The AASV Board of Directors and committee chairpersons met virtually on September 29^th for a review of AASV committee activities. The AASV Board of Directors met virtually on September 30^th to conduct official business. The following are highlights from the meetings:

• Committee leaders agreed to hold virtual committee meetings prior to the 2022 annual meeting. Schedules are posted on the committee webpages: aasv.org/aasv/committee. Committees will also meet in Indianapolis on Saturday, February 26^th.
• The launch of the reorganized, responsive AASV website is anticipated to occur around the time of the 2022 AASV Annual Meeting.
• The Board took the following actions:
  • Approved the description for the new Outstanding Swine Academic of the Year Award: aasv.org/aasv/academic_award.
  • Granted a request from the PRRS Task Force for up to $10,000 in expenses related to preparing a clinical case definition based on key production indicators for each PRRSV classification status.
  • Approved revisions to the Hygiene, and Sanitation Guidelines for Boar Studs Providing Semen to the Domestic Market - aasv.org/members/only/BoarStudGuidelines.pdf.
  • Approved a request from the Collegiate Activities Committee to submit a manuscript to Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association describing swine veterinary education.
  • Approved the Collegiate Activities Committee’s request to survey US veterinary colleges about swine medicine education.
  • Approved the mission proposed for the newly established Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee: To promote a socially conscious organizational culture that affirms the value of diversity, equity, and inclusion. To increase diversity, equity, and inclusion awareness among members and students through education and outreach. To make recommendations that result in a comprehensive effort to enhance diversity, equity, and inclusion within the AASV and the communities that we serve through actionable goals with defined timelines.
  • Approved the document Recommendations for the Depopulation of Swine.
  • Approved the Pig Welfare Committee’s request to submit a letter to NPPC regarding fetal depopulation indemnification.
  • Approved proposed modifications of the AASV position statement on Anti-abuse.
• The Board approved an increase in membership dues to $280 and an increase in Annual Meeting registration fees by $30.
• Dr Harry Snelson described the continually increasing costs associated with in-person meetings, especially in the areas of food and beverage and audiovisual equipment.
• The program for the 2022 AASV Annual Meeting, Defining our Future, chaired by Dr Mike Senn, is available online at aasv.org/annmtg. Planning continues for an in-person annual meeting in Indianapolis February 26-March 1, 2022.
• Dr Angela Baysinger was nominated to run for the office of AASV Vice President.

Read the complete minutes of the Board meeting at aasv.org/members/only/board/board_f21.

View each committee’s fall report on the committee webpages. Interested in joining a committee? Contact the AASV office by email, aasv@aasv.org, or phone, 515-465-5255.

AVMA Committee and Council positions open

The AASV designates representatives for several committees of the American Veterinary Medical Association. Current representatives are listed at aasv.org/members/only/AVMAreps. Visit avma.org/membership/volunteering-avma/avma-volunteer-opportunities-vacancies for more details and descriptions of each committee. Several committees have openings; please contact the AASV office (aasv@aasv.org; 515-465-5255) if you are interested in representing AASV.

Early Career Discussion Forum

The Early Career Discussion Forum, created by the Early Career Swine Veterinarian Committee in 2021, is a resource for early career AASV members. This space can be used for peer-to-peer support as early career veterinarians navigate their way through the first several years in swine medicine, no matter what type of career in which they find themselves. Discussions center around pig health and production, business and finance, and personal and professional growth and development.

To access the Early Career Discussion Forum, visit early.aasv.org to login in with your AASV email and password and get your conversations started!  

First AASV Early Career Swine Veterinarian Conference held November 5

To encourage and support swine veterinarians in the early stages of their careers, AASV held the first-ever Early Career Swine Veterinarian Conference on November 5^th in Ames, Iowa, in conjunction with the Iowa State University James D. McKean Swine Disease Conference.

The AASV Early Career Committee, established in 2020, planned the conference to offer a welcoming, interactive setting where early career veterinarians could socialize, collaborate, and communicate with others working in swine veterinary medicine. The half-day conference was intended for AASV members who have received their veterinary degree within the past ten years.

Dr Larry Firkins opened the conference with a discussion about leadership. By using an interactive demonstration, he described that the culture of an organization is revealed by what it does and not necessarily what it says. Dr Doug Groth reminded the audience that their retirements were right around the corner in his presentation about personal and professional finances.

The second half of the afternoon included scientific presentations. Drs Jeremy Pittman and Kurt Kuecker described unique cases encountered in swine practice. Dr Pittman encouraged veterinarians to never stop learning by reading about cases they recently diagnosed. Dr Kuecker stressed that veterinarians should always verify a process is done correctly. Dr Mike Eisenmenger emphasized that swine veterinarians must know about ventilation.

Conference recordings are available in the AASV video library: aasv.org/members/only/video/.

The afternoon’s educational presentations were followed by an evening social gathering at a local restaurant, sponsored by Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health and Merck Animal Health.