health and wellness, and our animal protein producers. It has been a privilege to see our association grow and succeed in providing the leadership to make our meat supply safe and wholesome. Our accountability to animal health and wellness as well as respected animal care practices is what makes this profession great.”

Past Presidents’ Challenge spurs endowment growth

Last August, AASV Foundation Chairman Dr John Waddell initiated the Past Presidents’ Challenge to reach the foundation’s goal of achieving $2 million in restricted funds by the 2019 AASV Annual Meeting. The past presidents have risen to the challenge by generating nearly $250,000 in new contributions and pledges through the addition of 12 Leman Fellows, 8 Heritage Fellows, and 4 Legacy Funds to the endowment. As a result, the current total of endowed contributions plus additional board-restricted funds has risen to approximately $1,260,000.

So far, 12 past presidents have garnered points in the competition to encourage new endowment contributions. The point system is based on the amount of the donation, so the establishment of a Legacy Fund ($50,000) is worth 50 points, a new Heritage Fellow ($5000) generates 5 points, and a new Leman Fellow ($1000) is worth 1 point in the competition.

Dr Tim Loula leads the challenge with 56 points from the addition of a Leman Fellow, a Heritage Fellow, and a Legacy Fund. Dr Bob Morrison follows with 52 points, as one Legacy Fund has been established and two Leman Fellow contributions have been made in his honor. Dr Jim McKean is credited with 50 points and Dr Rodney “Butch” Baker with 45 points.

Although her challenge point total is substantially less, Dr Lisa Tokach is responsible for enlisting the greatest number of new contributors: four new Leman Fellows and one Heritage Fellow. Other past presidents who have recruited one or more donors include Drs George Charbonneau, Joe Connor, Randy Jones, Alex Ramirez, Max Rodibaugh, Larry Rueff, and John Waddell.

The Leman, Heritage, and Legacy contributions provide the basis for a perpetual source of income for foundation programs, including scholarships, swine externship grants, travel stipends for veterinary students, research grants, and more!

If you are ready to lend your support and help build the endowment to ensure future support of the swine veterinary profession, visit www.aasv.org/foundation or contact the foundation by phone, 515-465-5255, or email, aasv@ aasv.org.

Auction helps build school in India and supports the AASV Foundation

The 2018 American Association of Swine Veterinarians Foundation (AASVF) held its annual fundraising auction on March 5th during the 49th AASV Annual Meeting in San Diego, California. This year’s auction raised $120,240!

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.

Dr Butch Baker, Foundation Auction Committee chair, once again put together a consortium of 49 individuals and organizations (see sidebar on page 171) to bid on the “Build a School in India” project. The AASVF received the winning bid of $49,000, while Pipestone Veterinary Services made a matching contribution to Indian Evangelical Team (IET) to build an elementary school and bring education to hundreds of India’s children. The IET is a network of Christian ministries throughout India, Nepal, and Bhutan that enrolls the poorest of children and empowers them with education and literacy. Pipestone has previously supported IET and missions. The plans are to fund a new school that will enroll 400 to 500 students (Kindergarten through 7th grade) and name it in honor of Dr Bob Morrison, Pam Wetzell, and Deb Spronk.

Auctioneers Drs Tom Burkgren and Shamus Brown called the auction assisted by Wes Johnson, who generously lent his capable clerking services. The spirited live auction raised $98,600 in addition to the $16,890 collected during the silent auction and $4,750 in cash donations. For the second year, bidding on the silent auction was paperless with all bids submitted electronically via ClickBid Mobile Bidding.

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 Butch Baker. Visit www.aasv.org/foundation/2018/auctionlist.php to view auction results.

Special thanks goes to the bid-takers: Jeff Harker, Howard Hill, Terry Metcalf, Darrell Neuberger, David Reeves, Jess Waddell, and John Waddell, who kept the bids coming. In addition, the following folks’ behind-the-scenes and front-end help was invaluable: Miranda Ayers, Joel Burkgren, Sue Kimpston, Kay Kimpston-Burkgren, David and Karen Menz, Barbara Molnár Smith, Karen Richardson, Lee and Sue Schulteis, Tina Smith, and Harry Snelson.

