Aubrey L. Knight, MD

Position Responsibilities

The senior dean for student affairs oversees student affairs and services at the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine. Responsibilities include supervising student affairs, the office of admissions, academic and career advising and formal counselling, the preparation of dean's letters, student wellness, and USMLE preparation programs. The senior dean for student affairs is a member of the Dean’s Leadership Team.

Professional Background

Dr. Aubrey Knight is a professor of family and community medicine at Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine. He earned his bachelor’s degree at Bridgewater College and his medical degree at the University of Virginia School of Medicine. He completed his residency in family medicine at Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital before undertaking a fellowship in geriatrics at the University of Maryland Medical System.

Following completion of his fellowship, he returned to Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital to join the faculty of its Family Medicine Residency Program. He remained on the faculty for the next 17 years, assuming the role of program director from 1999-2004. He was the founding director for the Geriatric Medicine Fellowship that began in 2002. Dr. Knight left Roanoke to become vice president for medical affairs at the Hebrew Home of Greater Washington in 2005. In 2008, he returned to Roanoke as section chief of geriatric and palliative medicine and was the founding director of the Hospice and Palliative Medicine Fellowship, which accepted its first fellows in 2011.

Dr. Knight is certified in family medicine, geriatric medicine, and hospice and palliative medicine. He is a member of the American Geriatrics Society, the American Association of Hospice and Palliative Medicine, the Christian Medical and Dental Association, and the American Medical Directors Association. He has given national and international talks on a number of topics in geriatric and palliative medicine.

Dr. Knight’s involvement with Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine began in 2011 when he was named assistant dean for clinical sciences - years 3 and 4. In that position, he was instrumental in developing third-year clerkships and electives for the medical students. He also supervised the day-to-day operations of the clinical curriculum and worked closely with the clerkship directors to ensure each student had a challenging and positive experience in each specialty.

In January 2013, he assumed his current position as the head of student affairs. In this role he manages student affairs for all four years of the medical school curriculum. He oversees career mentoring and advising, academic support services, policies and procedures, counseling and wellness, student financial support services, student government, and residency applications.

Dr. Knight is married to Esther Knight, a teacher at Faith Christian School. The Knights have two grown children and three grandchildren. They are founding board members of My Father’s House International, a faith-based organization that serves to increase the awareness of and support for La Casa de mi Padre, a children’s home in El Salvador.

Research Interests

• Stress in Medical Students
• Dementia Caregiver Resources
• Mild Cognitive Impairment
• End-of-Life Care
• Bioethics

Awards and Honors

• Leonard Tow Humanism in Medicine faculty recipient, VTCSOM, 2018
• Our Health Magazine, "Best Bedside Manner", 2011, 2013-2017
• West-Whitelow Humanitarian Service Award Bridgewater College Alumni Association, 2013
• Edward Via Virginia College of Osteopathic Medicine Faculty Humanitarian Award, 2004
  
• Honored by the City of Roanoke for “Worldwide Humanitarian Efforts,” 2003
• Republic of Bolivia, Merito Aeronautica Caballero, 1999
• Carilion Family Practice Attending of the Year, 1998-1999
• Roanoker Magazine, “Roanoke’s Top Docs,” 1997-2005 and 2009-2017
• Roanoke Memorial Hospital Annual Housestaff Award-Outstanding Attending Physician, 1990

Education and Training

• Association of Family Practice Residency Directors, Kansas City, Missouri: National Institute of Program Director Development
• University of Maryland Medical System: Geriatric Fellowship
• Carilion Health System Family Practice: Family Practice Residency
• University of Virginia School of Medicine: MD
• Bridgewater College: BA

Other Positions

• Professor of Medicine and Family & Community Medicine, Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine
• Professor, Geriatric Medicine, Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine
• Chair of Bioethics Committee, Carilion Medical Center
• Program Director, Carilion Clinic / Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine Geriatric Medicine Fellowship Program
• Fellow of the American Academy of Family Physicians