12th & Marshall, Winter 2023-24 issue
The twice-yearly magazine for alumni as well as faculty and friends of our medical school
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Winter 2023-24 feature stories
Arturo P. "Art" Saavedra, M.D., Ph.D., MBA, never planned to become a doctor. But after a chance encounter in his teens, he decided to pursue medicine after all - and do it his own way. Now he's brought his people-first approach to his role as dean of the School of Medicine and executive vice president at VCU Health System. "Incredible things happen when you care about people," he says.
School of Medicine faculty members are creating a national model for the nighttime education of new doctors. "We're trying to really empower the residents to take ownership of their patients' health," says Timothy V. Johnson, M'15, H'18, a nocturnist and assistant professor of medicine. "To recognize that the night is actually half of the day."
Through annual giving and special giving days, gifts of all sizes come together to make an impact on the MCV Campus. Support from alumni ranges from medical student scholarships to mental health care, cancer research and other causes – and it all helps the School of Medicine meet its mission: to educate the next generation of physicians and scientists; embark on critical research projects; and provide care for all patients.
Over the years, more than 160 students have received the Dr. Susan J. Mellette Scholarship, named in honor of the longtime faculty member and pioneering oncologist. All are committed to a career fighting cancer. The award holds special meaning for the Class of 2024's Shubhangi Shah, a first-generation medical student.
With an obsession for sea creatures and nearly 500 dives under his scuba belt, orthopaedic surgeon Khurram Pervaiz, M.D., H'10, finds inspiration and beauty under the sea. In the last 14 years, he has traveled the world to swim with and often hand-feed nearly every kind of shark.
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Winter 2023-24 expanded stories