Given annually to an AASV member employed in academia who has demonstrated excellence in teaching, research, and service to the swine veterinary profession. Faculty members, graduate students, and researchers are eligible to receive this award.
Dr Montserrat Torremorell was named the 2022 recipient of the Outstanding Swine Academic of the Year award. Newly established and presented for the first time this year, the award is given to an AASV member employed in academia who has demonstrated excellence in teaching, research, and service to the swine veterinary profession. Faculty members, graduate students, and researchers are eligible to receive this award.
Torremorell earned her DVM from the University Autonomous of Barcelona and her PhD from the University of Minnesota. With an extensive background in swine health, research, and production systems, including health improvement strategies, disease eradication, diagnostics, biosecurity programs, and health genomics, she joined the University of Minnesota as the Leman Chair in Swine Health and Productivity in May 2009. She is currently professor and interim chair of the Department of Veterinary Population Medicine.
Torremorell conducts research of economically significant swine diseases focusing on the transmission, control, and elimination of influenza and porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) infections in pigs. She also researches biosecurity technologies with applicability to prevent and mitigate airborne infections in pigs. She serves as the chair of the planning committee for the Allen D. Leman Swine Conference, has served on the AASV Annual Meeting Program Planning Committee, and volunteers for the AASV PRRS Task Force. She teaches both DVM and graduate students and is passionate about helping producers and veterinarians to apply science to control diseases. Mentees and graduates have become leaders within the swine industry and academia.
Described by her peers as a true servant leader, Dr Torremorell is an exemplar academic broadly involved in teaching, outreach, and research. She not only focuses on sharing her own work, but the work of academic and industry members to advance the shared profession. Her peers recognize her academic contribution to the industry as long and impressive, her enthusiasm relentless, her professionalism unchallenged.
The AASV is not alone in recognizing Dr Torremorell’s commitment to academia. She has been awarded the Allen D. Leman Science in Practice award, the Mark of Excellence in Research award, the Outstanding Graduate Student Advising and Teaching award, and the prestigious Zoetis award for Veterinary Research Excellence at the University of Minnesota.
Grateful to her peers, Torremorell stated, “I’m truly honored and humbled by the recognition of this award. I never imagined I would be recognized by my peers in such a distinguished way. It means more than you know, and I am thankful to everyone who has contributed to my success over the years.”
Torremorell dedicates this award to her husband, Kevin, children Alexander and Isabel, and parents, Ramon and Provi.