The IM Residency Program Community

IM residents and faculty with SNMA students for Unity Day 2018

The Department of Medicine at the University of Virginia recognizes the importance of achieving a sense of community and balance at all levels of its organization, including residents, fellows, and faculty. We also recognize that we must continually work to achieve this goal and collaborate to identify and address bias and inequity at all levels of patient care, education, and leadership. We are committed to achieving these goals and strive for a fair and supportive training and mentoring experience for all house staff. We strongly believe that a diverse residency program provides better care and education for our patients and learners, fosters empathy and compassion, and is essential for achieving impartiality and excellence in medicine and public health.

Program goals

• To build and maintain a culture of community and inclusion
• To recognize and address bias and impartiality at all levels of patient care, education, and leadership
• To create open spaces to discuss ​local and national issues

Distinct features of our program

• Health disparities, social determinants of health, and health policy are regularly incorporated into resident noon conferences and the Department of Medicine Grand Rounds each year.
• All residents receive training on addressing situations related to bias and discrimination.
• Dedicated rotations such as Community Partnered Medicine, focused on real-world experiences in social determinants of health (Charlottesville Free Clinic, Haven homeless mobile clinic, home visit, rural community health center, Legal Aid and Justice)

Dr. Max Luna is the Vice Chair for Community Engagement in the Department of Medicine. He is an Associate Professor in the Department of Cardiovascular Medicine. He trained at the University of San Carlos de Guatemala, the University of Cincinnati, and Brigham and Women’s Hospital. His research interests include preventive cardiology, cardiac imaging, and outcomes research both locally and abroad. He leads the UVA Latino Health Initiative that hosts “La Clinica Latina” nights at the Charlottesville Free Clinic. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he has been a vital part of community COVID-19 screening events in Charlottesville.

Dr. Taison Bell is the Acting Chair, Department of Medicine, Vice Chair for Faculty Affairs, and Director of the UVA Summer Medical Leadership Program, and one of our most decorated and incredible educators. He is an Associate Professor in both the Divisions of Infectious Diseases and Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine at UVA. He trained at Columbia University, Massachusetts General Hospital, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, and the National Institutes of Health (NIH). During the COVID-19 pandemic, he has been regularly on the frontlines in the ICU, provided clinical trial leadership, and has been recognized as a leading voice locally and nationally in education and advocacy around health disparities highlighted by the COVID-19 pandemic.