Honoring Two Virology Pioneers: New Scholarship Supports Future Public Health and Veterinary Leaders

The legacies of two influential virologists, Dr. Pedro Acha and Dr. Luis Melendez , are being honored through a newly endowed scholarship at the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine.

Established by their families, the Dr. Pedro Acha and Dr. Luis Melendez Scholarship will support students with demonstrated financial need and a strong interest in public health. Preference will be given to students dual-enrolled in the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) and Master of Public Health (MPH) programs.

A Partnership Rooted in Science and Public Health

Acha and Melendez built both a professional collaboration and a lasting friendship through their work in virology and public health. Their connection deepened during their time working with the Pan American Health Organization in the 1970s and early 1980s, where their complementary strengths advanced zoonotic disease research and policy in the Western Hemisphere.

At PAHO, Acha focused on epidemiological surveillance and veterinary public health strategy. Melendez contributed laboratory expertise, helping translate scientific discovery into practical policy applications, including international protocols related to animal movement.

Their shared work helped shape modern thinking around the interconnectedness of animal and human health — an approach now widely recognized as One Health.

Leaders Ahead of Their Time

Pedro Acha, originally from Peru, championed the idea that human health is inseparable from animal health decades before the term “One Health” gained global recognition. As chief of veterinary public health at PAHO, he advocated for controlling rabies, brucellosis, and tuberculosis in animals as a primary strategy for protecting human populations.

His textbook, Zoonoses and Communicable Diseases Common to Man and Animals, co-authored with Boris Szyfres, remains a foundational reference in zoonotic disease research and education.

Luis Melendez, who earned his doctorate from the University of Chile before completing a Rockefeller Foundation Fellowship in the United States, became internationally recognized for his work in virology. During his research at the University of Wisconsin and Harvard University, he isolated Herpesvirus saimiri in 1968 from squirrel monkeys. The virus, harmless in its natural host, caused fatal lymphomas and leukemias in other primate species. It was the first herpesvirus demonstrated to cause cancer in primates, providing a critical model for studying human leukemia, lymphoma viruses, and later influencing HIV research.

Deep Ties to Virginia Tech

Melendez served as professor of biomedical sciences at the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine from 1984 to 1994, while Acha contributed as a visiting lecturer. The families’ connections to Virginia Tech extend across generations, with multiple children and grandchildren earning degrees from the university.

For their families, the scholarship represents more than financial support — it reflects a shared belief in the broader role of veterinary medicine.

According to family members, both men viewed veterinarians not solely as clinicians for companion animals, but as professionals uniquely positioned at the intersection of animal and human health. Their careers exemplified the integration of laboratory science, epidemiology, and public health policy.

Investing in the Next Generation

The scholarship aims to support future veterinarians who share that same passion for public health and cross-disciplinary impact. By prioritizing DVM/MPH students, the endowment reinforces the continued importance of veterinarians in global health, infectious disease control, and zoonotic disease prevention.

As veterinary medicine increasingly embraces One Health principles in response to emerging infectious diseases and global health challenges, the scholarship stands as a tribute to two pioneers who helped shape that vision long before it became mainstream.

Through this endowment, the families of Pedro Acha and Luis Melendez hope to ensure that the next generation of veterinarians continues advancing the integrated science of animal and human health — carrying forward a legacy built on collaboration, discovery, and public service.