About Melina Kibbe

Since 2021, Melina Kibbe has taken on the role of Dean at the University of Virginia (UVA) School of Medicine, as well as serving as the James Carroll Flippin Professor of Medical Science and Chief Health Affairs Officer at UVA Health. Her leadership has significantly influenced the School of Medicine’s mission, directing efforts to translate scientific discoveries into therapies that benefit human health. She is deeply involved in fostering high-quality educational programs for medical and graduate students, ensuring physicians can provide top-tier patient care, and establishing critical partnerships with local and regional communities.

In addition to her responsibilities at UVA, Dr. Kibbe serves as the Editor-in-Chief of JAMA Surgery, one of the most respected journals in the field of surgery. Under her guidance, JAMA Surgery has flourished, becoming a leading platform for disseminating surgical research worldwide.

Dr. Kibbe is a proud member of the National Academy of Medicine, one of the highest honors in the medical field. Her commitment to education is also evident in the 24 awards she has received for excellence in teaching throughout her career.

Dr. Kibbe co-founded VesselTek BioMedical, LLC, an innovative company that develops medical devices to address vascular diseases. She continues researching treatments for new vascular conditions through her laboratory, where she works on developing drug-eluting therapies supported by external funding. She is also dedicated to philanthropy and frequently contributes to various causes that align with her vision for advancing healthcare.

Dr. Kibbe’s Contributions at UVA

Since becoming Dean, Dr. Kibbe has brought about significant growth at the UVA School of Medicine. She is the first woman to be appointed to a full term as Dean, and her leadership is instrumental in overseeing an institution that includes over 1,450 faculty members, 607 medical students, 359 graduate students, and more than 2,000 staff. The school has 29 departments, seven large centers, 17 research cores, and numerous smaller centers. Under her leadership, the school has secured $274 million in research funding and maintains $1.7 billion in endowments and reserves.

During her tenure, Dr. Kibbe has hired 16 recognized leaders to head clinical and research departments. Hiring 550 new faculty members, including clinicians and researchers, has profoundly impacted patient access, increased surgical volumes, and improved operations throughout the medical center. These developments have increased emergency room visits, hospital discharges, and outpatient encounters.

Her leadership has also strengthened the school’s academic reputation, attracting high-caliber students. The incoming medical student class has an average GPA of 3.85 and an MCAT score in the 94th percentile. In addition, she played a crucial role in the medical school’s successful re-accreditation for eight years by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME). Under her guidance, the graduate student program has expanded by 60% in the past three years, and a new program in computational biology was successfully launched.

Dr. Kibbe’s Medical Career

Before joining UVA, Dr. Kibbe was Chair of the Department of Surgery at the University of North Carolina (UNC), where she made history as the first woman to hold this position. She also served as an adjunct professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering. During her tenure at UNC, Dr. Kibbe led the department to significant achievements, including a substantial increase in federal research funding and peer-reviewed publications. Under her leadership, the department expanded and grew its residency programs, and philanthropic efforts were enhanced, leaving the department in a strong position upon her departure.

Before her time at UNC, Dr. Kibbe held faculty positions at Northwestern University, where she worked as Vice Chair of Research in the Department of Surgery and Deputy Director of the Simpson Querrey Institute for BioNanotechnology. At Northwestern, she treated patients with vascular diseases and led a research laboratory. Her contributions to clinical care and research were recognized with multiple awards, including the Tripartite Legacy Faculty Prize.

Dr. Kibbe’s Clinical Practice and Research

Dr. Kibbe has extensive vascular surgery experience, including open and endovascular procedures. Her clinical expertise spans various vascular conditions, such as carotid artery disease, peripheral artery disease, and chronic kidney disease. She is board-certified in general and vascular surgery and holds certifications as a registered vascular technologist (RVT) and Registered Physician in vascular interpretation.

Her research interests focus on developing drug-eluting therapies for vascular disease patients. Since 2005, she has been a principal investigator on numerous research projects, receiving funding from the National Institutes of Health, the Department of Defense, the American Heart Association, and several other organizations. She holds more than 10 patents and has received recognition for her contributions to medical science, including the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers in 2009.

Dr. Kibbe’s Leadership in Surgery

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

Dr. Kibbe has been a passionate advocate for including sex in biomedical research, an issue that she has worked to bring attention to through her publications and media appearances. Her efforts have led to significant changes in research policy, including developing guidelines by the National Institutes of Health, the Government Accountability Office, and the FDA and introducing the “Research for All Act of 2015.”

She has authored over 300 peer-reviewed articles and contributed to more than 240 abstracts presented at conferences. Her work has earned her various awards, including the Society of Vascular Surgery Women’s Leadership Award and the AMWA Gender Equity Award.

Dr. Kibbe’s Education

Dr. Kibbe’s educational path set the stage for her remarkable career. She earned her undergraduate degree from the University of Chicago College of Biological Sciences in 1990 and her medical degree from the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine in 1994. She is set to receive the 2025 Professional Achievement Alumni Award from the University of Chicago.

Her postgraduate training included an internship, residency, and research fellowship at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, followed by a vascular surgery fellowship at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine.

In addition to her clinical training, Dr. Kibbe completed executive leadership programs at Drexel University College of Medicine and the Kellogg School of Management, further honing her leadership abilities.

Dr. Kibbe’s Early Life

Born in La Jolla, California, and raised in LaVerne, California, Dr. Kibbe’s formative years in Southern California shaped her future in medicine. Her decision to pursue a healthcare career was influenced by her experience with scoliosis, which led her to undergo surgery in high school. This personal challenge ignited her passion for medicine, even though no one else in her family was involved.

Melina Kibbe has made a lasting impact in surgery, medical education, and healthcare leadership. Through her dedication, she continues to improve patient outcomes, advance medical science, and educate future generations of physicians.