Message from the Dean Archive

2023

• Remembering Service and Sacrifice This Veterans Day
• An Update on Changes to MCV's Security Measures
• VCU Investiture Highlights Endowment Impact on SOM
• Celebrating Our Distinguished Faculty
• Hispanic Heritage Month
• Congratulations to Our Faculty
• SOM Scope - Operations Team
• National Civility Month
• Walk the Walk
• A Lifetime of Service
• Remembering Dr Butterworth IV
• Celebrating Juneteenth
• Celebrating Pride Month
• Congratulations to the Class of 2023
• Mental Health Awareness Month
• National Academy of Inventors Inductees
• MCV Campus Reunion Weekend
• Black Maternal Health Week
• Great to be here!

2023

• National Minority Health Month
• School of Medicine Hooding Ceremony Speaker
• Congratulations Class of 2023 on your stellar match
• Celebrating Our Employees — Appreciation Week March 6–10 2023
• 2023 Blue Ridge Rankings
• Celebrating Heart Month
• Black History Month: A Conversation for Our Time
• Working together to make Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s vision of respect equity and justice for all a reality
• Greetings for the New Year 2023!

2022

• Wishing you a peaceful and restorative holiday season
• Learning Environment and Professionalism
• Sanger Hall Repairs Complete
• A Reflection on VCU’s Common Book The Organ Thieves
• School of Medicine reaccreditation preparation
• Record-breaking fundraising propels our people and programs
• Congratulations to our award-winning faculty
• Welcome to our new academic year
• Welcoming the Class of 2026
• Showcasing faculty student and alumni impact in spring issue of 12th Marshall
• Welcoming our new residents and fellows to our School of Medicine
• Celebrating and reflecting on Juneteenth
• Celebrating with Pride
• Reflections on the latest shooting at a Tulsa hospital
• Congratulations to our 2022 graduates
• Our responsibility to condemn racism and address injustice
• Celebrating March 8 as International Women’s Day and National Women’s History Month
• Celebrating Employee Appreciation Week 2022
• Ukraine Situation
• Transformative Gift Announced Today for the Stravitz-Sanyal Institute for Liver Disease and Metabolic Health at VCU
• Dr. Shari Barkin named chair of the Department of Pediatrics and physician-in-chief of Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU
• Celebrating Black History Month
• Working together to make Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s vision of respect equity and justice for all a reality
• 2022 – A time for gratitude resolutions and reflections as we move forward

2021

• A year-end message of reflection and gratitude
• Pride in our Accomplishments: Highlighting alumni engagement and your impressive work in the pages of the latest issue of our alumni magazine
• A New Era: VCU’s Institute for Liver Disease and Metabolic Health
• A season of gratitude: Thank you to those on the frontlines of clinical care
• A season of gratitude: Wishing you a happy Thanksgiving
• A season of gratitude: Thank you across our educational continuum
• A season of gratitude: Thank you to our research community
• Passing of Dr. Walter Lawrence – A Life Well Lived
• A season of gratitude: Thank you to our veterans
• Celebrating Global Diversity Awareness Month with the second annual SOM DEI lecture
• Acknowledging the East Marshall Street Well Unveiling Educational Panels
• Massey receives prestigious grant - the first of its kind in Virginia
• Creating an Inclusive Community with the VCU SOM OUTlist
• Pride in our Accomplishments: Record-Breaking Philanthropy
• Appointment of Dr. Alice Coombs as Chair of the Department of Anesthesiology
• SOM Strategic Planning Update
• Welcoming the Class of 2025
• Welcome to our New Residents and Fellows
• Dr. Jack Grider to Serve as Interim Chair of the Department of Physiology and Biophysics
• Juneteenth and Reflections from the Past; Opportunities for a More Equitable Future
• Congratulations to our 2021 Graduates
• Cathy Wood Named Senior Associate Dean for Finance and Administration
• Pride in our Accomplishments: Adapting to Challenging Times Yields Philanthropy Totals Ahead of Goal
• Celebrating our Alums’ Connection to the Medical School in a Virtual Reunion Weekend
• An Initial Step toward Justice and Healing
• Dr. Luan Lawson Named Senior Associate Dean of Medical Education and Student Affairs
• Pride in our Accomplishments: Opportunities to Reflect Celebrate and Learn in the Pages of our Winter Alumni Magazine
• Celebrating our Students’ Success and the Generosity of our Alumni and Community
• Leadership Transition in the Department of Physiology and Biophysics
• Pride in our Accomplishments: Match Day 2021
• Support and Solidarity for our Asian American and Pacific Islander Community Members
• Reflection on the Year of the COVID-19 Pandemic
• Dr. Kevin Harris Named Inaugural Senior Associate Dean for DEI for the School of Medicine
• Acknowledging International Women’s Day and the Journey toward Parity in Academic Medicine
• Upholding our Collective Value of Mutual Unconditional Respect: Use of Preferred Pronouns
• First Lady of the United States Visits our School of Medicine for Massey Cancer Center-led Dialogue about Health Disparities
• 2021 Hooding Ceremony Speaker to be Alumnus HCA Healthcare Chief Medical Officer
• Dr. Pamela Knapp to Serve as Interim Chair of the Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology
• Celebrating Black History Month
• Heeding Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s Call to Create a More Just Caring World

