In 1886, the first "hospital" was
opened in Charlottesville and known as "The Piedmont Hospital." In
1889, Dr. Paul Barringer became Professor of Surgery. Dr. Barringer
foresaw the need for health facilities and worked diligently in fund
raising and architectural planning for a modern hospital in
Charlottesville. 
Construction of the present University of Virginia
Hospital started in 1900 and the first wing was completed in 1901 at a
cost of approximately $50,000. In 1903, the south wing addition and, in
1907, the north wing addition of the original hospital were added. In
1907, Dr. Steven Hurt Watts became Professor of Surgery and Gynecology.
Dr. Watts was the first chairman in the modern era of surgery at the
University of Virginia. He had graduated from the Johns Hopkins Medical
School in 1901 and received his surgical training under William
Halsted. Dr. Watts headed the Department of Surgery and Gynecology for
21 years before he retired in 1928.
Dr. Edwin P. Lehman was Professor and
Chair of Surgery from 1928 to 1953. During that period of time
recruitment of faculty and continued expansion of the hospital
progressed. In 1954, Dr. William H. Muller, who had trained at Johns
Hopkins under Alfred Blalock, was recruited from UCLA to chair the
department. During his tenure as chairman, the hospital and medical
school essentially doubled 
in size with the addition of a new "multistory" building
and library space within the Medical School. Dr. Muller's chairmanship
at the University of Virginia culminated in his appointment as
Vice-President for Health Affairs at which time he oversaw the building
of the new present University of Virginia complex and the development
of the Health Sciences Center. Dr. Muller was president of the American
College of Surgeons in 1976.
In 1982, Dr. R. Scott Jones was
recruited from Duke University as the Stephen H. Watts Professor and
Chair of the Department of Surgery. During Dr. Jones's 
tenure continued growth and development occured in
programs which had a record of excellence at the University including
cardiothoracic, vascular, oncology, and general surgical with specific
emphasis in gastrointestinal disease. Additionally, many new programs
including the development of a Level
I Trauma Center, critical care programs, solid organ transplantation, and endocrine surgery were developed and
have continued to grow.
Dr. Irving Kron assumed the Chair of the Department on January 1,
2002. Dr. Kron received his General Surgical training at Maine Medical
Center and Cardiac Surgical training at UVA. His laboratory has been
funded by the NIH and the American Heart Association for fifteen
years.
Dr. Jones was President of the American College of
Surgeons from 2002 to 2003. Dr. Edward Laws,
from the Department of Neurosurgery was President of the
American College of Surgeons from 2006 to 2007. Dr. Muller
was president of the American College of Surgeons in 1976, making UVA
one of the few academic centers in the world to have three faculty
members serve as president of the College.
Currently th
e Department of Surgery recruits five categorical
residents for a five year program which includes the options for two
additional years in the research laboratories. The Department of
Surgery currently has seven divisions; Cardiothoracic,
Vascular Surgery, General Surgery, Surgical Oncology, Pediatric
Surgery, Transplant Surgery, and
Trauma/Acute Care Surgery.
The Division of Cardiothoracic
Surgery offers two residency positions each year.
Additionally, fellowships are available in Transplant Surgery,
Laparoscopic Surgery, Surgical Critical Care, and Vascular Surgery. All
faculty members are full-time faculty on tenure tracks with interests
both in clinical research and bench research. All faculty hold joint
appointments at the Salem VA Hospital and many are
consultants in nearby regional hospitals including the Martha
Jefferson Hospital and the Augusta Medical Center.
Medical Students
Biomedical Engineering
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