Alumnus Appointed as New AASV President

March 27, 2020

The board members stand together for a group photo — Pictured left-right: New AASV President Jeffrey Harker with fellow AASV officers Mary Battrell (president-elect), Michael Senn (vice president), and Nathan Winkelman (immediate past-president).

Dr. Jeffrey Harker (PU DVM ’94) assumed the top office in the American Association of Swine Veterinarians (AASV) earlier this month when he began his term as the association’s president. This next step for Dr. Harker in his career dedicated to swine practice reflects a pattern of service in multiple organizations.

Having grown up on a diversified livestock and grain farm near Waldron, Ind., Dr. Harker was active in both 4-H and FFA in his youth and was presented with the FFA’s American Farmer degree in 1989. After earning his Purdue DVM degree in 1994, Dr. Harker joined fellow PVM alumnus Dr. Max Rodibaugh (PU DVM ’77) as an associate veterinarian at Swine Health Services (now AMVC Swine Health Services) in Frankfort, Ind. In 2001, he became a partner in the swine specialty practice that serves a diverse clientele, from those with small show pig herds to contract growers in integrated production.

Since joining the AASV, Dr. Harker has served on the Board of Directors, represented the organization in the American Veterinary Medical Association’s House of Delegates, participated on the AASV Annual Meeting Planning Committee, and held the office of President of the Indiana Pork Producers Association. In 2017, he received the AASV Meritorious Service Award. In addition to his work with the AASV, Dr. Harker has been involved with the National Pork Board’s Operation Main Street program since its inception in 2004. He also serves as an adjunct assistant professor in Purdue Veterinary Medicine’s Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences.

“I am looking forward to working with the AASV board, members, and staff on solving the challenges as they arise over the next year. Considering the current poor market situation along with the increased threat of foreign animal disease, the AASV will need to continue to provide the best scientific information to the swine industry,” said Dr. Harker. “I hope that I can help maintain AASV’s past success in navigating through these challenges.”

Dr. Harker currently lives in Clinton County, Ind. with his wife, Traci, and two of their four children. His other two children and his grandchildren live nearby.

The other AASV officers serving with Dr. Harker are Dr. Nathan Winkelman (UMN DVM ’84), immediate past president; Dr. Mary Battrell (ISU DVM ’95), president-elect; and Dr. Michael Senn (KSU DVM ’91), vice president. The new officers were installed March 10 during the association’s 51^st Annual Meeting in Atlanta, Ga.

Writer(s): Maya Sanaba, PVM Communications Intern | pvmnews@purdue.edu

Recent Stories

Annual Purdue Veterinary Conference draws veterinary professionals from across the country for learning and fun

The 2026 edition of the annual Purdue Veterinary Conference attracted attendees from around the U.S. for three days of educational sessions covering an array of topics. With the overall theme of “One Health: Modern Veterinary Medicine,” the conference September 23-26 on the Purdue University campus drew more than 450 veterinarians and veterinary technicians, plus faculty, staff and students. Sessions taught by a total of 65 speakers, including many Purdue Veterinary Medicine clinicians and veterinary technicians/technologists, enabled conference-goers to earn up to 23 continuing education credit hours.

Significant Gift from Jordan Smelski Foundation will fuel Purdue Veterinary Medicine research on deadly brain eating amoeba

A researcher in the Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine’s Department of Comparative Pathobiology has received a generous gift of more than $100,000 from the Jordan Smelski Foundation for Amoeba Awareness and Mr. Steve Smelski to support research of the deadly amoeba Naegleria fowleri. Christopher Rice, PhD, assistant professor of parasitology and principal investigator of the Rice Research Group, leads a research team seeking to discover and repurpose drugs against primary amoebic meningoencephalitis (PAM), a rare but typically fatal infection caused by Naegleria fowleri.

Purdue veterinary student receives Sir John D. Spurling Scholarship awarded by AKC Humane Fund

The AKC® Humane Fund, Inc.℠ has announced the 2026 recipients of the Sir John D. Spurling Scholarship, celebrating the human-canine bond, and one of the recipients is Purdue veterinary student Tiffany Chang of the Class of 2027. Chang is one of only five students chosen for the scholarships.

Purdue Veterinary Medicine Unites with Purdue United Way Campaign

With the goal of raising $700,000 by November 4 to support local nonprofit organizations that help individuals and families in Greater Lafayette, the Purdue United Way campaign took off September 23 with an official campaign launch on the front lawn of the Purdue Memorial Union. Purdue Veterinary Medicine, along with the university’s other colleges and units, will participate with the help of PVM faculty and staff ambassadors working to make it easy for people in the college to respond, whether by giving, or by indicating that they do not wish to give. As part of the PVM drive to support the campaign, Dean Bret Marsh and his wife, Polly, are contributing a match for campaign contributions from college faculty and staff. Additionally, a drawing will be held to select winners from those who contribute.

“Paws Up” – for Dr. Yasumasa Iimori – brought to you by the PVM Wellness Committee

This week we commend Yasumasa Iimori, DVM, PhD, who is a resident in Emergency and Critical Care in the Purdue University Veterinary Hospital.