Curtis Green Tribble MD

Curtis Green Tribble, MD, of Charlottesville, Virginia, passed away on Saturday, September 6, 2025. He left us while doing something he loved dearly: cycling through the peaceful hills and orchards of Albemarle County on a beautiful afternoon.

Curt was born on July 7, 1953, in Nashville, Tennessee. He was raised primarily in Columbia, South Carolina, as the oldest of six sons. Curt studied English and Biology at Presbyterian College, where he graduated as valedictorian of his class. He then attended Vanderbilt School of Medicine before moving to the University of Virginia for his general surgery and cardiothoracic surgery training.

Curt joined the University of Virginia School of Medicine faculty in 1987, where he quickly distinguished himself as an exceptional surgeon and a devoted educator. In the following years, Curt helped plan and perform the first adult and pediatric heart transplants at the University of Virginia, and he performed the first lung transplant in the state of Virginia. In 2006, he moved to the University of Florida to serve as Chief of Cardiothoracic Surgery. In 2009, Curt moved to the University of Mississippi to revive the cardiothoracic training program as Vice Chairman of the Department of Surgery. In 2014, he proudly returned home to Charlottesville to rejoin the University of Virginia faculty.

Curt dedicated his life to teaching others, making a profound impact on tens of thousands of lives through the students he mentored and the care of his patients and their families. Over the course of his career, he was honored with virtually every teaching award at the University of Virginia School of Medicine, including the school’s most prestigious honor, the David A. Harrison Distinguished Educator Award. He was also elected to serve on the American Board of Thoracic Surgery in 2007.

Curt was a brilliant writer, compassionately sharing his experience with medical students and trainees through essays focused on the human, ethical, and practical sides of cardiac surgery. He leaves behind a remarkable legacy as an internationally recognized voice in the surgical profession.

A lifelong outdoorsman, Curt loved to spend time in the natural beauty of Albemarle County and Central Virginia, whether that was on his road bike, in his rowboat, or on his cross-country skis. He treasured evenings filled with conversation and peaceful sounds of nature on the back porch with his wife Megan and their three boys. He enjoyed watching football and basketball games and sharing his love of great music—notably Lynyrd Skynyrd, The Who, and the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Curt played basketball religiously every Sunday in a game he started 45 years ago with fellow UVA medical faculty, residents, and students.

Curt is survived by his wife of 33 years, Megan Tribble; brothers, David Tribble, Jr. and his wife Leta, Ben Tribble, MD, and his wife Lynn, Reid Tribble, MD, and his wife Mary, John Tribble and his partner Tony, Bill Tribble and his wife Ann Marie; daughters, Kelley Anderson and her husband Brad, Erin Wilson and her husband Evan, Meg Milne and her husband Stephen; sons, Ben Tribble and his wife Grace, Will Tribble, Jack Tribble; grandchildren, Mac Anderson, Arden Anderson, Watts Anderson, Andie Anderson, Lena Anderson, Samuel Wilson, James Wilson, Annie Wilson, Lillian Wilson, Henry Milne, Virginia Milne, Sallie James Milne, and Olin Milne. He was preceded in death by his father, David Edgar Tribble, MD, and his mother, Dorothy Green Tribble.

A private ceremony for the family will be held in Curt’s honor. Details about a celebration of life will be shared in the spring. In lieu of flowers, please consider a contribution to the Muller Jones Kron Surgical Society (MJKSS) or to Charlottesville Community Bikes. For MJKSS, visit https://www.uvamedalum.org/giving/, select “Department Funds”, then select “Surgery: Muller Jones Research and Innovation Fund” in the designation box. For Charlottesville Bikes, visit https://www.charlottesvillecommunitybikes.org/ and select “Donate.”