If you haven’t used the AASV Web site lately, it’s time to visit www.aasv.org. After more than a year of planning and effort, the redesigned AASV Web site debuted on September 1. In addition to a cosmetic makeover, the new site features reorganized menus to provide increased visibility of, and easy access to, its vast and varied content.
The changes are most noticeable on the Web site’s home page, where a three-tabbed, rotating photo draws attention to featured news and information. To the right of the photo block, recent AASV news headlines appear, with a “More News…” link for access to previous news stories (a single click brings up older headlines one screenful at a time; a double click accesses the entire AASV news archive). Beneath the photo block, the “Quick Links” and “Advocacy” sections enable one-click access to items of particular member interest.
Links to site “essentials” are located in the top bar of the banner, in the upper right. These often-sought items include the site map, AASV contact details, the membership directory, and the password-reset utility. The real workhorse of the site, the search bar, also resides here. This valuable utility searches the content of the entire AASV Web site, including JSHAP articles, Swine Information Library papers, AASV Web pages, and news articles.
Six menu options comprise the banner’s main menu bar. Three of the options – Journal, Publications, and Meetings – are very similar to their counterparts in the former site design. The other three menus have undergone significant revision. The “AASV” menu offers access to association contact details, the membership application/renewal form, committee pages, board meeting minutes, position statements, and awards. The AASV menu also provides a link to the AASV Foundation Web page. The “Member Center” is the portal for members and students to manage AASV membership preferences, access the membership directory, and explore career services. The “Resources” menu provides easy access to online member resources – including content libraries (JSHAP, images, podcasts, videos, swine information, etc) and topical veterinary resources (swine diseases, welfare, antimicrobial use, and more). Previously, members had to log in or navigate several menus before they could “see” many of these resources – now they’re in full view and just a click away!
The revised menus are repeated throughout the inner pages of the Web site. The style of the entire site has also been updated with a new font, color palette, and center-of-the-screen format.
The effort to improve the Web site appearance and navigation was led by AASV’s Director of Communications Dr Harry Snelson, with the assistance of AASV Communications Committee Chair Dr Angie Supple, Graphic Designer Tina Smith, and AASV Associate Director Sue Schulteis. However, the real work of implementing the desired features while preserving Web site functionality across multiple browser types and versions was performed by Webmaster/ IT Specialist David Brown. Dave’s dedication to AASV’s online presence dates back to AASP’s first Web site in 1996. The last major revision of the site took place in 2002.
As always, comments and suggestions for improvements may be directed to aasv@aasv.org or webmaster@aasv.org.
Accreditation renewal
The US Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has announced that its National Veterinary Accreditation Program (NVAP) is scheduled to begin the veterinary accreditation renewal process for some accredited veterinarians. See http://www.aphis.usda.gov/newsroom/2012/05/nvap_renewal.shtml.
Veterinarians whose accreditation renewal dates (ARDs) are in January 2013 should have begun receiving e-mail reminders of their upcoming ARD in July 2012. Visit the NVAP Web site at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/animal_health/vet_accreditation/ for additional program information. You may also send e-mail inquiries regarding accreditation to NVAP@aphis.usda.gov.
All accredited veterinarians must ensure that their contact information on file is up-to-date. If your contact information has changed, please submit VS Form 1-36A to the Area Office which oversees the state where you practice. The form, a directory of Area Offices, and more useful information may be found at www.aphis.usda.gov/animal_health/vet_accreditation/ accred_vets.shtml.
Nominate exceptional colleagues for AASV awards
Do you know an AASV member whose dedication to the association and the swine industry is worthy of recognition? The AASV Awards Committee requests nominations for the following five awards to be presented at the upcoming AASV Annual Meeting in San Diego.
Howard Dunne Memorial Award – Given annually to an AASV member who has made a significant contribution and rendered outstanding service to the AASV and the swine industry.
Meritorious Service Award – Given annually to an individual who has consistently given time and effort to the association in the area of service to the AASV members, AASV officers, and the AASV staff.
