AASV Honors Awardees at Annual Meeting

March 13, 2019 — 

The American Association of Swine Veterinarians (AASV) honored five members for their contributions to the association and the swine industry. Dr Ron Brodersen, 2015 AASV president and chair of the 2019 Awards Selection Committee, introduced the recipients during the association's 50th Annual Meeting in Orlando, Florida.

Swine Practitioner of the Year

Dr William Hollis was named 2019 Swine Practitioner of the Year. The award is given to the swine practitioner who has demonstrated an unusual degree of proficiency and effectiveness in the delivery of veterinary service to clients.

Dr Hollis was born in Bushnell, Illinois, where he attended high school. During 1986-1987, Hollis served as the Illinois FFA president, and the National FFA Vice President during 1988. He received a Bachelor of Science in agriculture and a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (1996) from the University of Illinois.

Hollis is currently a partner and veterinarian of Carthage Veterinary Service (CVS), which consults in over 10 U.S. states and provides consulting services in several other countries. In December 2018, Hollis was elected President of Professional Swine Management, the swine management service company he and other CVS partners founded in 2000.

Recognized by his peers as demonstrating strong proficiency and effectiveness in veterinary service, Hollis understands what constitutes sound science and bases decisions on data and information analysis, diagnostic interpretation, and intervention planning and communication. As a farm management advisor, he strives to build client partnerships that are both sustainable and profitable, facilitates producer family and industry networking, and invests in farm and industry staff training.

Hollis is a Pork Quality Assurance Plus Advisor, served on the National Pork Producers Council's Animal Health Food Security Policy Committee, and served on the National Pork Board's Swine Health Committee. He has served on the American Veterinary Medical Association's House of Delegates representing AASV, on the AASV Board of Directors representing District 5, and continues to serve on the AASV Animal Welfare and Operation Mainstreet Committees. Hollis is an active participant in the AASV/National Pork Board Operation Main Street project giving local presentations to raise awareness about modern pork production.

Asked to comment about receiving this award, Hollis replied, "This is a dream come true to be recognized by my peers in the industry. There have been many people in my life who have helped me continue to grow as a veterinarian and a business owner. My family has supported some crazy long days and time away. I really appreciate the recognition."

Hollis and his wife, Brigit, who is also a veterinarian, have been married 23 years and reside in Hamilton, Illinois. They have an 18-year-old daughter, Bailey, and a 16-year-old son, Ben.

Howard Dunne Memorial Award

Dr Peter Davies received the 2019 Howard Dunne Memorial Award which recognizes an AASV member who has made important contributions and provided outstanding service to the association and the swine industry.

Davies was born and raised in Perth, Western Australia, but in his youth spent much time in the wool and wheat producing region around Newdegate where his grandfather was a pioneer farmer, and for about 50 years his uncle Des Cuff always kept a few pigs for fun. There, he became interested in "all creatures great and small," and never considered a profession other than veterinary medicine.

Davies received a Bachelor of Veterinary Science with Honors from the University of Melbourne in 1975, and a Doctor of Philosophy from the University of Sydney in 1983. He has practiced as a clinical veterinarian in Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and Ireland. During 1984-1986, he worked as a livestock advisor on an agricultural and community health project for small farmers in the northeast of Brazil. During 1987, recognizing the importance of veterinary expertise and specialty with life balance, he became involved in swine research as a senior veterinary officer for the South Australia Department of Agriculture, from where he was recruited to work at the University of Minnesota in 1991.

Davies has educated veterinary students in swine health and production, epidemiology, and food safety at North Carolina State University, Massey University in New Zealand, and the University of Minnesota, where he was the Allen D. Leman Chair of Swine Health and Productivity during 2003-2009. Described as a lifelong learner, Davies has facilitated lifelong learning opportunities for practitioners, including a peer group program titled Epidemiological Skills for Swine Practitioners. Davies and the current Leman Chair, Dr Cesar Corzo, are collaborating to create an updated iteration of that program to commence later in 2019. Davies has served on several National Pork Board and AASV committees, has provided leadership for AASV and Leman Swine conferences, and regularly has been an invited speaker at international meetings on swine health and pork safety.

