VCU news

By Pamela DiSalvo Lepley

Heber H. “Dickie” Newsome Jr., M.D., dean and professor of surgery in Virginia Commonwealth University’s School of Medicine, will end a 40-year career at Virginia Commonwealth University when he retires June 30. 

Newsome has held leadership positions in the School of Medicine during most of his tenure at VCU, becoming dean in 2000. Under his guidance, medical school faculty and staff achieved national recognition for their programs in faculty development and women in medicine. The school also saw a 50 percent increase in federal funding for biomedical research.

“Dr. Newsome is a superb clinician and outstanding administrator who rejuvenated basic science and recruitment at the VCU School of Medicine,” said VCU President Eugene P. Trani.

Newsome arrived at the Medical College of Virginia, now the VCU School of Medicine, in 1962 as a surgical intern under David Hume, internationally renowned pioneer in organ transplantation. Newsome interrupted his training at MCV Hospitals to spend three years as a research associate in endocrinology at the National Institutes of Health. In 1970, he joined the faculty in the VCU Department of Surgery where he conducted NIH-sponsored endocrine research. His clinical specialties included vascular, trauma and endocrine surgery.

Newsome served as vice chair of the surgery department for 21 years, and moved up the ranks to serve as chair of the Division of General/Trauma Surgery, chief of medical staff at MCV Hospitals, senior associate dean of the School of Medicine and then dean. He maintained his trauma practice until 1997 and an endocrine surgery practice until 2000. 

“With more than 40 years of devoted service as a research fellow and surgical resident, faculty member and senior leader at VCU, Dr. Newsome has made enormous contributions to the academic and clinical missions of this institution,” said Sheldon M. Retchin, M.D., VCU Health System CEO and VCU vice president for health sciences.  “It is with profound admiration that we look back on his astounding career.”

As dean, Newsome participated in the restructuring of the VCU Health System, introduced faculty teaching and research awards, emphasized humanism and professionalism and ably dealt with significant funding cuts. He also instituted greater accountability in teaching activities, financial stewardship and faculty development. 

“I have been blessed with outstanding department chairs, superb faculty and a dean’s office staff second-to-none,” said Newsome. “Strong, supportive leadership at VCU and the VCU Medical Center allowed me to pursue goals that, I believe, have strengthened the School of Medicine.”

Newsome quarterbacked two state championship teams in high school in North Carolina. He attended Wake Forest University on a football scholarship and was voted class president all four years, graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree. While at Tulane University Medical School, he earned his medical degree as well as a Master of Science in pharmacology, graduating second in his class.

Newsome, 69, lives in Richmond with his wife, Jerome. They have three children and five grandsons.