3.3.2025
Bringing Warmth and Comfort to Dozens of Pediatric Patients
3.3.2025
UVA Health Update | March 3, 2025
Update From President Ryan and Dr. Rosner
Dear UVA Health Team Members,
In the spirit of transparency, and related to the completion of the recent investigation by outside counsel, I am sharing a communication that President Ryan sent to the School of Medicine faculty over the weekend.
Most sincerely,
Mitchell H. Rosner, MD, MACP
Acting EVP for Health Affairs, University of Virginia
Henry B. Mulholland Professor of Medicine
Patient Care
New Charlottesville-Based Mobile Mammography Unit
The UVA Health Breast Care Center and the Department of Radiology and Medical Imaging received a new mobile mammography unit. It screened its first patients Feb. 17. Highlights of the new unit:
- Offers patients a comfortable experience as well as cutting-edge, 3D mammography technology.
- The new, state-of-the-art 3D mammography system is the same one in place at UVA Health’s permanent mammography locations. That means our mobile mammography patients experience the exact same imaging quality and comfort as our other patients.
- Smaller (by 11 feet!), allowing it to reach patients the previous unit couldn’t, thus expanding access to UVA Health’s world-class care to more people in our communities.
- All mammograms are read by UVA Health’s subspecialty-trained breast imaging radiologists, who have the highest level of training and expertise possible in interpreting breast images.
Learn more and view the mobile unit’s regular central Virginia screening locations.
Medical Care During Ramadan
Ramadan began on the evening of Friday, Feb. 28, and ends at sundown on Sunday, March 29. One of the fundamental principles in observing this holy month for followers of Islam is fasting during daylight, which includes not taking oral medications. Please be aware of this custom and ask patients if they will be observing Ramadan. If so, it would be prudent to discuss a medication plan with them to ensure optimal medical care while they observe this holy month. Read more on Connect.
Update to Epic Health Maintenance Plan for Patients With Type 2 Diabetes
On Tuesday, March 4, the Epic Health Maintenance plan for diabetes mellitus will be updated to include all diabetic (Type 2) patients who receive their primary care at UVA Health as well as patients on the Accountable Care Organization registry or on one of our value-based care registries. This health maintenance plan offers provider and patient reminders and tracking for things like Hemoglobin A1C, eye exam, foot exam, etc. — helping more of our diabetic patients get the care they need.
Operations
Monthly Update: Clinical and Operational Documents
Having a working knowledge of policies and other clinical and operational documents relevant to your role and responsibilities at University Medical Center supports quality patient care and regulatory compliance. Learn What’s New in Clinical and Operational Documents. This month’s highlights include:
- New Vasopressor Administration Through Peripheral Intravenous Catheters Guideline
- Updates to Perioperative Antithrombotic Therapy Management Guideline, and many more.
Questions? Email PolicyTechAdmin@uvahealth.org.
Human Resources
Benefits Wednesday: Meet a Counselor
Wednesday, March 5 | 7 a.m.-3 p.m. | University Medical Center Dining Conference Room 3 | Ask questions and discuss your benefits with a Human Resources counselor. Walk-ins welcome. See monthly dates.
Happenings
3 UVA Health Discoveries Up for 2024’s Biggest Scientific Advance
For the seventh year in a row, major medical discoveries from UVA Health have been selected to compete for the title of the preceding year’s most important scientific advance.
The public’s vote ultimately will crown the winner in the online contest, called STAT Madness. The bracket-style tournament is sponsored each year by the prominent health news site STAT to highlight the nation’s most important and influential scientific research.
Voting opened this morning, and you can (and should!) vote daily here.
STAT Madness operates like the NCAA basketball tournament, with contenders facing off in rounds until there are only two finalists and, ultimately, one big winner. Read more on Connect.
Innovation in Education Week
March 3-7 | This annual event serves as an opportunity to celebrate original scholarship produced by members of the UVA School of medicine community, provide networking opportunities, and welcome accomplished internal and external scholars who will provide professional development through keynote presentations. Hosted by the Center for Excellence in Education. See the full lineup of events.
Blood Drive: Your Donation Is Needed Urgently
Tuesday, March 4 | 10 a.m.-4 p.m. | Battle Building, Quayle Center, first floor | Recent winter weather caused many blood donation cancelations. As such, our blood supply has dropped to critical levels. Please consider donating! Help save lives and empower your health. Contact Sharon Jones at GiveBlood@uvahealth.org to make an appointment. Swag alert: give in March and you’ll receive a $10 Amazon gift card. Additionally, Red Cross is offering free A1C testing for all who successfully donate blood, platelets, or plasma. Details.
Ash Wednesday Services
Wednesday, March 5 | noon-12:30 p.m. | University Hospital Chapel | Catholic Service provided by St. Thomas Aquinas Church. For those who wish to receive ashes but are unable to attend services, a Catholic priest from St. Thomas Aquinas Church and members of the UVA Health Chaplaincy staff will be available to distribute ashes after the services. To request a visit from the priest or a chaplain, please page the on-call chaplain at PIC# 1391 (or “Chaplain” in Vocera).
