The death of Scott Hurd, a noted veterinarian, epidemiologist, teacher and speaker, has left a void, according to those who worked with him on a wide range of projects.

"Dr. Hurd was a true professional in every aspect of the word," said Patrick Halbur, professor and chair in the Department of Veterinary Diagnostic and Pro­duction Animal Medicine at Iowa State University (ISU) and executive director of the ISU Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory. "He was a world-class epidemiologist and food scientist with a thorough understanding of the full animal protein production chain."

Hurd, 58, began his veterinary career at a dairy practice in South Central Pennsylvania. This was one of the first practices in the country to...