Veterans Day 2020

For more than a century, November 11 has served as a reminder to honor all those who have – and continue to – step forward to defend our country. We benefit greatly from the lessons our faculty and staff, such as those featured below, have learned from their time in the Armed Services. Our heartfelt thanks go to them and to their families. If you would like to share your story for future features like this one, please contact SOMWeb@vcuhealth.org.

Andrea Cassel (right), executive assistant to the senior associate dean of faculty affairs; U.S. Marine Corps, 1999–2007. “One of the biggest lessons I learned is that regardless of what others may say, the only person who stands in the way of you achieving a goal is YOU.”

Joel Schmidt, M.D., director of the pediatric cystic fibrosis program, Children’s Hospital of Richmond; U.S. Army, 1980–2006. “My professional success developed through the broad leadership and health care experiences I had from deployments on military operations to overseas humanitarian missions, state department diplomatic trips and being a solo pediatrician at an isolated post.”

Joel Silverman, M.D., professor in the Department of Psychiatry; U.S. Army, 1973–1975 as chief of psychiatry in Japan. “I also covered the ER on rotation with the other physicians, which both used and strengthened my general medical skills.”

Kevin O’Keefe, administrator, Department of Orthopaedics; U.S. Army, 1980–1994. “Being a Medical Service Corps Officer, I learned patient care, regardless of military or civilian, comes first in every decision we make.”

Marc Huntoon, M.D., vice chair of the Department of Anesthesiology; U.S. Navy health professions scholarship program from April 1981 until discharge, active duty service July 1986–September 1993. “I had an opportunity to be the first pain fellow ever trained in a military pain fellowship program, which led to my career focus in pain management.”

Michael Greer, operations manager; U.S. Army. The biggest lessons he learned during his 18.5 years of service were to “never give up” and “complain less, sweat more.”

Scott Strayer, M.D., MPH, (left) chair of the Department of Family Medicine & Population Health; U.S. Army, 1983--1990; U.S. Air Force, 1990--present. “The military focuses on taking care of their people, integrity, service before self and encouraging high functioning teams while building camaraderie that often lasts a lifetime. I try to lead from this perspective every day.”

Kevin Harris, Ph.D., interim senior associate dean for diversity, equity and inclusion; U.S. Army / National Guard, 1985–1992. “The sense of interdependence that was instilled in each of us (E pluribus unum – One from many) is really the aim of the diversity project. We ‘had’ to make our individual diversity work for the good of the whole; it wasn't optional.”

Bill Dewey, Ph.D., chair of the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology; U.S. Army, 1957–1959. “I think I learned more about life, how to make the most of a tough situation and how to work with others.”

Carl Dailey, IT support analyst, SOMTech; U.S. Marine Corps, 1992–2000, “The biggest lesson I learned in the Marines was not getting rattled when things didn’t go as planned. Be ready to make adjustments, and focus on completing the mission.”

Faculty Excellence Awards 2020

Wednesday, September 30, 2020

Faculty Excellence Awards 2020

Match Day 2020

Match Day is a pivotal, momentous occasion, and one that deserves to be marked with grand, joyful commemorations for our students and those who have supported them. On this special day of professional and personal celebration in the medical community, our heartfelt congratulations go out to our VCU School of Medicine fourth-year students.

Match Day 2020

Class of 2023’s White Coat Photo Shoot

In November 2019, the VCU School of Medicine first years gathered at the Egyptian Building for their official class photo. Photography by Kevin Schindler

Class of 2023’s White Coat Photo Shoot

21st Annual Faculty Excellence Awards Program 2019

The Awards: Teaching excellence Awards (The Enrique Gerszten, M.D. Faculty Teaching Excellence Award - The Irby-James Award for Excellence in Clinical Teaching - The Distinguished Mentor Award - The Educational Innovation/Educational Research Award), Leonard Tow Humanism in medicine Award Presented by the Arnold P. Gold Foundation, Women in Science, Dentistry, and Medicine (wisdm) Professional Achievement Award, MCV Physicians Distinguished Clinician Award, VCU/VCUHS Leadership in Graduate Medical Education Award, Outstanding Departmental Teacher Award in Health Sciences Education, Outstanding Teacher Awards in Undergraduate Medical Education

21st Annual Faculty Excellence Awards Program 2019

White Coat Ceremony 2019

The Class of 2023's 184 students were welcomed to the MCV Campus with an orientation week that began with Roll Call and culminated in the White Coat Ceremony where they heard from keynote speaker Clifford L. Deal, M'00, H'05. Photo credit: Kevin Morley, VCU University Marketing

White Coat Ceremony 2019

Walk the Walk 2019

On June 19, 2019, the medical school welcomed 148 new interns. For three days, they participated in the annual Walk the Walk orientation program, which uses an interdisciplinary approach to familiarize them with VCU Health’s core behaviors, including STAR service, teamwork, communication and patient safety.

Walk the Walk 2019

Graduation 2019

On Friday, May 10, the medical school hosted its annual hooding ceremony for the M.D. graduating students. The speaker was world-renowned patient safety champion Peter Pronovost, M.D., Ph.D. Dean of Medicine Peter Buckley, M.D., as well as Class President Kathryn Gouthro also addressed the class.

Graduation 2019

Reunion Weekend 2019

Reunion Weekend 2019 saw hundreds of alumni return to the MCV Campus for a weekend's worth of activities, April 5-7. On hand to welcome them back to campus was Dean of Medicine Peter F. Buckley, M.D., who hosted a reception for alumni before they headed to class parties all over town.

Reunion Weekend 2019

Match Day 2019

At noon on March 15, medical students along with their faculty, families and friends gathered for Match Day, the annual rite of passage when fourth-year medical students learn where they will go for residency training in their chosen specialties. Photos by Cabay Fine Photography and University Marketing.

Match Day 2019

MCV Campus Endowed Scholarship Brunch 2019

In February, the 2019 MCV Campus Endowed Scholarship Brunch celebrated the generosity of hundreds of scholarship donors, providing an opportunity for them to meet with their student recipients. This year, the number of endowed scholarships at the MCV Foundation grew to 413 funds and paid out $2.7 million in scholarship awards across the MCV Campus.

MCV Campus Endowed Scholarship Brunch 2019

Faculty Excellence Awards 2018

Convocation 2018

Match Day 2018

At noon on March 16, medical students along with their faculty, families and friends gathered for Match Day, the annual rite of passage when fourth-year medical students learn where they will go for residency training in their chosen specialties. Students celebrated with the theme “What would you be if you weren’t an M.D.?” Photos by Cabay Fine Photography.

Match Day 2018

Reunion Weekend 2018

Alumni Reception in Virginia Beach, Virginia - Oct 2018

In October 2018, the School of Medicine hosted a reception for alumni who live in the Tidewater area. Dean of Medicine Peter F. Buckley, M.D., was on hand to welcome guests, along with Orthopaedics Chair Stephen Kates, M.D., and Family Medicine and Population Health Chair Tony Kuzel, M.D. Special thanks to Allison D. Byrd, M'78, and J. Abbott Byrd III, M'78, who hosted the event in their home. Photos by Jay Paul Photography.