Thank you for the opportunity to serve the AASV membership on the executive team. I will try to keep my journal comments timely and bring to the members additional comments on the needs we see and hear from the swine production and pharmaceutical industries.
We are a diverse group of professionals with the common goal of continuous improvement for the health, welfare, and performance of the pig. The AASV Annual Meeting is the best place to learn from each other. We are fortunate to have outstanding scientists and practitioners in the association willing to present their work. We all grow when we learn together. Because of the magnitude of the challenges we face, it would be futile to believe any one veterinarian could solve these difficult problems alone.
Significant challenges face our members and our clients given the clear and present risks of foreign animal disease and the growing problems of serious infectious disease. As we continue to protect our herds, we must keep in mind the need to develop teams and protocols to appropriately jump into action. Only by working together can we learn the best processes for prevention of disease and control of outbreaks. We simply do not have time to learn from these serious infectious disease problems on our own. If you are reading this issue after attending the AASV Annual Meeting, I hope that you returned home with motivation to get to the heavy lifting of disease control and elimination, as well as the drive to get all your clients enrolled and prepared with the US Swine Health Improvement Plan.
The AASV Annual Meeting is an excellent opportunity to showcase our profession to students and early-career veterinarians. I like to start the meeting with an outline of who to meet and what to learn, and then work on the list throughout the sessions. We all know hallway talk is a great way to network and learn greater detail about the issues of the day. I can remember meetings in the past where I came away with several pages of notes from discussions with other veterinarians in the business.
Please make the most of your time at the meeting and connecting with members of the association. There is much to be gained from sharing our successes and failures with each other. We also owe it to the new AASV members to provide our time and listen to their needs. I challenge you to carry the motivation and personal connections all throughout the year. Remember that AASV resources, such as the website, e-Letter, and social media channels, are always available to provide routine connections with fellow AASV members. In the next JSHAP issue, I will discuss the value of building a trusted team of professional advisors around you. Our association has made the decision to offer mentorship services, especially to our younger members. I appreciate the opportunity to serve the association and I look forward to the continued success of the AASV and the swine veterinary profession.
William L Hollis, DVM
AASV President-elect