The Swine Health Information Center (SHIC) welcomed new leadership and board members during their recent meeting held on July 29-30, 2024. The new additions aim to strengthen SHIC’s mission of protecting the health of the US swine herd through preparedness and research.
New Board Members Seth Krantz, DVM, from Tosh Farms, and Jay Miller, DVM, from The Maschhoffs, have joined the SHIC Board of Directors. Krantz brings extensive experience from his work at Tosh Farms and a deep appreciation for SHIC’s role in the industry. “SHIC has been a tremendous resource over the last several years,” Krantz said. He emphasized the importance of SHIC’s efforts in addressing emerging swine diseases.
Jay Miller, who has a background in mixed animal practice and now serves as president and CEO of The Maschhoffs, highlighted the value of SHIC’s science-based approach to solving industry problems. “SHIC has supported the industry using science to help solve problems and inform decisions for producers while understanding the economic impact of these issues,” Miller noted.
New Leadership Mark Schwartz of Schwartz Farms has been elected as the chair of the SHIC Board. Paul Ruen, DVM, of Fairmont Veterinary Clinic, will serve as vice chair, and Kent Bang will continue as secretary/treasurer. Other board members include Joseph Dykhuis, Gene Noem, Jeremy Pittman, DVM, and Pete Thomas, DVM. Megan Niederwerder, DVM, PhD, serves as SHIC’s executive director, with Lisa Becton, DVM, MS, DACVPM, as associate director.
Honoring Service Founding board member Daryl Olsen, DVM, from AMVC, and Russ Nugent, PhD, concluded their service. Nugent, who joined the SHIC Board in 2021 and served as president last year, was honored with a plaque for his contributions. Olsen, who has been with SHIC since its inception in 2015 and served as president for eight years, was also recognized for his significant impact on the organization and the industry.
The SHIC, established in 2015 with Pork Checkoff funding, aims to minimize the impact of emerging disease threats through preparedness, coordinated communications, global disease monitoring, and targeted research investments. SHIC encourages the sharing of its publications and research to support the swine industry.
For more information, visit Swine Health Information Center or contact Dr. Megan Niederwerder at mniederwerder@swinehealth.org or Dr. Lisa Becton at lbecton@swinehealth.org.
