The 1968 General Assembly of Virginia enacted Chapter 547, Acts of Assembly 1968, "to create a commission to study the advisability and feasibility of using certain medical facilities in Virginia for clinical instruction of medical students and for training of students in allied health fields."

Pursuant to this Act, members of the Commission were appointed, who were: Honorable Willis M. Anderson, Roanoke; Dr. K. R. Crispell, Charlottesville; Dr. Charles L. Crockett, Jr., Roanoke; Honorable Russell L. Davis, Rocky Mount; William H. Flannagan, Roanoke; Honorable Kossen Gregory, Roanoke; Senator William B. Hopkins, Roanoke; Honorable Joseph P. Johnson, Jr., Abingdon; Senator J. Harry Michael, Jr., Charlottesville; Frederic W. Scott, North Garden; and John W. Williams, Charlottesville.

The first meeting of the Commission was held at the Roanoke Memorial Rehabilitation Center, August 7, 1968, at which Dr. Crockett was elected Chairman and Mr. Flannagan, Vice-Chairman. Subsequent meetings were held in Roanoke, Charlottesville and Richmond. A public hearing was also held in Roanoke. The Division of Statutory Research and Drafting acted as secretary to this Commission, Frank R. Dunham, representing it.

The Commission approached its assigned task by studying physician manpower needs nationally and in Virginia; the current status and future plans for student enrollment at the State's two medical schools; mechanisms for increasing the enrollment at the University of Virginia School of Medicine through affiliations with the Roanoke medical community; the criteria and sanctions necessary for such affiliations; the objectives of, and various benefits from, such affiliations; the nature and experience of affiliated programs in other states; and cost projections for the alternative of a completely new medical school fully financed by the State. From these studies the Commission reached its conclusions resulting in certain recommendations for action by the General Assembly and the University of Virginia School of Medicine.