PVM well-represented by students, faculty and staff at annual AABP meeting

A large group of people are positioned for a photo in front of a sign that says "American Association of Bovine Practitioners" — Purdue Veterinary Medicine representatives, including nine third-year and eight second-year veterinary students, as well as faculty and staff and recent graduates, gathered for a group photo during the 2026 AABP Annual Conference in Minneapolis.

The American Association of Bovine Practitioners’ (AABP) 59^th Annual Conference last month in Minneapolis, Minnesota, included significant representation from the Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine. A total of 17 students from the 2^nd– and 3^rd-year classes attended along with faculty and staff and Purdue Veterinary Medicine alumni.

Two Purdue veterinary students received special recognition. Jill Grantz of the DVM Class of 2028 was one of nine third- and fourth-year veterinary students nationally to receive the $10,000 Merck Animal Health Bovine Veterinary Student Recognition Award. Grantz also was one of only two recipients of the Hunter Lang Dairy Welfare Scholarship. The scholarship was created by the family of Dr. Hunter Lang who served on the AABP Board of Directors, AABP Animal Welfare Committee and as an AABP delegate in the AVMA House of Delegates. The scholarship funds a one-time financial award to two veterinary students interested in dairy practice and animal welfare.

A group of nine individuals stands in front of a natural-looking backdrop that reads "AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF BOVINE PRACTITIONERS" — The Bovine Veterinary Student Recognition Award, sponsored by Merck Animal Health, was presented to several recipients including, (3^rd from right) Purdue veterinary student Jill Grantz, who gathered for a photo with Merck representatives, Dr. Lowell Midla (left) and Dr. Dave Sjeklocha (right).

Three people wearing business attire are standing in front of a backdrop image of cows in a pasture. — 2026 Hunter Lang Dairy Welfare Scholarship recipients Jill Grantz (right) from Purdue and (left) Rebecca Dorn, from the University of Minnesota, with AABP Animal Welfare Committee Chair Dr. Michelle Schack (center).

Another Purdue veterinary student, Mikey Galvin of the DVM Class of 2027, received the Edwin Robertson Memorial Scholarship, which is administered through the AABP Foundation and provides a $1,000 award to two veterinary students to help fund a theriogenology, embryo transfer or advanced reproductive techniques experience. Though he was not able to attend, Galvin still was announced as a recipient during the program.

A man is giving two 'thumbs up' signs and is standing in front of a poster that is titled "Diagnostic Accuracy of Right Cranial-Only Versus Seven-Lobe Lung Ultrasound for Treat/No-Treat Classification in Pre-Weaned Dairy Heifers" — Rainer Borgmann of the DVM Class of 2028 with the poster he presented at the AABP Annual Conference.

Faculty and staff attending from Purdue included Dr. Andy Hubner, clinical assistant professor of Farm Animal Field Services; Dr. Laura May, food animal clinician in the Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences; and Rebecca Hoffman, BS, RVT, Bovine/Swine Field Service veterinary technologist. A Purdue Veterinary Medicine alumnus and Professor Emeritus, Dr. Mark Hilton (PU DVM ’83) is the AABP president and 2026 program chair.

Other Purdue veterinary students who attended included DVM Class of 2029 members Zoey DeLaney, Connor Guest, Adalyn Harsh, Grant Heuing, Joe Lafiosca, Katie McKinley, Mason Tipton, and Aidan Walker, and DVM Class of 2028 members Rainer Borgmann, Annalyssa Crain, Sam Currie, Maddie Dawson, Taylor Faulkenberg, Emma Roberts, Anne Troyer, and Julia Young. Borgmann and Grantz also presented posters at the meeting.

With the theme “Developing Practices of Excellence,” the conference was held August 27-29 and offered continuing education for beef and dairy veterinarians, students and veterinary technicians. More than 900 attended the conference, including nearly 270 veterinary students. Several PVM representatives also participated in a 5k Run/Walk during the conference to support student scholarships.

Writer(s): PVM News | pvmnews@purdue.edu

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