Melina Kibbe, MD

Since 2021, Melina Kibbe, MD, has been serving as the Dean of the University of Virginia (UVA) School of Medicine and the James Carroll Flippin Professor of Medical Science and Chief Health Affairs Officer at UVA Health. She is dedicated to advancing education and patient care in these roles, focusing on translating groundbreaking medical research into therapies that improve human health. Her leadership has strengthened the institution’s educational programs, fostering an environment where medical and graduate students receive the highest standard of training while ensuring that clinicians deliver exceptional patient care. In addition to her leadership at UVA, Dr. Kibbe serves as the Editor-in-Chief of JAMA Surgery, a premier journal in the field of surgery. Under her guidance, the journal has become one of the leading global publications for surgical research. Her expertise and impact on the medical field were recognized with her election to the National Academy of Medicine, a prestigious honor. She has also received 24 awards for her excellence in teaching, further demonstrating her commitment to education and mentoring young professionals. Melina Kibbe co-founded VesselTek BioMedical, LLC, a company focused on developing medical devices to treat vascular diseases. Although she has reduced her direct clinical practice, she continues to care for patients requiring hemodialysis access. She leads a research lab that explores innovative drug-eluting therapies for vascular diseases, funded by external research organizations. As Dean at UVA, Dr. Kibbe has overseen significant institutional growth. Under her leadership, the School of Medicine has expanded its faculty, adding over 550 new clinicians and researchers, and has seen a substantial increase in research funding, reaching $274 million. She has played a crucial role in strengthening the school’s clinical programs and improving patient access and clinical outcomes.