VCU news

By Pamela DiSalvo Lepley
Division of University Relations

Virginia Commonwealth University announced today that Peter F. Buckley, M.D., has been appointed dean of the VCU School of Medicine, effective Jan. 17. He also will serve as VCU Health System executive vice president for medical affairs, overseeing the 600 physician-faculty group practice of the academic health sciences center. 

Buckley comes to VCU from Augusta University in Georgia where he is dean of the Medical College of Georgia and executive vice president for medical affairs and integration. A psychiatrist and expert in schizophrenia, Buckley also is a professor of psychiatry, pharmacology and radiology at MCG.

Buckley has extensive experience in academic medicine and hospital administration. At MCG, he served 10 years as chair of the Department of Psychiatry prior to being named dean. He also served two years as interim CEO of the academic medical center and physician practice plan. Before his 16-year tenure at MCG, he was professor and vice chair of the psychiatry department at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine. He also was medical director of Western Reserve Psychiatric Hospital, a role that over time expanded to include serving as medical director for Northcoast Behavioral Healthcare System and its three state inpatient psychiatric facilities in Cleveland and Toledo, Ohio. Previously, Buckley was co-director of the statewide community service product line for the Ohio Department of Mental Health.

“Dr. Buckley’s depth of experience and enormous talent opens exciting new opportunities for VCU’s School of Medicine and VCU Health,” said Marsha Rappley, M.D., VCU vice president for health sciences and CEO, VCU Health. “Dr. Buckley will further accelerate the momentum of VCU’s academic health sciences mission in all of its dimensions. We look forward to working with him over the years to come.”

Buckley is a national leader in academic medicine and is recognized internationally for his research. He serves on the administrative board of the Council of Deans of the Association of the American Medical Colleges and also chairs the COD fellowship program. He is a distinguished fellow of the American Psychiatric Association and a fellow of the Royal College of Psychiatrists. Buckley serves as a member of the data safety and monitoring board of the National Institutes of Mental Health and is chair of the board of directors of the WCG Research Foundation. In addition to being editor of a psychiatry journal, he has published more than 500 original articles, book chapters and abstracts and has authored or edited 18 books on schizophrenia and related psychiatry topics. His research focuses on the neurobiology and treatment of schizophrenia.

“VCU has a tremendous legacy and reputation and I am honored to serve in collaboration toward the university’s great future,” Buckley said. “Working together, we will advance clinical growth and quality, excellence in teaching and VCU’s preeminence in collaborative, transdisciplinary research.”

Buckley received his medical degree from the University College Dublin School of Medicine in Ireland, where he also completed psychiatric residency training followed by a fellowship in schizophrenia research. He also earned a master’s degree by thesis from University College Dublin.

Buckley’s appointment follows a national search to replace Jerome F. Strauss III, M.D., Ph.D., VCU’s longest-serving School of Medicine dean. After 11 years at the school’s helm, he will be returning to the faculty to focus on his research.