Darren S. Witte, M.D.
Leonard Tow Humanism in Medicine Award
Assistant Clinical Professor of Internal Medicine
Department: School of Medicine
Dr. Darren S. Witte, Medical Director for VCU Health-Chesterfield, embodies a rare combination of clinical excellence, humanism, and dedicated mentorship in the field of medicine. Before his medical pursuits, Dr. Witte distinguished himself academically, earning a B.A. in Physics, Cum Laude, from Brandeis University in 1992. His connection to VCU began that same year as he entered medical school and worked to earn his M.D. in 1996. He then completed a Combined Internal Medicine-Pediatrics Residency Training Program at Medical College of Virginia Hospitals/VCU, notably serving as Chief Resident from 1999-2000. He has been board-certified in both Internal Medicine and Pediatrics since 2000.
Throughout his career as a Primary Care Physician, Dr. Witte has consistently cared for adults and children of all ages. What started as private practice in 2005 was later merged with the VCU Health System in 2013. The subsequent affiliation with the VCU School of Medicine and Med-Peds residency program have brought Dr. Witte some of his greatest joy as a physician.
In his interactions with patients, he displays a remarkable degree of empathy and caring. Students like Aiden Lefebvre, a VCU SOM Class of 2026 student, observed firsthand how Dr. Witte "delivers patient care with the same kindness, humility, and clarity that he brings to medical education," and how he "communicates with patients in a way that is both deeply respectful and easy to understand, ensuring that they feel heard and supported." This humanistic approach is further evidenced by his Bedside Manner Award from Our Health Richmond Magazine in both 2016 and 2017, awards that speak directly to his compassionate interaction with patients.
Beyond his clinical practice, Dr. Witte is an incredibly influential educator and mentor in his roles as Assistant Clinical Professor of Medicine at VCU Health since 2013, PCM Small Group Leader, Project HEART Small Group Leader, and Community Preceptor. Anna Xystros, another VCU SOM Class of 2026 student, credits him as her M1/M2 PCM leader, stating he "not only taught me everything I know about clinical medicine, but he taught me how to listen and how to provide the most compassionate care for my patients." His teaching approach is characterized by "deep compassion, unwavering patience, and a genuine commitment to our development not just as future physicians but as empathetic caregivers," fostering a respectful, inclusive, and open learning environment. Students laud Dr. Witte as a "trusted mentor" and a "true model of humanistic care in medicine," noting his ongoing support and advice throughout their medical school journey.
Dr. Witte's achievement in clinical practice was also formally recognized with an Excellence in Clinical Practice award from VCU Health in 2020. He has contributed to public health discussions with an interview for Our Health Richmond Magazine in 2017, focusing on men's health screenings and has given a variety of lectures on primary care topics to the Med-Peds residents. His enthusiasm for teaching has been recognized with awards such as the VCU Medical Center Mickael M. Kannan Community Pediatrician Teaching Award, Department of Pediatrics in 2019 and the VCU School of Medicine Excellence in Teaching award, Practice of Clinical Medicine in 2017.
Dr. Witte's career is a testament to his long-standing commitment to patient well-being, thoughtful care, and the holistic development of future physicians.