Prestigious Award for PIC Veterinarian
US - Dr Bob Thompson received the American Association of Swine Veterinarians’ Technical Services/Allied Industry Veterinarian of the Year Award during the association’s 47th Annual Meeting on February 29th in New Orleans, LA. Established in 2008, the award recognizes swine industry veterinarians who have demonstrated an unusual degree of proficiency and effectiveness in delivery of veterinary service to their companies and their clients as well as given tirelessly in service to the AASV and the swine industry.
18 March 2016
3 minute read
By: Dr Thompson was recognized for his years in technical service at Pig Improvement Company. Since joining PIC in 1991, he has served numerous roles, initially as Manager of Transportation and Supply Chain, then as Production Manager of PIC’s Owned Production in the Eastern USA, Western Region Contract Multiplication, Health Assurance and currently Health Services for North America.
His current title is Coordinator of Health Services for North America. In this role, he works with PIC’s other Technical Service teams to improve performance of their products in customer systems.
Dr Thompson has worked extensively with the PIC Affiliate and User Group Boar Stud system andserved as an Adjunt Professor at the University of Illinois in the Integrated Food Animal Management Systems (IFAMS) program. Achievements in his tenure at PIC have been conversion of PIC’s Owned and Multiplication System from 98% PRRSV positive to 100% negative, establishment of two PRRS negative genetic nucleus herds from positive sources in the late 90’s along with the Production and Health Assurance team at the time.
In 2008, he had the opportunity to work with the establishment of Apex as a new genetic nucleus in South Dakota.
Dr Thompson has been influential in coordinating research with Universities on inactivation of PRRSV and PEDV virus in transportation trailers using disinfection and heat, termed Temperature Assisted Drying and Decontamination (TADD). Previously he received two Technical Service awards from PIC’s Global Technical Service Team.
Dr Thompson was born in Huron, SD but spent his formative years in Sioux Center, IA. He received his DVM from Iowa State University. Following graduation, he joined the Columbus Veterinary Hospital in Columbus, NE focusing on mixed animal. Later purchasing a practice in Osceola, Nebraska. In 1989, he was accepted into the IFAMS program at the University of Illinois before joining PIC in 1991.
Dr Thompson currently serves on the Trucker Quality Assurance Advisory Board and the Swine Health Committee for the National Pork Board. He was also recently named to the newly formed Secure Pork Supply Implementation Taskforce.
When asked to comment on what the award meant to him, Dr Thompson said, “It is an honor to be recognized by your peers for working in the industry. I’ve had the opportunity to work with many of the leaders of our time in practice, industry and research. My goal has been to share my knowledge along with other PIC team members to help our customers be more successful, ultimately doing what’s right for the pigs.”
Dr Thompson and his wife, Debra, reside in Franklin, Kentucky. They have two daughters Kasey and Leslie.
