Page 92 – Virginia Business

2025 In-House Counsel Awards: Ute Heidenreich

Number of years with firm: 17

Legal leadership: My background includes experience in the banking section of a major law firm where I represented a number of banks on loan transactions and in work-outs. As the first in-house counsel at one of Virginia’s largest and fast-growing community banks, I became a resource for our board, senior management, and bankers across a great variety of scenarios. I have been named to Virginia Business Legal Elite and Coastal Virginia Top Lawyers in the corporate counsel categories since their respective inceptions.

Pro bono work/community or civil involvement: At TowneBank, all employees are encouraged to serve their communities by lending their time and expertise to organizations. I have been a board member of the Hampton Roads Workforce Council, where I served as board chair during a significant leadership transition. I have also served on the board of The CIVIC Leadership Institute and as a founding local advisory committee member of LISC Hampton Roads, which was recently consolidated into LISC Virginia. I am a frequent presenter to audiences ranging from attorneys to real estate professionals and CPAs on tax deferred exchanges.

Most pressing issue that IHCs face: Lawyers at community banks face the same broad range of responsibilities, including regulatory expectations, as those in larger institutions, but with a much smaller staff. Our goal continues to be to remain accessible as open-door resources for all our teams and to be ready to handle all the challenges as they arise.

Evolution of the IHC position: Reliance on outside counsel has increased significantly as issues have simply grown too complex for generalists. The role of in-house counsel has become much more managerial.

Virginia’s Top Doctors 2026: Allergy and Immunology

Dr. Kara Coffey
UVA Health
Charlottesville

Dr. William T. Hark
Richmond Allergy & Asthma Specialists
Henrico County

Dr. Eric Karlin
Allergy Partners
Newport News

Dr. Monica G. Lawrence
UVA Health Asthma, Allergy and Immunology
Charlottesville

Dr. Emily C. McGowan
UVA Health Asthma, Allergy and Immunology
Charlottesville

Dr. Gary B. Moss
Allergy and Asthma Specialists
Chesapeake

Dr. Jonathan Mozena
Allergy Partners of Fredericksburg
Fredericksburg

Dr. Christina F. Ortiz
TPMG Coastal Allergy
Chesapeake

Dr. Margaret Sigman
Advanced Allergy and Asthma of Virginia
Midlothian

Dr. Kelley von Elten
RVA Allergy
Henrico County

Click here to return back to the Virginia’s Top Doctors directory

Virginia’s Top Doctors 2026: Breast Surgery

Dr. Stephanie Akbari
Virginia Cancer Specialists
Fairfax

Dr. Rebecca C. Britt
Macon & Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences at Old Dominion University
Norfolk

Dr. Beryl S. Brown
Coastal Surgical Specialists
Chesapeake

Dr. Clifford Lanier Deal III
Stony Point Surgery Center
Richmond

Dr. Elizabeth Feldman
Virginia Cancer Specialists
Reston

Dr. Ruth Felsen
Richmond Breast Center
Chesterfield County

Dr. Kara E. Friend
Sentara Surgery Specialists
Norfolk

Dr. Mary L. Guye
Sentara Surgery Specialists
Newport News

Dr. Mami N. Martin
Inova Surgery – Willow Oaks
Fairfax

Dr. Kandace P. McGuire
VCU Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center
Richmond

Dr. James V. Pellicane Jr.
Bon Secours Virginia Breast Center
Henrico County

Dr. Jennifer M. Reed
Sentara Surgery Specialists
Norfolk

Dr. Stephanie Repole
Chesapeake Regional Breast Care – Chesapeake
Chesapeake

Dr. Antonio Ruiz
Chesapeake Regional Breast Care – Chesapeake
Chesapeake

Dr. Polly L. Stephens
Bon Secours Virginia Breast Center
Midlothian

Dr. Misti H. Wilson
Bon Secours Virginia Breast Center
Mechanicsville

Click here to return back to the Virginia’s Top Doctors directory

Virginia’s Top Doctors 2026: Cardiology

Dr. Antonio Abbate
UVA Health Heart and Vascular Center Fontaine
Charlottesville

Dr. Michael Arcarese
HCA Cardiology Associates of Richmond
Henrico County

Dr. Alex Baher
Virginia Cardiovascular Specialists – Bell Creek Medical Park
Mechanicsville

