UVA School of Medicine

F R O M T H E D E A N Alittle over one year ago, the world as we know it changed forever as a result of COVID-19. As I write this, vaccines are being rolled out nationwide — physicians, nurses and even medical students are stepping up and once again serving on the front lines to hopefully put an end to this pandemic. In the past 13 months, we have celebrated milestones like graduation and Match Day virtually. Other special occasions, like the White Coat Ceremony and class reunions, have been delayed. We have missed out on opportunities to gather in favor of social distancing and stopping the spread. It has been difficult, but we have come through stronger as a result and found new ways to learn, to serve and to be a community. I am grateful to the faculty and staff of the University of Virginia School of Medicine for their outstanding leadership during this time. Through hard work and innovation, they have risen to the challenges of this pandemic in order to maintain the high level of excellence our students expect and deserve. Indeed, our faculty have used the pandemic to fine tune some of the changes that were already planned as part of our Next Gen 2.0 curriculum, which was implemented in March. Part of that effort extends to our new Inova Regional Campus in northern Virginia, where our third- year medical students in Pinn College are doing their clerkships. You can read more about this effort beginning on page 12. Although my time as dean is winding down, I want to take a moment to thank our students, alumni, housestaff and faculty for their support over the past five years. I am enormously proud of what we have accomplished together. Today, UVA is a national model for excellence through innovation and collaboration. Our research program is in a strong position, evidenced by the five-year, $23 million grant from the National Institutes of Health for iTHRIV, great improvements in infrastructure, and three years of the highest-ever extramural funding in the history of the School of Medicine. Similarly, our clinical mission has been recognized for providing the highest quality care in Virginia, ranking as the #1 hospital in Virginia for five years in a row by U.S. News & World Report. No matter whether you went to school here, trained here, or taught here, you are a part of the UVA family and a contributor to our success. Sincerely, David S. Wilkes, MD Dean, UVA School of Medicine James Carroll Flippin Professor of Medical Science I am grateful to the faculty and staff of the University of Virginia School of Medicine for their outstanding leadership during this time.

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