Melina Kibbe, MD

Dean, UVA School of Medicine

Since 2021, Melina Kibbe, MD, has held the position of Dean at the University of Virginia (UVA) School of Medicine, where she also serves as the James Carroll Flippin Professor of Medical Science and Chief Health Affairs Officer at UVA Health. In her leadership roles, Dr. Kibbe has been dedicated to bridging medical discoveries with clinical practice, translating groundbreaking research into therapies that improve health outcomes. She has strongly emphasized cultivating exceptional educational programs for medical and graduate students, supporting healthcare professionals in delivering high-quality patient care, and developing vital community partnerships.

In addition to her administrative and academic duties, Dr. Kibbe is the Editor-in-Chief of JAMA Surgery, a top-tier journal in the field of surgery. Under her stewardship, JAMA Surgery has grown into a leading global publication, setting the standard for surgical research and clinical innovation.

A member of the National Academy of Medicine, one of the highest honors in the medical field, Dr. Kibbe has been recognized for her educational contributions with 24 awards throughout her career. These accolades highlight her profound impact on medical education and mentorship.

Dr. Kibbe's entrepreneurial spirit also extends to her role as co-founder and former Chief Medical Officer of VesselTek BioMedical, LLC, a startup focused on developing advanced medical devices for treating vascular disease. Even as she leads at UVA, Dr. Kibbe continues to advance research on vascular diseases through her extramurally funded laboratory, focused on developing drug-eluting therapies for patients with these conditions.

Dr. Kibbe's Leadership at UVA

Dr. Kibbe’s leadership at UVA has been transformative. As the first woman to serve as the Dean of the UVA School of Medicine for a full term, she oversees an institution that includes over 1,450 faculty members, 607 medical students, 359 graduate students, and more than 2,000 staff members. Under her guidance, the school has secured $274 million in research funding and maintains $1.7 billion in endowments and reserves. The school includes 29 departments, seven large centers, and 17 research cores, all contributing to its mission of advancing medical science and improving patient care.

Dr. Kibbe has made key appointments during her tenure, hiring 16 respected leaders to head various clinical and research departments. The school added 550 new faculty members, significantly enhancing clinical care and research initiatives. Her leadership has resulted in record increases in surgical volumes, emergency room visits, hospital discharges, and outpatient encounters, strengthening the school's role as a leader in healthcare.

Dr. Kibbe has also worked to improve the medical school’s academic profile. The incoming medical students have an average GPA of 3.85, and the class’s MCAT scores place them in the 94th percentile. Thanks to her efforts, UVA School of Medicine was re-accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) for eight years. Additionally, she has overseen a 60% growth in the graduate student program over the last three years and was instrumental in launching a new program in computational biology, expanding the school's offerings.

Dr. Kibbe’s Medical Career

Before her appointment at UVA, Dr. Kibbe served as Chair of the Department of Surgery at the University of North Carolina (UNC). She was the first woman to hold this prestigious position at UNC and played a key role in the department’s growth. During her time there, surgical volume increased, research grants grew seven-fold, and the department expanded its residency programs. Her leadership also expanded philanthropy within the department, which contributed to the department’s long-term success.

Earlier in her career, Dr. Kibbe was part of the faculty at Northwestern University, where she served as Vice Chair of Research in the Department of Surgery and Deputy Director of the Simpson Querrey Institute for BioNanotechnology. While at Northwestern, she treated patients with vascular diseases and conducted pioneering research. Her work earned her numerous teaching awards and the prestigious Tripartite Legacy Faculty Prize.

Dr. Kibbe's Clinical and Research Focus

Dr. Kibbe is a skilled vascular surgeon with extensive experience in both open and endovascular procedures. She has treated patients suffering from a wide range of vascular conditions, including carotid artery disease, peripheral artery disease, and abdominal aortic aneurysms. She is board-certified in general and vascular surgery and certified as a Registered Vascular Technologist (RVT) and Registered Physician in Vascular Interpretation.

Her research has primarily focused on developing drug-eluting therapies for vascular disease patients. She has been continuously funded by organizations such as the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the Department of Defense, and the American Heart Association. Dr. Kibbe has received recognition for her work in vascular disease research and holds over 10 patents. In 2009, she was awarded the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers for her innovative research.

Dr. Kibbe's Leadership in Surgery

In addition to her role at JAMA Surgery, Dr. Kibbe has held leadership positions in several national surgical societies. She has been president of the Association for Academic Surgery, the Midwestern Vascular Surgical Society, and the Association of VA Surgeons. She serves as the Secretary of the American Surgical Association and is the Chair of the American College of Surgeons Scholarship Committee.

Dr. Kibbe is known for her advocacy for sex inclusion in biomedical research. Her work on gender disparities in research has received national attention and has led to significant policy changes at major health organizations such as the NIH and the FDA. She also developed the "Research for All Act of 2015," which promotes more inclusive biomedical research.

Dr. Kibbe’s Scholarly Contributions

Throughout her career, Dr. Kibbe has authored more than 300 peer-reviewed articles, book chapters, and review articles and has co-authored over 240 abstracts presented at national and international conferences. Her scholarly work has contributed significantly to advancing surgical practices and medical research. She has received numerous awards for her contributions, including the Society of Vascular Surgery Women’s Leadership Award, the AMWA Gender Equity Award, and the Virginia Business 2023 Women in Leadership Award.

Dr. Kibbe’s Education

Dr. Kibbe graduated from the University of Chicago College of Biological Sciences in 1990 and earned her medical degree from the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine in 1994. She will be honored with the 2025 Professional Achievement Alumni Award from the University of Chicago.

Her postgraduate education includes an internship, residency, and research fellowship at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and a vascular surgery fellowship at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. In addition, Dr. Kibbe has participated in executive leadership programs at Drexel University College of Medicine and the Kellogg School of Management.

Dr. Kibbe’s Early Life and Inspiration

Dr. Kibbe was born in La Jolla, California, and raised in LaVerne, California, where she developed an early interest in medicine. As a high school student, she was diagnosed with scoliosis and underwent corrective surgery. This personal experience significantly influenced her decision to pursue a medical career despite having no family members involved.

Throughout her career, Melina Kibbe has demonstrated a deep commitment to advancing the fields of surgery, medical education, and healthcare leadership. Her leadership at UVA and her contributions to medical research and policy have had a lasting impact on the medical community. They will continue to shape the future of healthcare for years to come.

Melina Kibbe is grateful to have received a prestigious award. Her dedication to making a difference has led her here, and she’s excited to continue her impactful journey. Learn more here.