Providing hope
For cancer patients in Virginia, treatment options are growing. The state has two National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer centers, updated technology in clinics in Northern Virginia and the Shenandoah Valley, and soon, a larger treatment center in Roanoke. The NCI reports that Virginians had a cancer incidence rate of 411 cases per 100,000 people from […]
U.Va. president, board members stand up for UVA Health execs
The University of Virginia’s president and two UVA Health board members defended UVA Health CEO Dr. Craig Kent and U.Va. School of Medicine Dean Dr. Melina R. Kibbe on Monday, after 128 UVA Physicians Group-employed faculty signed a letter demanding their immediate removal late last week. The letter, which expresses “no confidence” in Kent and […]
In defense of UVA Health’s leaders
Like so many people, I was surprised and shocked to read the U.Va. faculty letter of no confidence in Dr. Craig Kent and Dr. Melina Kibbe. This is especially disturbing since I have served on various UVA Health boards over the past 30 years. It is my opinion that our health system is better today […]
Health Care: A new horizon
Virginians could look back at 2024 a few years from now and see a turning point for health care in the commonwealth — the dawn of a “Virginia Research Triangle” in biotechnology, pharmaceutical manufacturing and medical research. In December 2023, the University of Virginia broke ground on the $350 million Paul and Diane Manning Institute […]
Health Care 2023: DR. K. CRAIG KENT
A vascular surgeon, Kent joined UVA Health in February 2020, just before COVID-19 hit, having served previously as dean of the Ohio State University College of Medicine. He is responsible for a health system that employs about 16,000 people and includes U.Va. Medical Center, a children’s hospital and schools of nursing and medicine, as well […]
Carilion announces chair for new neurosurgery department
Dr. John A. Jane Jr. will be the first chair of Carilion Clinic‘s newly formed neurosurgery department beginning June 19, the Roanoke-based health system announced Tuesday. “Dr. Jane will join a strong neurosurgical team at Carilion,” Dr. Daniel Harrington, Carilion’s interim chief medical officer, said in a statement. “We’re excited to continue expanding our progra[...]
Paying it forward
In the last year, Virginia philanthropists continued making generous donations toward health care research, while others maintained their longstanding support of art museums. Leading the pack were two nine-figure donations for medical research. In February 2022, Dr. Todd Stravitz, who built his expertise researching and treating liver disease, donated $104 million to Virginia Commonwealth Universi[...]
$100M donor gift to launch U.Va. biotech institute
The University of Virginia will build a biotechnology institute funded with a $100 million donation from Charlottesville investor Paul Manning and his wife, Diane, the university announced Friday. Along with the Mannings’ gift, U.Va. will contribute $150 million, and the state has allocated $50 million in initial investments for the institute in its 2022-24 budget, […]
VCU names medical school dean
Dr. Arturo P. Saavedra will be the next dean of the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine and executive vice president for medical affairs at VCU Health, the university announced Monday. His appointment is effective April 15. Saavedra is currently chair of the University of Virginia’s dermatology department and interim CEO of the U.Va. Physicians […]
UVA Community Health taps interim leader as permanent CEO
Erik Shannon, who has served as interim CEO of UVA Community Health since October 2021, will continue in the role permanently, the health system announced Tuesday. Shannon’s new status is effective immediately. UVA Community Health, formerly Novant Health UVA Health System, has three community hospitals and a network of primary and specialty medical practices and […]
U.Va. School of Nursing receives $14M donation
The Carlyle Group co-founder, interim CEO and non-executive co-chairman William E. “Bill” Conway Jr. and his wife, Joanne, have committed $14 million to the University of Virginia’s School of Nursing, the university announced Friday. Adding to previous donations, the Conways’ gifts now total $49 million. “Our goal of supporting the School of Nursing is twofold,” [&helli[...]
Running on empty
First, doctors say they’re sorry for calling. Dr. Allison Cotton, a psychiatrist in Reno, Nevada, co-founded the national Physician Support Line in March 2020 to provide peer mental health support to physicians. She says their impulse to apologize shows the need for the service. “They’re apologizing for using a resource which is literally created for […]