2025 In-House Counsel Awards: Jason O. Houser

Number of years with firm: 20

Law school: University of Richmond School of Law (2002)

Legal leadership: Since joining Riverside Health, our legal team has played a crucial role in supporting the company’s strategic expansion. We facilitated the development of three hospitals in our market — Williamsburg, Onancock and Smithfield, which will open in January 2026. In 2023, our legal team successfully negotiated a strategic affiliation between Riverside Health and UVA Health.

Pro bono work/community or civil involvement: I am on the board of directors for the United Way of the Virginia Peninsula and have previously served on boards including the Peninsula Fine Arts Center, Christopher Newport University Education Foundation and the Virginia Hospital. I have also served on the board of governors for the Health Law Section of the Virginia State Bar and am past president of the Olde Port Cove Homeowners Association.

On my identity/background: I am a first-generation college graduate and first-generation lawyer. After completing my undergraduate degree, I worked as an administrative intern at Riverside, which introduced me to health care despite initially not considering it a career path. I encourage students to explore health care as a career field, as it offers opportunities across all interests and backgrounds.

Most pressing issue that IHCs face: The health care industry faces significant challenges from reduced federal spending on Medicaid and ACA marketplaces — approximately 1 trillion dollars over the next decade. This will intensify cost control pressures on in-house counsel, requiring us to do more with less while utilizing technology and navigating an increasingly complex regulatory environment.