University of Virginia Library

Top Medical Officer
Retires To Teaching

Thomas H. Hunter, vice president for
medical affairs at the University, will
retire from administrative duties and
return to full-time teaching and research
next July.

Dr. Hunter, who is the top medical
officer under President Edgar F. Shannon
Jr., joined the University in 1953 as dean
of the School of Medicine and professor
of medicine. He became chancellor for
medical affairs in 1965, a position he held
until his present position was created
earlier this year.

Medical Division

As vice president, Dr. Hunter directs
the division of the University that
includes the School of Medicine and its 600-bed

teaching hospital and clinics and the School of
Nursing.

In making the announcement of Dr.
Hunter's decision to retire from administrative
office, President Shannon said, "Dr. Hunter is a
remarkable person with an enthusiasm for
excellence which has had an impact on the
entire University.

Quality of Life

In recent years Dr. Hunter has felt a growing
determination to devote his efforts as a scientist
to a study of the opportunities and factors
which relate to the quality of life and the
preservation and advancement of our
civilization.

"He is truly a distinguished man of medicine
and science and the University is fortunate to
have him as a member of the faculty."

As the 1970 recipient of the coveted
Thomas Jefferson Award for outstanding
service to the University, Dr. Hunter was
described as a "deeply humane man of widely
diverse interests."

He holds bachelor's degrees from Harvard
College and Trinity Hall, Cambridge University.
He received his medical degree cum laude from
Harvard Medical School and served his
internship and medical residency at
Presbyterian Hospital in New York.

Bacterial Infection

Dr. Hunter is widely known for his studies
of bacterial infection of the heart, usually
associated with rheumatic heart disease, and his
studies on the use of antibiotics to control such
infections.

Former president of the Association of
American Medical Colleges, he has traveled to
such countries as the Cameroons, the United
Arab Republic and Senegal in educational
ventures for that association, the Agency
for International Development and the
Rockefeller Foundation.