The AASV honored three members for their contributions to the association and the swine industry. Dr. Lisa Tokach, 2002 AASV president, presented the awards at the AASV annual meeting in Kansas City, Missouri, March 4-7.
Dr. Mark FitzSimmons (MN ’87), Eagle Lake, Minn., was named the 2006 Swine Practitioner of the Year. The award, given annually since 1977, recognizes swine practitioners who demonstrate exceptional service to their veterinary clients. It is the association’s top honor. Dr. FitzSimmons is the owner of MAF Veterinary Services, a swine consulting practice that he established three years ago. He is also a partner in the family farm-associated business, Protein Sources. Previously, Dr. FitzSimmons worked for Swine Graphics in Webster City, Iowa, where he became an expert in segregated production techniques. He is recognized for his early adoption and use of serum therapy for control of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome. A native of Minnesota, Dr. FitzSimmons grew up on a progressive family swine farm in Good Thunder, Minnesota.
Dr. Jim Collins (MN ’78), White Bear Lake, Minn., was awarded the Howard Dunne Memorial Award for his contributions and outstanding service to the association and the swine industry. Dr. Collins is a professor and director of the University of Minnesota Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, one of the nation’s busiest, processing more than 1.3 million samples annually. Dr. Collins has served the U.S. swine industry through his pioneering research on porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome, and was recognized for those efforts by the U.S. Animal Health Association in 1992. From 1995 to 1997, he was chair of the AASV’s subcommittee on porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome. He has led a number of leadership positions in the American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians, the North Central Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians, and the Minnesota Veterinary Medical Association.
Dr. Cate Dewey (Guelph ’79), Guelph, Ontario, received the Meritorious Service Award; in recognition of the time and effort she has consistently given to the association. During the award presentation, Dr. Robert Friendship, professor and colleague, accepted the award on behalf of Dr. Dewey who is on sabbatical doing a research project on cysticercosis with scientists at the International Research and Livestock Institute in Nairobi, Kenya. Dr. Dewey is a professor in the department of population medicine at the Ontario Veterinary College at the University of Guelph (Canada). She is an adjunct faculty member at the University of Nebraska (United States). Dr. Dewey is the executive editor of the Journal of Swine Health and Production, a peer-reviewed publication of the American Association of Swine Veterinarians. Active in the AASV since 1984, Dr. Dewey serves on the continuing education committee. She has been on several planning committees for the association’s annual meeting, and co-chaired the collegiate activities committee from 1994 to 1998.