Curtis G. Tribble, MD
It is with deep sadness that we share news of the sudden and unexpected passing of Curtis G. Tribble, MD, on September 6, 2025. Dr. Tribble was a professor of surgery and a beloved cardiothoracic surgeon at the University of Virginia School of Medicine.
Dr. Tribble was born in Nashville, Tennessee, while his father—also a thoracic surgeon—was in medical school. He spent his formative years in Columbia, South Carolina, helping to “raise” his younger brothers, and went on to graduate as valedictorian of his class at Presbyterian College where he majored in English and Biology, before earning his medical degree at Vanderbilt University. He came to the University of Virginia for his general surgery and cardiothoracic surgery training, beginning what would become a lifelong bond with UVA and its community.
Joining the UVA faculty in 1987, Dr. Tribble quickly distinguished himself not only as a superb clinician and surgeon, but also as a dedicated educator with a passion for improving the clinical learning environment for medical students and residents. Within a year, he became the General Surgery Program Director, and for many years he also led the student surgery clerkship. Dr. Tribble also served as the Councilor for the UVA chapter of the AOA Medical Honor Society, and for many years was Vice Chair of the Department of Surgery. His influence as a teacher, mentor, and role model touched generations of medical students and residents. He was a trusted colleague, always available to lend support and advice in all things personal and professional. His colleagues often remarked that Dr. Tribble embodied wisdom, thoughtfulness and kindness in every interaction, and always provided his undivided attention to those in need.
Dr. Tribble’s career took him to leadership positions at the University of Florida and the University of Mississippi, where he served as Chief of Cardiothoracic Surgery and Vice Chair of Surgery. Yet in 2014 he returned to Charlottesville, reaffirming his lifelong commitment to UVA and to the education of future surgeons.
He received virtually every teaching honor our professional societies, UVA, and the School of Medicine have to offer, including the School of Medicine’s most prestigious recognition, the David A. Harrison Distinguished Educator Award. Within the broader cardiac surgery community, he was regarded as one of the most influential surgical educators of his generation. Literally thousands of students, residents, and colleagues credit their professional paths—and their approach to patient care—to his guidance and mentorship. He also took tremendous pride in the accomplishments of his students, residents, and colleagues—celebrating their successes as if they were his own.
Beyond medicine, Dr. Tribble was an avid athlete who enjoyed his family, the sanctitude of the outdoors, cycling and his weekly basketball games. He brought the same energy, discipline, and joy to the court as he did to the operating room and lecture hall. Dr. Tribble was also a prolific reader and writer, and his literary contributions to the medical community and the specialty of cardiac surgery will be referenced for generations to come.
For the UVA community, his passing is a profound loss. He was more than a teacher and surgeon—he was a counselor, an advocate, and a friend. He shaped not only the professional lives but also the personal journeys of countless trainees and colleagues. His legacy is woven into the culture of the Department of Surgery and will continue to guide all of us for years to come.
Dr. Tribble was, in every sense, a remarkable man. There is no one else like him, and we are grateful beyond words for the time we had with him. He will be deeply missed by the School of Medicine and all of his UVA colleagues and friends, and remembered always with respect, admiration, and love.
Details about a celebration of Dr. Tribble’s life will be shared in the spring. Read Dr. Tribble’s obituary published by Dignity Memorial.