ECHO: Neonatal Opioid Withdrawal Syndrome UVA 2025
This ECHO (Extension for Community Health Outcomes) is designed for providers and community members who care or support care for pregnant and parenting patients and newborns with or at risk for opioid use disorder. All sessions below are from 4 to 5 p.m. Register.
- Wednesday, March 5 | NOWS Research, Predictive Analytics, Scoring, and the Future
- Wednesday, March 12 | Postpartum Depression: NOWS and SUD
Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month
- Friday, March 7 | 8 a.m.-4 p.m. | Inflatable Colon in University Hospital Cafeteria | Team members, patients, and visitors can walk through the colon and talk to the team about colorectal cancer screening.
- March 7-9 | South Tower Lighting | The South Tower will be lighted blue over the weekend in honor of Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month.
Physicians and APPs: Get a New Provider Directory Headshot
McKim Hall | Ground Floor, Room G045 | No appointment necessary. Bring a white coat if you have one; if not, one will be provided. Photos taken in 10 minutes or less on:
- Friday, March 7 | 8:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m.
- Tuesday, March 11 | 11 a.m.-2 p.m.
- Wednesday, March 19 | 8-11 a.m.
- Thursday, March 27 | 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
- Monday, March 31 | 11 a.m.-2 p.m.
Women’s History Month
March is Women's History Month and International Women's Day is March 8.
- Opening Celebration: Women Educating and Inspiring Generations | Friday, March 7 | noon-1 p.m. | Pinn Hall, G1/G2 | Registration Required | Join UVA Health Office of Diversity and Community Engagement (ODCE) for a luncheon featuring keynote speaker Nassima Tiouririne, MD, Addiction Medicine Fellowship Director; Associate Director, Psychiatry Residency Program; Director, Center for Leading-Edge Addiction Research (CLEAR) Outpatient Psychiatry Services; and Medical Director, Ambulatory Psychiatry and Office-Based Opioid Treatment.
- My Voice, My Story Featuring Toiya Sosa, ECDHE, NDCCDP, MLS, MBA | Monday, March 10 | noon-1 p.m. | Registration Required to Receive Zoom Link | The Associate Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer of Riverside Health System, Newport News, Virginia, shares her journey using storytelling, significant mileposts, new learnings, and recommended best practices and benchmarks. This series spotlights a leading expert — outside UVA Health — in healthcare, mental health, restorative justice, or diversity, equity, and inclusion.
- UVA Health Storytellers Featuring Ashley Woodard, Ed.D. | Monday, March 17 | noon-1 p.m. | Pinn Hall 1005 and Zoom | Registration Required for On-site or to Receive Zoom Link | The Director of Diversity Programs and Strategic Partnerships, UVA School of Medicine Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, shares her academic and career journey via storytelling, significant mileposts, new learnings, and recommendations for positive individual, team, and institutional growth. This series spotlights a leading expert — inside UVA Health — in healthcare, mental health, restorative justice, or diversity, equity, and inclusion.
- University Medical Center Historical Tour | Friday, March 21 | 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. | Meet in front of West Complex, off University Avenue and Hospital Drive | Registration Required | Melody M. Pannell, DMin., MSW, M.Div., MACE, GC, Director, ODCE, leads this tour and discusses the history of race at UVA Health, 1901-1964 and beyond, particularly concerning policies that affected Black women throughout the community in Charlottesville. Sponsored by UVA Health ODCE.
Read more on Connect.
Team Member Art Day
Friday, March 7 | 1-3 p.m. | Dining Conference Rooms 1, 2, and 3 | Drop in for a creative break in your day. All art supplies will be provided. Hosted by The Fralin Museum of Art at UVA and UVA Health. Free for all UVA Health team members.
Staff Appreciation Breakfast
Tuesday, March 11 | 7- 9 a.m. | Newcomb Hall, 2nd floor | Breakfast will be catered by the Fresh Food Company. Pancakes, sausage, bacon, eggs, oatmeal from the Hoos Well oatmeal bar, and fruit will be served. Vegan and gluten-free options available upon request. Free parking at Central Grounds Parking Garage. A shuttle for UVA Health team members will stop at Lane Road (near University Hospital loading dock) at 7, 7:30, 8, and 8:30 a.m. Look for the UVA bus displaying Staff Appreciation Breakfast messaging. Questions? Email AskHR@virginia.edu with the subject line "Staff Appreciation Breakfast."
Elevate Your Nursing With a UVA Graduate Degree
UVA School of Nursing is Virginia’s top-ranked program and offers a multitude of programs and pathways for nurses interested in advancing their education and professional trajectory. Choose from the newly reformatted hybrid BSN to DNP program, which offers students a choice of one of eight specialty areas, to the school’s five specialty master’s programs and six post-master’s specialty programs. With programs designed for working nurses, many of which require minimal time on Grounds, our graduates earn more, rise faster, and reap the rewards a graduate nursing degree brings. With flexible schedules, affordable programs, and more than $4 million in financial aid distributed every year, there’s never been a better time to consider becoming an advanced practice nurse and supercharging your career. Join to learn more.