2020

• Pride in our 2020 Accomplishments: Extraordinary Achievements throughout an Unprecedented Year
• Pride in our Accomplishments: Annual Virtual Meeting of the Association of American Medical Colleges
• Honor through Action – A Year Follow-up on the East Marshall Street Well
• So many reasons to be grateful, including record-breaking philanthropy
• A message of gratitude for this holiday season … like none other
• DEI Milestones: Formation of our School of Medicine’s First Inclusion Council
• Thank You to Our Veterans
• Considering our place in the world, overcoming limits and transforming our communities
• Celebrating Global Diversity Awareness Month with the inaugural SOM DEI lecture
• Staying the course to stay safe
• SOM Inaugural Lecture on DEI - Oct. 21 noon-1 p.m.
• A continued focus on health safety and well-being
• Pride in Our Accomplishments: 22nd Annual Faculty Excellence Awards Program
• Pride in Our Accomplishments: Congratulations to our Award-Winning Faculty
• Welcoming Alumnus Scott M. Strayer M.D. MPH as Chair of the Department of Family Medicine and Population Health
• Our search begins for a permanent senior associate dean for DEI and other DEI news
• Pride in Our Research Accomplishments throughout the COVID-19 Pandemic
• Leadership transition in Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology
• Welcoming the Class of 2024
• Appointment of Dr. Harinder Dhindsa as Chair of Emergency Medicine
• Congratulations to our VETAR and PeRQ award recipients
• Dr. Kevin Harris named interim and inaugural senior associate dean for DEI for the School of Medicine
• Welcoming Our New Residents and Fellows
• Celebrating Juneteenth
• Reaffirming Our Values and the Primacy of Social Justice Human Dignity and Respect
• Pride in Our Accomplishments: Celebrating Our New Alumni
• Gratitude for our SOM community and the COVID-19 response
• Dept. of Anesthesiology Interim Chair announcement
• Niles Eggleston named assistant vice president of alumni and development for the VCU School of Medicine
• Congratulations to our Fourth Year Students on a Successful Match
• Pride in our Accomplishments: A Moment of Gratitude
• Philanthropic gifts are vital to the health of our missions
• Appointment of Cathy Grossman M.D. as Medical Director of the Center for Human Simulation and Patient Safety
• AAMC President Emeritus to be Hooding Ceremony Speaker
• Pride in Our Research Accomplishments: Launching a New Online Science Series
• Pride in a Decade of Accomplishments
• Honoring Dr. Martin Luther King’s Legacy through Service
• Leadership Transition in the Department of Anesthesiology

