Nearly a decade ago, Dr. John Harding, a professor, researcher, and practicing swine veterinarian at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine, noticed a troubling trend across Canada. The country’s swine veterinarians were aging and nearing retirement, but young veterinarians were showing little interest in replacing them in this critical field.

As Harding watched the shortage grow, he knew that the swine industry—Canada’s fourth-largest farming sector—needed a solution. The country’s 7,000 pig farms, which produce over 25.5 million animals annually, depend on skilled swine veterinarians to manage herd health, disease prevention, and biosecurity to protect the industry from outbreaks. But with fewer young vets entering the field, Harding realized that change was essential.

The Birth of the SMART Program

After almost five years of planning, the Swine Medicine Advancement, Recruitment and Training (SMART) program officially launched in July 2024. The program, backed by Canada’s pork industry, the University of Saskatchewan, and swine veterinarians across the country, aims to address critical issues facing the industry. SMART focuses on four main pillars: attracting veterinary students to swine medicine, developing core competencies, offering licensure pathways for foreign-trained veterinarians, and creating continued education opportunities for current professionals.

Attracting Students to Swine Medicine

The first and most important goal of the SMART program was to spark interest in swine medicine among veterinary students. “Undergraduate students just aren’t exposed to swine medicine, and there’s a significant gap in understanding pigs and the profession,” says Harding. To bridge this gap, he created the Pharmhouse Summer DVM Student Swine Experience Program in 2020, offering students at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine the chance to gain hands-on experience in swine medicine.

“While the program was successful in Saskatchewan, we knew there were other regions that could benefit,” says Harding. With the support of colleagues at Ontario Veterinary College and Atlantic Veterinary College, the program expanded nationally in 2024. Industry partners, including Pharmhouse Consulting, funded this expansion, making it possible to offer students across Canada the opportunity to gain practical experience in swine veterinary practices.

To help attract students, Harding and other swine veterinarians developed the “Pig-Talks” seminar series. These educational seminars aim to give students an overview of swine production, disease management, and veterinary careers in the field. “No student will sign up for a summer program if they don’t understand pigs and the industry,” Harding explains. “Pig-Talks help them understand what’s at stake and what a career in swine medicine looks like.”

A Hands-On Experience for Future Vets

In 2024, four veterinary students from across Canada participated in the Pharmhouse program, working in swine practices in Quebec, Ontario, Alberta, and Manitoba. These students gained valuable experience in herd health management, disease prevention, and biosecurity protocols, with some even participating in research projects on swine health.

Heidi Rauser, a second-year veterinary student at WCVM, was one of the students who participated. During her placement at PremierSHP, a swine veterinary business in Manitoba, she learned the practical aspects of swine medicine, including breeding management, farrowing, and monitoring the health of piglets and sows. Rauser also worked on a research project studying the survival rates of lean piglets that received advanced care.

“Many people think swine veterinarians just do paperwork, but there’s so much hands-on work involved,” Rauser says. “I highly recommend this program to anyone interested in swine medicine—it’s definitely opened my mind to the possibilities in this field.”

Training and Competencies: Preparing the Next Generation of Swine Vets

The SMART program’s second pillar focuses on developing core competencies in swine medicine. Harding designed a structured clinical competencies package, which includes 97 activities categorized by topic and difficulty level. This package serves as a guide for both trainees and mentors, providing a roadmap for learning and offering valuable feedback through a grading system.

Rauser’s time at PremierSHP allowed her to hone her clinical skills, and she’s now more confident about pursuing a career in swine medicine. “The SMART program gave me real-world experience in herd health, disease management, and research, which has helped me feel more prepared for a future in this field,” she says.

Supporting Foreign-Trained Vets: The Residency Program

One of the key components of the SMART program is the residency program for foreign-trained veterinarians. The initiative aims to recruit experienced veterinarians from countries like the Philippines and Brazil, retrain them in swine medicine, and help them achieve certification as specialists in the field.

The program, which began in July 2024, is supported by financial contributions from the provincial pork boards in Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba, as well as major pork producers in Western Canada. Through a combination of remote clinical training, academic courses, and research projects, these veterinarians will work towards earning their certification with the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners.

“We want to re-tool experienced veterinarians who already have an interest in swine medicine,” says Harding. “It’s a lot more efficient than trying to recruit entirely new vets, and it adds value by using the experience these professionals already have.”

Continuing Education and Mentorship: A Lifelong Commitment to Excellence

The fourth pillar of the SMART program focuses on continuing education and mentorship for current swine veterinarians. In 2023, members of the Canadian Association of Swine Veterinarians participated in a journal club that explored topics like swine production, animal welfare, and biosecurity. By providing opportunities for professional development, the SMART program helps ensure that the swine industry’s veterinary workforce remains highly skilled and up-to-date with the latest research and practices.

A Sustainable Future for Swine Medicine

Harding is optimistic that the SMART program will continue to thrive in the years to come. “We’ve had strong support from industry partners, and that’s been vital to our success,” he says. “But it’s going to take the efforts of many people to make this program sustainable.”

With the backing of industry leaders, academic institutions, and a growing network of dedicated professionals, the SMART program is set to secure a bright future for swine medicine in Canada. As the program continues to attract and train the next generation of swine veterinarians, the country’s swine industry will remain strong, sustainable, and prepared to meet future challenges.