2026 ISU JAMES D. MCKEAN

SWINE DISEASE CONFERENCE

Gateway Hotel and Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine

Conference Center Iowa Pork Industry Center

Ames, Iowa American Association of Swine Veterinarians, District 6

Science with Practice Award

The Science with Practice Award is given in recognition of exemplary integration of the science and the art of veterinary practice to benefit swine productivity and welfare. The award is given annually and is based on the following criteria.

• A person who routinely examines pigs and makes recommendations to swine producers regarding pig health and well-being.

• A person who integrates current knowledge and scientific understanding into everyday applications.

• A person who pursues continuous improvement in knowledge and practices based on scientific methods applied to innovation or field research.

• A person who supports current and future swine practitioners through sharing of time, talent, information and expertise.

Recipients

The VDPAM Graduate Program recognizes outstanding progress from graduate students by providing the Roy Schultz Graduate Student awards

Elevating the profile of Graduate Students

Roy Schultz Graduate Student Excellence award. $2,500. The eligibility criteria includes: Graduate student status at any University; selected abstract for oral presentation at the ISU Swine Disease Conference; field-applicable research assisting veterinarians making decisions on swine health & productivity; work submitted to peer-review scientific journal. Practitioner’s input would be ‘heavily weighted’ in the selection process.

Roy Schultz Graduate Student Scholarship award. $4,000. The eligibility criteria includes: Graduate students enrolled in the VDPAM graduate program, have had the plan of study & committee established at least 1.5 years ahead of target defense data, GPA ≥ 3.5, have submitted at least one grant proposal, and published at least 1 peer-reviewed manuscript and one proceedings paper at a national or international conference. The rubric will take into account evidence of grantsmanship and scholarship in their CV: number of papers, presentations, proceedings, grants, extension & outreach material.

Travel awards to graduate students presenting orally at a National or International Conference: cost-reimbursable, value up to $1.5K per year split into three $500 awards.

Elevating the profile of the VDPAM Graduate program

VDPAM Graduate Program Marketing award. $2,000. ISU-wide award for staff, undergraduate, professional, or graduate students working on a marketing plan to elevate the profile of the VDPAM Graduate Program, targeting attracting qualified prospective domestic or international students.

Recipients

Roy Schultz Graduate Student Excellence award winners (2025)

1. Mariamawit Mohammed
2. Kate Dion
3. Calvin Ko

Roy Schultz Graduate Student Student Scholarship award winners (2025)

1. Guilherme Cezar
2. Berenice Munguia-Ramirez
3. Peng Li

2026 award winners will be announced during the awards session at the conference.