VCU Medical Center Archives - Virginia Business

Inova Fairfax Hospital ranks No. 1 in Va. for fourth year

For the fourth consecutive year, Inova Fairfax Hospital in Falls Church has taken the No. 1 spot in Virginia on the U.S. News and World Report’s annual list of the best hospitals in the nation, released Tuesday.

The Inova Health System hospital also ranked first in the Washington, D.C., metro area for the fourth straight year, and 36th in the nation for obstetrics and gynecology. For children’s care, it ranked third in Virginia and 17th in the mid-Atlantic. U.S. News included data from Inova L.J. Murphy Children’s Hospital in its evaluation.

“Year after year, I am more and more proud of Inova and the exceptional team of health care workers I am fortunate to lead,” Inova President and CEO Dr. J. Stephen Jones said in a statement. “Ranking No. 1 in the state and the region for four years in a row underscores our relentless commitment to providing clinical excellence and compassionate care to every patient in every community we are privileged to serve.”

U.S. News and World Report’s 2024-2025 Best Hospitals rankings evaluated data from 5,000 hospitals and surveys from 30,000 physicians. Nationally, 160 hospitals ranked in at least one of the 15 specialties assessed. For 12 of the specialty areas, rankings rely on data sources like Medicare. For the remaining three specialties — ophthalmology, psychiatry and rheumatology — rankings are based on expert opinion.

U.S. News and World Report evaluated 120 hospitals in Virginia. Its top hospitals in Virginia are as follows:

1. Inova Fairfax Hospital, Falls Church

2. VCU Medical Center, Richmond

3. (tie) Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital, Roanoke

3. (tie) Sentara Norfolk General Hospital, Norfolk

3. (tie) University of Virginia Medical Center, Charlottesville

6. Virginia Hospital Center, Arlington County

7. (tie) Mary Washington Hospital, Fredericksburg

7. (tie) Winchester Medical Center, Winchester

9. (tie) Henrico Doctors’ Hospitals, Henrico County

9. (tie) Sentara Leigh Hospital, Norfolk

Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center ranked second in Virginia for the second consecutive year and first in Richmond for the 14th year in a row. The hospital also ranked in three adult specialties: No. 19 for rehabilitation, No. 33 for orthopedics and No. 42 for cardiology, heart and vascular surgery.

VCU Medical Center was also second in Virginia and seventh in the Mid-Atlantic for children’s care, ranking nationally in eight children’s specialties. U.S. News and Word Report’s evaluation of the VCU hospital included data from Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU.

“These rankings are a testament to the unwavering dedication and collaborative spirit of our outstanding team members,” Michael Roussos, president of VCU Medical Center, said in a statement. “We are inspired daily by their commitment to excellence in patient care, medical education and groundbreaking research.”

In a three-way tie, Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital, Sentara Norfolk General Hospital and the University of Virginia Medical Center placed third in the state. U.S. News ranked Sentara Norfolk General Hospital No. 1 for the Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News area.

Steve Arner, Carilion’s president and chief operating officer, said in a statement: “Quality guides everything that we do, and this U.S. News ranking is one example of the amazing work Carilion teams are doing every day. It’s great to see this commitment recognized on the national stage.”

U.Va. Medical Center placed first in Virginia and sixth in the Mid-Atlantic region for children’s care. U.S. News and World Report used data from University of Virginia Children’s Hospital in its evaluation of U.Va. Medical Center. The Charlottesville hospital ranked nationally in nine children’s specialties; of those, its highest ranking was 23rd for neonatology.

VCU receives $104M gift for liver research

Dr. Richard Todd Stravitz and his family’s Barbara Brunckhorst Foundation gave an unprecedented $104 million donation to Virginia Commonwealth University to support liver research, VCU President Michael Rao announced Tuesday during his State of the University address.

The largest gift in VCU’s history, it’s also believed to be the largest publicly shared gift to support liver research in the U.S. It will support the liver institute that VCU announced it was creating in December 2021.

The gift also establishes two endowed chairs at VCU’s School of Medicine: the Arun J. Sanyal Endowed Professor of Medicine and the Phillip B. Hylemon Endowed Professor of Medicine and Microbiology.

