Patients Come First

This episode of VHHA’s Patients Come First podcast features a conversation with Melissa Little, PhD, Director of the Center for Nicotine and Tobacco Research at the UVA School of Medicine. She joins us for a conversation about her work, attitudes towards smoking among Gen Z, how those trends may inform tobacco prevention efforts, and more. Send questions, comments, feedback, or guest suggestions to pcfpodcast@vhha.com or cont...

This episode of VHHA’s Patients Come First podcast features a conversation with Dr. Robert Hong, a physician with VHC Health, about emerging trends in rheumatologic care, advancements in treatment and diagnostics, and how evolving therapies improve outcomes for patients with chronic joint disease. Send questions, comments, feedback, or guest suggestions to pcfpodcast@vhha.com or contact us on X (Twitter) or Instagram using th...

This episode of VHHA’s Patients Come First podcast features a conversation with Valley Health President and CEO Mark Nantz that covers how the health system recently won prestigious recognition as one of the top 15 systems in the nation, reflections on his tenure as VHHA Board Chair, how Valley is adapting to coming health policy and funding changes in H.R. 1, and more. Send questions, comments, feedback, or guest suggestions...

This episode of VHHA’s Patients Come First podcast features Terry Thompson, an acute care nurse practitioner who serves as Senior Director of Advanced Practice Providers and Director of RMG Fellowships at Riverside Health. She joins us for a conversation about her professional journey, the role of advanced practice providers on clinical care teams, the work of a Riverside fellowship program to enhance patient care, and more. ...

This episode of VHHA’s Patients Come First podcast features Dr. Surbhi Bansal, a glaucoma specialist at VCU Health, who joins us for a conversation about her professional journey as well as the process of becoming an author and working on her recently published novel: “Do Not Follow." Send questions, comments, feedback, or guest suggestions to pcfpodcast@vhha.com or contact us on X (Twitter) or Instagram using the #Pati...

This episode of VHHA’s Patients Come First podcast features Dr. Amir Eslami, an interventional cardiologist with Sentara RMH Medical Center, who joins us for a conversation about facing his own health challenges while caring for patients, the importance of vulnerability in medicine, taking practical steps towards better health, and the lessons of experience he’s gained as a physician and a person. Send questions, c...

This episode of VHHA’s Patients Come First podcast features Dr. William Lunn, President of HCA Healthcare Capital Division and the current Chair of the VHHA Board of Directors. Dr. Lunn joins us for a conversation about his professional journey, his thoughts on leadership and inspiration for working in healthcare, challenges and opportunities ahead due to shifting federal health policy, and more. Send questions, comments, fee...

This episode of VHHA’s Patients Come First podcast features Virginia State Health Commissioner Dr. B. Cameron Webb, who joins us for a conversation about his professional journey, his vision for public health in the Commonwealth as leader of the state health agency, challenges and opportunities ahead due to shifting federal health funding policy, and more. Send questions, comments, feedback, or guest suggestions to pcfpodcast...

This episode of VHHA’s Patients Come First podcast features Ed Markowski, Director of Threat Assessment at the University of Virginia, who joins us for a conversation about his work, the application of behavioral health threat assessment and management concepts to keep staff and patients safe, a FBI and AHA report on that topic, and more. Send questions, comments, feedback, or guest suggestions to pcfpodcast@vhha.com or conta...

This episode of VHHA’s Patients Come First podcast features Mary Morin, Chief Nursing Officer with Andor Health. Morin is an experienced hospital nursing leader who joins us for a conversation about her professional journey, the work of Andor Health, the applications for its ThinkAndor agentic AI platform as a healthcare solution, and more. Send questions, comments, feedback, or guest suggestions to pcfpodcast@vhha.com or con...

This episode of VHHA’s Patients Come First podcast features Dr. Cameron Roberts, DDS, Dental Director for the Augusta Regional Dental Clinic that provides oral healthcare to underserved individuals in the Shenandoah Valley, and a practitioner with Dental Health Associates. He joins us for a conversation about his personal and professional journey, family history with dentistry, the work of the clinic, the anticipated impact o...

This episode of VHHA’s Patients Come First podcast features Dr. Jane Russell, PharmD, MBA, FACHE, the President and Chief Executive Officer of Bath Community Hospital in Hot Springs, VA. She joins for a conversation about her professional journey, the work of Bath Community Hospital as a rural, critical access provider, and more. Send questions, comments, feedback, or guest suggestions to pcfpodcast@vhha.com or contact on X (...

This episode of VHHA’s Patients Come First podcast features Alyssa Leimberger, Magnet Program and Nursing Professional Practice Manager at Bon Secours St. Mary’s Hospital. She joins us for a conversation about her background, the importance of CPR, a holiday miracle where she helped to save a life, and more. Send questions, comments, feedback, or guest suggestions to pcfpodcast@vhha.com or contact on X (Twitter) or Inst...

This episode of VHHA’s Patients Come First podcast features Commissioner Daryl Washington, the recently appointed leader of the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (DBHDS). He joins us for a conversation about his career in community-based behavioral health, public demand for mental health and substance use treatment services, his vision for DBHDS, and more. Send questions, comments, feedb...

This episode of VHHA’s Patients Come First podcast features Lawrence "Larry" Tan, JD, NRP, the System Safety Officer at ChristianaCare Health Services in Delaware. He joins us for a conversation about his career in public safety and emergency response, facility and contingency planning in healthcare settings including workplace violence prevention, and his role as a featured speaker at the upcoming 2026 Virginia Healthcare Em...

This episode of VHHA’s Patients Come First podcast features Dr. Amita Sudhir, an emergency medicine physician at UVA Health and the inaugural director for global health training at the University of Virginia’s Center for Global Health Equity, where she’s helping build international clinical training opportunities for students and residents. Send questions, comments, feedback, or guest suggestions to pcfpodcast@vhh...