AETA President’s Report – Spring 2022

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Published on: March 30, 2022

It has been a privilege to be a part of the AETA Board of Directors (BOD) over the last three years and an honor to serve as this year’s president. I have been blessed to be a part of this industry for 20 years. As Paul Harvey said, “The years don’t always add wisdom, but they do add perspective!”

The first meetings I attended were eye-opening experiences, and those BOD members were larger than life to a new college graduate trying to find a place to call home. Over the years, I have watched every BOD deal with their fair share of challenges. Each one, I am sure, feels theirs were the most difficult. We should all take the time to thank Morgan and FASS, and the two past presidents, Matt Dorshorst and Bill Croushore, for navigating AETA through two years of virtual meetings, zoom calls, and hotel contracts. But just as importantly, we need to thank all the businesses that continued to support the association and the industry without blinking an eye!

This is going to be an exciting year! Dr. Greg Schueller already has an amazing program set for our Annual Meeting in Louisville, Kentucky, from October 27 to 29, 2022. It is packed with timely and informative topics, and thankfully, for the first time in over two years we will be able to shake hands and interact with colleagues and longtime friends that we have greatly missed seeing. I promise you, Louisville will be a meeting to be remembered for a long time! Mark your calendars and make sure to attend.

In 2013, the AETA developed a strategic plan that is just as important today. It concentrates on 3 targeted areas for growth and betterment of the association, and this year’s BOD has goals to improve each one.

  1. Education
    1. Increase participation in poster session at AETA meetings
    2. Provide more exposure at veterinary school level: Curriculum, interactive courses
  2. Membership
    1. Encourage growth from within: Embryo transfer business (ETB) employees
    2. Increase exposure to new professional graduates
    3. Increase exposure to academia and encourage participation in our organization
    4. Increase exposure to other species utilizing assisted reproductive technologies
  3. Certification
    1. Improve certification exam format and knowledge base
    2. Continue to develop ways for members to differentiate and add value to themselves through recognition programs

As I have encouraged the BOD, I will equally encourage every AETA member to think differently than you have the past 20 years. As we propose new ways to recognize or educate members, we will see an increase in membership. As we increase membership, we will have more ETBs working in the industry and educating their clients on the importance of the AETA. This is nothing new to our industry, but it needs our attention again. 

I look forward to a productive 2022 and a reunion in Louisville at the 2022 AETA/CETA Annual Convention.

Clay Breiner, DVM

2022 AETA President

Reproductive research leading to increased efficiency of assisted reproductive technologies in the American embryo transfer industry

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Published on: March 30, 2022

Request for Proposals 2022

The Board of Directors of the American Embryo Transfer Association (AETA) is pleased to provide an opportunity for funding to support practitioner-initiated research projects that focus on advancing the knowledge and efficiency of applied assisted reproductive technologies in livestock species. The goal of the association is to provide some financial support and access to statisticians that will ensure that the data generated by AETA-funded projects will be robust under critical evaluation, and will be of benefit to the AETA membership at large.

Please disseminate this request for proposals to be considered for 2022 (project start dates between January 1, 2022, to December 31, 2022). The deadline for proposals considered for 2022 is July 31, 2022.

Request for Proposals

Research Grant Proposal Evaluation and Scoring System

AETA President’s Report – Winter 2021

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Published on: December 20, 2021

Paul Harvey is reported to have said, “In times like these, it helps to recall that there have always been times like these.” Though the challenges may seem different than those in the past, there are challenges nonetheless. Heavy workload, supply chain problems, COVID fears, and labor shortages have left many of us wondering how we can take a breath. At the same time, industry consolidation creates a dark cloud of uncertainty about the future.

Some of the many things I love about the AETA and its members are the camaraderie and the willingness of members to lend a hand to each other, whether it be helping with a technical problem, lending supplies, or referring a client to another practitioner when the book gets full. It is that spirit of cooperation that is good for business in the long term, even if it subtracts from the bottom line in the short term.

I congratulate Dr. Matt Barton and Dr. Lee Jones on their election to the Board of Directors. I also wish to thank both of them and also Dr. Darren Statler and Dr. Alan Strecker for running for that position. One of my duties for 2022 will be to chair the Nominations Committee, which, as part of its charge, will identify potential candidates for the next Board of Directors. If you desire to be on the ballot or know of someone that would make a good board member, please reach out to me.

I also thank Dr. Matt Dorshorst upon his departure from the board for his time on the board and Executive Committee and also Dr. Jeremy VanBoening for his service to the AETA through the Board of Directors. The association is better because of both of them. I am looking forward to my role as past president with the new Executive Committee of Dr. Clay Breiner, president; Dr. Greg Schueller, vice president; and Dr. Daniela Demetrio, secretary-treasurer.

Still, we have work to do to maintain the standing of the AETA in the embryo transfer world here in the United States. To maintain the high standards the industry demands and deserves, we have to keep in mind our purpose:

  • To present a unified voice of the industry to promote the mutual interests and ideals of its members;
  • To protect the users of the embryo transfer industry to the extent technically and ethically possible;
  • To educate the public properly on the status and capability of the United States embryo transfer industry; and
  • To encourage others to engage in the pursuit of this industry.

