As part of its mission to fund research with direct application to the profession, the American Association of Swine Veterinarians Foundation seeks research proposals for funding in 2011. Proposals are due February 1, 2011, and may request a maximum of $6000 (US$) per project. The selection and announcement of projects for funding will take place in March.

Proposed research must fit into one of the five action areas stated in the AASV Foundation mission (see sidebar).

Proposals must also contain the following:

1. Identification of the issue.
2. Background information.
3. Description of the project.
4. Timeline.
5. Budget.
6. Plan to apply results for maximum return to swine veterinarians, veterinary students, or both.

No project timeline is to exceed 12 months. A final report will be due within 60 days of stated project completion. For more information, or to submit a proposal, contact AASV Foundation, 830 26th Street, Perry, IA 50220; Tel: 515-465-5255; Fax: 515-465-3832; E-mail: aasv@aasv.org.

Applications invited for Hogg Scholarship

The American Association of Swine Veterinarians Foundation is pleased to offer the Hogg Scholarship, established to honor the memory of longtime AASV member and swine industry leader Dr Alex Hogg. Applications for the $10,000 scholarship will be accepted until February 1, 2011, and the scholarship recipient will be announced on March 6 during the Foundation Luncheon at the AASV 2011 Annual Meeting in Phoenix.

The intent of the scholarship is to assist a swine veterinarian in his or her efforts to return to school for graduate education (resulting in a master’s degree or higher) in an academic field of study related to swine health and production.

Dr Alex Hogg’s career serves as the ideal model for successful applicants. After 20 years in mixed-animal practice, Dr Hogg pursued a master’s degree in veterinary pathology. He subsequently became Nebraska swine extension veterinarian and professor at the University of Nebraska. Upon “retirement,” Dr Hogg capped off his career with his work for MVP Laboratories. Always an enthusiastic learner, at age 75 he graduated from the Executive Veterinary Program offered at the University of Illinois.

The scholarship application requirements are outlined below, and on the AASV website at https://www.aasv.org/foundation/hoggscholarship.htm.

Hogg Scholarship application requirements

An applicant for the Hogg Scholarship shall have:

Five or more years of experience as a swine veterinarian, either in a private practice or in an integrated production setting;

Five or more years of continuous membership in the American Association of Swine Veterinarians.

Applicants are required to submit the following for consideration as a Hogg Scholar:

Current curriculum vitae;

Letter of intent detailing his or her plans for graduate education and future plans for participation and employment within the swine industry;

Two letters of reference from AASV members attesting to the applicant’s qualifications to be a Hogg Scholar.

Applications and requests for information may be addressed to AASV Foundation, 830 26th Street, Perry, IA 50220; Tel: 515-465-5255; E-mail: aasv@aasv.org.

Prepare to bid at the AASV Foundation Auction!

As swine veterinarians prepare for their first meeting in the Grand Canyon State, it’s only fitting that the AASV Foundation has assembled a “grand” assortment of items for the annual fundraising auction! As in the past, a silent auction will be held during the day on Monday, March 7, and the live auction will take place at the end of the Monday evening awards reception.

Thanks to the generosity and creativity of AASV members and sponsors, there is something for everyone to bid on, from pig collectibles and artwork to vacation trips, sporting events, and hunting and fishing adventures. The complete list of items up for bid is online at www.aasv.org/foundation/2011/auctionlist.htm. Take a look, and make your bidding plans now! Anyone can bid; those who won’t be present at the meeting in Phoenix may contact the AASV office prior to the meeting to place bids.

Since all of the items have been donated, the full amount of the auction proceeds will benefit AASV Foundation programs that include swine externship grants, the Hogg scholarship, swine research, travel stipends for veterinary students, support for an AASV summer intern, and more.

The 2011 Auction Committee is chaired by Dr Warren Wilson, and includes the following AASV members: Drs Matt Anderson, Butch Baker, John Baker, Joe Connor, Tom Gillespie, Peggy Anne Hawkins, Rod Johnson, Darrell Neuberger, Daryl Olsen, Max Rodibaugh, Larry Rueff, Harold Tilstra, and Tom Wetzell. The foundation is grateful for their enthusiastic support of this major fundraising effort!

Six veterinary students to receive NPIF internship stipends

The AASV Foundation and the AASV Student Recruitment Committee are pleased to announce the recipients of the 2010–2011 National Pork Industry Foundation (NPIF) veterinary internship stipends. Six first-year and second-year veterinary students were selected from a pool of 88 applicants to receive the $3300 stipends. The recipients are Joshua Barker, Mississippi State University; Samantha Haw, University of California-Davis; Kevin Maschek, University of Florida; John Prickett, Iowa State University; Marlene Tremblay, University of Wisconsin; and Brian Warr, University of Georgia.

The NPIF veterinary internship stipend program, now in its third year, links each recipient with a swine practitioner-mentor with whom they will spend a 1-month internship during the summer of 2011. The NPIF stipend of $3300 per student defrays the cost of travel, lodging, and compensation during the 1-month internship. Additionally, the interns are encouraged to utilize their practitioner-mentor as a resource throughout the year, and to attend the AASV Annual Meeting and Leman Swine Conference in an effort to increase their knowledge and exposure to swine medicine. Each intern submits a written report and evaluation upon completion of the program.

The AASV Student Recruitment Committee developed the NPIF veterinary internship stipend program in an effort to attract veterinary students to swine medicine and to provide interested students with exposure to the life of a swine veterinarian. Funding for the program – $20,000 per year for 3 years – is provided by the National Pork Industry Foundation, a charitable corporation that promotes activities in the swine industry related to research and education. The funds are administered by the AASV Foundation.