Tribble Curt MD Charlottesville, VA; In Loving Memory Of Surgical Director Of The Lung Transplant Program At UVA
Charlottesville, VA — It is with profound sorrow that the University of Virginia Medical Center announces the sudden passing of Dr. Curtis G. Tribble, MD, Surgical Director of the Lung Transplant Program, who died Saturday night while cycling near the Rivanna Trail. A pillar of thoracic surgery and a mentor to generations of residents, Dr. Tribble’s loss is felt across UVA and beyond.
For more than two decades, Dr. Tribble led UVA’s lung transplant team to national prominence. Under his stewardship, the program achieved record survival rates and pioneered advances in immunosuppressive protocols and post-operative rehabilitation. His research publications reshaped clinical practice, and his compassionate leadership fostered a culture of innovation and teamwork that benefited thousands of patients.
Outside the operating room, Curt’s passions were as boundless as his professional skill. He loved basketball pick-up games on Grounds, carving fresh powder on Virginia’s slopes, and trekking the Blue Ridge Mountains in search of opossum sightings. A lifelong devotee of Lynyrd Skynyrd, he kept notebooks of original poetry and short stories. His signature laugh echoed through corridors and clinic halls, and every conversation invariably circled back to family, friends, and the thrill of the next adventure.
Colleagues remember Curt as a tireless teacher whose guidance extended well beyond medicine. During their surgery residency, he and his co-residents compiled a playful playlist entitled “Top 10 Songs to Play in the OR at 3 a.m.,” and “What Is and What Should Never Be” by Led Zeppelin remained Curt’s anthem of hope and perseverance. “Sail away, leave today — way up high in the sky, Curt,” they recall, imagining him already exploring new horizons.
Dr. Tribble is survived by his wife, two children, and a widespread community of former patients, trainees, and friends whose lives he touched. A memorial service will be held at UVA’s Claude Moore Medical Education Building on Thursday, September 18, at 2 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Charlottesville Area Community Foundation’s Lung Health Fund. May Curt’s legacy of excellence, kindness, and boundless curiosity continue to inspire us all.