Swine Practitioner of the Year – Given annually to the swine practitioner (AASV member) who has demonstrated an unusual degree of proficiency in the delivery of veterinary service to his or her clients.
Technical Services/Allied Industry Veterinarian of the Year – Given annually to the technical services or allied industry veterinarian who has demonstrated an unusual degree of proficiency and effectiveness in the delivery of veterinary service to his or her company and its clients as well as given tirelessly in service to the AASV and the swine industry.
Young Swine Veterinarian of the Year – Given annually to a swine veterinarian who is an AASV member, 5 years or less post graduation, who has demonstrated the ideals of exemplary service and proficiency early in his or her career.
Nominations are due December 14. The nomination letter should specify the award and cite the qualifications of the candidate for the award. Submit to: AASV, 830 26th Street, Perry, IA 50220-2328; Fax: 515-465-3832; E-mail: aasv@aasv.org.
Call for papers – AASV 2013 Student Seminar
The American Association of Swine Veterinarians announces an opportunity for veterinary students to make a scientific presentation at the AASV Annual Meeting in San Diego, California, on Sunday, March 3, 2013. Interested students are invited to submit a 1-page abstract of a research paper, clinical case study, or literature review for consideration. The submitting student must be a current (2012-2013) student member of the AASV at the time of submission.
Abstracts and supplementary materials must be received by Dr Alex Ramirez (alex@aasv.org) by 11:59 pm Central Daylight Time on Monday, September 24, 2012 (firm deadline). All material must be submitted electronically. Late abstracts will not be considered. You should receive an e-mail confirming the receipt of your submission. If you do not receive this confirmation e-mail, you must contact Dr Alex Ramirez (alex@aasv.org) by Wednesday, September 26, 2012, with supporting evidence that the submission was made in time; otherwise your submission will not be considered for judging. The abstracts will be reviewed by an unbiased professional panel consisting of a private practitioner, an academician, and an industry veterinarian. Fifteen abstracts will be selected for oral presentation in the Student Seminar at the AASV Annual Meeting. Students whose papers are selected will be notified by October 15, 2012, and will be expected to provide the complete paper or abstract, reformatted for publication, by November 15, 2012.
To help defray the costs of attending the AASV meeting, Pfizer Animal Health provides a $750 honorarium to the student presenter of each paper selected for oral presentation during the Student Seminar.
Veterinary student scholarships
Each veterinary student whose paper is selected for oral presentation also competes for one of several veterinary student scholarships awarded through the AASV Foundation. The oral presentations will be judged to determine the amount of the scholarship awarded. Pfizer Animal Health funds a $5000 scholarship for the student whose paper, oral presentation, and supporting information are judged best overall. Eli Lilly and Company Foundation, on behalf of Elanco Animal Health, provides $20,000 in additional funding, enabling the AASV Foundation to award $2500 each for 2nd through 5th place, $1500 each for 6th through 10th place, and $500 each for 11th through 15th place.
Abstracts that are not selected for oral presentation in the Student Seminar will be considered for participation in a poster session at the annual meeting. Pfizer and the AASV fund a stipend of $250 for each student who is selected and participates in the poster competition. In addition, Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica, Inc provides financial support for the Veterinary Student Poster Competition. The presenters of the top 15 poster abstracts compete for awards ranging from $200 to $500.
Complete information for preparing and submitting abstracts is available on the AASV Web site at aasv.org/annmtg/2013/studentseminar.htm. Please note: the rules for submission should be followed carefully. For more information, contact the AASV office (Tel: 515-465-5255; Fax: 515-465-3832; E-mail: aasv@aasv.org).
44th AASV Annual Meeting: Call for submissions – Industrial Partners session
The American Association of Swine Veterinarians invites submissions for the Industrial Partners portion of the 44th AASV Annual Meeting, to be held March 2-5, 2013, in San Diego, California. This is an opportunity for commercial companies to make brief presentations of a technical, educational nature to members of the AASV.