To achieve our purpose, we need to keep before us the means to fulfil it, namely education and certification. In the coming year, we will continue to explore the prospect of recognizing practitioners only engaged in the transfer of embryos (and not collections) as a means to raise the bar for the industry. Although it will be a type of certification for the transfer of embryos into recipients, it is not likely to be called “certification” to avoid confusion with the comprehensive ET Certification program already in place within the association. We will engage the membership as this initiative progresses.

Dr. Greg Schueller is already at work with the Convention Committee in assembling an outstanding program for Louisville, 2022. Although the virtual conventions provided education and made us better practitioners, the friendships and person-to-person interaction were sorely missed. That will resume in 2022. The Education Committee is working on developing a speaker’s bureau to provide speakers to allied veterinary and industry groups wishing to learn more about the practice of embryo transfer. This will be a longer-term project, and I look forward to seeing it develop.

Finally, I need to thank the membership for allowing me the opportunity to steward this association during the past year. My only hope is that I left the association as good as it was before I joined the board. I am grateful for the many friends I have made during my tenure, and while my time on the board is coming to an end, those friendships are not.

Fight the good fight,

Bill

Dr. Bill Croushore – AETA President 2021

The AETA Announces 2022 Board of Directors

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Published on: December 20, 2021

Champaign, IL, December 2021 – The 2021 Annual Meeting of the American Embryo Transfer Association was held October 15 and 16. More than 400 national and international attendees came together virtually to learn more about the most recent advances in advanced bovine reproductive procedures and technology.

The incoming 2022 AETA Board of Directors is listed below.

Board of Directors

President – Dr. Clay Breiner, Westmoreland, KS

Vice President – Dr. Greg Schueller, Whitewater, WI

Secretary-Treasurer – Dr. Daniela Demetrio, Riverdale, CA

Immediate Past President – Dr. William Croushore, Berlin, PA

Director – Dr. Pat Comyn, Madison, VA

Director – Dr. Brad Lindsey, Midway, TX

Director – Dr. Charles Gue, Belgrade, MT

Director – Dr. Matthew Bartlett, Sioux Center, IA

Director – Dr. Lee Jones, Tifton, GA

In addition, the AETA announces its 2022 joint annual convention with the Canadian Embryo Transfer Association (CETA), to be held from October 27-29, 2022 in Louisville, KY

The purpose of the AETA is to unite those organizations and individuals in the United States engaged in the embryo transfer industry into an affiliated federation operating under self-imposed standards of performance and conduct. Members aim to present a unified voice of the industry to promote the mutual interests and ideals of the members; to protect the users of the embryo transfer industry to the extent technically and ethically possible; to educate the public properly on the status and capability of the United States embryo transfer industry; and to encourage others to engage in the pursuit of this industry. For more information about the AETA, please visit http://www.aeta.org.

AETA President’s Report – Summer 2021

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Published on: August 18, 2021

The challenge of a long winter is finally over. It seems, however, that as one challenge winds down, others arise. As the significance of the pandemic subsides, other challenges manifest, such as labor shortages and hiccups in the commodity markets. Consolidation of farms creates both a disruption to the status quo and opportunity at the same time. Warm temperatures bring the flush of spring pasture and also the rear ends of recipient cows capable of filling your pocket with a slimy effluent. We take the good with the bad.

To say the past year has been a challenge would be stating the obvious.  Despite the progress made in dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic, there are still unresolved issues, one of which is international travel.  The AETA Board, along with CETA, tried to navigate this storm, but we were unable to proceed with an in-person convention due to the uncertainty surrounding the opening of the US-Canada border.  As a result, both AETA and CETA elected to forgo an in-person convention for 2021 in favor of another virtual meeting.  The meeting format will be similar to that in 2020 but will be hosted by CETA with the help of FASS and AETA.  The program that CETA is assembling is coming together, and we have a preliminary speakers list posted on the AETA website.

The AETA also faces the challenge of recruiting and retaining new members. The AETA Certification “brand” is something in which all certified members should take pride. The AETA-certified practitioner status is not only a source of pride, but also a designation that ensures competency. Unfortunately, many cattlemen do not appreciate or understand the significance of the AETA certification or the educational opportunities available to both certified and non-certified members through our association. We feel that for the AETA to remain relevant and grow, the AETA brand and certification have to grow.

We have had success in offering continuing education opportunities to professionals and, along with that, complimentary membership for a year. The student scholarship program has also helped with recruiting new members, but there is more that we can do.

Many of our clients are large players in the embryo transfer field, and we feel they would benefit from AETA regular membership. On more and more farms, on-farm labor is used to transfer embryos, both fresh and cryopreserved. The educational opportunities and networking opportunities offered by the AETA could elevate both professionals and their clients. Breed associations such as Holstein and American Angus could also benefit from associate membership.

