Dean Schurig to step down at Virginia-Maryland

Dr. Gerhardt G. Schurig will step down this summer as dean of the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine.

Appointed the college’s third dean in 2004, Dr. Schurig joined the faculty in 1978. A professor and veterinary immunologist, he is considered one of the world’s leading brucellosis researchers.

Senior Vice President and Provost Mark McNamee said, “World-class research programs, a top-notch teaching hospital, and a cadre of distinguished faculty and clinicians are key pieces of the legacy of his leadership, and he leaves the college well poised for continued growth and impact.”

Before serving as dean, Dr. Schurig was the associate dean for research and graduate studies, director of Virginia Tech’s Institute for Biomedical and Public Health Sciences, and a senior researcher and director of the Center for Molecular Medicine and Infectious Diseases.

Dr. Schurig earned his DVM degree in 1970 from the University of Chile and a doctorate in immunology from Cornell University. He spent two years at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in the Department of Veterinary Science. He then joined the Virginia Tech faculty and began a research career that culminated with development of the RB-51 vaccine, the only vaccine currently approved for use in the federal brucellosis control program. It played a major role in virtual eradication of the cattle disease in the U.S.

He served as 2011-2012 president of the Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges and has published more than a hundred articles in peer-reviewed journals.

After stepping down, Dr. Schurig will return to the Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, where he will teach immunology and conduct research.