Dean, UVA School of Medicine
Since 2021, Melina Kibbe, MD, has been the Dean of the University of Virginia (UVA) School of Medicine, the James Carroll Flippin Professor of Medical Science, and the Chief Health Affairs Officer at UVA Health. In these leadership roles, Dr. Kibbe has been dedicated to advancing medical education, improving patient care, and fostering groundbreaking research. She works to ensure that UVA remains a leader in medical innovation while providing the highest quality training for future physicians and medical researchers.
Dr. Kibbe also serves as the Editor-in-Chief of JAMA Surgery, one of the top journals in the field of surgery. Her journal leadership has contributed to its growth and continued prominence in surgical research. In recognition of her exceptional contributions to medicine, Dr. Kibbe was elected to the National Academy of Medicine, one of the highest honors in the healthcare field. Additionally, she has been recognized with 24 awards for teaching excellence, a testament to her commitment to educating and mentoring the next generation of healthcare professionals.
In addition to her leadership roles at UVA, Dr. Kibbe co-founded VesselTek BioMedical, LLC, a company focused on developing medical devices for treating vascular diseases. Although her clinical practice has been reduced, she continues to significantly impact the field through her research. She leads a lab focused on creating innovative drug-eluting therapies for vascular conditions, with funding from multiple national research organizations, ensuring that her work continues to push the boundaries of medical science.
As Dean of UVA’s School of Medicine, Dr. Kibbe has overseen significant growth in faculty and funding. Under her leadership, the school has increased its research funding to $274 million and boosted its endowment to $1.7 billion. She has also helped recruit 550 new faculty members, strengthening the institution’s ability to provide high-quality care to patients and expanding the school’s research capacity. These achievements have positioned UVA as a medical education and patient care leader.
Before her tenure at UVA, Dr. Kibbe served as Chair of the Department of Surgery at the University of North Carolina (UNC), where she became the first woman to hold that position. At UNC, she led efforts to expand research funding and clinical services. Before that, Dr. Kibbe was on the faculty at Northwestern University, where her work earned her several accolades, including the Tripartite Legacy Faculty Prize for excellence in research, teaching, and leadership.
Dr. Kibbe’s research focuses on developing novel therapies for vascular diseases. She has been continuously funded by the National Institutes of Health and other major organizations. Through her ongoing contributions to medical research and education, Dr. Kibbe continues to have a lasting impact on surgery and vascular medicine.
Melina Kibbe is honored to receive an award recognizing her outstanding contributions. Her passion for her work has led her here, and she is grateful for the recognition and continued support. Learn more here.
Flickr Photo Album: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjCdX7F