2019

• Pride in Our 2019 Accomplishments: Wishing You a Very Happy Holiday Season
• Transition in Medical Education
• A Season of Gratitude
• A Solemn and Sacred Ceremony: Welcoming Home Our Ancestors
• Pride in Our Accomplishments: Our Faculty's Innovations Shine at National Conference
• Thank You to Our Veterans
• SOM Welcomes New Massey Cancer Center Director Joining us in December
• VCU Will Lead $50M Study of Traumatic Brain Injuries in Military Personnel
• Pride in Our Accomplishments: Celebrating Impressive Research Funding Gains
• Congratulations to our Award-Winning Faculty
• Welcoming the Class of 2023
• Dr. Joseph Ornato to Transition Away from Role as Emergency Medicine Chair
• Congratulations to our VETAR, PeRQ and Blick Scholar recipients
• Welcome to Our New Residents and Fellows
• Celebrating your many accomplishments
• The Passing of Louis S. Harris, Ph.D.
• Appointment of Alumnus Robert L. Findling, M.D., MBA, as Chair of Psychiatry
• Congratulations to our School of Medicine Graduates
• Massey Cancer Center welcomes Dr. Saïd Sebti as associate director for basic research
• Appointment of Ronald B. Gartenhaus, M.D., as the inaugural director of a new cancer center at the Hunter Holmes McGuire VAMC
• Dr. Anton “Tony” Kuzel Steps Down
• Appointment of Lydia Jones Johnson, M.D., as Chair of Dermatology
• On the passing of Dr. Michael L. Hess
• Pride in Our Accomplishments: Richmond Top Docs
• Pride in Our Accomplishments: Impressive Growth in Research … also New Funding Opportunities
• Dr. Bruce Mathern appointed AVP for Managed Care for VCU Health System
• Renowned Patient Safety Champion to be Hooding Ceremony Speaker
• Pride in our Accomplishments: Our Talented Students are Honored and Supported
• Serving Our Community – Pride in Our Commitment … also to “Matters of the Heart”
• Reflections for all of us
• Outstanding contributions of our faculty, staff, students and alumni
• VCU’s sixth annual Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration week Jan. 20-26
• Development team leadership changes will support ongoing campaign at school and university levels
• Outstanding contributions of our faculty, staff, students and alumni
• Appointment of Roxann Roberson-Nay, PhD, as assistant dean for Graduate Recruitment and Admissions
• Appointment of Patricia J. Sime, M.D., as chair of Internal Medicine

2018

• Wishing you Happy Holidays
• Then and now… raising the profile of our medical school through our colleagues’ stellar accomplishments
• Honoring our past: Justice, peace and respect
• Outstanding contributions of our faculty, staff, students and alumni
• Betsy Ripley, M.D., appointed Senior Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs
• Gratitude can transform common days into thanksgivings
• Our faculty’s innovative contributions to academic medicine highlighted at national conference: Pride in our accomplishments
• Outstanding contributions of our faculty, staff, students and alumni
• Serving Our Community – Pride in Our Commitment
• Outstanding contributions of our faculty, staff, students and alumni
• Serving Our Community – Pride in Our Commitment
• Milestone year for philanthropy
• Alan Dow, M.D., M.S.H.A., to head continuing education organization
• Leadership transition in the Department of Psychiatry
• Outstanding contributions of our faculty, staff, students and alumni
• A trio of faculty honored at VCU’s 2018 Faculty convocation
• Governor’s Grand Rounds at our medical school: an unprecedented opportunity
• A letter to the incoming Class of 2022
• On the passing of Dr. Hunter Holmes McGuire Jr.
• Outstanding contributions of our faculty, staff, students and alumni
• Welcoming our new colleagues and reflections on your many accomplishments
• Outstanding contributions of our faculty, staff, students and alumni
• Welcome Dr. Greg Hundley, new director of VCU Health Pauley Heart Center
• Outstanding contributions of our faculty, students and alumni
• You’re only as good as your team
• Outstanding contributions of our faculty, students and alumni
• Doing what we do best…
• Anita Navarro Ed.D., appointed inaugural chief of staff for VCU School of Medicine
• Outstanding contributions of our faculty, staff, students and alumni
• The passing of Saba Masho, M.D., M.P.H., Dr.P.H.
• Outstanding news about our federal translational research grant
• Outstanding contributions of our faculty, staff, students and alumni
• Department of Dermatology leadership
• Outstanding contributions of our faculty, staff, students and alumni
• Appointment of Nicole Deiorio, M.D., as Associate Dean for Student Affairs
• Department of Internal Medicine’s Leadership
• Outstanding contributions of our faculty, staff, students and alumni
• Leadership Transition at VCU Center on Society and Health
• New Year’s greeting and message from SOM Dean
• The passing of Jan Chlebowski, Ph.D.
• Appointment of Tom Yackel, M.D., as president of MCV Physicians
• Appointment of Gordon Smith, M.D. as Chair of Neurology