The true significance of AETA certification has yet to be discovered by the mainstream of the embryo transfer world. This process needs to happen, yet it will only happen slowly and deliberately. We recently had stickers printed with the AETA Certified logo that will be distributed to certified members. These stickers can and should be placed anywhere that it would cause a client to ask about what AETA certification is. Finally, we also need to continue to increase our exposure to the veterinary and animal science communities.

One of the most recent challenges we met were the new European Union (EU) import regulations on both conventional and IVP embryos. Ashley Swenson and the entire Government Liaison Committee in cooperation with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) navigated these troubled waters like true professionals, providing clarity and taking a strong stand on behalf of US embryo transfer professionals and producers alike. While the changes in the paperwork requirements will take a little time to get used to, the transition to the new regulations has happened already. Unfortunately, it appears as though the number of sires available to be used in the production of IVF embryos eligible for EU export will decrease as a result of the new regulations.

Challenges will continue; they always do. Challenges become opportunities when met head on. Stay safe, be well, and keep the green effluent away from your pockets.

Dr. Bill Croushore – AETA President

2021 Candidates for the AETA Board of Directors

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Published on: August 18, 2021

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Dr. Joe Oden

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Published on: February 18, 2021

Dr. Joe Oden, AETA past president (1988–1989), sadly passed away on January 15, 2021.

Dr. James Spears shared that he recalled Oden assisting in administering the very first AETA certification exam in Louisville in 1984, with Oden administering Spears’ certification test. He also said that Oden was one of the first practitioners involved in ET at one of the first ET centers – Codding Reproductive Services in Pawhuska, Oklahoma.

Below is Dr. Oden’s obituary:

Joe “Dr. Joe” Oden was a man of deep, abiding strength and faith. His feet were firmly planted
on the earth and in the beauty of God’s creation while striving to have his eyes and heart set on the heavenly treasures awaiting him. Throughout his life, God guided him as he learned that the greatest treasures are to be found in the simplicity of God’s kingdom of love and mercy.

Joe was born and raised near Brownwood, Texas, with his older sister, the late Bettye Sue Oden
Connaway, and his adoring parents, also in Glory, Anson and Dorine McMurray Oden. Together they were a well-known and respected farming family in Brown County. Besides helping with farm chores and riding his favorite paint horse, Streak, Joe loved all kinds of sports that he excelled in throughout his school years at Brooksmith High School, graduating in 1959. He went on to attend Tarleton State in Stephenville, Texas, for two years, serving in the corps of cadets as a member of the Wayneright Rifle Squad drill team as well as having had the honor of marching in Washington D.C. for the inaugural parade of John F. Kennedy.

College Station is where he met, fell in love with, and married Marcia Ransom Oden, his sweetheart of 56 years. God gave them two children, Anson Joseph III (Trey) and Cindy Renee.

Joe went on to attend Texas A&M University (TAMU) to obtain a BS degree in agricultural education and then continued his graduate studies in education. He followed the call to continue on to TAMU Large Animal Veterinary School while in graduate school and was grateful to the many mentors along his way. Joe graduated from veterinary school in 1969. His interest in the science and practice of embryo transfer in cattle over the years took the family from Texas to Oklahoma and then for four years to the hills of Tennessee, where they all thrived in the beautiful, abundant gardens he created there with the family. Joe taught in both vet schools, TAMU and University of Tennessee.

They returned to Texas, where Joe was employed with Granada Land and Cattle Company for 10 years, glad to return to his home state and his family along with some truly wonderful friendships that he cherished. He then began his own embryo transfer business (Old Spanish Trail Genetics) with some of his colleagues. He served some time as president of the American Embryo Transfer Association (AETA), being one of the leaders and pioneers in the field of genetics.

He was a brilliant yet humble man and easy to love. In his later years, his time and attention turned toward family, golfing, and his home in Normangee, where he and Marcia were members of Sand Prairie Baptist Church. Naturally, Joe’s focus became more reflective seeking to know his Lord Jesus Christ in a deeper and richer way. His mealtime prayers were not to be missed, a window into a beautiful and peaceful heart.

Whether laboring for his father in the fields under a hot Texas sun, serving his family and friends with his quick-witted humor and hard, honest work ethic, or telling stories from his upbringing as a simple farm boy with lofty dreams, his life showed how one can attain to greatness in a worldly sense while quietly and steadily nurturing the seeds of eternal life and glory within. Thank you, Joe Oden, for walking this earth and making it brighter, funnier, and more real with every breath and every step.

Joe is survived by his adoring wife, Marcia Ransom Oden; their two children, Trey and Cindy, along with their spouses, Gynger and Jasper; as well as Gynger’s children, Kaylee and Kiley.

