Alumni Reunion 2026

Alumni Reunion 2026 saw hundreds of alumni return to the MCV Campus for a weekend’s worth of activities, April 17-18. For David Schwartz, M.D., the events marked his first trip back to campus since he graduated medical school in 1971.

Much had changed — “taller buildings and a modern teaching style” — yet the core values of a VCU School of Medicine student remained.

“Well-rounded, bright doctors who want to provide good care,” noted Schwartz, a psychiatrist from San Rafael, California. “A commitment to service and community.”

One highlight of the weekend was Mini Medical School, which provided a glimpse into today’s curriculum. During Anatomy Rounds, a yearlong exercise brings together groups of students who merge anatomy lessons, clinical observations and CT scanning of cadavers to describe a plausible clinical condition the donor might have experienced. Second-year students gave a grand rounds-style presentation of their findings to alumni. As part of the presentation, the students also shared an invented but credible biography of the deceased describing what they might have experienced when they were alive. 

“What a good way to educate medical students about learning about the individual — to knowing a patient beyond their anatomical features,” Schwartz said. “It’s not just about teaching good bedside manners. It starts with teaching good cadaver manners.”

Bringing together alumni and the next generation of aspiring physicians is a defining feature of the reunion experience.

“Reunions provide continuity, energy and reaffirm the purpose of our school,” said Interim Dean of Medicine Stephen L. Kates, M.D., who hosted a reception for alumni before Friday night’s class parties and delivered a state of the school address at Saturday’s Mini Medical School. “Our students get the chance to learn from our alumni, and our alumni get the opportunity to see the future of medical education and practice in our promising next generation of caregivers.”

Alumni also got a firsthand look at how campus has changed with a behind-the-scenes tour of the McGlothlin Medical Education Center, including the Center for Human Simulation and Patient Safety.

Experiences like these reinforce why many alumni value the opportunity to return to campus and stay connected to classmates.

In 2021, the Class of 1986 saw lower attendance for its 35th reunion, which was held on Zoom during the pandemic. Craig Linden, M.D., valued the deepening connections he had made at previous reunions and teamed up with six classmates to help bolster attendance for 2026. 

“I thought there was an opportunity to make a meaningful impact by personally communicating with classmates in advance of our 40th,” said Linden, a retired neuroradiologist living in New York.

The Class of 2006’s Christine Gebert-Parikh, M.D., had a similar experience. 

“When COVID-19 forced our 15-year reunion to go virtual, it made me appreciate even more how important in-person connection is,” she said. “This year, several classmates stepped up to co-chair as well, and planning alongside them was incredibly rewarding. It truly became a shared effort to reconnect our class.”

This year’s reunion coincided with the Ukrop’s Monument Avenue 10k, a race Gebert-Parikh participated in as a medical student. VCU Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center serves as the official charitable fundraising partner for the event.

Gebert-Parikh ran the 10k on Saturday morning alongside friend and fellow alumna Jenny Fox, M.D., a neonatologist at Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU. The early start didn’t slow her down   — she later rejoined her classmates for an evening of dancing at The Tobacco Company in historic Shockoe Slip.

“It’s a joy to reconnect,” said Gebert-Parikh, an internist in Palo Alto, California. “Being part of the planning process made the experience even more meaningful. There is something truly special about helping bring your class back together.”

Linden agreed. In addition to helping increase reunion attendance, he led efforts to endow the Class of 1986 Scholarship, which raised more than $70,000 in a matter of months thanks to the generosity of over two dozen classmates.

“At this point in my life,” Linden said, “I have realized the opportunities to learn that MCV provided me were key in helping me achieve a productive career and earn enough to be independent plus enhance others' lives.”

Alumni may continue to support class giving. This year’s classes are raising funds for student support, either through named class scholarships or via the school’s Annual Fund.

Save the date: Alumni Reunion 2027

M.D. alumni whose graduation year ends in '2 or '7 are invited to reunite, revisit campus and make new memories on April 9-10, 2027. Call (804) 628-2611 to learn more.