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American Diabetes Assoc. chair tackles disease’s workforce impact
More than 780,000 adults in Virginia have diabetes. The indirect cost from lost productivity due to the disease in 2017 in this state alone was a whopping $2.3 billion, according to the American Diabetes Association. That’s why Rhodes Ritenour, national chairman of the ADA’s board and vice president for external and regulatory affairs with Bon […]
SCHEV approves ODU/NSU Joint School of Public Health
The State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV) has approved the Joint School of Public Health (JSPH), offered by Old Dominion University and Norfolk State University, the schools announced on Thursday. Council members approved the school at a Sept. 17 meeting, according to a SHEV spokesperson. “We have a real opportunity to create and […]
ATCC expanding presence in Prince William County
Gov. Glenn Youngkin announced Thursday that American Type Culture Collection (ATCC) plans to expand its bioresource center campus in Prince William County, investing $54.7 million and creating an expected 75 jobs. The project will include a new biomanufacturing facility focused on global health. “ATCC is a world-class resource for scientists performing vital research to solve […]
ONE School of Public Health names inaugural dean
The proposed ONE School of Public Health has named its inaugural dean: Li-Wu Chen, a health sciences professor from the University of Missouri-Columbia with a background in rural health. Chen was selected following a national search and will start his new job March 10, 2023, Old Dominion University said in a news release Monday. Chen […]
GMU launches College of Public Health
George Mason University has rebranded its College of Health and Human Services as the College of Public Health in a move to address a critical need for skilled health professionals and research across the state. GMU announced the renaming Tuesday, following approval in late October by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia and […]
Leidos wins $545M biomedical research contract
Reston-based Fortune 500 government contractor Leidos Holdings Inc. won a potential $545 million contract to support biomedical research for the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), the company announced Wednesday. Under the seven-year, indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity contract, Leidos will provide services including chemistry manufacturing and control, non-clinic[...]
GOP lawmakers push to protect workers who decline COVID vaccines
RICHMOND, Va. – Lawmakers narrowly passed a bill this month that would allow people fired for refusing a COVID-19 vaccine to receive unemployment benefits if no other misconduct took place. The measure advanced from the House of Delegates on a 51-48 party line vote and was assigned to a Senate committee on Feb. 10. The […]
GMU establishes health workforce center
George Mason University has established the Mason Center for the Health Workforce, the university announced Monday. The new center, directed by PJ Maddox and Caroline Sutter, will address the shortage and immediate need for health care workers in Virginia. It will serve as a technical assistance center for health workforce research, program evaluation, planning and […]
Youngkin names secretary of health and human resources
Gov.-elect Glenn Youngkin announced Monday former Magellan of Virginia President John Littel as his state secretary of health and human resources. “The COVID-19 pandemic has had devastating impacts on Virginians across the commonwealth, and John will play a pivotal role in overseeing our efforts in protecting Virginians’ lives and livelihoods,” Youngkin said in a statement. [&hel[...]
Northam calls state of emergency to increase hospital staffing
With an all-time high number of Virginians hospitalized for COVID-19 on Friday, Gov. Ralph Northam issued a 30-day executive order Monday to expand the number of available hospital beds, increase staffing capacity at hospitals and nursing homes, and allow public health agencies greater flexibility. “It is painful to see the number of COVID cases rising,” […]
VDH funds $5 million for new COVID-19 testing centers
As COVID infection rates reach record numbers from the omicron variant, the Virginia Department of Health will open nine new COVID-19 community testing centers across the state to increase testing availability, Gov. Ralph Northam’s office announced Thursday. The centers will offer polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests, considered the most reliable type of COVID-19 test. The […]
Looking back
In November 2021, Gov. Ralph Northam sat down for an interview with Virginia Business, looking back at his eventful four-year term. This is a transcript of the full interview, part of which was used in the January 2022 cover story, “A dramatic shift.” The interview has been edited for length and clarity. Virginia Business: What […]
