History
The University of Virginia School of Medicine was envisioned and established in 1819 by Thomas Jefferson, the third President of the United States. Mr. Jefferson believed that a free flowing exchange of ideas was best accomplished by having faculty and students living and learning side by side. The “Academical Village” reflects this philosophy and it continues to be one of the tenets of our approach to medical education. The School of Medicine was one of the first 8 schools within the University.
The School Today
Doctor of Medicine
In 2010, after nearly a decade of research, self-study and preparation, the more traditional curriculum was replaced by an integrated curriculum in recognition that students learn best around patient stories while engaged in active learning. The medical school building was built to support this curriculum, accepting the first class in the fall of 2010.
In 2017, the Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program and the Public Health Sciences programs joined the School of Medicine.
Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program
The Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program (BIMS) at UVA is a vibrant interdisciplinary graduate program committed to training PhD candidates in becoming the next generation of scientific leaders. We achieve this goal through an immersive curriculum designed to provide students with fundamental scientific skills and exceptional research training.
The BIMS program provides students with the flexibility to tailor an independent program of didactic coursework toward their developing research interests. In parallel, we offer students a broad spectrum of research opportunities, provided in partnership with the School of Medicine, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, and School of Engineering and Applied Sciences at the University of Virginia.
Through these opportunities, BIMS students have an opportunity to train under world-renowned scientists who are committed not only to scientific discovery, but also to mentoring and teaching.
The BIMS graduate program integrates four educational elements to providing rigorous training to students in the biomedical sciences:
1. Formal Course Work
Our students follow a curriculum that includes a combination of core classes and more specialized advanced topic electives. These courses are designed to inspire as well as to help students develop into creative and analytical scientific thinkers through intensive training in scientific principles, data analysis, experimental design, and problem-solving skills. Importantly, this curriculum recently underwent significant changes, which afford students even greater flexibility to develop a program of study that fits their developing research interests.
2. Laboratory Research
Independent research is at the core of the BIMS graduate program. Students have the opportunity to select from hundreds of faculty mentors whose research programs span a diverse array of scientific disciplines . Again, flexibility is an integral part of our program; students generally rotate with 3 faculty members of their choosing prior to selecting a mentor/thesis lab. Collaboration amongst UVA researchers is the rule rather than the exception, providing our students with unique training opportunities that are not found elsewhere.
3. Participation in the Broader Research Community
Research retreats, topical symposia and seminar series, student research days, colloquia, research-in-progress meetings, and multi-institutional regional conferences supplement the formal course work and research activities of our students. Through many of these activities, students learn about cutting edge research that is being performed throughout the world from leaders in the field. Our students are also encouraged to participate in community outreach opportunities, where they learn to communicate science to a broader public and act as role models to younger students in the community.
4. Exposure to Clinical/Translational Aspects of Disease
Students in the BIMS graduate program are provided numerous opportunities to gain exposure to clinical and translational aspects of disease. These include frequent interactions with our clinical faculty, who teach in our formal courses and routinely serve as co-mentors and members of student thesis advisory committees. Additionally, our students have the opportunity to attend organ-based “tumor boards” and infectious disease conferences that form part of the clinical enterprise of the School of Medicine. Finally, they can choose to rotate through clinical pathology laboratories to learn about diagnosis and monitoring of human disease.
We seek students who are looking for a rigorous, innovative PhD training program in the biomedical sciences; students who want to be a part of cutting-edge biomedical research in a rich scientific environment and students who aspire to become leaders in academia, industry, government, and science education.
Public Health Sciences
The Department of Public Health Sciences brings a unique, interdisciplinary approach to population health and clinical research, and to the generation, management and interpretation of basic science, clinical and health-related information.
The Department of Public Health Sciences collaborates in numerous School of Medicine and cross-university research initiatives, and serves as a bridge to others across the university and to the community at large. See the DPHS Mission statement and History for more information.
The Department faculty and professional staff have the following expertise and work collaboratively to
- enhance intellectual exchange and research, education, and service in their fields
- catalyze research, not only among department faculty, but also with other faculty in the School of Medicine and across Grounds.
Department Areas of Expertise:
- Clinical Outcomes & Comparative Effectiveness Research
- Population Health and Prevention Research
- Clinical Trials: Statistical Design & Application
- Be Smart-Be Safe Program in Quality & Patient Safety
- Biomedical Informatics & Clinical Research Data Support
- Health Policy, Law & Ethics
Department faculty members provide a wide range of Research Collaboration and Consulting support and services to School of Medicine faculty, departments and others.
The Department also provides a robust Educational Program in public health and clinical and population research at the undergraduate, graduate, and professional levels.
Facilities and Services
Claude Moore Medical Education Building
The Claude Moore Medical Education Building, which opened in August, 2010, is the five story home to the Medical School and the state-of-the art facilities created for The School’s Next Generation. It contains the innovative Learning Studio and the Clinical Performance Education Center (CPEC). CPEC’s two floors contain the Medical Simulation Center and Clinical Skills Center. The Mulholland Student Lounge, an auditorium, Student Affairs Office and the Office of Admissions are also housed in the building.