As in the past, the oral sessions will consist of a series of 15-minute presentations scheduled from 1:00 to 5:00 pm on Sunday afternoon, March 3. A poster session will take place on the same day. Poster authors will be required to be stationed with their posters from 12:00 noon until 1:00 pm, and the posters will remain on display throughout the afternoon and the following day for viewing by meeting attendees.
Restricted program space necessitates a limit on the number of presentations per company. Companies that are members of the Journal of Swine Health and Production Industry Support Council (listed on the back cover of each issue of the journal) may submit two topics for oral presentation. All other companies may submit one topic for oral presentation. Each company may also submit one topic for poster presentation (poster topics may not duplicate oral presentations). All topics must represent information not previously presented at the AASV Annual Meeting or published in the meeting proceedings.
Topic titles, a brief description of the presentation content, and presenter information (name, address, telephone and fax numbers, e-mail address) must be received in the AASV office by October 1, 2012. Please identify whether the submission is intended for oral or poster presentation. Send submissions via mail, fax, or e-mail to Commercial Sessions, AASV, 830 26th Street, Perry, IA 50220-2328; Fax: 515-465-3832; E-mail: aasv@aasv.org.
Authors will be notified of their acceptance by October 15, 2012, and must submit the paper for publication in the meeting proceedings by November 15, 2012. All presentations – oral and poster – will be published in the proceedings of the meeting. Papers for poster presentations are limited to one page of text plus one table or figure. Papers for oral presentations may be up to five pages in length (including tables and figures) when formatted according to the guidelines provided to authors upon acceptance of their presentation. Companies failing to submit papers in a timely manner will not be eligible for future participation in these sessions.
Consider switching to electronic CVIs
If you are still submitting handwritten certificates of veterinary inspection (CVIs), you should consider switching to one of the electronic services now available and accepted in all 50 states. The USDA offers a free service that will get the job done, or you can opt for an online for-fee service offered by GlobalVetLINK. Whichever service you choose, submitting CVIs electronically is the way to go.
The USDA’s Veterinary Services Process Streamlining (VSPS) Interstate Module, through which an accredited veterinarian can create online CVIs, has recently been modified and enhanced on the basis of feedback from accredited veterinarians.
Some of the enhanced features include the following:
• An animal upload capability that allows an Excel spreadsheet or CSV file of animal information to be uploaded with multiple animal identifiers;
• The capability for a user to create a number of CVI templates and certificate statements and save them to an account for future use;
• Storage and access to commonly shipped individual animal or group descriptions for one-click data entry on future documents;
• Rapid addition of laboratory tests and vaccination information to each individual animal or a group of animals;
• Accredited veterinarians and laboratories can enter and process Coggins forms for multiple horses at one time;
• Quick-copy auto-fill feature that allows copying of age, breed, sex, test results, and more from one animal to all the following animals with just one click. If sequential identification numbers are being used, it can “add 1” to each subsequent line; and
• Storage of an electronic copy of an issued CVI for future reference.
More information about the Interstate Module in VSPS can soon be found at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/animal_health/vet_accreditation/accred_vets.shtml.
In addition to the USDA system, GlobalVetLINK (http://www.globalvetlink.com/our-solutions/healthlink-digital-animal-health-certification-system) offers a for-fee online solution that enables animal-health practitioners to quickly and accurately create and submit certificates of veterinary inspection.
No matter which system you choose, there are many benefits when you create an electronic CVI:
• It saves time!
• They’re much easier to read than paper forms.
• They assist state health officials in tracking livestock movements in and out of their states.
• They’re easily searchable to find animal identification and to locate animal certificates.
• Provides a real-time traceability solution for food safety and disease prevention and control.
• You can electronically store all of your documents in one place.
• It’s easier to share information with state and other animal-health officials.
• It’s easier to share documents between practice members.
Source: USDA and GlobalVetLINK.