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SMEC Courses Available for Veterinary Students

The Swine Medicine Education Center (SMEC) is accepting enrollment into 4 available courses, SMEC 478A: Swine Production Management and Consultation, SMEC 478B: Swine Clinical Pharmacology and Treatment Management, SMEC 478C: Swine Emerging Diseases Diagnosis and Management, and SMEC 480: Swine Production Medicine Clinical Rotation. There are a limited number of spaces available and a limited number of stipends available to reduce costs for each course. The course dates are listed on the SMEC website at www.smec.iastate.edu. To enroll in a SMEC course please contact Kristin Skoland at kjhammen@iastate.edu or 515-294-7692. SMEC encourages you to register today!

USDA Embraces One Health Approach for Solving Problems Associated with Antimicrobial Resistance

This week is World Antibiotic Awareness Week and USDA remains focused on prolonging the usefulness of a very precious resource—antibiotics. These medicines successfully treat and prevent infectious diseases and must be used responsibly to remain effective to all who need them. USDA also recognizes that antimicrobial resistance, or the ability of bacteria and other microbes to survive the effects of an antibiotic and then proliferate, is a serious threat to both animal health and human health. [Source: Dr. Catherine Woteki, USDA Chief Scientist and Under Secretary for Research, Education and Economics, November 16, 2015]

It’s Time to Renew Your AASV Membership for 2016

The 2016 AASV membership renewal notices have been mailed. Membership may be renewed by mail or online at http://ecom.aasv.org/membership. In exchange for the annual dues of $220, swine veterinarians receive access to the many membership benefits described at www.aasv.org/aasv/membership.html. Full-time graduate students and members who have retired (and who belonged to AASV for at least ten consecutive years) qualify for reduced dues rates. Please contact the AASV if you have any questions regarding your membership status or the renewal materials: aasv@aasv.org or 515-465-5255.

Merck Animal Health to Acquire Harrisvaccines

Merck Animal Health (known as MSD Animal Health outside the United States and Canada) and Harrisvaccines, Inc., today announced the companies have entered into an agreement under which Merck Animal Health will acquire Harrisvaccines, a privately-held company that develops, manufactures and sells vaccines for food production and companion animals. [Source: Merck Animal Health press release, November 12, 2015]

BIVI Announces Changes to Research Award Program

Over the course of 12 years and $1 million in research awards, the Respiratory Disease Research Board (formerly the PRRS Research Review Board), with financial support from Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica, Inc. (BIVI), has helped fund research answering some of producers’ most pressing questions about porcine reproductive and respiratory disease (PRRS). Beginning with awards granted in 2016, the board and BIVI will build on that success by increasing the amount of funding by $10,000 per award.

NPIF Interns Selected

The AASV Student Recruitment Committee reviewed 44 applications for the 2016 National Pork Industry Foundation (NPIF) Internship Program administered by the AASV Foundation. The NPIF has provided funding for six veterinary students to gain experience in the swine industry through a summer internship with a swine practitioner. The NPIF stipends are intended for any 1st or 2nd year veterinary student, regardless of any previous swine experiences.