About Melina Kibbe, MD

Since 2021, Melina Kibbe, MD, a pioneering physician leader, has served as the Dean of the University of Virginia (UVA) School of Medicine (SOM), the James Carroll Flippin Professor of Medical Science, and Chief Health Affairs Officer at UVA Health. Dr. Kibbe leads the School of Medicine in translating discoveries into revolutionary therapies that will improve human health, promoting high-caliber educational programs for our medical and graduate students, supporting our physicians to deliver outstanding care to the patients we serve, and developing critical partnerships within our community.

She is also the Editor-in-Chief of the highly respected Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) Surgery. Under her leadership, JAMA Surgery has grown to become the world’s leading surgical publication.

Dr. Kibbe is a member of the prestigious National Academy of Medicine, one of medicine’s highest accolades. She has garnered 24 honors for teaching excellence throughout her career in recognition of her passion and dedication to education.

In addition, Dr. Kibbe co-founded and was the Chief Medical Officer for VesselTek BioMedical, LLC, an early stage biotech company that specialized in developing medical devices to treat vascular disease. 

Dr. Kibbe still maintains an active, albeit small vascular surgery clinical practice, treating patients who require the creation of hemodialysis access for kidney failure.  And, she continues to investigate and develop novel drug-eluting therapies for patients with vascular disease through her extramurally funded basic and translational research laboratory. 

In addition to the philanthropic work she spearheads with UVA, Dr. Kibbe regularly donates to many organizations.

Dr. Kibbe’s track record as a leader is evident in her work as the Dean of the University of Virginia School of Medicine. As the first woman appointed to a full term as Dean at UVA, she oversees a school that includes over 1,450 faculty members, 607 medical students, 359 graduate students, and more than 2,000 staff. With Dr. Kibbe as Dean, the SOM has $274 million in research dollars and $1.7 billion in endowments and reserves. The school includes 29 departments (20 clinical and nine research), seven large Centers, 17 robust research Cores, and numerous small Centers.