Dennis Cope, MD, FACP	..Back to Faculty
Chief, Dept. of Medicine
Vice-Chair, UCLA Department of Medicine

Dr. Cope is a general internist with a special interest in difficult to diagnose patients. He has had a career dedicated to building of primary care programs for patient care, education, and research at UCLA Medical School and the Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston. He has held distinguished leadership positions in these two organizations as well other national organizations such as the Veteran's Health Administration (VHA).

During his career he has been a Chief Resident, Internal Medicine Program Director, Division Chief in General Internal Medicine, VA VISN Medical Director for Primary Care in three states (South Carolina, Georgia and Alabama) and Vice Chair of Medicine for Education. Now, he is the Chair of the Internal Medicine Department of the UCLA-Olive View Medical Center and the Vice Chair of Internal Medicine for the multi-campus UCLA Department of Internal Medicine.

Dr. Cope has won numerous teaching awards during his career including golden apples, faculty role model, faculty marshal, and the prestigious Sherman Melinkoff Faculty Award and the Award for Excellence in Education, both at UCLA Medical School.

Dr. Cope has held national and international leadership positions. He currently is the Governor of the American College of Physicians, Southern California Region I, President Elect of the Association of Chair and Chiefs of Internal Medicine and Vice President of the American Academy for Health Care Communications.

He is married to Mary Jean Cope and they have three children, Kevin, Kari and Kristi. He and Mary Jean have four grandchildren, Carsen, Kyle, Evan and Clayton.