AASV Veterinary Student Activities at the 2008 Annual Meeting
March 8-11, 2008 – San Diego, California

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. Student registration for the meeting includes attendance at the scientific sessions, a copy of the meeting proceedings, Monday luncheon ticket, Monday awards reception ticket, Tuesday breakfast ticket, and admission to the company-sponsored social events. In addition, veterinary students may register for pre-conference seminars free of charge!

$100 Travel Stipend
Once again, each veterinary student who attends the AASV Annual Meeting will receive a $100 (US$) travel stipend, courtesy of Newport Laboratories and the AASV Foundation! To qualify, you must be a current Student AASV Member AND you must pre-register for the meeting by February 15. Pick up your check in person at the meeting registration desk in San Diego.

Student Breakfast
Enjoy breakfast, compliments of the AASV, on Sunday, March 9 at 6:30 am in Harbor Island I at the Sheraton San Diego hotel. Meet and visit with students and faculty advisors from veterinary colleges across the country and around the world.

Student Pre-conference Seminar
For several years now, the AASV has offered a very popular pre-conference seminar designed especially for new and soon-to-be veterinarians. This year’s program features presentations by young veterinarians who understand the challenges facing new graduates entering the swine industry today. In lieu of written materials, participants will receive a CD of information and utilities assembled especially for the swine vet in training. Registration is free for veterinary students and '06 and '07 DVM graduates. Here is this year's program, designed and chaired by Drs. Brian Payne and Larry Firkins:

Seminar #9: Swine Production and Medicine for Veterinary Students
Sunday, March 9, 2008
8:00 am – 12:00 noon
Location: Harbor Island II

This session will be interactive throughout the program so come ready to participate and contribute. Learn what actions you can take today to allow you to be better prepared for your first years in practice. Swine veterinarians will be presenting practical information and providing useful resources to veterinary students in the areas of both swine production and swine medicine. The objective of this session is to allow all students to become familiar with many basic aspects of swine practice by introducing the day-to-day decision making that will be required of them upon graduation.

8:00     Send in the clowns – Larry Firkins
8:30     Individual pig care – Shelley Stanford
8:55     This little piggy went to market – Brian Payne
9:20     Suis-cides and more – Kevin Vilaca
9:45     BREAK
10:15   You’re the boss, continued – Sarah Probst-Miller
10:45   Managing sow herd disease – Cameron Schmitt
11:05   Creating a vaccination protocol – Jason Kelly
11:30   Roundtable Q & A – All speakers
12:00   Seminar concludes

Pre-conference Seminars
Students may register for the numbered pre-conference seminars free-of-charge. Please indicate your selections and mark N/C in the fee area on the registration form so space and materials can be reserved for you. You may register for one seminar on Saturday and one on Sunday.

Student Poster Session
Sixteen veterinary students will present research and case studies in poster format on Sunday, March 9 in the Grande Foyer and Monday March 10 in the Pavilion. The display begins at 12:00 noon on Sunday, with the poster authors available for discussion until 1:00 pm. The posters will be available for viewing until 5:00 pm Monday. Alpharma Animal Health generously provides a $250 stipend to each participating poster author.

Student Seminar
Some say the best presentations of the meeting are made during the AASV Student Seminar on Sunday afternoon (March 9, 1:00 pm in Grande A). On the basis of submitted abstracts, 15 students have been selected to make presentations of research, case studies, and literature reviews. Alpharma Animal Health sponsors this session and provides a $750 travel stipend to each student presenter. The students' oral and written presentations are judged, and a $5,000 scholarship, funded by Alpharma, is awarded to the top presentation. Elanco Animal Health provides $20,000 to fund 14 additional scholarships of varying amounts to the runners-up.

Intervet Student Reception
Don’t miss the Student Reception sponsored by Intervet on Sunday, March 9 in Grande A from 8:30 - 11:00 pm. You’ll find plenty of snacks & beverages along with great entertainment. 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
The announcement of the recipients of the AASV Foundation Veterinary Student Scholarships, funded by Alpharma Animal Health and Elanco Animal Health, takes place during the AASV Luncheon at 12:00 noon on Monday, March 10 in the Pavilion. Join the AASV in recognizing and congratulating all of the Student Seminar participants.