Opportunity for Veterinary Students to attend Leman Swine Conference - Apply by June 15!

June 9, 2010 — National Pork Board

The National Pork Board is sponsoring an exciting opportunity for veterinary students with an interest in Swine Production Medicine! How would you like to:

• Meet students from other veterinary schools interested in swine medicine?

• Attend one of the nation's premier swine conferences at no cost?

• Discuss social issues facing the pork industry and food animal medicine?

• Receive training on public speaking and answers to questions raised by those opposed to animal production medicine?

• Learn more about effective risk communication?

• Gain opportunities for future leadership on pork production issues?

We face questions regularly on such topics as the use of antibiotics in production, animal welfare and the potential environmental impacts of pork production. In addition, the recent H1N1 influenza pandemic has demonstrated how important risk communication is when communicating to a public that knows very little about animal agriculture. In the future, as a veterinarian working with pork producers you may be expected to answer some of those concerns. The National Pork Board is sponsoring an Allen D. Leman Swine Conference pre-conference workshop for up to 15 veterinary students from around the U.S. to learn more about these issues and develop new skills. Armed with knowledge on these issues, you will then undergo professional media training that will prepare you to discuss these issues one-on-one, with a group or even with a reporter.

This session, which is being coordinated by the Center for Food Security and Defense, will be held all day on Saturday, September 18th and the morning of September 19th in St. Paul, Minn, in conjunction with the University of Minnesota's Allen D. Leman Swine Conference. The National Pork Board will provide funding for travel (mileage or airfare depending on location) and a stipend for hotel lodging. The Leman Conference is providing free registration for veterinary students. We plan on having no more than 1-2 students per veterinary school in attendance to provide you a chance to meet students from other schools.

If this is an opportunity that interests you, please email Bryant Carlson at carl2623@umn.edu by June 15. Please include your contact information, what year you are in veterinary school and also a brief description of your interest in swine production medicine. Preference will be given to students that will be in their second year of veterinary school in 2010-2011, but others will be invited if qualified second year students do not apply from your school. We will collect applications from interested students and let you know by mid-July if you have been selected to attend, and also provide you travel details at that time.

We sincerely hope that you consider participating in this unique opportunity. If you have further questions, feel free to email or call - carl2623@umn.edu or 612-626-5038.