JOANNE INMAN

Since 2016, Joanne Inman has seen tremendous growth during her tenure at Sentara Leigh Hospital, one of Norfolk-based Sentara Health’s largest hospitals. Sentara Leigh’s emergency department surged from seeing more than 70,000 patients a year to 93,000 patients in 2022, while inpatient and obstetrics admissions increased by 30%, and surgical volumes are up by more than 13%, part of a post-pandemic increase at many health care facilities.

Sentara Leigh has received five-star ratings from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services in 2017 and 2021, as well as a Leapfrog Group “A” Hospital Safety Score, the industry standard for hospital safety, since 2012. Inman, who previously was vice president at Sentara Virginia Beach General Hospital and Sentara Leigh’s director of patient care, in 2018 was recognized on Modern Healthcare magazine’s list of Up & Comers.

In her leadership role, Inman has focused on improving mental health services for the Hampton Roads community. At Virginia Beach General, she oversaw the hospital’s inpatient behavioral health unit and launched a task force for behavioral health. She also established Sentara’s first orthopedic hospital in South Hampton Roads and the Sentara Hand Specialty Center.

Additionally, Inman serves on the boards of the Virginia Hospital and Healthcare Association and the New E3 School — a model preschool in Norfolk — and served on United Way of South Hampton Roads’ board.

Read more about the 2023 class of Virginia Business Women in Leadership Award winners.