After more than half a century in the classroom, Thomas Kozel, Ph.D., a founding faculty member at the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine (UNR Med), has taught his final lecture.
Kozel, a professor of microbiology and immunology, delivered his last class to medical students on September 19 in the Pennington Health Sciences building.
Kozel began his tenure in 1971 and has since instructed every student to matriculate at UNR Med, a total of more than 2,900 medical students.
In recognition of his 54-year career, Kozel received proclamations from the City of Reno, the State of Nevada, and Washoe County. The state and city both declared September 19, 2025, as Dr. Thomas Kozel Day, while the county named it University of Reno, Medical Education Day.
He was also presented with a certificate from University President Brian Sandoval, J.D., Provost Jeff Thompson, Ph.D., and UNR Med Dean Paul J. Hauptman, M.D., honoring his long-standing dedication to the university.
In addition to his teaching, Kozel is widely known for his research in microbiology and immunology. His work led to the development of a rapid diagnostic test for patients with HIV, which is now recognized by the World Health Organization as an “essential diagnostic” and is estimated to save more than 50,000 lives each year.
Kozel holds the longest continuously funded NIH research grant in Nevada, with 48 years of uninterrupted funding totaling over $40 million. His grant is also one of the longest-running in the nation.
Throughout his career, Kozel has been recognized as a mentor, educator, and researcher whose contributions have shaped generations of students and impacted global health through both science and education.
