Black tie gala marks Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine's 25th anniversary

Distinguished political figures ranging from United States Congressmen to the Commissioner-designee of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration praised the progress made by the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine (VMRCVM) during its first quarter-century and spoke of the growing importance of the profession of veterinary medicine in the post September 11, 2001 world during a recent black-tie gala celebrating the college’s 25th anniversary.

The event included approximately 200 guests from government agencies, stakeholder groups such as the Virginia Farm Bureau, college donors and supporters and officials from Virginia Tech and the University of Maryland.

Following a reception and dinner, VMRCVM Dean Gerhardt Schurig opened the program announcing a new partnership with the University of Maryland College of Medicine at Baltimore that will enable students to earn a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degree from the college and a master’s degree in public health (MPH) from the University of Maryland.

Schurig also honored the founding role the late Richard B. Talbot played as the college’s first dean by recognizing his wife, Jane Talbot, Mr. and Mrs. Lee Talbot, and Andrea Talbot Stark. Jane Talbot is providing principal funding for a major piece of sculpture that will be installed and dedicated during the 25th anniversary celebration’s concluding event on Sept. 9.

Schurig recalled the college’s turbulent founding years and thanked many in the audience for the role they played in helping the college reach the benchmark that was the cause for celebration.

“Because of this college,” said Schurig, “millions of citizens and their animals, in suburban homes and on our farms, are experiencing the benefits of modern veterinary healthcare.” The college has graduated 1,668 veterinarians during its first quarter-century,

Schurig then recognized the role that Peter Eyre, the college’s second dean, played in the college’s success by unveiling an oil portrait of Eyre that will hang in the college’s boardroom. During his response, Eyre thanked his family for their support and praised retired Virginia Senator William Truban and “Citizens Committee for the Veterinary College” Chairman Robert Peters for the role they played in building the college.

Virginia Tech President Charles W. Steger commended former Virginia Tech presidents T. Marshall Hahn and William Lavery for the roles they played in the establishment of the college of veterinary medicine and predicted that the college would play a significant role in Virginia Tech’s growing initiatives in the biomedical and life sciences.

“As Virginia Tech strives to enhance our contribution to the state and nation as a research university, we understand that the life sciences will play a central role in our research enterprise,” said Steger. “The college will play a leading role in these efforts, particularly through collaborations with other disciplines.”

C. D. Mote, president of the University of Maryland at College Park, then told the gathering the regional partnership was an example of collaboration that should be more common in higher education. “We play together on the playing field and we play together in our laboratories, and that’s the way great universities should work together,” said Mote. “We have a unique, special and very wonderful relationship.” Earlier in the day, Mote and colleagues toured the college during the 25th anniversary open house event.

Virginia General Assembly Delegate Jim Shuler then took the podium to congratulate the school on behalf of the Commonwealth of Virginia. He formally presented Schurig with a framed Joint Commending Resolution from the Virginia General Assembly in honor of the college’s anniversary.

Maryland Deputy Secretary of Agriculture John Brooks then spoke on behalf of the State of Maryland and presented Schurig with a framed Executive Proclamation from Maryland Governor Robert Ehrlich that congratulated the college and made April 9, 2005 an official “Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine Anniversary Celebration Day” throughout Maryland. Brooks was also the official ambassador from the American Veterinary Medical Association in Chicago and he officially expressed congratulations from the nation’s organized veterinary medical community.

U.S. Congressman Rick Boucher (D-9th district) then came forward to congratulate the college for its anniversary achievement. Boucher, who as a Virginia state senator during the 1970’s worked closely with Founding Dean Talbot in getting the school organized, said the school had fulfilled the vision of its founders and was an important resource for Virginia, Maryland and beyond.

U.S. Congressman Bob Goodlatte (R-6th district), who chairs the United States House of Representatives Committee on Agriculture, discussed the important role veterinary medicine is playing in modern society and addressed the urgency of the profession’s public practice role in helping the nation deal with the threat of bioterrorism and infectious diseases affecting animals and people.

The evening’s final speaker, U.S. Food and Drug Administration Director-designee Lester Crawford, then told the group that the college is “first and foremost” in the minds of federal officials when they are attempting to recruit new veterinarians to work in public health. Crawford, who worked with Founding Dean Talbot in the early 1970’s at the University of Georgia, predicted that the college will provide half of the 20 veterinarians being recruited by the FDA this year. The VMRCVM already has more alumni employed at the FDA than any other veterinary school.

The event concluded with a presentation of a new video entitled “Breaking New Ground in Veterinary Medicine” and a dance.