W elcome to the inaugural issue of Virginia Medicine.
This publication, formerly known as Vitals and published by the UVA Medical Alumni Association, will
continue the tradition of keeping alumni and friends informed about what is happening at the School of
Medicine. As dean, I can assure you that there is much to share.
In August, we welcomed the Class of 2023, and in February 2021, thirty-six of the MD students from
this class will transition to UVA's new regional campus at Inova Fairfax for their clerkship rotations with
the option to do electives elsewhere. They will have a Charlottesville-based college dean
and an Inova college dean during their pre-clerkship period. This is an exciting training
opportunity that you will be learning more about in the years to come.
Of course, for those training or serving on faculty in Charlottesville, the news is exciting
as well. For the fourth consecutive year, U.S. News & World Report has ranked the
University of Virginia Medical Center as the #1 hospital in Virginia. I am proud of all
our team members across the Health System for their
commitment to patient care because that is ultimately
what this honor is all about. That commitment will only
be enhanced as we open our expanded, state-of-the-art
emergency department, which will treat its first patient this
month. The new ED will triple the current square footage
from 15,000 to 45,000 square feet and include 80 beds
in all-private rooms. The full University Hospital Expansion
(UHE) project will be completed in Summer 2020.
There is so much else to share. Inside this issue, you will read about our
ongoing efforts to provide outstanding training for today's students with
initiatives taking place outside the classroom to enhance learning.
You'll also find news about recent discoveries, as well as student and
alumni events (including the first-ever BIMS Reunion), and much more.
Please know that, as we share news from UVA, we also take pride in your news and accomplishments.
To those of you who shared Class Notes for this issue, thank you. The University of Virginia connects us
all, and I am grateful for your continued interest and loyalty to the School of Medicine.
David S. Wilkes, MD
Dean, UVA School of Medicine
James Carroll Flippin Professor of Medical Science
For the fourth
consecutive
year, U.S. News
& World Report
has ranked the
University of
Virginia Medical
Center as
the #1 hospital
in Virginia.
F R O M T H E D E A N