Dr. Rachel L. Berger
Virginia Heart
Arlington County

Dr. Hem Bhardwaj
VCU Health Pauley Heart Center
Richmond

Dr. Mohit Bhasin
Innovation Cardiology
Norfolk

Dr. Wendy Bottinor
VCU Health Pauley Heart Center
Richmond

Dr. Christine Browning
James River Cardiology
Richmond

Dr. Ashesh Buch
Chesapeake Regional Heart Care
Chesapeake

Dr. An Hong Bui
Bon Secours – Cardiology Reynolds Crossing
Henrico County

Dr. Alexander Bustamante
Cardiology Associates of Fredericksburg
Fredericksburg

Dr. Matthew J. Chung
Virginia Cardiovascular Specialists – St. Mary’s Hospital
Henrico County

Dr. Allen A. Ciuffo
Sentara Cardiology Specialists
Norfolk

Dr. Brian C. Clark
VHC Health Cardiology – Tysons
McLean

Dr. William L. Coble Jr.
Virginia Cardiovascular Specialists – Stony Point Medical Office
Richmond

Dr. Denise Margaret Dietz
Bon Secours – Cardiology
Richmond

Dr. Kenneth Ellenbogen
VCU Health Pauley Heart Center
Richmond

Dr. Barnett T. Gibbs
Henrico Cardiology Associates
Henrico County

Dr. Massimo F. Giusti
Bon Secours – Cardiology
Henrico County

Dr. Gautham Kalahasty
VCU Health Pauley Heart Center
Richmond

Dr. Gregory J. Kauffman
Cardiology Associates of Fredericksburg
Fredericksburg

Dr. Shakil A. Khan
Bon Secours – Cardiology
Midlothian

Dr. Charanjit S. Khurana
VHC Health Cardiology – Arlington
Arlington County

Dr. Jayanthi N. “Jay” Koneru
VCU Health Pauley Heart Center
Richmond

Dr. Michael C. Kontos
VCU Health Pauley Heart Center
Richmond

Dr. Dena K. Krishnan
Bon Secours – Cardiovascular Specialists
Suffolk

Dr. Jordana Kron
VCU Health Pauley Heart Center
Richmond

Dr. C. Mark Newton
Virginia Cardiovascular Specialists – Harbourside Medical Center
Midlothian

Dr. Christopher S. Nicholson
Henrico Cardiology Associates
Henrico County

Dr. Michael P. Notarianni
Virginia Heart
Arlington County

Dr. Antonio R. Parente
Virginia Heart
Arlington County

Dr. Nimesh K. Patel
Bon Secours – Cardiology Reynolds Crossing
Henrico County

Dr. Saumil V. Patel
Bon Secours Cardiology Associates
Suffolk

Dr. Mary Ann Peberdy
VCU Health System
Richmond

Dr. Richard P. Perrin
VHC Health Physicians – Cardiology Arlington
Arlington County

Dr. Ajay Pillai
VCU Health Pauley Heart Center
Richmond

Dr. Patricia F. Rodriguez-Lozano
UVA Health Heart and Vascular Center Fontaine
Charlottesville

Dr. Marc J. Rosenberg
Bon Secours Cardiovascular Specialists
Suffolk

Dr. Vipal K. Sabharwal
Bon Secours – Cardiology Reynolds Crossing
Henrico County

Dr. Matthew Sackett Sr.
Centra Medical Group Heart & Vascular Institute Lynchburg
Lynchburg

Dr. Aaron Schatz
Mary Washington Cardiology
Fredericksburg

Dr. Daniel A. Schneider
Virginia Cardiovascular Specialists – Bell Creek Medical Park
Mechanicsville

Dr. Ryan N. Seutter
Bon Secours Cardiology Associates
Suffolk

Dr. Keyur B. Shah
VCU Health Pauley Heart Center
Richmond

Dr. Sangeeta Shah
VCU Health System
Richmond

Dr. Jose Silva
Centra Medical Group Heart & Vascular Institute Lynchburg
Lynchburg