Joe had three grandsons, Zachary Oden, Samuel Oden Warren, and Nicolas Oden. He is also survived by Zach and Nic’s mother, Dawn Pisani Oden. Joe had one great-granddaughter, Aspen Jade Oden, through Zach and his wife, Sandra; by his nephew, John Connaway, and his wife, Laura, and their son, Brian Connaway, with his wife, Marla; Wanda Connaway, wife of his dear friend and brother-in-law, the late Delbert Connaway; cousin Katherine Newell and her husband, Phillip; Marva Brim, wife of the late Jim Brim, Joe’s dear friend and first cousin; Marcia’s brother, Henry Ransom, his wife, Jane, and their children: Jordan, with his wife, Stefani ,and their children, Nicole and Rachel Ransom; and Justin, with his wife, Stephanie, and their children, Bella and Eloise Ransom. He is also survived by numerous friends and loved ones from along his life journey. You know who you are. Thank you all for contributing to a life well lived.

https://www.hillierfuneralhome.com/tributes/Anson-JosephJoeOdenJr

AETA President’s Report – Fall 2020

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Published on: November 2, 2020

Hello,

Our 2020 AETA CETA/ACTE conference was unconventional, but despite the challenges of delivering the conference virtually, it was a success. We had a total of 423 participants from 45 states and provinces as well as 16 foreign countries who registered for and participated in the virtual conference. Thank you to everyone who gave this a chance.

This endeavor would not have been possible without the logistical support of FASS. I would especially like to thank Morgan Montgomery, the AETA executive assistant. Also, thank you to Kevin Wolter with information technology, who helped us create the platform for content delivery and managed it during the conference.

As the AETA board began to wrap our minds around the dilemma that was COVID-19 as it pertains to the conference, one thing became very clear to me; we were going to be tested in uncharted waters. I feel fortunate that we had a strong group of board members who were devoted to the success of the 2020 conference. I especially thank Dr. Bill Croushore for the outstanding work that he and his committee did. The depth and breadth of the conference was excellent, and although the delivery of the content on a virtual platform presented challenges, it came through in extraordinary fashion.

After we concluded the virtual conference, it was a pleasure for me to present the Edwin Robertson Lifetime Achievement Award to Dr. Chris Keim and Dr. Dan Hornickel. They are certainly deserving of this honor, given the many contributions they have made to our profession. They say that they “care for the cows everyone cares about.” They have also cared for and guided the profession we all care about so deeply.

I also had the privilege to present Dr. Scott Armbrust with the 2020 President’s Award. He has been a vital part of developing, maintaining, and enhancing foreign markets for the AETA and our producers. He has also served the AETA on the Cooperator Committee as well as having served as an AETA president. It was an honor for me to present him with this very well-deserved award on behalf of AETA.

Unfortunately, there was one aspect of our annual conference that we had no way to replicate virtually. We all missed the opportunity to see friends and enjoy each other’s fellowship. For that reason and others, I suspect we will all relish the chance to get together in beautiful Vancouver to see one another next fall.

Sincerely, Matthew Dorshorst, MS, DVM

The AETA Announces 2020 Award Winners and 2021 Board of Directors

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Published on: November 2, 2020

The 2020 Annual Meeting of the AETA was held October 6 and 7. More than 400 national and international attendees came together virtually to learn more about the most recent advances in advanced bovine reproductive procedures and technology.

Listed below are the winners of the 2020 AETA awards who were recognized at the meeting and the incoming 2021 AETA board of directors.

The Edwin Robertson Lifetime Achievement Award

Dr. Chris Keim – Whitewater, WI

Dr. Dan Hornickel – Whitewater, WI

AETA President’s Award

Dr. Scott Armbrust – Green Bay, WI

The 2021 Board of Directors

President – Dr. William Croushore, Berlin, PA

Vice President – Dr. Clay Breiner, Westmoreland, KS

Secretary-Treasurer – Dr. Greg Schueller, Whitewater, WI

Immediate Past President – Dr. Matthew Dorshorst, Marshfield, WI

Director – Dr. Jeremy VanBoening, Alma, NE

Director – Dr. Pat Comyn, Madison, VA

Director – Dr. Brad Lindsey, Midway, TX

Director – Dr. Daniela Demetrio, Riverdale, CA

Director – Dr. Charles Gue, Belgrade, MT

2021 AETA-CETA/ACTE Joint Annual Convention

In addition, the AETA announces its 2021 joint annual convention with the Canadian Embryo Transfer Association (CETA), to be held in the fall of 2021 in Vancouver, British Columbia.

Dr. Chris Keim accepts The Edwin Robertson Lifetime Achievement Award
Dr. Dan Hornickel accepts The Edwin Robertson Lifetime Achievement Award
Dr. Scott Armbrust accepts the AETA President’s Award

AETA President’s Report – Summer 2020

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Published on: August 13, 2020

Hello,

I suspect that as you read this newsletter you may have some of the same feelings that I have. I am finding that the summer is flying by and I am not sure where June and July went. Many of us spend a great deal of time looking out our windshield as we move down the road every day. My thoughts have been that these are interesting times that we live in.

Many of you have reached out to the AETA board, and I appreciate that. We have taken your thoughts and concerns and tried to create lemonade from lemons this year. Soon, information regarding registration for this year’s joint virtual conference will be on the AETA website with details about the schedule and content. Our intention is to deliver meaningful continuing education opportunities as well as satisfy the certification requirement with flexibility at a reasonable cost. 

