Va. children’s hospitals get kudos in national rankings
Eight children’s hospitals in Virginia received recognition Tuesday in the U.S. News & World Report annual rankings of the top pediatric facilities in the nation, regions and states. First in the state and seventh in the mid-Atlantic region is the University of Virginia Children’s Hospital, which was ranked natio[...]
U.Va. names new medical school dean
The University of Virginia has named Dr. Melina R. Kibbe the next dean of its medical school and chief health affairs officer for UVA Health, the university announced in a news release Wednesday. Kibbe, who starts her new position Sept. 15, is the Colin G. Thomas Jr. Distinguished Professor and chair of the Department of [&helli[...]
Sentara, Cone Health call off merger
Sentara Healthcare and Greensboro, North Carolina-based Cone Health have abandoned plans for a merger first announced in August 2020, according to a joint statement released Wednesday from the two health care systems. The Sentara Healthcare Board of Directors and the Cone Health Board of Trustees came to the mutual agreement to [...]
Sentara expands Healthier Communities Fund by $40M
Sentara Healthcare is allocating $40 million to expand its Healthier Communities Fund across Virginia and northeast North Carolina, with an aim to address health disparities that have been magnified by the impact of COVID-19 among underserved populations. Today’s announcement follows an initial $10 million the Norfolk-based health care system pledged in January to address health […]
A dose of inspiration
Admissions officers call it “the Fauci effect.” Inspired by Dr. Anthony Fauci, chief medical adviser to President Joe Biden and the highly visible point person for the nation’s COVID-19 pandemic response, prospective students have been flooding medical schools with applications. But Dr. Richard V. Homan, president and prov[...]
Sentara hires VCU’s Hancock as chief administrative officer
Sentara Healthcare has hired Melinda S. Hancock as senior vice president and its first chief administrative officer, the Norfolk-based health system announced Thursday. Hancock, who starts July 19, is currently the chief administrative officer and chief finance officer for the VCU Health System, where she’s been since 2016[...]
Va. Finance Secretary Aubrey Layne to join Sentara
Virginia Secretary of Finance Aubrey Layne will join Norfolk-based Sentara Healthcare as the health system’s senior vice president and chief of staff, effective July 1. Layne’s responsibilities will include overseeing Sentara’s legislative affairs and corporate social responsibility teams, as well as the Sentar[...]
UVA Health names new chief external affairs officer
UVA Health has hired Inova Health Systems executive Jennifer W. Siciliano as its new chief external affairs officer, starting Aug. 11. In her new role, Siciliano will build relationships with elected officials and their staff members at local, state and federal levels. “I am excited to join one of the nation’s leading academ[...]
Governor ends mask mandate for vaccinated people, effective midnight
Following federal recommendations, Gov. Ralph Northam lifted Virginia’s mask mandate Friday, effective at midnight, for all vaccinated Virginians. He also announced Friday afternoon that all distancing and capacity restrictions will be lifted May 28, two weeks sooner than planned. Masks will still be required at Virginia[...]
Va. officials ‘reviewing’ new CDC mask guidance
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued new guidance Thursday that people who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 — meaning they received their final shots at least two weeks earlier — can stop wearing masks and maintaining social distance in most indoor and outdoor areas. So, what does that mean for Virginia[...]
Vaccination of adolescents age 12+ starting now in Virginia
With the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s approval late Wednesday afternoon, Virginia public health authorities gave their OK to expanding Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine shots to children ages 12 and older Wednesday night. In an update Thursday, state vaccination coordinator Dr. Danny Avula said that schools around th[...]
Virginia awaiting CDC approval before vaccinating kids ages 12-15
Although the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Monday expanded its emergency use authorization of the Pfizer Inc. COVID-19 vaccine to include children ages 12 and older, Virginia will wait for action from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention before administering shots to adolescents, state vaccination coordinator Dr[...]