New World Screwworm: Fact Sheet & SHIC Article 6/10/2026 & USDA NWS Website
Pseudorabies Resources: Latest PRV Fact Sheet (Updated June 2024) & Additional PRV Resources/Links & Statement
New World Screwworm: Fact Sheet & SHIC Article 6/10/2026 & USDA NWS Website
Pseudorabies Resources: Latest PRV Fact Sheet (Updated June 2024) & Additional PRV Resources/Links & Statement
The Swine Health Information Center welcomed a new board member during its June 22–23, 2026, meeting. Trish Cook, an Iowa pork producer and member of the National Pork Producers Council Board of Directors, joined the SHIC Board, filling the NPPC-appointed seat previously held by Jeremy Pittman, DVM. During the meeting, the board recognized Dr. Pittman, Smithfield Hog Production, for his dedicated service and contributions to SHIC.
The SHIC Board of Directors also held an election of officers. Joe Dykhuis of Dykhuis Farms, Hamilton, Michigan, was elected president of the SHIC Board. Jay Miller, DVM, The Maschhoffs, will serve as vice president. Kent Bang retains his position as secretary/treasurer and Paul Ruen, DVM, will now serve as past-president. Other board members include veterinarians Seth Krantz and Pete Thomas. Pork producers Alayne Johnson and Sarah Pillen round out the SHIC Board. SHIC staff includes Megan Niederwerder, DVM, PhD, executive director, Lisa Becton, DVM, MS, DACVPM, associate director, and Rhea Schirm, grant and contract administrator.
As SHIC transitions its board composition and leadership, the consistent theme from both incoming and outgoing members is a steadfast commitment to the organization’s mission. The combined experience and perspectives of the board are poised to strengthen SHIC’s strategic initiatives in disease preparedness, global monitoring, and targeted research, ultimately enhancing the resilience and profitability of the US swine industry.
Cook: Farm-focused Perspective
Cook brings a valuable on-farm perspective to SHIC’s mission of protecting and enhancing the health of the US swine herd. As the newest member, Cook joins a board comprised of veterinarians, fellow producers, and industry leaders, adding the practical insights of a producer with more than three decades of experience raising pigs and serving in pork industry leadership roles.
Cook and her family operate CBL Farms, Inc. and Cook Brothers Ltd., a diversified farrow-to-finish pork and crop operation in Iowa. She has also served in leadership positions with the Iowa Pork Producers Association and has participated in numerous national pork industry initiatives. While recognizing the scientific expertise already represented on the SHIC Board, Cook said she is eager to contribute the producer’s perspective. “I am a farmer, so I bring a producer’s perspective at the farm level regarding raising pigs,” she said. “I look forward to working with the SHIC Board and staff to enhance the health of the U.S. swine herd.”
From her viewpoint as a pork producer, Cook sees SHIC as a trusted and reliable source of swine health information. She noted that producers benefit from the organization’s investment in research and its commitment to delivering timely, science-based resources through fact sheets, webinars, podcasts, and newsletters. “Farmers on their own do not have the resources to investigate emerging diseases and report on disease monitoring,” Cook said. “It is comforting to know that SHIC is doing this for our industry every single day.”
Looking ahead, Cook believes SHIC’s ability to identify emerging disease threats, coordinate research, and communicate critical information will remain essential to the industry’s success. Although future challenges cannot always be predicted, she said producers can have confidence knowing SHIC is prepared to respond. “As a pig farmer, the health of our animals is the top priority,” she said. “I feel fortunate that SHIC is a partner in this goal.”
Pittman: Concluding Service
Dr. Pittman reflects on an experience marked by collaboration, industry leadership, and a shared commitment to protecting the health of the US swine herd. Among the most rewarding aspects of his service, Dr. Pittman points to the relationships built with fellow board members and the opportunity to contribute to work that benefits producers and veterinarians across the country. “Personally, it has been the interaction with other members of the board, some of whom I may have never met if not for the board,” he said. “Professionally, it is the work the organization has done to generate and provide information to the swine industry; information that I hope has or will provide some real benefit to producers and veterinarians.”
During Dr. Pittman’s tenure, he witnessed growth in the scope and volume of SHIC’s activities, enabling the organization to address emerging disease challenges with greater effectiveness. Pittman believes SHIC’s ongoing evolution has strengthened its ability to serve the industry through research, preparedness efforts, and timely dissemination of critical information.
Looking back, Pittman is proud to have represented the swine industry through SHIC’s involvement in national and international discussions shaping the future of animal health. “Being at the table” stands out as a defining accomplishment, he said. Through SHIC and other industry leadership roles, he participated in conversations that influenced policy, preparedness, and disease response strategies. He noted that SHIC consistently brought valuable information and support to these discussions, ensuring the interests of the US swine industry were represented. Dr. Pittman also emphasized SHIC’s unique role in helping the industry stay ahead of emerging threats by focusing attention on potential challenges before they become major issues.
As he concludes his board service, Dr. Pittman encourages current and future directors to continue working collaboratively on behalf of the entire swine industry. Having served alongside incoming board member Trish Cook in other leadership capacities, he expressed confidence in the experience and expertise of SHIC’s leadership team. He believes maintaining SHIC’s role within an integrated national swine health strategy will be critical as new disease threats emerge. For Dr. Pittman, SHIC’s mission is deeply personal. “I am a swine veterinarian,” he said. “So SHIC’s mission, at its core, is what my profession is about.”