Dr. Melissa C. Smallfield
VCU Health Pauley Heart Center
Richmond

Dr. Frank R. Snow
Cardiology Associates of Fredericksburg
Fredericksburg

Dr. Mrugesh Soni
TPMG Heart and Vascular Center
Newport News

Dr. Joseph Sposato
Cardiovascular Associates
Chesapeake

Dr. Deepak R. Talreja
Sentara Cardiology Specialists
Norfolk

Dr. Deepak P. Thomas
VCU Health Pauley Heart Center
Colonial Heights

Dr. Eric M. Thorn
VHC Health Physicians – Cardiology
Arlington County

Dr. Cory Ross Trankle
VCU Health Pauley Heart Center
Richmond

Dr. Jeremy Turlington
VCU Health Pauley Heart Center
Richmond

Dr. Anh D. Vu
Cardiology Associates of Fredericksburg
Fredericksburg

Dr. Timothy R. Williams
Cardiovascular Associates of Charlottesville
Charlottesville

Dr. Samuel S. Wu
Bon Secours – Cardiology Reynolds Crossing
Henrico County

Click here to return back to the Virginia’s Top Doctors directory

Virginia’s Top Doctors 2026: Dermatology

Dr. Raj Agarwal
Dermatology Associates of Virginia
Richmond

Dr. Robert S. Baer
Pariser Dermatology Specialists
Suffolk

Dr. Brittony Blakey
Elevate Dermatology & Plastic Surgery
Henrico County

Dr. Lawrence E. Blanchard III
Dermatology Associates of Virginia
Richmond

Dr. Sara Braswell
Virginia Care Partners
Glen Allen

Dr. Rachel Byrd
Pariser Dermatology Specialists
Chesapeake

Dr. Shields Callahan
Absolute Dermatology & Skin Cancer Center
Henrico County

Dr. Nikoo Cheraghi
Dermatology Associates of Virginia
Mechanicsville

Dr. William Gillen
Absolute Dermatology & Skin Cancer Center
Chesterfield County

Dr. Victoria Lynn Gross
Richmond Dermatology
Richmond

Dr. Justin Haught
VCU Health System
Richmond

Dr. Donna Hepper
Elevate Dermatology & Plastic Surgery
Henrico County

Dr. Adam Martin
Martin Dermatology
Richmond

Dr. Patricia O’Connor
Absolute Dermatology & Skin Cancer Center
Chesterfield County

Dr. Julia K. Padgett
Dermatology Associates of Virginia
Richmond

Dr. Suzanne K. Peck
Richmond Dermatology
Richmond

Dr. Jennifer Ragi
Peninsula Dermatology Skin Cancer Surgery Center
Newport News

Dr. Christine Schulz Rausch
Elevate Dermatology and Plastic Surgery
Henrico County

Dr. Arturo Saavedra
VCU Health System
Richmond

Dr. Matthew Sage
Commonwealth Dermatology
Richmond

Dr. Kimberly S. Salkey
VCU Health System
Richmond

Dr. Georgia K. Seely
Dermatology Associates of Virginia
Richmond

Dr. Sofia M. Shea
Richmond VA Medical Center
Richmond

Dr. Suzanne G. Spadafora
Dermatology Associates of Virginia
Richmond

Dr. Matthew M. Wallace
Richmond Dermatology
Glen Allen

Dr. Diem Wu
Elevate Dermatology & Plastic Surgery
Henrico County

Click here to return back to the Virginia’s Top Doctors directory

2025 In-House Counsel Awards: Jason O. Houser

Number of years with firm: 20

Law school: University of Richmond School of Law (2002)

Legal leadership: Since joining Riverside Health, our legal team has played a crucial role in supporting the company’s strategic expansion. We facilitated the development of three hospitals in our market — Williamsburg, Onancock and Smithfield, which will open in January 2026. In 2023, our legal team successfully negotiated a strategic affiliation between Riverside Health and UVA Health.

Pro bono work/community or civil involvement: I am on the board of directors for the United Way of the Virginia Peninsula and have previously served on boards including the Peninsula Fine Arts Center, Christopher Newport University Education Foundation and the Virginia Hospital. I have also served on the board of governors for the Health Law Section of the Virginia State Bar and am past president of the Olde Port Cove Homeowners Association.

On my identity/background: I am a first-generation college graduate and first-generation lawyer. After completing my undergraduate degree, I worked as an administrative intern at Riverside, which introduced me to health care despite initially not considering it a career path. I encourage students to explore health care as a career field, as it offers opportunities across all interests and backgrounds.