“Words cannot capture my feelings of gratitude for the transformative gift of Dr. Todd Stravitz and the Barbara Brunckhorst Foundation,” Rao said in a statement. “Todd has made history with his incredible leadership and generosity to VCU, supporting an institute that will forever change VCU and catalyze its commitment to our work with the human liver and metabolism. This gift firmly puts the needs of patients first.”

Stravitz is a clinical professor in VCU School of Medicine’s Department of Internal Medicine. Before retiring in 2020, Stravitz served as medical director of liver transplantation at VCU Health’s Hume-Lee Transplant Center for a decade. His mother, Barbara Brunckhorst, who died in November 2020, was the daughter of Frank Brunckhorst, founder of Florida-based deli meat company Boar’s Head Provisions Co. Inc. Stravitz’s father, noted Virginia Beach-based sculptor Richard Stravitz, is the retired chairman of Boar’s Head. The two branches of the family that control Boar’s Head entered into a court battle last year in a dispute over Barbara Brunckhorst’s shares in the company, which is privately owned and reportedly brings in about $1 billion in annual revenue. Stravitz and his sister were appointed co-executors of her estate.

For the fiscal year ending 2019, the Barbara Brunckhorst Foundation reported a total revenue of $14.5 million and charitable disbursements of $7.66 million. In each year between 2018 and 2020, the Brunckhorst Foundation donated at least $780,000 to the Sierra Club Foundation, $475,000 to the Southern Environmental Law Center, $400,000 to the Nature Conservancy, $325,000 to the Environmental Defense Fund and $225,000 to the Natural Resources Defense Council.

“As a world-class researcher himself, Todd Stravitz exemplifies the power of medical research to make the world a better place,” said Dr. Arun J. Sanyal, a professor in the VCU School of Medicine’s Department of Internal Medicine, who will serve as director of the Stravitz-Sanyal Institute for Liver Disease & Metabolic Health. “With his generous, future-focused gift, Todd is ensuring that VCU’s capacity to attract outstanding minds and produce future scientific leaders is very strong for generations to come.”

About 1 in 10 Americans have some type of liver disease, according to Cleveland Clinic. The institute will align the work of VCU entities already dealing with liver disease or its effects on other organs, including the hepatology and research teams in VCU School of Medicine’s Department of Internal Medicine, VCU Health’s Hume-Lee Transplant Center, the Massey Cancer Center and VCU Health’s Pauley Heart Center. The institute will grow research and health care teams for liver-related clinical specialties and will be able to recruit 30 to 60 researchers, faculty and staff.

Dr. Arun J. Sanyal, a professor in the VCU School of Medicine’s Department of Internal Medicine, will serve as the institute’s director. He holds the Z. Reno Vlahcevic Research Professorship in Gastroenterology, which honors his mentor, who died in 2000.

Stravitz’s gift allows VCU to accelerate the institute’s goals, including investing in microbiome research, gene editing approaches, data analytics and other tools to develop solutions to liver diseases; investing in new degree programs at the graduate, postgraduate and postdoctoral levels; and including other disciplines like engineering, pharmacy, social work and business.

VCU Medical Center names new president

Michael Roussos will be the next president of Richmond’s VCU Medical Center, starting in December, VCU Health System announced Wednesday.

Roussos was previously the lead administrator for University Hospital in San Antonio, where he led the hospital’s COVID-19 response. Roussos also aided in the hospital’s transition to Epic, an electronic medical records system that VCU Health System plans to implement later this year.

“Mike Roussos’ recruitment is the result of a highly competitive national search,” said Dr. Art Kellermann, senior vice president for VCU Health Sciences and CEO of VCU Health System, in a statement. “He understands the effort and commitment required to not only persevere but succeed in challenging circumstances.

Before joining University Hospital, Roussos worked at HCA Healthcare for 13 years, most recently serving as CEO of Mainland Medical Center in Texas. He holds a master of science degree in health care administration from Trinity University and a bachelor of science degree in kinesiology from The University of Texas at Austin.

