VCU news

By Joe Kuttenkuler

RICHMOND, Va. – When 40 diplomas are handed out later this month to residents in the Virginia Commonwealth University Department of Family Practice, the university will graduate its 1,000th family practice physician. A ceremony May 31 will recognize not only individual accomplishments, but also a milestone that has been achieved by only four other family practice departments in the United States.

 

“Family physicians are the backbone of our health care delivery system,” said Anton Kuzel, M.D., chairman of the Department of Family Practice, VCU School of Medicine.  “This is a tremendous accomplishment for the department and our medical school and, most importantly, for the many people served by these physicians.”    

 

The Class of 2003 is the 30th to graduate from the department and includes residents from the university’s six family practice residency programs throughout Virginia. To mark this historic event and as part of a collective celebration of family medicine, the entire class will be recognized as the 1,000th graduate. Returning alumni also will be honored. By the end of June, when the Class of 2003 completes its training, the number of graduates will total 1,026.

 

Kuzel, who has been in the VCU Department of Family Practice for 19 years, said the depth and breadth of family medicine combined with the fulfillment of helping others keeps the job interesting and rewarding. “Our graduating residents are very fortunate…they can look forward to a lifetime of satisfaction that comes from serving people and they will experience their patients’ gratitude every day. What more could one ask for from a career?” Kuzel said. 

 

Family practice physicians care for more patients on a daily basis than any other medical specialty. They specialize in treating common problems such as hypertension, diabetes and asthma. They emphasize preventing problems and promoting well-being through healthy lifestyles, immunizations, and screening tests. Family physicians also ensure their patients receive specialty services, if necessary. For many physicians the doctor-patient relationship transcends medicine as life-long friendships grow from of years of care for entire families.

 

Sixty-two percent of VCU’s graduates have remained in Virginia with 30 percent practicing in non-metropolitan areas. More than 700 VCU-trained family physicians serve about 1.5 million Virginians.

 

The VCU Department of Family Practice was established in 1970 by the Virginia General Assembly under the direction of former Governor Mills Godwin and then dean of the School of Medicine, Kinloch Nelson, M.D.  With support from the state as well as Bon Secours, HCA, Inova, Riverside and Valley Health Systems, VCU operates residency programs in Blackstone, Fairfax, Newport News, Virginia Beach, Hanover, Chesterfield and Winchester-Front Royal.

 

Nationally, almost 200 million office visits are made to family physicians each year.