Director’s Welcome

Welcome to the University of Virginia Department of Family Medicine Residency Program!

First, a bit about me — I’m John Gazewood, and I’ve served as Residency Program Director since 2006. I began practicing family medicine in 1990, caring for patients in a small town in East Tennessee. After five years in full-spectrum practice, I returned to my residency program in Missouri to complete a faculty development and geriatrics fellowship. I joined the UVA faculty in 1997, and along with my wife, have raised four children in Charlottesville. I enjoy hiking, fishing, music, movies, and food — and I try to keep running, despite the occasional fall in the woods!

Now, let me tell you about our program. I believe we offer one of the finest training environments in the country — a place where you can become the kind of physician who makes a real difference. For over 50 years, our residents have trained in a collaborative, respectful environment within UVA’s academic medical center, where family medicine is highly regarded.

What sets us apart? Our nationally recognized refugee health program. Our innovative behavioral health integration and obesity medicine curricula. Our gender health clinic. Our leadership in Global Health Track. Our training in information mastery and practice-based learning. And our commitment to preparing physicians to care for patients in a wide variety of communities and settings.

This is also a time of exciting growth. We’ve added clinical sites — including one in a nearby physician shortage area and another opening soon in an underserved Charlottesville neighborhood. We’ve expanded our residency to include 10 residents per year and recently welcomed new faculty with expertise in point-of-care ultrasound, community health, and physician advocacy.

But what truly makes this place special is the people — our residents, faculty, and staff bring joy, purpose, and mutual support to the work of caring for patients and teaching the next generation. We are committed to improving health outcomes for all and to training physicians who are prepared to serve diverse populations with excellence, humility, and respect. We continually examine how our systems, policies, and practices affect the care we provide and the learning environment we create. We are proud of our community partnerships, our place-based learning experiences, and our ongoing efforts to make healthcare more accessible, equitable, and responsive to community needs.

Charlottesville is a beautiful and vibrant place to live — and, like many communities across the country, it continues to wrestle with its history and its future. The events of August 2017 were painful and deeply troubling, but they also catalyzed community conversations and local reforms that continue today. Our department and residency have responded by deepening our focus on improving health for everyone in our community, examining how our training and care delivery can better meet the needs of the communities we serve.

We know we have more work to do. And we welcome learners who bring diverse perspectives, a commitment to service, and a willingness to grow with us.

Finally, at the end of this academic year in June 2026, I will be passing the baton of residency leadership to Dr. Sarah Dalrymple, Associate Professor and current Associate Program Director. Dr. Dalrymple is a graduate of both our residency and faculty development fellowship, and she has served as a core faculty member and trusted leader within our program. She is an exceptional clinician, educator, and colleague, widely respected across our health system. I have complete confidence in her ability to guide our growing residency faculty team and to lead our program forward with vision and integrity. I look forward to continuing in my role as Vice Chair for Education, staying closely connected to our residents—and spending a bit more time with my grandkids!

Thank you for your interest in our program. I look forward to meeting you this interview season.

Warmly,

John Gazewood, MD
Program Director, UVA Family Medicine Residency Program