Information Session: RN to BSN
Wednesday, March 12 | 6-7 p.m. | RSVP | Earn a BSN on your terms! UVA’s top-ranked RN to BSN program offers a part-time, hybrid, two-year pathway for RNs interested in the personal, professional, and financial benefits a BSN brings. In-person classes take place once a month across three sites: Charlottesville, Richmond, and Fairfax. Virtual info sessions offer prospective RN to BSN students a chance to chat with friendly students, faculty, and admissions staffers to learn about a degree that opens doors. Join to learn more.
ECHO: The 5 Ms of Obesity Management
This series aims to enhance clinician competence in obesity management by offering expert-led sessions across essential domains, fostering better patient outcomes through interdisciplinary learning and collaboration. All sessions are noon-1 p.m. Register.
- Thursday, March 13 | Meals: From Fast Food to Fit — How Smart Meals Can Fight Obesity
- Thursday, March 27 | Move: Move More, Weigh Less — How Exercise Combats Obesity
- Thursday, April 10 | Mind: Mind Over Matter — How Mental Health Impacts Obesity
- Thursday, April 24 | Medications: From Struggle to Solutions — Can New Medications End the Obesity Epidemic?
- Thursday, May 8 | Metabolic Surgery: The Surgical Fix? Understanding Metabolic Surgery for Weight Loss
New Earn While You Learn Advanced Program Opportunity: Cardiac and Vascular Sonography
Earn While You Learn (EWYL) has announced new programs for Adult Cardiac (Echo) Sonography and Adult Vascular Sonography, starting August 2025. A limited number of positions are available to University Medical Center employees for this year-long training program. Please refer to the EWYL website for program requirements. Participant selection will occur in April for the program starting in August. For consideration, please contact the EWYL team by March 14. Questions? Email earnwhileyoulearn@uvahealth.org.
YOU@UVA Leadership Program
Application deadline: Thursday, April 10 | This six-month dynamic professional development initiative is aimed at fostering leadership, mentorship, and research excellence across UVA’s diverse academic and clinical landscape. This program is specifically tailored for faculty, trainees, and clinical research professional staff, equipping them with the skills and networks to thrive in leadership roles while driving impactful research. Kickoff lunch is April 22. Learn more. Apply. Questions? Contact Jennifer Phillips RN, CCRC.
3rd Annual UVA Health Interdisciplinary Quality Improvement/Patient Safety (QI/PS) Showcase
Tuesday, June 10 | 11:30-1:30 p.m. | Education Resource Center, Room A | Recognizing local improvements in QI/PS from all disciplines. Any UVA faculty member, staff member, fellow resident, postdoc, graduate student, or medical student who has engaged in implementation and assessment of a QI/PS project is eligible to download and submit a form and abstract by 11:59 p.m., April 14, to QIPSshowcase@uvahealth.org. Accepting works in progress and QI/PS projects. Authors of abstracts selected for presentation will be notified by May 1.
Appreciation
‘Amazing Clinicians’
Congratulations to the UVA Health APP Fellowship Program on earning "Accreditation with Distinction" from the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) Practice Transition Accreditation Program (PTAP).
“This is the highest level of accreditation that can be achieved for a fellowship program,” says William Lombardi, DNP, AG-ACNP, Administrator, UVA Health Center for Advanced Practice, and Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, Neurocritical Care. “We join just a handful of organizations around the country that have earned this credential, which reflects the quality of the program curriculum and the caliber of the people who’ve made it a success.”
Lombardi hails Michelle Dawson, MSN, AG-ACNP, Director, APP Education and Fellowships and Thoracic and Cardiovascular ICU Nurse Practitioner, as being foundational to this work since its inception. The first cohort of critical care APP fellows started in 2020. The neurology track launched in 2022 and has been embraced by the Department of Neurology, proving the interprofessional collaboration needed to make it a success. We have retained all fellow graduates in the neurology track. The most recent program track for primary care launched this year.
Dawson has been “a driver of success” in each of these tracks, ensuring they all meet rigorous programmatic standards addressing clinical knowledge, professionalism, knowledge inquiry, and technical skills. Faculty includes Matt Robertson, MSN, ACNP, and McKenzie Chic, MSN, AG-ACNP, critical care; Alex King, MSN, AG-PCNP; Keri Johnson, MSN, FNP; Jennifer Schach, MSN, AG-ACNP, neurology; and Kim Bednar, DNP, FNP, Caitlin Burchfield, DNP, AG-PCNP, and Kristen Weldon, PA, primary care.
Lombardi also thanks lecturers, skills lab leaders, advisors, preceptors, and program supporters. “I’m excited to see the continued growth of this program and the amazing clinicians it will produce. Congratulations to all on this remarkable achievement!”
