The American Association of Swine Veterinarians’ Young Swine Veterinarian of the Year Award was presented to Dr. Brandi Burton during the 56th AASV Annual Meeting in San Francisco, California. The award is given annually to an AASV member five or fewer years post veterinary graduation who has demonstrated the ideals of exemplary service and proficiency early in their career.
Burton is originally from Mt. Prospect, Illinois. She received a BS in animal sciences (2015) and DVM (2019) from the University of Illinois. After an introduction to animal agriculture in college, exposure to a small family farrow-to-finish farm, and participation in the Swine Veterinary Internship Program, her focus shifted from equine medicine to swine during veterinary school.
Shortly after graduation, Dr. Burton moved to Iowa to start her career with Suidae, where she splits her time between veterinary services and field research. In January 2025, she began the role of president and managing partner of Suidae Health and Production.
Dr. Burton has been a continuous member and leader of the AASV since joining as a student. She served as chair of the AASV Early Career Committee and was integral in developing new resources for early-career swine veterinarians, including the AASV Early-Career Swine Veterinarian Development Program in which she is a current participant. She has served the association as an annual meeting program planning committee member, speaker, and seminar chair. She currently sits on the American Veterinary Medical Association’s Clinical Practitioners Advisory Committee as AASV’s alternate representative.
Recognized for her dedication to swine practice, Dr. Burton received the Dr. Conrad and Judy Schmidt Family Student Debt Relief Endowment Scholarship in 2021. She received the Boehringer Ingelheim Award for Advancing Research in Respiratory Disease in 2020, and she completed the Iowa Veterinary Medical Association Power of Ten Leadership program in 2021.
Although her service to AASV in her few years since graduation is already extensive, mentors, colleagues, and mentees recognize her as a highly respected advocate for veterinarians early in their careers. Her contributions to the AASV reflect her deep commitment to advancing swine health and to the broader veterinary profession.
Upon acceptance of the award, Dr. Burton commented, “Words can hardly describe how honored I am to be the recipient of the Young Swine Vet of the Year Award. This is only possible because I have stood on the shoulders of giants, and I am forever grateful for those people and the opportunities that led me here.”
Brandi and her husband Tommy Setterdahl are celebrating the arrival of their newest family addition. Wade, born February 20, joins siblings Waylon and Scarlett at their home in Humboldt, Iowa.
