University of Virginia School of Medicine

University of Virginia School of Medicine is a medical school located in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States.

History
Thomas Jefferson founded the University of Virginia in 1819. He planned the curriculum, recruited the first faculty, and designed the academical village. Jefferson's intent was for the publicly-supported school to develop a national character and stature. The University was an innovation because it was dedicated to educating leaders in practical affairs and public service rather than exclusively for professions in the classroom and pulpit. It was the first nonsectarian university in the United States and the first to use the elective course system.

The University opened for classes in 1825 with eight faculty and sixty-eight students. Jefferson took great pains to recruit the most highly qualified faculty, five of whom were found in England and three in the United States. Instruction was offered in ancient languages, modern languages, mathematics, moral philosophy, natural philosophy, chemistry, law, and medicine. The students came from the American South and West and were predominantly not Virginians.

Jefferson opposed the granting of degrees on the grounds that they were "artificial embellishments." In 1824, however, the Board of Visitors authorized granting the master of arts degree. The M.D. degree was awarded to the first graduates of the School of Medicine in 1828, and the LL.B. was first awarded for law school graduates in 1842. The bachelor's degree was awarded beginning in 1849, but became the standard undergraduate degree and a prerequisite for the master's degree in 1899, bringing the University into conformity with other institutions of higher learning. The Ph.D. has been awarded since 1883.

Further details about the School of Medicine are available in the School of Medicine Factbook: http://www.healthsystem.virginia.edu/internet/about/factbook/

For further details on the history of the University of Virginia, visit: http://www.virginia.edu/uvatours/shorthistory/

Take a Virtual Tour of the School of Medicine, including an orientation to the UVA hospital, the University of Virginia, and the Charlottesville, Virginia area (12 min.). Go to https://www.healthsystem.virginia.edu/internet/admissions/ then click on TAKE THE VIRTUAL TOUR.

School websites
School of Medicine Home Page

Admissions Office

About the SOM

Biomedical Sciences Graduate Programs

Clinical Residencies & Fellowship

Housestaff Office

Financial Aid Office

Continuing Medical Education

Research Core Facilities, Institutes, Centers, & Other Programs

Departments
Basic Science Departments (7)

Biochemistry & Molecular Genetics

Biomedical Engineering

Cell Biology

Microbiology

Molecular Physiology & Biological Physics

Neuroscience

Pharmacology

Clinical Departments (23)

Anesthesiology

Dentistry

Dermatology

Emergency Medicine

Family Medicine

Internal Medicine ''

Neurological Surgery

Neurology

Obstetrics & Gynecology Ophthalmology

Orthopaedic Surgery

Otolaryngology - Head & Neck Surgery

Pathology

Pediatrics

Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation

Plastic & Maxillofacial Surgery

Psychiatric Medicine

Public Health Sciences

Radiology

Surgery

Therapeutic Radiology & Oncology

Urology

Reputation
2008 U.S. News and World Report rank UVA School of Medicine at No. 23 for research.

UVa SOM was ranked #9 among public U.S. medical schools.

Department Chairs
Anesthesiology George F. Rich, MD, PhD

Biochemistry & Molecular Genetics Joyce L. Hamlin, PhD

Biomedical Engineering Thomas C. Skalak, PhD

Cell Biology Barry M. Gumbiner, PhD

Dentistry Thomas E. Leinbach, DDS

Dermatology Kenneth E. Greer, MD

Emergency Medicine Robert E. O'Connor, MD, MPH

Family Medicine Sim S. Galazka, MD

Internal Medicine Robert M. Strieter, MD

Microbiology J. Thomas Parsons, PhD

Molecular Physiology & Biological Physics Howard C. Kutchai, PhD, Acting Chair

Neurological Surgery Mark E. Shaffrey, MD

Neurology G. Frederick Wooten, Jr., MD

Neuroscience Kevin S. Lee, PhD

Obstetrics/ Gynecology William N.P. Herbert, MD

Ophthalmology Brian P. Conway, MD

Orthopaedic Surgery Cato T. Laurencin, MD, PhD

Otolaryngology Paul A. Levine, MD

Pathology Dennis J. Templeton, MD, PhD

Pediatrics Robert L. Chevalier, MD

Pharmacology James C. Garrison, PhD

Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation D. Casey Kerrigan, MD

Plastic Surgery Raymond F. Morgan, MD, DMD

Psychiatric Medicine Bankole Johnson, MD, PhD

Public Health Sciences Robert E. Reynolds, MD, Acting Chair

Radiation Oncology James M. Larner, MD

Radiology Michael D. Dake, MD

Surgery Irving L. Kron, MD

Urology William D. Steers, MD

Notable Faculty
The faculty of the UVa SOM are recognized nationally and internationally. For more information on awards and achievements of faculty, visit the Factbook of the SOM. Chapter 3 of the Factbook contains Highlights of Faculty Achievements.

Address
PO Box 800793, McKim Hall

Charlottesville, VA 22908-0793