(Rani Photo by Chamberlain Smith/UGA)
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. She has also been an attending surgeon and intensivist at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center since 2003.
In her new role, Schuchert will oversee student affairs, including academic success programs, financial aid services, student wellness initiatives, career counseling, and academic advising. She will also help develop policies, programs, and services that support student development, academic achievement, well-being, and the overall educational experience.
At the University of Pittsburgh, Schuchert received several honors, including Clerkship Preceptor of the Year in 2019, 2022, and 2024, and was elected to the Academy of Distinguished Medical Educators in 2024. She has contributed to course and curriculum development, served on committees related to student advising, admissions, and faculty development, presented at conferences and lectures worldwide, and authored more than 25 publications, including articles, book chapters, and abstracts.
Schuchert earned her Bachelor of Arts from the University of Pennsylvania and completed her medical degree, general surgery residency, and surgical critical care fellowship at the University of Pittsburgh.