We will have sessions available for downloading at your convenience as well as three sessions that will be offered live, including chat interaction with the speaker. These three live sessions will be recorded for viewing at your convenience as well. There will also be a virtual business meeting that will include the election of board members. I encourage you all to try to make the business meeting a priority for attendance.  

The registration fees for the virtual conference reflect the board’s efforts to control cost and pass that value on to the membership and sponsors. These are uncertain times and we do not want the cost of the meeting to be a barrier if possible. The AETA board is also mindful of the fact that this could be an opportunity to reach new members on a different platform. With that in mind, we will offer the option to apply the registration fee for the 2020 virtual conference to an equivalent discount for 2021 AETA membership if you desire. Please share the word with anyone who might be interested.

The last aspect of the revised convention proceedings I want to discuss is a change in certification requirements. The board has changed the requirements for conference attendance to 3 out of 5 years, which was previously 2 out of 3 years. This recommendation from the certification committee is meant to reflect the logistics related to this year’s virtual convention as well as the convention in Canada next year. We are also waiving the newly established “in-person” recertification that was to be introduced this year and was meant to replace the on-site random recertification inspections. 

This year’s virtual proceedings are an opportunity to try something new and see what happens. I look forward to your participation.

Thank you,

Matthew Dorshorst, MS DVM

AETA President

AETA Certification Requirements and 2020 Exam Update

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Published on: August 13, 2020

CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS UPDATE

The AETA Board of Directors voted to remove the requirement for random inspections of certified members from the current guidelines, starting immediately:

IV. CERTIFICATION PROGRAM ADMINISTRATION

D. Inspection and Noncompliance

2. RANDOM: Inspections of any certified practitioner’s ETB may be done at any time under the direction of the Board of Directors and the CAO.

and replace it with a NEW requirement (that would not start until the fall meeting in 2021):

D. Inspection, Compliance, and Noncompliance

2. CERTIFICATION SESSION: 20% of certified members will be required to attend a mandatory group certification session at the annual meeting. Thus, every certified member would attend one session during his/her cycle.

2020 CERTIFICATION EXAM AND EXAM RETAKE UPDATE

People seeking to sit for the 2020 Certification Exam and Practicum will still be able to voluntarily do so this year at the Iowa State University (ISU) College of Veterinary Medicine in Ames, Iowa, on Saturday, September 26, in person. There may be a limit to the number of examinees due to ISU restrictions on groups, plus examinees will be asked to sign waivers of liability to hold harmless the host and the AETA.

Please visit the AETA Certification guidelines for more information on how to complete and submit your application.

Any recent certification candidate that needs to retake a portion(s) of the certification exam needs to contact AETA headquarters (aeta@assochq.org) or Glenn Engelland (glennengelland@gmail.com), Certification Committee chair, to schedule a live Zoom conference retake.

2020 Candidates for AETA Board of Directors

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Published on: August 13, 2020

Elections will take place during the Annual Business Meeting scheduled for October 7 from 1:30pm-2:30pm central time. Please take a moment to read the candidates bios below.

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AETA President’s Report – Spring 2020

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Published on: April 6, 2020

The Covid-19 pandemic has most likely altered all of our lives. The AETA board offers our thoughts and support to everyone in this difficult time. The sentiment has been shared that “We are in this together,” and that is certainly true. The AETA and CETA will continue to assess the Covid-19 situation as it evolves and will adjust any plans as needed. The health and safety of our members is our primary concern.

I would like to express my gratitude to Dr. Matt Iager for his service on the AETA board as president. Those of you who have met him or had the privilege to work with him have no doubt witnessed his passion and enthusiasm for the AETA and our profession. I would also like to welcome the newest board members, Dr. Greg Schueller and Dr. Brad Lindsey.

We recently held our spring board meeting and have some great ideas for the future of AETA and AETA related events. Watch the AETA website and the AETA Facebook page for updates and announcements.

To those of you who completed the member survey, thank you! Those who did not, but who want to contribute your thoughts, please seek out a board member. We cannot functionally lead the AETA without member input.

The Convention Committee has been very busy setting the schedule and scope of the upcoming convention. There is something for everyone. We have been releasing information about the program and will continue to do so. Watch the AETA website for updates. Please mark your calendars for October 5–7, 2020, at the Madison Marriott West in Madison, Wisconsin. We hope you can come for World Dairy Expo and stay for the convention.

Once again, we are in this together, and we will come together again soon. I look forward to that!

Thank you,
Matthew Dorshorst, MS, DVM

AETA President’s Report – Winter 2020

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Published on: January 3, 2020

Hello,

As we conclude 2019, it is inevitable to take time to reflect. For myself, I reflect on what I am thankful for, things I could have done differently, and ways to make life better for those around me.  If I could offer one piece of advice, it is please don’t wait for a tragedy or unfortunate circumstance to remind you about the significant people in your life and what they mean to you. 

