Mayo Portrait

Fitzhugh Mayo, MD passed away on 11-11-17. He was recruited from his private practice in Virginia Beach by Dean Kinlough Nelson to become the founding Chair of the Department of Family Medicine at MCV in 1970, and served in that role until 1987. The MCV Department was one of the first six in the country, and Hugh was deservedly seen as one of the founding fathers of the discipline. During his tenure the Department established residency programs in Newport News, Blackstone, Fairfax, Virginia Beach, and Chesterfield. Along with David Marsland and Maurice Wood, Hugh was an author of "Virginia Study"-(PDF Download) which compiled over 450,000 visits to family physicians across the Commonwealth and thereby established an accurate picture of the content of family medicine. This served as an essential guide for undergraduate and graduate curriculum in the discipline as well as continuing practice-based research. In recognition of this, the American Academy of Family Physicians awarded him the Thomas Johnson Award for lifetime contribution to Family Medicine education. Hugh also served as the President of the Association of Departments of Family Medicine. The family wishes any memorial contributions be made to support the Harris-Mayo Chair in the Department of Family Medicine and Population Health at VCU. Contributions can be made online (click on Harris-Mayo Chair in Family Practice in the drop down box) or by check payable to the MCV Foundation, Box 980022, Richmond, Va. 23298. Please note 'Harris-Mayo Chair in Family Practice' in the memo line of your check.