About

Dr. Andrew Muck, Professor and current Chair of Emergency Medicine

In 1974, Emergency Medical Services was established at UVA, staffed by surgery and medicine residents as well as medical students with no specialty training in emergency medicine. The annual patient census at the time was 35,000.

The first certification of emergency physicians by ABEM occurred in May, 1980. In 1982, UVA hired its first group of full-time faculty-appointed physicians who were dedicated solely to caring for patients in Emergency Medical Services. By 1987, Emergency Medicine was formally recognized as a Division within the Department of Medicine. In 1992, the department treated 58,500 patients, including 14,500 children.

In 1994, the Division became independent and was overseen by the Dean of the School of Medicine and 24 hour per day faculty coverage began. That same year, the application to create a residency program in Emergency Medicine was approved and the first class began in 1995.

The Department of Emergency Medicine was founded in April 1995 and Dr. Scott Syverud was named Interim Chair. In 1996, Dr. Marcus Martin was named Professor and Chair of Emergency Medicine. From 1996 to 2000, the number of faculty increased from 11 to 16. Emergency Medicine faculty were early pioneers in the use of medical simulation for education at UVA.

The Emergency Department underwent significant renovations from 1999 through 2000, with further modifications in 2016 and 2017. However, with the increase in patient visits, availability of services and consultations, as well as the increase in acuity and need for privacy, these renovations could not keep up with demands. The gap proved to be noteworthy to both the UVA Board of Visitors and the Health System Operating Board, which approved the construction of a new tower that would be constructed on a foundation of Emergency Medicine.

In October 2019, the UVA Health South Tower, with the first floor devoted strictly to Emergency Medicine and the ground floor devoted to EMS arrival, opened for patient care. The new department provides for private patient rooms as well as spaces designated for pediatrics, triage areas, behavior health, and trauma care.

In 2020, a new helipad opened with elevator service directly to the department. The old Emergency Department was renovated into new clinical space which opened in May 2021. This new space added 10 new private patient rooms as well as defined administrative and management areas for clinical management teams and team development.

UVA Health University Medical Center ranks as the No. 1 hospital in Virginia and among the top 50 hospitals nationally in Newsweek’s “World’s Best Hospitals 2025” guide.

To meet the growing demand for our faculty’s leadership within UVA Health and the University, and to address the increasing patient volume, our department has more than doubled in size and now employs over 30 full-time and part-time faculty members.

In 2023, we welcomed Dr. Andrew Muck as our third Chair. His extensive expertise in medical direction, mentorship, global health, and trauma care will undoubtedly propel our department forward.

Our faculty-driven educational footprint supports 36 residents within our three-year residency program, with medical simulation acting as a cornerstone of their training. Our residents can participate in a variety of specialized activities to include research, ultrasound, medical toxicology, global health, and medical education, among other areas of concentration.

A dedicated research team continues to drive our robust research, which addresses critical issues such as disaster preparedness, automotive safety, and poison prevention. We are committed to advancing Emergency Medicine through research and interdisciplinary collaboration.