As the AETA moves into 2020, my priority is to further the AETA’s efforts to serve an increasingly diverse membership while elevating the AETA as the “Vanguard of the Embryo Transfer Industry.” We all need to ask ourselves: “to what ends are we as an organization striving for this?” I think we would all agree that we already do this with our clients and allied industries, but we also need to remember our regulatory entities. Who else should the AETA target? The AETA board members would like to hear from you. The board has and continues to take concerns and requests from the membership very seriously to only improve our organization as a whole. 

What I ask of our membership in 2020 –

  1. Please engage a board member with specific thoughts, concerns, ideas, or questions. We value your membership and want you to get the most out of it.
  2. Check your email for the AETA newsletter and other communications.

I hope you all had a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!  I am looking forward to 2020 and I hope you are as well. 

Sincerely,

Matt Dorshorst, MS DVM

AETA Board President

Letter from AETA Past President

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Published on: January 3, 2020

The success of the American Embryo Transfer Association is attributed to the strong commitment and hard work from our members and leaders who have served the organization for many years. Since the first organizational meeting in Denver, 1981, to the first convention in Fort Collins, 1983, it gave us great pleasure to return to Colorado Springs, Colorado, for the 2019 annual convention. The convention was a complete success with record attendance and an outstanding venue for AETA and CETA combined. We thank the many volunteers that helped plan such an amazing convention, but especially Morgan and the professional team at FASS.

We congratulate three outstanding award recipients, each of which have positively impacted our organization and industry for the greater good. Dr. Brad Stroud, Dr. Charles Looney, and Dr. Roger Davis were each presented a token of appreciation for their outstanding contributions, leadership, and service for many years to our organization. We also recognized ten outstanding scholarship winners from nine different universities that will be tomorrow’s future leaders. We had positive feedback on our first annual poster contest. Although we had snow on the golf course, mountaintop, and lakefront, the convention at Cheyenne Mountain Resort was a big hit!

At our business meeting, AETA had a healthy and positive discussion on Bylaws, which proved to be a success discussing one of our key pillars, membership. Our board actively seeks participation and since we work for our membership our efforts always represent and accommodate the majority. In the next few weeks, we plan to send out a survey seeking your feedback on a few ideas such as our positive financial surplus, technician endorsement, and future ideas each of you may have for AETA. As we look to the future setting goals, we actively seek advice and direction from our members.

I would like to express my sincere thanks to each member of AETA for the opportunity to have served on the board and as president in 2019.  It was truly an honor. I made many new close friends and enjoyed every moment. I thank the many volunteers, especially those members who serve on committees that keep our organization strong and our industry vibrant. I invite everyone to serve in some capacity and I know this organization is in great hands for the future. I look forward to a great convention with you next year in Madison, Wisconsin!

Blessings to you, your families, and businesses during this wonderful holiday season and the very best of luck for a terrific 2020.

Matthew E. Iager, DVM                                                                                                             

AETA President’s Report – Fall 2019

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Published on: October 11, 2019

Greetings to you on behalf of AETA.

The 2019 Annual AETA CETA Convention is now weeks away and we are extremely excited about its venue, atmosphere, program, entertainment, and much more we have planned for you and your colleagues. The convention committee, lead by Matt Dorshorst, DVM, has done an outstanding job.

We thank all of the many volunteers that contribute to the success of AETA. For example, Pat Comyn, DVM, and his education committee, continue to provide this quarterly newsletter to
keep members abreast on current news and educational materials that enhance our embryo transfer services.

AETA, along with AABP and AASRP, provided two amazing seminars this summer for its members on bovine and small ruminant embryo transfer, which continues to be in high demand for its top quality educational opportunity it provides.

Social media and the internet continue to be key areas to communicate and we invite you to like AETA on Facebook to follow news and posts from our industry. As you are well aware, the internet also provides occasional challenges from outside hackers that promote “phishing”
schemes to try to solicit funds from individuals and businesses. As always, use good common sense with emails that look suspicious.

AETA is extremely proud of our student scholarship program and we plan to award several deserving students again this year. We also had a terrific response to the first annual poster contest and we encourage you to interact with the authors who attend the convention.

From great organizations in industry stem inspiring people and leaders, and AETA is no exception, so look forward to some exciting presentations this fall, including the Edwin Robertson Lifetime Achievement Award.

The last week of October is gearing up to be a fun and exciting time with friends and colleagues! We hope your travel plans are complete. We look forward to seeing everyone in beautiful Colorado Springs!

Sincerely:
Matt Iager, DVM
President AETA 2019

2019 AETA Candidates for the Board of Directors

Categories: Board of Directors
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Published on: October 11, 2019
Larry Lanzon, DVM

Born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, Larry Lanzon graduated from Michigan State University School of Veterinary Medicine in 1980. He has spent 39 years in private practice, the last 3 years with Embryo Inc. Lanzon joined the AETA in 1982 and was privileged to have Edwin Robertson, Bob Rowe, Reuben Mapletoft, and Joe Wright as his mentors when getting started in assisted reproductive technology. Lanzon earned a masters of preventative veterinary medicine in epidemiology in 2013 from UC Davis.

