Here are some highlights from the history of the Internal Medicine department, one of EVMS's longest-standing departments:
1973: Eastern Virginia Medical School opens its doors.
1975: Internal Medicine begins providing comprehensive patient care and superior education to residents and medical students in a warm, family-like atmosphere.
1987: What is now known as the EVMS Strelitz Diabetes Center opens.
1994: Dr. Thomas Manser steps into his role as the Program Director of the Internal Medicine Residency Program.
1995: A gift from Virginia Beach resident Virginia Glennan Ferguson leads to the establishment of the Glennan Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology.
1997: Research scientists at the Strelitz Diabetes Center discover the importance of the INGAP (Islet Neogenesis Associated Protein) gene, which stimulates immature cells in the pancreas to produce insulin. This breakthrough discovery was made under the direction of Dr. Aaron Vinik.
2000: Leon-Paul Georges, MD, is officially named chair of Internal Medicine. He had been interim chairman since 1999 and continued his role as director of the Strelitz Diabetes Center. Richard Snyder joines as the Program Director of the Internal Medicine Residency Program.
2005: David Castaldo joins as the Program Director of the Internal Medicine Residency Program.
2008: EVMS recruits Jerry Nadler, MD, a veteran medical educator, to become Chair of Internal Medicine. Nadler was chairman of the endocrinology and metabolism department at the University of Virginia.
2011: A gift from Sentara Healthcare supports a $5 million endowment to support the Glennan Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology.
2012: Benjamin Mitchell Goodman, III, becomes the Program Director of the Internal Medicine Residency Program.
2015: EVMS opens its first satellite diabetes clinic. The center was funded through a grant from the Obici Healthcare Foundation to meet the needs of uninsured and underinsured individuals in Western Tidewater.
2016: Jerry Nadler, MD, an internationally known physician/scientist making potentially game-changing advances in diabetes research, is named Outstanding Scientist in Virginia for 2016. The prestigious award is given annually by the Science Museum of Virginia. Dr. Nadler was the third EVMS faculty member to be so honored. Previous recipients were Dr. Aaron Vinik (2002) and Dr. Gary Hodgen (1995).
2019: Jerry Nadler, MD steps down as Chair of Internal Medicine. Dr. Robert Palmer begins as Interim Chair.
2020: Researchers at the EVMS Strelitz Diabetes Center are part of a U.S./Canadian team of investigators that received a $3 million NIH grant to study a potentially revolutionary treatment for diabetic neuropathy.
2021: Rehan Qayyum, MD, MHS, SFHM, FAHA, inaugural Chair of the Division of Hospital Medicine and Professor of Medicine at Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine in Richmond, joins EVMS as chair of Internal Medicine. He follows Interim Chair Dr. Robert Palmer. Qayyum is an experienced academic clinician and manager with a passion for studying the genetics of heart disease. Dr. Patrick Haggerty retires and becomes Professor Emeritus. Dr. Catherine Derber takes up the charge as interim Division Chief. A national search for Division Chief is initiated. Dr. Chinelo Okigbo and Dr. Manasi Shah join the Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism. Dr. Bahar Niknejad joins the Division of Geriatrics and Palliative Care. Dr. Melanie Miller and Dr. Saad Mussarat join the Division of General Internal Medicine. Dr. Christian Weaver joins the Division of Infectious Diseases. Dr. David Lieb becomes Associate Chair for Education and establishes the IM Education Council and the IM Leadership Club.
2022: Dr. Joshua Sill becomes Chief of the Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine after Dr. Paul Marik. Dr. Radwa Osman joins the Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism. Dr. Waleed Kassabo, Dr. Kelly Thomson, Dr. Alvin Maliakal, and Dr. Zahra Tasneem join the Division of General Internal Medicine. Dr. Timothy Ori joins the Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine. Dr. Cayleigh Blumrick joins the Division of Infectious Diseases. The Internal Medicine Department starts the Research Workshop Series and Research Journal Club.
2023: Dr. Jennifer Hanrahan joins EVMS as the Chief of the Division of Infectious Diseases following Dr. Catherine Derber's service as the Interim Chief. Dr. Seth Berney joined EVMS to launch the Chief of the Division of Rheumatology. Division of Hospital Medicine started on July 1, 2023. Dr. Jody King became Internal Medicine Residency Program Director as Dr. Goodman became the inaugural Chief of the Division of Hospital Medicine. Dr. Taylor Attar joins the Division of Hospital Medicine. Dr. Roy Flemmer joins the Division of Hospital Medicine. Dr. Nathaniel Gordon joins the Division of Sleep Medicine. Dr. Madeeha Deo joins the Division of General Internal Medicine. Dr. Emily Cunningham joins the Division of General Internal Medicine. Dr. Joseph DeBiase joins the Division of Infectious Diseases. Dr. Sara Serji joins the Division of Hospital Medicine. Dr. Kelly Thomson is honored with the The McKinnon Family Professorship in Palliative Medicine. Dr. Mily Kannarkat is honored with the Sue Faulkner Scribner Distinguished Professorship in Geriatrics. Many members of our faculty accepted awards at the 2023 EVMS Service and Recognition Awards Ceremony! The EVMS honorees at the event were as follows: LaConda Fanning, PsyD, received the President’s Champion of Diversity & Inclusion Award, Mily Kannarkat, MD, received the Fine Family Academy Of Educators Award for Educational Leadership, Rehan Qayyum, MBBS, MHS, received the Faculty Mentoring Award, and Sami Tahhan, MD, received the Faculty Excellence Award. Lynn Morganti, MBA, who served as the Associate Chair for Finance and Administration, retired from the Department after many years of diligent service. Mr. Scott Griffin, MPH, joined the Department leadership in the role of Chief Administrator.
2024: Dr. David Nguyen joins the Department as our newest Palliative Medicine physician. Dr. Elizabeth Batchelor joins the team as our newest Pulmonary and Critical Care physician. Many of our department faculty were nominated and selected as Virginia Business' Top Doctors for 2024.