2017

• End of Year Message from SOM Dean — Happy Holidays to you and yours
• Appointment of Tom Maness as associate dean for development
• Pride in our accomplishments: our faculty highlighted at national conference
• Happy Thanksgiving
• Appointment of Sally Santen M.D. Ph.D.
• Two School of Medicine faculty honored at VCU’s 2017 Faculty Convocation
• A letter to the incoming Class of 2021
• You’re only as good as your team
• The work that we do at academic medical centers… a (too) well kept secret?!PM&R Chair Cifu appointed Associate Dean for Innovation and Systems Integration
• A great day in the life of our medical school
• A letter to the graduating Class of 2017
• Susan DiGiovanni M.D. appointed Senior Associate Dean of Medical Education and Student Affairs
• Pride in our accomplishments
• On Jan. 17 Peter F. Buckley M.D. assumed his post as the 24th dean of the medical school

2016

• New Associate Dean for Graduate Medical Education in the VCU School of Medicine & DIO for VCU Health System
• 2016 End-of-Year Letter to the Alumni
• School of Medicine’s Annual Report Available
• Michael Donnenberg M.D. named Senior Associate Dean for Research and Research Training and Professor of Internal Medicine
• Vanessa B. Sheppard Ph.D. to be Chair of the Department of Health Behavior & Policy
• Dean Strauss announces intent to step down
• A trio of facilities coming online to meet community needs
• Douglas Arthur M.D. named Chair of Department of Radiation Oncology

2015

• 2015 End-of-Year Letter to the Alumni
• Two Medical School Faculty Honored at VCU’s 2015 Convocation
• Stephen Kates M.D. has been selected to serve as Chair of the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery
• Dean Strauss Commends Gordon Archer’s 40-year career in the medical school
• Alex Valadka M.D. named chair of the Department of Neurosurgery
• Four medical school faculty chosen among 2015’s Blick Scholars
• Match season off to a good start with success for students matching in Urology and Ophthalmology
• Dean Strauss’ salute to Sheldon Retchin

2014 and Earlier

• 2014 End-of-Year Letter to the Alumni
• Two Medical School Faculty to be Honored at VCU Convocation
• Class of 2014 selects Sheldon Retchin as convocation speaker
• U.S. News & World Report Ranking of Best Hospitals: A Flawed Process
• 2013 End-of-Year Letter to the Alumni
• Dean Jerry Strauss welcomes the Class of 2017
• Dean Jerry Strauss commends Jim Neifeld’s tenure as Surgery Chair
• Strauss shares views via Richmond Times-Dispatch
• A Letter to the Medical School’s Alumni Students and Faculty
• End-of-Year Letter to the Alumni
• Timeless Teachings
• The White House Comes to Richmond
• The Class of 2015: Chosen for their Potential
• A New Home for the Medical School
• New Beginnings
• Match Madness 2010
• International Experience Shapes Perspectives on American Health Care
• Roll Call
• A Magician Leads Peds
• Goodbyes are Bittersweet
• Opening a new Door to Discovery
• The Sholley Trolley Departs
• Match Day 2009!
• COWs in Hospital Hallways
• Step I Board Scores Bring Good News to Medical School
• School Receives Good News from LCME
• Announcing the Dean’s Blog