Dr Davies has an extensive body of research and publications in swine health, antimicrobial use and resistance, and zoonotic and food-borne pathogens, including Salmonella and methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). He is now in the midst of a 5-year NIOSH funded study of infectious disease risks at the human-swine interface. Focused on MRSA, hepatitis E, and influenza, the research participants are practicing AASV members, together with a control group of companion animal veterinarians.

Davies was a member of the International Scientific Committee of the International Research Center in Veterinary Epidemiology, Copenhagen, Denmark during 2000-2007, serves on the Presidential Advisory Council on Combating Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria, and is on the editorial board for the Merck Veterinary Manual.

When asked what it meant to him to receive the Howard Dunne Memorial Award, he responded, "I am humbled and honored to have my name added to the list of Howard Dunne Award recipients - a list of AASV icons, mentors, and friends who have served and guided the swine veterinary community through the years. I am indebted to countless colleagues who have educated me along the way, and to the AASV for including me in its culture of exchanging experiences and lifelong learning - every conversation is an education!"

Davies and his wife, Rebecca, live in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They have two sons, JT and Brendan.

Meritorious Service Award

Dr David Madsen was named the 2019 recipient of the American Association of Swine Veterinarians' Meritorious Service Award. The award recognizes individuals who have provided outstanding service to the AASV.

Born into a Nebraska family that raised purebred Hampshire pigs, Madsen became determined to become a veterinarian after following a local veterinarian on his father's farm. He earned his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine in 1969 from Purdue University. At graduation, he was the only member of his class with an interest in pigs. He was a swine veterinarian and practice owner in Illinois, Indiana, and Missouri, then moved to Nebraska to initiate SwinePro Associates, LLC., in partnership with Jack Anderson, DVM, in 1994. Madsen was also the Director of Health Services for Heartland Pork in Iowa and Premium Standard Farms/Murphy Brown in Missouri and Smithfield in Princeton, Missouri. In his career as a swine veterinarian and producer, Madsen has seen the emergence of many important swine diseases, including atrophic rhinitis, pseudorabies, circovirus, Streptococcus suis, and PRRS.

Madsen attended the pioneer class of the Executive Veterinary Program at the University of Illinois, and achieved Diplomate status of the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners in Swine Health Management in 1995, where he later served 10 years as the Vice-Regent, Credentials.

Madsen became a charter member of the American Association of Swine Practitioners (now AASV) in 1969. He served as a District Director for the AASV Board in 1992 and as AASV president in 2001. He represented AASV in the American Veterinary Medical Association's (AVMA) House of Delegates for 12 years, and was selected to represent all food animal veterinarians on the 7-person committee to write the AVMA Overarching Principles of Animal Welfare. Serving on the AASV Foundation Board, Madsen was integral in the support of future swine veterinarians. He proposed that the Foundation develop a free pre-conference seminar for students and recent graduates by funding the speaker expenses. He planned and moderated the first AASV student pre-conference seminar; that event has grown into one of the best-attended AASV conference seminars. Madsen proposed the phrase, "Ensure Our Future: Leave a Legacy," adopted as the motto by the AASV Foundation Board.

When asked to comment about receiving the award, Madsen responded, "AASV has been a large part of my professional, educational, and personal career, providing lifelong learning and introducing me to a large number of outstanding individuals. Although it took me 23 years to become involved with association tasks, my involvement was both rewarding and enlightening, to say nothing of challenging and entertaining. I would trade my experiences through AASV with no other opportunities."

David and his wife, Sandie, have a daughter, Jenna, who lives in Minnesota with her husband, John, and (grand)daughters Ellie and Sophia. Retired in 2014, David and Sandie live in Dillon, Montana, where he serves as Swine Outreach Coordinator for the Montana Board of Livestock, working with 4-H & FFA groups across the state. He also works as a part-time general practitioner in a mixed practice, and provides surgical services for the local animal shelter.

Young Swine Veterinarian of the Year Award

The American Association of Swine Veterinarian's Young Swine Veterinarian of the Year Award was presented to Dr Paul Thomas. It is given annually to an AASV member five or less years post-graduation who has demonstrated the ideals of exemplary service and proficiency early in his or her career.