Most pressing issue that IHCs face: The health care industry faces significant challenges from reduced federal spending on Medicaid and ACA marketplaces — approximately 1 trillion dollars over the next decade. This will intensify cost control pressures on in-house counsel, requiring us to do more with less while utilizing technology and navigating an increasingly complex regulatory environment.

Virginia’s Top Doctors 2026: Adolescent Medicine

Dr. Richard R. Brookman
Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU
Richmond

Dr. Kyzwana Caves
Children’s Specialty Group
Norfolk

Dr. Stephanie Crewe
Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU
Richmond

Dr. Susan H. Gray
UVA Health Pediatrics
Charlottesville

Dr. An Pham
Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU
Richmond

Dr. Julia F. Taylor
UVA Health Pediatrics
Charlottesville

Click here to return back to the Virginia’s Top Doctors directory

Directory of medical schools in Virginia

PRIVATE COLLEGES & UNIVERSITIES

EDWARD VIA COLLEGE OF OSTEOPATHIC MEDICINE
Blacksburg
vcom.edu

Programs: Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) degree, Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree with Research Distinction, a master’s in biomedical sciences, ONMM3 Residency and sports medicine fellowships

Since its founding in 2001, the Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine (VCOM) has been committed to addressing the nation’s growing physician shortage and preparing globally minded, community-focused physicians to serve rural and medically underserved communities. In VCOM’s family-like environment, students learn to practice medicine with care and compassion.

Students at VCOM are immersed in an environment that blends empathy and understanding with clinical excellence. Through service-based learning, robust research opportunities, and meaningful mentorship, the college cultivates physicians who understand that community well-being is central to great medical care. With access to advanced educational resources and hands-on experiences, VCOM graduates emerge as well-rounded, purpose-driven physicians poised to make a lasting impact locally and around the world.

LIBERTY UNIVERSITY
College of Osteopathic Medicine
Lynchburg
liberty.edu/lucom

Programs: D.O. degree, osteopathic, neuro-musculoskeletal medicine residency; Center for Research

PUBLIC COLLEGES & UNIVERSITIES

(publicly supported, based in Virginia)

MACON & JOAN BROCK VIRGINIA HEALTH SCIENCES EASTERN VIRGINIA MEDICAL SCHOOL AT OLD DOMINION UNIVERSITY
Norfolk
odu.edu/vhs

Programs: M.D. and dual M.D. programs; master’s programs such as public health, physician assistant, nursing, surgical assisting, healthcare administration, dental hygiene, exercise science; doctoral programs such as biomedical sciences, reproductive clinical science, clinical psychology, health and medical science, physical and occupational therapy and kinesiology.

Macon & Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences at Old Dominion University represents the most comprehensive academic health sciences center in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Grounded in commitment to the communities it serves, Macon & Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences at Old Dominion University is developing a larger pipeline for health care professionals and leading the transformation of the health and economy of Hampton Roads and beyond. For more than 50 years, the medical school has held an honored position as both a school of medicine founded by a community-led grassroots effort and as a pioneer in medical innovation, including research that led to the birth of the country’s first baby conceived through in vitro fertilization. Old Dominion University is Virginia’s forward-focused public doctoral research university with approximately 24,000 students — a top R1 research institution recognized nationally for academic excellence, social mobility and access.

UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA
School of Medicine
Charlottesville
med.virginia.edu

Programs: In addition to M.D.s, students can earn Ph.D.s and master’s degrees. Ph.D. students can pursue studies in fields including biochemistry and molecular genetics, cell biology and experimental pathology. Students earning a M.D. degree can earn combined degrees. U.Va. also provides training to residents and fellows in specialties such as internal medicine, emergency medicine and otolaryngology.

VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIVERSITY
School of Medicine
Richmond
medschool.vcu.edu

Programs: M.D. program; master’s degrees including addiction studies; neuroscience and anatomy, biochemistry and genetic counseling; doctorate programs including biochemistry, human genetics and neuroscience. Students earning a M.D. degree can earn dual degrees, including a combined M.D. and a doctorate of science. VCU’s Graduate Medical Education Program oversees more than 750 trainees.

VIRGINIA TECH
Carilion School of Medicine
Roanoke
medicine.vtc.vt.edu

Programs: In addition to a doctor of medicine degree, students can earn dual degrees. Opportunities include pairing an M.D. with a MBA and a Master of Public Health. Offers residencies and fellowships in a number of specialties including dermatology and pediatrics.