Dr. Ron Clark, who has served as VCU Medical Center’s interim president since 2019, will continue to serve until December.

Inova Fairfax Medical Campus captures No.1 state ranking

Inova Fairfax Medical Campus unseated University of Virginia Medical Center as the best hospital in Virginia in U.S. News and World Report’s annual list of the best hospitals in the nation, which was released Tuesday. The Inova facility was also ranked as the top hospital in the Washington, D.C. area.

“We are extraordinarily proud to have top-ranked hospitals in both Virginia and the Washington, D.C., region,” said Dr. J. Stephen Jones, president and CEO of Inova Health System, in a statement. “People-centered care and patient safety is at the core of everything we do, and we are grateful that we continue to have the trust and support of our patients and community.”

The 2021-2022 Best Hospitals Rankings used data from 5,000 hospitals and surveys of 30,000 physicians. Nationally, only 175 hospitals ranked in at least one of the 15 specialties assessed. For 12 of the specialties, the rankings are determined by performance data in structure, process and outcomes. For the remaining three — ophthalmology, psychiatry and rheumatology — the rankings rely on expert opinion.

Nationally, the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, ranked No. 1 on the 2021-22 Best Hospitals Honor Roll. The teaching hospital is nationally ranked in 14 adult specialties and eight pediatric specialties. Its department of endocrinology is one of the world’s largest, and the clinic has 57 research centers.

The following are the top hospitals in Virginia:

1. Inova Fairfax Medical Campus, Falls Church

2. University of Virginia Medical Center, Charlottesville

3 (tie). Sentara Norfolk General Hospital, Norfolk

3 (tie). VCU Medical Center, Richmond

3 (tie).Winchester Medical Center, Winchester

6 (tie). Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital, Roanoke

6 (tie). Centra Lynchburg General Hospital, Lynchburg

8. Virginia Hospital Center, Arlington

9. Sentara RMH Medical Center, Harrisonburg

10. Inova Fair Oaks Hospital, Fairfax

Inova Fairfax Hospital ranked No. 6 for gynecology and No. 40 for neonatology. It ranked No. 1 in Washington, D.C. and No. 3 in Virginia for children’s care.

Ranked No. 2 in the state, U.Va. Medical Center ranked nationally in five children’s specialties: No. 36 for neonatology, No. 37 for pediatric cardiology and heart surgery, No. 42 for pediatric diabetes and endocrinology as well as for pediatric orthopedics and No. 43 for pediatric urology. It was also recognized as the No. 1 hospital for children’s care in Virginia.

Eric Swensen, a public information officer for UVA Health, said in a statement, “Although it is challenging for any one rating to fully recognize all we do to provide exceptional care for our patients, U.Va. Medical Center has been recognized as high performing in six clinical specialties as well as in 15 common adult clinical conditions and procedures. … We are in the process of reviewing the data and the newly updated methodology U.S. News uses to compile its ratings. Once our review is complete, we will develop a plan that will also allow us to provide even more patients across the commonwealth with excellent, high-quality care.”

Sentara Norfolk General Hospital ranked No. 1 for the Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News area and ranked No. 40 nationally for urology.

Sentara Norfolk General Hospital President Liisa Ortegon said, “We are grateful and encouraged to be recognized once again as the top hospital in Hampton Roads and among the best in the state. We value the trust of our patients and families in our community, and will continue our commitment to being a top provider for complex, specialty care throughout Virginia and northeast North Carolina.”

VCU Medical Center ranked No. 1 in Richmond and No. 2 for children’s care in Virginia. It ranked No. 28 nationally for pediatric urology, No. 30 for pediatric pulmonology and lung surgery, No. 42 for pediatric nephrology and No. 50 for pediatric cancer.

“This recognition is a reflection of the unfailingly kind and extraordinary care we provide as an academic medical center,” said Dr. Arthur Kellermann, CEO of VCU Health System. “It’s an affirmation of our mission to serve everyone and use our clinical expertise, research and teaching efforts to make the highest-quality care and great patient experience accessible and affordable to everyone.”

VCU Health distribution facility sells for $8M

A Henrico County property fully leased by VCU Health was purchased by an undisclosed investment group for $8.075 million on April 7.