Lanzon and his wife Cathy raised three children—Jesse, Casey, and Caitlin—together in Turlock, which is absolutely his proudest accomplishment. Presently, there are three grandsons—Casey, Cody, and Charlie—in the Lanzon clan.

Through the years, Lanzon spent his time with the Boy Scouts of America; attending swim meets, water polo games, and gymnastic meets; raising Red Angus cattle; and fly-fishing with his children.

In practice, Lanzon enjoyed the diversity of dairy practice, working with and teaching students from all over the world. However, he quickly developed an interest in assisted reproductive technology and has continued to learn, teach, and enjoy embryo transfer and IVF. He respectfully thanks all those who helped him along the way.

Brad Lindsey, PhD

In 1984, Brad Lindsey helped start and manage the former Granada Corporation’s equine services division. In 1988, he transferred to their bovine embryo transfer division and managed their main production lab and was involved in commercializing IVF services. In 1992, he was hired by Trans Ova Genetics in Sioux Center, Iowa, to start their IVF service division. In 1994, Lindsey began his PhD with Jim Kinder at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. His research focus was endocrine regulation of reproductive hormones in beef cattle. In 1997, he went to Rockhampton, Queensland, Australia, to pursue postdoctoral research at the former Tropical Beef Centre with Michael D’Occhio.

In 1998, he was hired as general manager of Stroud Veterinary Embryo Services in Weatherford, Texas, under the direction of Brad Stroud. Between 2000 and 2005, Lindsey worked for AB Technology (now ABT360), Minitube of America, and Genetic Resources Int’l (now Sexing Technologies) in various technical roles, directing research and product development and developing an IVF lab service platform. In 2005, he started Rex Consulting, providing ET services and technical support to cattle producers, biotech companies, and other ET firms, and in 2008 incorporated as Ovitra Biotechnology Inc. Ovitra continues to provides commercial and contract ET services, technical support, consulting, and training to beef and dairy producers, research universities, and other ET firms.

Dr. Lindsey is currently an active member, serving on several committees within AETA (Certification and Research), IETS (HASAC, Manuals and Forms), and the Texas Southwest Cattle Raisers Association (Research and Education). He and his wife, Mary, live in Midway, Texas, and are active in their church and community. They have two grown children, Grace Richardson and Payton Lindsey.

Greg Schueller, DVM

Greg Schueller grew up on a dairy farm in southwest Wisconsin, where he developed his interest in and passion for dairy cattle and veterinary medicine. He received his DVM from the University of Wisconsin in 1991.

Upon graduation, he joined a mixed-animal practice in southwest Wisconsin, where he focused on dairy reproduction and herd health from 1991 to 2009. He added embryo transfer services to the practice in 1998 and joined the AETA at that time. In 2006, he became AETA certified and continued to grow the ET side of the practice until he joined Sunshine Genetics, an embryo transfer exclusive practice, in 2009. Currently, he is an owner of Sunshine Genetics with his business partner Aaron Prososki.

His wife Marcia is a speech therapist in the Fort Atkinson school district. They have three wonderful daughters, Brianna (20), Kailyn (18), and Melia (15). In his spare time, he enjoys traveling with his wife and family and is beginning to look forward to the next phase of life as his children are reaching adulthood and gaining independence.

Cary Schroeder, DVM

Cary Schroeder is co-owner of Lena Veterinary Clinic, an L0 doctor mixed-animal practice in Lena, lllinois. Schroeder received his BS in animal science in 1980 and DVM degree in 1984 from lowa State University. He has been a member of AETA since 2000 and certified in embryo transfer since 2003. He is currently serving on the AETA audit committee.

He and his wife Sarah, their children John (Abby), Christin (Dana Keefer), and Casey (Brianna), and their six grandchildren all live in or near Lena, lllinois. They enjoy spending time with their family, boating, traveling, hunting, and golfing.

AETA President’s Report – Summer 2019

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Published on: July 26, 2019

Greetings fellow AETA members:

As the summer heat settles in, we wish everyone a safe and relaxing season. The year tends to pass quickly, and we continue to gear up for our annual convention in beautiful Colorado Springs. We thank Dr. Matt Dorshorst and his convention planning team for their outstanding efforts on this convention. You can be certain we have planned a special event for all of you!

Our research committee has added a poster contest for all AETA and CETA members to participate in, including students. This will spice up our exhibitor area for additional interaction and educational opportunities. Up to 10 students will receive complimentary registration as an incentive to participate. We will continue to award our student scholarship winners as well.

AETA has teamed up with AASRP to host a small ruminant embryo transfer seminar at Ohio State University in June, and we continue to provide the Edwin Robertson Embryo Transfer Seminar at Virginia Tech with AABP in August. We have enjoyed collaborating with other allied partners in our industry to provide the best educational opportunities in the business.

IETS has invited AETA and CETA to a joint convention in 2023. We will fully analyze the schedule and logistics of this concept for that calendar year to decide whether the opportunity works well for each of the organizations involved. Please contact us with your comments and suggestions.

