Award – Swine in Minnesota

Last chance for DVM Students to apply for the Morrison Swine Innovator Prize at this year’s Leman Swine Conference by tomorrow!

2024 MSIP Winner Savannah Thomson presents the Pig-O-Meter at the 2024 Leman Swine Conference

Veterinary students: Did you shadowing a swine practitioner this summer or have you been involved in an interesting clinical case investigation? Did you work on your veterinary skills by designing a differential diagnosis list or working on a treatment plan? Did you investigate a problem by analyzing production records? Share your work at the Allen D. Leman Swine Conference to win the Morrison Swine Innovator Prize!

Attending the Leman Conference is a great opportunity for veterinary students who want to network with industry leaders. Submissions to enter in the selection to present at the DVM student session at the Leman Conference should be uploaded at z.umn.edu/MSIP by the end of the day August 15th.

Congratulations to the 2025 Science in Practice award winner!

Veterinarian Dr. Christine Mainquist-Whigham routinely uses science to improve swine health and production. That dedication to using the scientific method has earned her the 2025 Science in Practice Award, which will be presented at the Allen D. Leman Swine Conference in September.

Mainquist-Whigham serves as the director of health at Pillen Family Farms and DNA Genetics, where she oversees health and biosecurity strategies across their commercial and genetic sow units and downstream nursery-finish spaces.

Dr. Kimberly VanderWaal recognized for veterinary research excellence

Dr. Kimberly VanderWaal, associate professor in the Department of Veterinary Population Medicine (VPM), received the 2024 Zoetis Award for Veterinary Research Excellence. The award recognizes researchers whose innovative studies have advanced the scientific standing of veterinary medicine.

Dr. Kimberly VanderWaal awarded Outstanding Graduate Advising/Teaching Award

Dr. VanderWaal, an associate professor in the Department of Veterinary Population Medicine and a member of the Swine Group here at the University of Minnesota was Outstanding Graduate Advising/Teaching Award at this year’s College of Veterinary Medicine Education Day. Education Day celebrates not only the pursuit of knowledge in veterinary medicine but also those whose teaching contributions have a profound impact on the students they instruct.

Dr. Maria Pieters honored with 2024 Distinguished Service Award by MVMA

Millions of people pass through the CHS Miracle of Bith Center (MOBC) at the Minnesota State Fair each year, likely unaware of the colossal effort it takes to ensure the health and safety of the hundreds of animals born in the exhibit.

Maria Pieters receives the 2024 Distinguished Service Award. Photo credit: Ryan Tibbitts.

Among those caring for animals and supporting more than 100 veterinary students and dozens of volunteer veterinarians on hand to help is Dr. Maria Pieters, an associate professor at the College of Veterinary Medicine. For her dedicated involvement with the exhibit and her passion for its mission, Pieters received the Minnesota Veterinary Medical Association’s 2024 Distinguished Service Award.