Ten veterinary students receive $5000 scholarships

In partnership with the AASV Foundation (AASVF), Merck Animal Health announced the recipients of the 2018 AASVF – Merck Animal Health Veterinary Student Scholarships during the 49th AASV Annual Meeting in San Diego, California. A panel of AASV and foundation board members selected ten students to receive the scholarships from a pool of 47 applicants.

The recipients, who each received a $5,000 scholarship, were:

• Jacob Baker, Iowa State University
• Kimberlee Baker, Iowa State University
• Rachel Bardot, University of Missouri
• Stephanie Betbeze, Lincoln Memorial University
• Megan Bloemer, University of Illinois
• Kayla Henness, University of Illinois
• Evan Koep, Iowa State University
• Marjorie Schleper, University of Minnesota
• Joel Steckelberg, Iowa State University
• Jonathan Tubbs, Auburn University

The scholarship program, now in its third 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 veterinary 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 were eligible to apply. Learn more at https://www.aasv.org/foundation.

Three veterinarians receive Hogg Scholarships

Drs Jose Angulo, Angela Baysinger and Amanda Sponheim were named the 2018 recipients of the American Association of Swine Veterinarians Foundation Hogg Scholarship. Mary Lou Hogg presented the scholarships during the American Association of Swine Veterinarian’s 49th Annual Meeting in San Diego, CA.

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 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 Jose Angulo earned his doctor of veterinary medicine and zootechnics from the Instituto Tecnologico de Sonora in 2001. Following graduation, he joined Grupo SOLES based in Sonora, Mexico where he served as the Production and Health Planning and Development Coordinator. Since leaving Grupo SOLES in 2004, Angulo has worked in swine technical services for Boehringer Ingelheim, ELANCO Animal Health, and Zoetis, where he is currently the managing veterinarian specializing in Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS). He plans to apply the Hogg Scholarship to help fund his master’s program at the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine. His research project is under Dr Montserrat Torremorell and focuses on PRRS virus incidence in growing pigs and factors that drive infections in wean-to-finish farms.

Dr Angela Baysinger earned her doctor of veterinary medicine in 1992 from the University of Missouri-Columbia College of Veterinary Medicine where she graduated Summa Cum Laude. Following graduation, Baysinger accepted an associate veterinary position at Sutton Veterinary Clinic in Sutton, Nebraska. She left practice in 1995 to earn a master’s degree in epidemiology at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln while serving as the interim state swine extension veterinarian. Baysinger has since worked as a swine technical services veterinarian with ALPHARMA and Boehringer Ingelheim interspersed with a short stint as a self-employed swine consultant and two and one- half years as a Health Assurance Veterinarian with PIC. Her interest in focusing on animal welfare arose during her 7 years (2000 to 2007) as Vice President of On-farm Food Safety and Animal Welfare at Farmland Foods. Her expertise in welfare continues in her current role as Director of Animal Welfare for all species at Merck Animal Health. Baysinger plans to pursue a master’s degree in animal welfare, ethics and law at the University of Edinburgh through a distance learning program followed by pursuit of board certification in the American College of Animal Welfare.

After receiving her doctor of veterinary medicine in 2008 from the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine, Dr Amanda Sponheim spent two years as a Health Assurance Veterinarian with PIC. In 2010, she joined Boehringer Ingelheim where she now serves as Strategic Account Technical Services Veterinarian. Sponheim began her master’s degree program at the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine in 2016 under the guidance of Dr Maria Pieters. She is focusing on three thesis projects addressing industry knowledge gaps related to diagnostic approaches for detection of M hyopneumoniae in low and high prevalence scenarios. She plans to apply the Hogg Scholarship funds to the completion of this program.