We hope you continue to appreciate the efforts of our promotion and membership committees. We completed a new brochure for use at AABP and AASRP seminars and conventions as well as other events throughout the year. Facebook has attracted a lot of attention from users who “like” our page and follow the news and highlights of our association. The AETA brand has been promoted nationally and internationally.

AETA has a lot to celebrate, and our committees are vibrant and innovative. We invite you to participate and serve as well as provide feedback to us throughout the year so we can steadily communicate with members. Thank you for the opportunity to serve this great organization, and we look forward to visiting with you in Colorado this fall.

Matt Iager, DVM

Proposed By-Laws Changes to be Voted on at AETA Annual Business Meeting–October 25, 2019

Categories: Board of Directors
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Published on: July 26, 2019

Dear AETA members:

The purpose of AETA is to unite those organizations and individuals in the United States engaged in the embryo transfer industry into an affiliated federation operating under self- imposed standards of performance and conduct. As AETA delivers on education and standards of quality through its certification program, we become the “voice” for our diverse membership.

Based on recommendations from the membership, the board has proposed the following modifications to the By-Laws relating to membership categories. The reasons for the changes are several. These changes will make official some membership categories that have been previously offered but not officially recognized in the By-Laws, such as Life Membership. It will also make official reduced membership fees to former student members for one year following graduation. The proposed changes will also move the Association in the direction of a professional association and away from a trade association. We feel this is important to continue to foster relationships with other professional veterinary and animal science organizations such as AABP, AASRP, and IETS. This transition will allow the Association to continue to fulfill its primary purpose of education and promoting a high standard of quality through certification. Finally, it will reduce some redundancy in the membership categories by combining Regular and Associate Membership into only Associate Membership.

  • Professional: An individual who is actively engaged in the embryo transfer industry who is a licensed veterinarian in the US or holds a PhD in reproductive physiology from a US institution. Other equivalent degrees as approved by the Board of Directors. Professional Members are eligible to vote, serve on committees, and hold an office in the Association.
  • Associate: Organizations or individuals engaged in a business or occupation related to the embryo transfer industry that do not meet the requirements for Professional, Emeritus, Life, or Student Memberships. These Associate Members may not vote but will otherwise be entitled to full privileges of membership and can attend meetings, serve on committees, and receive newsletters.
  • Life: Board of Directors can confer, at its discretion, honorary Life Membership to a practitioner for exemplary service. Life Members may enjoy the rights of their previous Professional Membership status.
  • Emeritus: Individuals who have been Professional Members of the Association for a period of at least 10 years and who deem themselves as retired from activities associated with Professional Membership. Emeritus Members may enjoy the rights of their previous Professional Membership status. Emeritus Membership is granted by an application, in writing, to the Board of Directors, who have the sole right to invoke or revoke the Emeritus status to a Professional Member.
  • Student: Individuals enrolled in an academic program at the graduate level and pursuing either a veterinary degree or PhD in reproductive physiology. Academic status must be verified annually by an academic advisor or a Professional Member. Student Members are not eligible to vote or hold office in the Association. Following graduation, former Student Members are eligible to become Professional Members at half of the cost of the Professional Membership for one year only.

This change in membership classification simplifies our current method and makes it easily distinguishable with less redundancy.

This letter is to inform you of a By-Laws change that will be proposed at the 2019 annual convention in Colorado Springs, Colorado, October 24-26, 2019. We hope you understand and can identify with this proposal. Please reach out to board members with questions you may have.

Sincerely,

AETA Board of Directors

Recap: AETA/AASRP 2019 Small Ruminant Embryo Transfer Seminar

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Published on: July 26, 2019

The AETA/AASRP 2019 Small Ruminant Embryo Transfer Seminar was held June 19 to 22, 2019, at The Ohio State University Large Animal Services satellite veterinary teaching hospital in Marysville, Ohio. The meeting was organized by Dr. Eric Gordon.

The course started on Wednesday, June 19, with a review of small ruminant reproductive physiology by Dr. Sherri Clark. Dr. Bill Croushore and Dr. Dave Dixon discussed embryos processing, grading, and cryopreservation. Drs. Mattes and Shipley discussed embryo collection, anesthesia, and sync methods as well as more reproductive physiology and handling of semen. Later in the day, a goat was surgically flushed as a demonstration.

On Thursday, June 20, and Friday, June 21, course participants broke out into teams of three and flushed three goats or sheep each day. All flushing occurred under gas anesthesia. After each flush, the teams searched embryos, and viable embryos were cryopreserved. Later in the day, Dr. Shipley discussed semen collection and cryopreservation. He also elaborated on reproductive physiology. On Saturday, June 22, teams of three practitioners each laparoscopically inseminated three ewes.

The meeting went very well, and it is felt that participants were quite satisfied with the value of this course. Dr. Eric Gordon at OSU CVM at Marysville deserves a huge thank you for his efforts in bringing this course together and in convincing clients to provide animals to flush. Dr. Justin Kieffer with OSU Animal Science was a huge help in bringing in his technician staff and in assisting with planning for animal usage in this CE meeting and for providing, via the animal science department, some of the animals used.

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