Former WVU physician establishes future faculty chair with estate gift

Ronald Scobbo, MD and his wife, Jeanne, are donating the remainder of their estate to the West Virginia University School of Medicine, establishing the Ronald and Jeanne Scobbo Chair of General Internal Medicine in the Department of Medicine.

The endowed chair, being established following their passing, will serve as a crucial piece in recruiting an outstanding faculty member who embraces providing quality healthcare to West Virginians, much like Scobbo did during his time as a physician.

“The first thing that came to our minds was simply WVU,” Scobbo said. “The state has been good to me and [WVU] gave me the opportunity [to become a doctor]—this is my way of saying ‘thank you.’”

First attending medical school in Italy at the University of Bologna, Scobbo made the decision to transfer, completing his medical degree with the WVU School of Medicine in 1971. Following graduation, he continued to work with the School of Medicine and people of West Virginia through his internal medicine residency, which shaped his career as a successful general internal medicine physician.

Following his passion to serve others, Scobbo established the General Internal Medicine Clinic within the Division of General Internal Medicine at WVU, which was also a result of his successful residency with E.B. Flink, chairman of the Department of Medicine, who he describes as “the best clinician” he has ever met as a result of how he taught residents to care for patients.

With many an opportunity coming forward, Scobbo made the decision to leave Morgantown and move to White Sulphur Springs to join the Greenbrier Clinic, which is now partnered with WVU Medicine.

As the director of the Greenbrier Clinic, Scobbo treated the people of White Sulphur Springs and surrounding area for 20 years before retiring in 1999.

Scobbo and his wife, Jeanne, continue to support WVU by attending the annual WVU Cancer Institute Gala each year, and hope that their estate gift will only be a continuation of the General Internal Medicine Clinic established in 1974.

To make a gift to the WVU School of Medicine, please contact Clare Flanagan, assistant vice president for health sciences development at 304-293-0788 or cmflanagan@hsc.wvu.edu; or Patty Lonsbary, director of development, at 304-293-1448 or patricia.lonsbary@hsc.wvu.edu.

This gift was made in conjunction with A State of Minds: The Campaign for West Virginia’s University which runs through December.

-WVU-

hd/10/23/17

CONTACT: Hannah d’Entremont
WVU Health Sciences Center Office of Philanthropy
304.293.1735; hgdentremont@hsc.wvu.edu