Class Notes – Spring 2026

Recent news about alumni of the UVA School of Medicine:

• John E. Brush, Jr., MD ‘80, is the recipient of the 2026 Master of the ACC Award by the American College of Cardiology in honor of his exceptional contributions to cardiovascular medicine. In addition to serving as chief research officer for Sentara, Brush is a professor at Eastern Virginia Medical School with research interests in outcomes and medical reasoning. He has authored over 110 peer-reviewed publications, as well as the book “The Science of the Art of Medicine: A Guide to Medical Reasoning.”
• Milton D. Havron Jr., MD ’89, retired in December 2025 after a fulfilling 33-year career in family medicine. His path began with a family practice residency at the University of Vermont, where he met his wife, Anna Kimberly Cox. Together, they moved to Dillingham, a remote southwestern Alaska community, where Havron spent two years providing comprehensive family medicine to Yup’ik Alaskan Natives across a vast rural region. From 1994 to 1997, he served as an assistant professor at Michigan State University, developing an elective in rural medicine for family practice residents. He later moved with his family to Winchester, Va., where his practice became one of the first in town to adopt electronic health records. He also founded a medical weight management clinic centered on a low carb Mediterranean diet. In 2009, Havron joined the VA Medical Center in Martinsburg, WV, caring for veterans with spinal cord disorders before becoming medical director of the Home-Based Primary Care Program. Under his leadership, HBPC teams successfully reduced ER visits and hospitalizations for medically complex, homebound rural patients. In retirement, he plans to volunteer in his community and remain engaged in medical and social issues. He continues to play guitar, 5-string banjo, and bass guitar in his church ensemble.
• A. Bobby Chhabra, MD ’95, is the 80th president of the American Society for Surgery of the Hand. Chhabra, an internationally recognized leader in hand and upper extremity surgery, brings decades of experience in clinical care, education, and health system leadership to his new role. He is the Lillian T. Pratt Distinguished Professor and Chair of the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at UVA, Director of the UVA Health Orthopaedic Center, and is a team physician for UVA Department of Athletics.
• Richard Polin, MD ’91, maintains an active neurosurgery practice in Portland, Oregon. He has also published his first novel, Millicent Degroenfeld Rice, via Friesen Press. The novel tells the story of a down and out grunge band whose song unexpectedly brings fame – but kills an audience member every time it is performed live.
• Jeffrey Sobell, MD ’93, was honored with a lifetime achievement award by the National Psoriasis Foundation in May 2025.
• Saquib Lakhani, MD ’96, was recently recruited to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles as professor and director of the Early Detection Program for Pediatric Genomics. This follows nine years as clinical director of Yale University School of Medicine’s Pediatric Genomics Discovery Program. He is a recognized translational researcher in rare diseases with a focus on epilepsy genetics and has a commitment to increasing access to precision medicine and genomics for diverse populations. He continues to practice clinically as a pediatric critical care physician.
• Bruce Lo, MD ’01, was awarded the 2026 American Academy of Emergency Medicine Resident/Student Association National Mentor of the Year Award.
• J.B. Boone, MD ’15, is a full-time rheumatologist in private practice in Louisville, Ky. He recently published his first book, “Under Their Own Vine and Fig Tree: A Biblical Defense of America.” The book emphasizes the rich overlap of America’s founding ideals with Biblical principles. It was recently the #1 new release on Amazon in the category of U.S. National Government. He says, “The book is a perfect accompaniment for America’s 250th anniversary this year, and one that I am proud to share with my fellow UVA SOM classmates and alumni.”
• Joshua Fery, MD ’22, finished residency in 2025 and started his first job as a family medicine attending with One Medical. He shares: “Now almost a year into that position, I remain so glad to be a member of the primary workforce! Outside of work, I have taken up archery as a new hobby. It has been a refreshing way to focus on a non-medical skill and meet people from all sorts of backgrounds.”

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