New program offers public health degree for DVMs

BLACKSBURG, VA. - 8/18/05 - Students at the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine now have means for obtaining a master's of public health (MPH) in addition to a DVM degree.

The collaborative program was born last month from a partnership between the veterinary college and the University of Maryland at Baltimore School of Public Health. In addition to students, the MPH is available to practicing veterinarians.

"This is a significant new partnership, both for our regional college of veterinary medicine and for Virginia Tech," says Dr. Gerhardt Schurig, veterinary college dean. "In an age characterized by the threat of bioterrorism and emerging diseases, we are going to see veterinary medicine and human medicine working more closely together than ever before to protect public health."

The program opens doors for veterinarians in education and training, public health research projects and serves as a response to national research initiatives on bioterrorism and emerging diseases, Schurig adds.