Swine Veterinary Internship Program - Behind Every Good Intern is a Great Mentor

April 25, 2018 — 

The Swine Veterinary Internship Program (SVIP) is heading into its twelfth year for summer 2018. The program affords veterinary students with an interest in swine medicine unique opportunities to interact with pork producers and veterinarians in field settings, network with swine industry veterinarians, conduct a research project and present the findings at the AASV Annual Meeting. Last summer, internships were sponsored by Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica, Inc., Zoetis, Merck Animal Health, Elanco, Pharmacosmos and Tonisity. Acceptance into the program is highly competitive. [Source: Submitted by Christine Mowrer and Derald Holtkamp, SVIP]

Since its inception in 2006 through summer 2017, a total of 159 students representing 18 U.S. and 1 international veterinary college have participated in the program. Eleven of this year's 15 oral presentations and 4 of the 15 posters in the poster competition at the 2018 AASV Annual Meeting were presented by students who were in SVIP last summer. SVIP interns earned a total of $21,300 in scholarships this year, including $5,000 awarded for the first-place oral presentation. SVIP participants have earned a total of $126,300 in scholarships through the competition since 2006.

The scholarships along with weekly stipends the interns receive help ease the financial pressure of obtaining a veterinary degree. Exposure to the industry and the numerous networking opportunities lead these students to finding jobs easily upon graduation, often with a higher starting salary since they already have a reputation among employers. "I learned about the nursery/finishing side of swine production as well as disease management, marketing, and packing plant," reports Kayla Henness, a two-time SVIP participant. "I was able to collect samples for diagnostics, assist in herd health visits, and learned how to analyze and organize data using Excel. My summer solidified my decision to pursue swine medicine as a career. The mentorship I received was very valuable when scheduling my fourth year externships and as I look to future employment options. I am fortunate to have had such a wonderful experience with SVIP, my host and sponsor over the summer and am excited to enter this industry after graduation."

The success of SVIP has been dependent on the time and effort of volunteers and resources contributed by multiple parties. Each intern is paired with a mentoring team consisting of at least one veterinarian or AASV member from the hosting practice or production system and one or more technical services or industry veterinarian(s) from a sponsoring company. Not only do they help students develop professionally but many also provide housing or meals and share their families and personal activities which gives a glimpse into balancing life and work - something that can't be experienced in a classroom.

Here's a list of summer 2017 SVIP mentors and the students they impacted:

• Jeremy Pittman and Al Scheidt - Amanda Anderson, Iowa State University
• Deb Murray and Amanda Sponheim - Jake Baker, Iowa State University
• Daniel Linhares and Derald Holtkamp - Kim Baker, Iowa State University
• Ross Kiehne, Ava Firth and Paul Smith - Stephanie Betbeze, Lincoln Memorial
• Adam Schelkopf and Tom Painter - Megan Bloemer, University of Illinois
• Elise Toohill and Micah Jansen - Jewell Bremer, North Carolina State University
• Wesley Lyons and Noel Garbes - Alexandria Bufford, Tuskegee
• Jim Lowe and John Waddell - Brandi Burton, University of Illinois
• Maria Pieters and Bob Evelsizer - Bryant Chapman, Virginia Maryland Regional
• Pete Thomas and Rick Swalla - CJ Fitzgerald, Iowa State University
• Mark Thompson, Amy Maschhoff, Chris Olsen - Lindsay Fredericks, Iowa State University
• Kate Dion and Rick Swalla - Kayla Henness, University of Illinois
• Chris Sievers, Brad Leuwerke, Jana Morgan - Taylor Homann, University of Minnesota
• Sara Hough and Gene Nemechek - Megan Hood, North Carolina State University
• Amber Stricker and Jack Creel - Allison Knox, University of Illinois
• Brad Leuwerke, Sam Holst, Greg Armbruster - Evan Koep, Iowa State University
• Jianqiang Zhang and Derald Holtkamp - Rita Neat, Iowa State University
• Jamie Lehman and Kelly Greiner - Megan Nickel, Iowa State University
• Josh Duff and Gene Nemechek - Elizabeth Noblett, North Carolina State University
• Pete Lasley and Doug King - Shelby Perkins, University of Missouri
• Mark Wagner and Abbie Redalen - Abby Ruane, Iowa State University
• Laura Dalquist, Tyler Te Grotenhuis, Steve Tousignant - Marjorie Schleper, University of Minnesota
• Adam Schelkopf and Tom Wetzell - Rachel Schulte, Iowa State University
• Aaron Lower, Laura Greiner, Luis Ochoa, John Waddell - Mikalah Smith, Iowa State University
• Ethan Spronk and Noel Garbes - Joel Steckelberg, Iowa State University
• Christa Goodell and Derald Holtkamp - Rachel Stika, Iowa State University
• Attila Farkas, Luis Ochoa, Laura Greiner, Micah Jansen - Grzegorz Tarasiuk, University Centre of Veterinary Medicine UJ-UR Cracow, Poland
• Luis Ochoa, Brett O'Brien, Kelly Greiner - Katrina Troppy, Oklahoma State University
• Emily Byers and Justin Cagle - Jonathan Tubbs, Auburn

Several of these mentors worked with more than one student and almost all of them have taken a student or students under their wing for many years. The long hours, extra time and effort above and beyond their regular responsibilities is a key component to the continued success of the program.

Thank you to all who've contributed to the program and to the students!

To view a list of the most recent AASV student competition scholarship recipients, please click here. Click here for more information about the program.