The Medical Education Building is integrated into the larger Medical Center and University complex. A link connects students to the Claude Moore Health Sciences Library, the new Carter-Harrison Research Building, and the University Hospital. In turn, catwalks connect to the brand new Emily Couric Clinic Cancer Center and the clinical and administrative spaces in nearby buildings. The Bill and Barry Battle Children’s Hospital is the largest addition to the UVa Health System. The building houses the new UVa Outpatient Surgery Center and all of the UVa Children’s Hospital outpatient clinics under one roof. The University of Virginia’s famed Academical Village is a short walk away.
Learning Studio
The Learning Studio, a technology-enabled, active-learning (TEAL) classroom, was designed for the Next Generation curriculum. This interactive learning environment uses the latest technology to engage students in active learning. This space incorporates the five modalities of adult learning. Five technologically sophisticated screens – each measuring 20 feet across – descend into the space and tie into each group table, so that students can share with a small group or the entire class. Most sessions are recorded and are easily retrievable by podcast and on the web.
Clinical Performance Education Center (Medical Simulation Center and Clinical Skills Center)
Medical Simulation Center (SIM Center)
The Medical Simulation Center is one floor of the Clinical Performance Education Center. On the ground floor, it has four fully realized clinical spaces: an intensive care unit (ICU), an operating room (OR), a labor and delivery suite (L&D), and an emergency room (ER). All spaces are fully equipped so that students are in a fully replicated space in which they can work with patient simulators, which breathe, speak, and respond to procedures and medications. Behind a one-way mirror, operators can also manipulate simulators providing students with real time experiences. In addition, there are seven task training rooms for proceedures such as endoscopy, endotrachial intubation, and ultrasound surgical central line placement.
The Clinical Skills Center, located on the basement floor of the building, contains 20 outpatient exam rooms and inpatient rooms used to train students on clinical skills with standardized and real patients. All of these rooms are fully equipped with audio and video capabilities as two or three cameras capture various views. An observation hallway has one-way mirrors into four exam rooms.
Claude Moore Health Sciences Library
The Claude Moore Health Sciences Library is a central gathering place for students, with a variety of study and learning facilities throughout the building. There are small group study rooms, open areas with natural lighting and comfortable seating as well as a large, 24 hour study area. Students can bring their own computers and connect wirelessly to the network or use the network connections in the library. In addition, there is a large computer lab, scanning stations and printing services.
The library has an extensive collection of online resources, journals and books that are available in the library and remotely. The Medical Education Librarian works with students and faculty throughout the four years to enhance information seeking skills and critical thinking. The library staff meets with representatives of the Mulholland Society on a regular basis to ensure that the library is responsive to student needs.
In addition to the computer services available through the Library, several courses including anatomy, biochemistry, microbiology, physiology and pathology use computer-assisted instruction. The Office of Medical Education provides assistance to students and faculty in the development of programs for instruction and self-testing.
Clinical Facilities
The Emily Couric Cancer Center opened its doors to patients and their families in April 2011. A patient-centered philosophy and approach was imagined architecturally resulting in a Gold LEED-certified building and a beautiful set of spaces. The Center has state-of-the-art facilities ranging from high-tech imaging to intra-operative brachytherapy suites. Comprehensive care includes patient and family services and education, counseling spaces, and a positive image boutique. The eco-friendly design includes spaces for meditation and reflection surrounded by gardens and other outdoor spaces.
The Battle Building is the new Children’s Hospital, completed in Spring 2014. It includes an outpatient surgery center and outpatient clinics that include: primary care, cancer, autism, heart disease and other specialties. Family-centered, state-of-the art care is provided within approximately 185,000 square feet. It is linked directly to University Hospital.
University Hospital recently completed its own expansion with 72 new beds, all ICU compatible that can be changed as needed between inpatient beds and ICU beds. It is now home to a larger Medical ICU and a larger Surgical ICU.
The UVA Transitional Care Hospital (TCH), a long-term acute-care hospital, was completed in Summer 2010. It offers patients with serious and complex medical conditions services that generally require a longer length of stay (on average 25-28 days) than is standard at the University Hospital. The longer stays are to assist with weaning from ventilators, wound healing, complex IV regimens or other services that require an interdisciplinary team of nursing, physical, respiratory, speech and language therapies, and nutritional and physician care. These are provided on an ongoing and more intensive basis than a rehabilitation facility or other skilled facility
The UVA-HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospital is a 50-bed acute rehabilitation hospital that offers comprehensive rehabilitation services for both inpatients and outpatients. It is located about 3 miles from the University Hospital at Fontaine Research Park, which is also home to many other clinics and research facilities. A continuous shuttle is available between the University Hospital and all of the sites.
Contact Information
Correspondence concerning the Graduate Record should be addressed to:
Katherine Yates
Registrar, School of Medicine
P.O. Box 800739
Charlottesville, VA 22908-0782
(434) 924-5200; fax
som-registrar@virginia.edu