Thomas grew up on a farrow to finish swine and row-crop farm near Camanche, Iowa. Family has made a large impact on his career choices. His father encouraged all Thomas children to learn as much science as possible. He has three brothers and a sister-in-law who are all veterinarians; spending time with his older brother, Pete, in the Iowa State University Veterinary Diagnostic Lab solidified his interest in veterinary medicine.

Dr Thomas received a Bachelor of Science in animal science (2009), Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (2013), and a Master of Science in veterinary preventive medicine (2015), all from Iowa State University. He also completed a post-doctoral fellowship with the Swine Medicine Education Center (SMEC) and AMVC Management Services as an associate veterinarian, where he is currently still employed.

At AMVC, Dr Thomas works with sow farms and grow finish pigs within the AMVC system, consults with clients, and supports SMEC operations by teaching 4th year veterinary students and conducting PigPROS seminars to introduce industry stakeholders to the process and constraints of modern pork production. Early in his career, Dr Thomas is a respected role model for students, colleagues, and other young swine veterinarians. As a teacher, he creates a rich, witty, and interactive learning environment for all participants. As a veterinarian, he adapts easily to provide the best service for each client and communicates in a way that caretakers, co-workers, clients, owners, and superiors can all understand, respect, and appreciate.

Upon acceptance of the award, Dr Thomas commented, "I'm very honored to receive this award. I have a great deal of respect for the AASV and my colleagues in this profession, so to be recognized by them means a lot to me. I'm very thankful to the veterinarians and staff I work with at AMVC and SMEC for the incredible mentorship and support I've received from them early in my career and to my wife, Jennifer, for her constant support."

His wife, Jennifer, says, "I am so proud of my husband. As his wife, I know how dedicated he is to his profession, job, and clients. Paul always strives to do the maximum in whatever he is trying to achieve and always puts his clients and others first."

Thomas and Jennifer have a 1-year-old son, Augustin (Gus), and live in Audubon, Iowa.

Technical Services/Allied Industry Veterinarian of the Year Award

Dr Ron White received the 2019 American Association of Swine Veterinarians' Technical Services/Allied Industry Veterinarian of the Year Award. Established in 2008, the award recognizes swine industry veterinarians who have demonstrated an unusual degree of proficiency and effectiveness in delivery of veterinary service to their companies and their clients, as well as given tirelessly in service to the AASV and the swine industry.

Originally from Osceola, Iowa, White helped many farmers in his area, including one who raised timber pasture pigs. He first became interested in science, livestock, and veterinary medicine by growing up on an acreage, raising 4-H projects, and helping a local famer gather, process, and sort pigs. Dr White received his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from Iowa State University in 1990, and completed the Executive Veterinary Program (EVP) at the University of Illinois in 1998.

Beginning his career in mixed animal practice as an associate and owner, Dr White joined Solvay Animal Health as a technical services veterinarian specializing in swine medicine in 1994. He then joined Fort Dodge Animal Health as the Swine Unit Business manager and served as Senior Swine Research Manager. In 2005, Dr White joined Iowa Select farms as Director of Biosecurity and Health before joining Pfizer Animal Health in 2008. Dr White currently serves as Group Director, International Diagnostic Medicine for Zoetis. Dr White has served on a variety of AASV committees, and chaired the AASV Foundation golf outing for many years. Recognizing the importance of student encouragement and inclusion at meetings, Dr White has also reviewed student presentations.

Dr White has presented information on livestock health and production at numerous international and regional meetings. He thoroughly enjoys meeting new veterinarians and producers, understanding different production systems, and investigating methods to improve herd health and production through improved use of diagnostics, and credits the inclusiveness of AASV with providing the connectivity to many contacts.

When asked to comment on what the award meant to him, Dr White said, "I am grateful to receive the 2019 AASV Technical Service/Allied Industry Veterinarian of the year award. I am truly honored and humbled to receive this award. AASV has been a large part of my professional career providing education and interaction at meetings with swine veterinarians from around the world. I would like to thank the AASV membership, my family for their support, and my colleagues for the fantastic technical support network."

White and his wife, Sue, reside in Ames, Iowa, and have two sons, Brady and Trevor.