Profile: Andrew Copland, MD

Division of Gastroenterology & Hepatology
FELLOW PROFILE: Andrew Copland, MD

[Note: Dr. Copland completed his fellowship at the end of FY 2015 and joined the gastroenterology faculty in July 2015.]

I grew up mostly in the suburbs of Philadelphia and then migrated south for college at William & Mary, where I majored in biopsychology. After a year of western blots, southern blots and maybe even a northeastern blot or two, I realized that blots in any cardinal direction weren’t for me and snuck into medical school here at UVA. I did my medicine residency at Stanford and spent an extra year as chief resident before returning to UVA for a gastroenterology fellowship. I live about five minutes away from the hospital with my wife, Anne; daughter, Rowan; and mangy mutt, Juno.

Why gastroenterology?

Best mix of clinical and procedural practice while still getting to be an internist with continuity in a clinical practice.

What do you like about the Charlottesville area or what do you most enjoy doing here?

Charlottesville has a great blend of outdoor access and vibrant town-life. Great hiking and fishing is just as easy to access as good food and amazing craft beers.

What opportunities do you have at UVA that made you choose to come to UVA?

UVA was a clear choice for me. It’s an academic center with a strong clinical focus located in a place that’s perfect for my family.

What are you usually doing on the weekend or in your spare time?

Spending time with my family, riding my mountain bike on the local trails, fly fishing anywhere there’s a riffle.

How did you meet your spouse?

After three years of being perfect strangers at William & Mary, we met here at UVA during medical school.

Favorite vacation spot or recreational activity?

Backpacking (thinking of a particularly grand trip with my wife in Patagonia among many other great trips).

Best advice anyone ever gave you?

Perfect is the enemy of good (perhaps not what you want to hear from your doctor, but good advice anyways).

What about you would surprise us?

I’m about as American as mayonnaise on French fries. I was born in the Netherlands but most of my extended family lives in the U.K., which is where I had citizenship until I became a U.S. citizen after graduating college (please don’t tell the Queen).