American Association of Food Safety and Public Health Veterinarians – October 17, 2024

Event

The American Association of Food Safety and Public Health Veterinarians (AAFSPHV) held a virtual meeting on October 17.

Awards

Veterinarian of the Year

Dr. Steven Rekant

Dr. Steven Rekant (Virginia-Maryland '13), Potomac, Maryland. Dr. Rekant serves as the SARS-CoV-2 coordinator for the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. His work focuses on the investigation of SARS-CoV-2 infections in mammals. Dr. Rekant also supports One Health issues, including food safety, highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), and One Health coordination efforts nationally and internationally. He previously served as an Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education fellow with the USDA's Agricultural Research Service.

Dr. Daniel E. Lafontaine Memorial Scholarship

Payton Williams-Ragsdale

Payton Williams-Ragsdale (Texas A&M '26), Frisco, Texas. Williams-Ragsdale is serving as an intern with the USDA's Food Safety Inspection Service.

Business

The AAFSPHV provided members with an update on the organization's work during the past year. The association sponsored symposia on food safety at the annual conventions of the AVMA and the United States Animal Health Association (USAHA). Monthly continuing education webinars on food safety, One Health, and public health are being provided in partnership with the American College of Veterinary Preventive Medicine and the National Association of Federal Veterinarians. Dr. Katherine Waters, executive vice president of the AAFSPHV, reported on membership and finances. Drs. Paulo Mohyla, Pam Abney, and Gabriel Innes, who represent the association on the AVMA Food Safety Advisory Committee, Legislative Advisory Committee, and Committee on Antimicrobials, respectively, reported on the activities of those committees. Dr. Kristen Clark, AAFSPHV delegate to the AVMA House of Delegates, provided an update on her work with the House.

Officials

Dr. Pamela Abney Dr. Jane Lewis

Drs. Pamela Abney, Guntersville, Alabama, president; Jane Lewis, Big Flats, New York, president-elect; Catherine Alexander, Minneapolis, recording secretary; Kelly Vest, Blackwell, Oklahoma, treasurer; Angela Demaree, Indianapolis, immediate past president; Katherine Waters, Denver, executive vice president and AVMA alternate delegate; Kristen Clark, St. Paul, Minnesota, AVMA delegate; and directors: Heather Brake, Atlanta; Will Sander, Urbana, Illinois; John Sanders, South Bend, Washington; Erica Tramuta-Drobnis, Zionsville, Pennsylvania; and Catherine Rockwell, Alexandria, Virginia

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