Vaishali “Rani” Schuchert has been named associate dean for student affairs at the University of Georgia School of Medicine.
Schuchert comes to UGA from the University of Pittsburgh, where she served as director of medical student education for the Department of Surgery, surgery clerkship director, and associate professor of surgery and critical care medicine, while also serving as an attending surgeon and intensivist at UPMC since 2003.
In her new role, Schuchert will oversee student affairs, including academic success programs, financial aid, wellness initiatives, career counseling, and academic advising, as well as helping develop policies and programs supporting student development, achievement, and well-being.
At Pittsburgh, Schuchert received Clerkship Preceptor of the Year honors in 2019, 2022, and 2024, and was elected to the Academy of Distinguished Medical Educators in 2024. She has contributed to curriculum development, served on advising and admissions committees, presented worldwide, and authored more than 25 publications. She earned her BA from the University of Pennsylvania and her medical degree, surgery residency, and surgical critical care fellowship at Pittsburgh.