A founder of UConn School of Medicine, Dr. Robert Volle, Sr. passed away on Feb. 3 at the age of 90.

“I and my colleagues owe Dr. Volle a ton of gratitude for what he did for the SOM,” says Dean Dr. Bruce T. Liang. “As we celebrate the 50th anniversary of our graduating class, we remember Dr. Volle and all the founding faculty.”

Volle led the Pharmacology Department and later became associate dean of UConn’s medical school. In addition, he was the first recipient of the prestigious Charles N. Loeser, M.D. award for his teaching excellence.

“He had a wonderful life,” shared his son Robert Volle, Jr. with the UConn School of Medicine. “My father and our family moved to Connecticut in the late 1960s when my father became one of the founding faulty of the UConn School of Medicine. My father always spoke highly of his time at UConn Medical and especially enjoyed his research and teaching his students.”

“Dr. Volle was one of my teachers and he made pharmacology very interesting. In fact, he was one of the best teachers I had in medical school,” shared Dr. Marja Hurley, a Class of 1976 graduate. Hurley serves as professor of medicine and orthopaedics and associate dean of the Health Career Opportunity Programs.

In addition to his service to the University of Connecticut, Volle was a teacher, a research scientist, and an administrator at the University of Pennsylvania, Tulane University, the University of Kansas, the University of Kentucky and West Virginia University as Vice President and Provost.  Later he also served as President and CEO, and then President Emeritus, of the National Board of Medical Examiners.

Read the full tribute to Dr. Volle.