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Dr. Joseph Connor received the American Association of Swine Veterinarians Foundation’s Heritage Award on March 2 during the AASV’s 57th Annual Meeting in Las Vegas, Nevada. He becomes only the seventh recipient of the award which recognizes individuals who have lifelong outstanding achievements in swine veterinary medicine. It is only awarded on an as-needed basis when a deserving individual has been nominated and selected. Awardees have demonstrated their eligibility through their membership in the AASV, service to the AASV, and service to the North American swine industry.
Dr. Connor founded Carthage Veterinary Service, LTD after purchasing the CVS practice in 1980. A leading swine veterinarian in the world, he considers it a privilege to be involved in the swine industry during a time of significant transformation and assisted producers domestically and globally undergoing transformations. He was recognized for his international efforts by being named the first honorary member of the Japanese Association of Swine in 2008.
A true leader in swine health, Dr. Connor has led the AASV for decades. After serving on the AASV Board of Directors, he was elected president of the association in 1988. He was a member and chair of the AASV Foundation Board. He continues to serve the association as a member of the Transboundary and Emerging Diseases Committee, and Foundation Investment Committee. Colleagues regard Dr. Connor as an icon in the swine industry and are grateful for his tremendous contributions and outstanding service to the AASV.
Dr. Connor has been recognized by his peers for his exemplary service to swine medicine as the AASV Swine Practitioner of the Year (1995), as the recipient of the Allen D. Leman Science in Practice Award (2004), and as the recipient of the Howard Dunne Memorial Award (2023). He was inducted into the PIC Hall of Fame and the Swine Web Hall of Fame.
He has contributed to the greater knowledge of swine medicine for veterinarians and producers as a featured speaker and author of countless peer-reviewed journal articles, abstracts, educational manuals, and book chapters.
He delivered both the Alex Hogg Memorial Lecture and Howard Dunne Memorial Lecture at past AASV Annual Meetings.
The Carthage, Illinois native received his BS and DVM from the University of Illinois, and his MS from the University of Minnesota.
When asked to reflect on his career as a swine veterinarian and his involvement with AASV, Dr. Connor said, “It has been a rewarding journey. Our colleague, the late Dr. KT Wright, informed me in my first year in practice that to be a swine veterinarian you had to be an active member of AASV. His guidance was fortuitous as AASV has evolved into a diverse organization leading the industry transformation by incorporating programs that support both our profession and our industry. It is exciting to see it adapt and be involved in multiple segments of the industry. The strength of the organization is our members. It is a privilege to be a member.”
March 2, 2026 - AASV
