Reunion Weekend 2025

The largest turnout of School of Medicine alumni in years – more than 450 alumni and guests – gathered in Richmond on April 4-5. Five years ago, Reunion Weekend was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This year, alumni were eager to reconnect on the MCV Campus for the first time in at least a decade. At Friday night’s reception, Dean of Medicine Art Saavedra, M.D., Ph.D., M.B.A., welcomed alumni and noted the celebration felt all the sweeter as a result of the hardships that have been endured.

Alumni began the weekend at the Center for Human Simulation and Patient Safety. They had hands-on experiences in an ultrasound workshop and with simulation patients, and tested their communication skills with standardized patient and laparoscopic teamwork activities. 

While examining the simulation mannequins, emergency medicine physician Munish Goyal, M’00, noted, “As a professor and attending physician at Georgetown, it’s nice to see my alma mater keeping up with the technology and intentionally incorporating it in the curriculum.”

Tara L. Lin, M’00 (left), with husband and classmate Jim Lin, M’00, toured the Center for Human Simulation and Patient Safety. Photo by Jay Paul.

Jim Lin, M’00, and Tara L. Lin, M’00, hadn’t been back to campus for a reunion since graduating 25 years ago. The couple, who met in medical school and now live in Kansas, were the Class of 2000’s reunion co-chairs. An otolaryngologist and an oncologist respectively, they were most looking forward to reconnecting with their classmates. They said, however, the experience at the Sim Center exceeded their expectations.

“It’s fascinating to see the training that medical students are receiving – some that I never had, like the communication skills with standardized patients,” said Tara Lin. 

Class of 1995 reunion co-chair Cary Gentry, M’95, hosted his class party with a Skull and Bones restaurant theme. Photo courtesy of Cary Gentry.

For Friday evening’s class parties, alumni gathered at homes and restaurants around Richmond. The Class of 1995 paid homage to the former MCV Campus landmark, Skull and Bones, with a themed celebration that included Philly cheesesteaks – a class favorite from the restaurant's menu. 

Reunion Weekend activities continued beyond the MCV Campus and across Richmond with food and brewery tours as well as a historic trolly tour. 

Another favorite event was Mini Medical School, which included the Dean’s State of the School and Anatomy Rounds. During the State of the School, Saavedra highlighted accolades such as family medicine’s top five nationwide research ranking, a pathology professor named a National Academy of Inventors senior member and student success through the McGlothlin Scholars scholarship program. 

“MCV is a school that wants to do well while doing good,” Saavedra said. “We are challenging the way science is done.”

Many alumni were impressed to learn about the technology that M1s and M2s use in today’s anatomy course. The class remains dissection-based, but now students have access to radiology imaging and pathology reports that provide additional information about the disease processes they see reflected in the cadavers.

Kathie Lang, M’75, celebrated her 50-year reunion. Photo by Jay Paul.

Kathie Lang, M’75, a family practice physician from Oregon celebrating her 50th reunion, was particularly struck by students’ familiarity with CT scans – a diagnostic tool that wasn’t available to her in school. 

“The progress we see in medicine as well as in its education with technology and technique across the country are on display in the place that you attended medical school,” said Jim Lin.

Giving today's students unsurpassed experiences and training is a priority for many reunion participants. Class giving – which continues through June 30 – supports scholarships. Some, like the Class of 1985, are rallying to endow their class scholarship, while others support the school's Annual Fund – 100% of which goes to create medical student scholarships.

“While we enjoyed the tours, seeing campus and meeting medical students, the best part was reconnecting with classmates," Tara Lin said. "It was easy to pick up with folks as if no time had passed. Everyone agreed we need to get more people back for our next reunion.”

Save the date: Reunion Weekend 2026

M.D. alumni whose graduation year ends in '1 or '6 are invited to reunite, revisit campus and make new memories on April 17-18, 2026. Call 804-628-2611 to learn more.