Located at 3008 Mechanicsville Turnpike, the 89,931-square-foot property houses nonpharmaceutical medical supplies and equipment for VCU Health. Since mid-February, the property, a former Pepsi distribution facility, has served as Virginia Commonwealth University Health System Authority’s supply chain logistics headquarters and primary distribution facility for its regional health care operations.

Will Bradley and Mark Williford of Colliers International represented the seller, Charlotte, North Carolina-based real estate private equity firm SilverCap Partners.

Subscribe to Virginia Business.

Get our daily e-newsletter.

U.Va. Medical Center snags No. 1 hospital rating for fifth year

University of Virginia Medical Center once again was ranked the best hospital in Virginia by U.S. News and World Report’s annual list of the best hospitals in the nation, which was released Tuesday.

“It is an honor to be ranked the No. 1 hospital in Virginia for the fifth consecutive year, and I want to congratulate and thank our entire team for their efforts to provide the highest-quality care for our patients in a wide array of specialties,” Dr. K. Craig Kent, U.Va. executive vice president for health affairs, said in a statement. “It is a privilege to serve patients from across Virginia.”

The 2020-2021 Best Hospitals rankings were determined by data from more than 4,500 medical centers and survey responses from more than 30,000 positions. Nationally, only 134 hospitals ranked in at least one of the specialties this year.

Nationally, the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, ranked No. 1 on the 2020-21 Best Hospitals list. The teaching hospital is nationally ranked in 15 adult specialties and eight pediatric specialties, and its Department of Endocrinology is one of the world’s largest. The Mayo Clinic also has 57 research centers and employs more than 4,700 physicians.

The following are the top hospitals in Virginia:

1. University of Virginia Medical Center, Charlottesville

2. VCU Medical Center, Richmond

T3. Centra Lynchburg General Hospital, Lynchburg

T3. Inova Fairfax Hospital, Falls Church

T5. Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital, Roanoke

T5. Sentara Norfolk General Hospital, Norfolk

7. Winchester Medical Center, Winchester

8. Virginia Hospital Center, Arlington

T9. Inova Alexandria Hospital, Alexandria

T9. Mary Washington Hospital, Fredericksburg

T9. Sentara Leigh Hospital, Norfolk

U.Va. Medical Center also nationally ranked No. 41 for the ear, nose and throat specialty, No. 41 for gynecology, No. 49 for neonatology, No. 37 for pediatric cardiology and heart surgery, No. 40 for pediatric diabetes and endocrinology, No. 43 for pediatric orthopedics and No. 43 for pediatric urology.

“These rankings and ratings highlight the breadth of excellent care our team is able to provide for patients of all ages,” Wendy Horton, U.Va. Health chief operating officer, said in a statement. “We stand ready to care for Virginia’s families.”

Ranked No. 2 in Virginia, VCU Medical Center ranked nationally for two adult specialties and four pediatric specialties. It also was ranked the No. 1 hospital in Richmond for the 10th consecutive year in the U.S. News and World Report Best Hospitals list.

“Being recognized as the No. 1 health care provider in Richmond so many times is a tribute to the incredible work of our team members,” interim VCU Health CEO Dr. Peter Buckley, senior vice president for health sciences at VCU, said in a statement. “It recognizes both our medical expertise as well as our unwavering commitment to advancing the health of all we serve — and doing so with the compassion and kindness so wonderfully demonstrated throughout this pandemic.”

Two Bon Secours hospitals followed VCU Health on the list of best hospitals in Richmond. Memorial Regional Medical Center ranked No. 2 in Richmond and No. 14 in Virginia, while St. Mary’s Hospital ranked No. 3 in Richmond and No. 17 in the state.

“Bon Secours is honored that Memorial Regional Medical Center and St. Mary’s Hospital have received the second- and third-place rankings in the Richmond area by U.S. News & World Report in its Best Hospitals listings, respectively,” Bon Secours Richmond President Faraaz Yousuf said in a statement. “This recognition speaks to the quality, compassionate care that our providers, nurses and clinical staff provide to our patients each and every day.”