Connect

This is the latest installment in our Connect article series “Hope at Work” — showcasing inspiring stories about how our team members contribute to UVA Health’s 10-year strategic plan: “One Future Together Health and Hope for All.” No matter where you work, you have an opportunity to inspire hope in others. These stories show how:

This year marks a major milestone for UVA Health Culpeper Medical Center as it celebrates 65 years of service to the community. What began as a small town dream in the 1950s, has grown into a vital part of a nationally recognized academic health system — all while maintaining its goal of providing compassionate, high quality care close to home. 

A Dream Realized By Community Champions 

The roots of UVA Health Culpeper Medical Center stretch back to a vision led by a determined group of local women known as the Jaycettes. In the mid-1950s, inspired by new resident Mary Jane Glass — who remarked she’d never lived in a town without a hospital — the group, led by Betty Adair, launched a community-wide campaign.

Through grassroots fundraising efforts, they raised $500,000 and secured federal support to bring a hospital to Culpeper, Virginia.

On March 24, 1960, Culpeper Memorial Hospital opened its doors with just 40 beds and a dedicated team of 35. It marked the beginning of a new era in local healthcare — one rooted in community collaboration and driven by a deep commitment to healing. 

A Modern Medical Center Serving Today’s Needs 

Now operating as UVA Health Culpeper Medical Center, the hospital has grown into a 70-bed facility employing more than 600 team members. As part of the broader UVA Health system, the medical center offers state-of-the-art services that reflect our mission of transforming health and inspiring hope in four areas: clinical care, education, research, and community.

Key services now include:

• 24/7 emergency care 
• Advanced stroke and cardiac programs, including ED STEMI and Tele-Stroke
• Specialty care in heart and vascular medicine, urology, oncology, orthopedics, and more 
• Women’s health and maternity services 
• Outpatient imaging, interventional radiology, and diagnostic services 
• Physical, occupational, and speech therapy 
• Robotic-assisted surgery and outpatient surgical services  

Investments in recent years include cutting edge technology such as state-of-the-art linear accelerator for cancer care, leading-class robot for robotic-assisted surgeries, new aquablation procedure for urologic procedures, and expansion of orthopedic facilities.

Also, as the community continues to grow, so does the demand for primary care from pediatricians through whole family care. In response to the Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) — a vital tool that helps identify the region’s most pressing health concerns and guide decisions about services and resources — additional offices have opened including UVA Health Children’s Pediatrics Dominion and UVA Health Family Medicine and Same Day Care Dominion.

“As a member of the community, I am equally interested in these investments as part of our shared vision with UVA Health to be the nation’s leading public academic health system and to remain a trusted, accessible resource for families across the region,” says Donna Staton, Chief Operating Officer, UVA Health Culpeper Medical Center. 

Clinical Excellence

UVA Health Culpeper Medical Center’s team has been recognized nationally for outstanding patient safety, excellence in stroke and cardiac care, labor and delivery, and much more. Just a few of the achievements recognized are: 

• Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade ‘A’ for four consecutive periods 
• American Heart Association Get With The Guidelines®
• Resuscitation Bronze Pediatric 
• Resuscitation Bronze Adult 
• Resuscitation Target Survival 
• The Joint Commission Hospital Accreditation 
• The Joint Commission Total Hip and Total Knee Replacement, and Acute Stroke Ready care 
• Baby-Friendly USA designation 

These recognitions speak to the hospital’s unwavering commitment to clinical excellence, innovation, and quality improvement. 

Community Impact

That spirit of service extends beyond the hospital walls with leadership in volunteerism and valued community partnerships. Last year alone, the community engagement team at UVA Health Culpeper Medical Center team members participated in more than 75 events in the community, many long-standing such as CulpeperCon, CulpeperFest, Culpeper Pride, and Lights of Love, Oysterfest, Pamper Me Pink (pictured, right), to name a few  — a testament to its deep rooted partnerships and its role as a trusted health resource throughout the region. 

That same dedication to the community has been a defining part of the hospital’s history. Formed by the original hospital founders in 1958, the CRHS (Culpeper Regional Health System) Auxiliary — affectionately known as the “Pink Ladies” and “Blue Coats” — donated more than one million hours of service and raised millions of dollars to support patient care over the decades. While the original auxiliary has since concluded its service, a new generation of volunteers has stepped in. Formed in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, this revitalized volunteer program continues to grow and carry forward the tradition of community support.  

'Truly Feels Like Home'

A few, longtime, Culpeper Medical Center team members share their thoughts on the longevity of their UVA Health careers:

“As a member of this community, it’s especially meaningful to work at a hospital that has such a strong impact close to home. I truly enjoy working in healthcare — especially in surgical care, which I find incredibly rewarding. I’m proud to have been a part of this hospital for 49 years and to have witnessed its growth, especially as it continues to expand services for our community. Our team is friendly, caring, and highly skilled and I’m grateful to be part of such a supportive work family,” says Patricia Jenkins, Surgical Services Specialty Scheduler, Operating Room, Outpatient Surgical Care, Pre-anesthesia Evaluation and Testing Center (PET-C). 

“I first started as a half-time employee in a job share to transition back to work. It allowed me to move back into the workforce while raising small children. That was a big factor in my longevity — they care about work/life balance,” shares Sharon May, Coordinator, General Ledger and Financial Reporting. “My department is one of the smaller teams but has many long-term team members — they are my second family, and I could not imagine having different co-workers.” 

“Working here has always felt like home to me! What I’m most proud of in 35 years is the cherished relationships I’ve built with co-workers and seeing our hospital adapt and grow to the changes and the needs of the community. It’s never been just a job for me but an important part of my life. I’ve been in many different roles at UVA Health Culpeper Medical Center. I’ll always be grateful for the opportunities that I’ve been given," says Anita Morris, Payroll Specialist. 

Teresa Ford, R.T.(R)(M) (CT)(ARRT), Manager, Medical Imaging: “I've stayed for 34 years because this hospital truly feels like home. Working at a community hospital means I get to build long-term relationships with patients and team members. We’re not just treating conditions — we're caring for neighbors, friends, and families. The work is meaningful, and I see the impact we make every single day. I take great pride in the dedication and resiliency of the team. Patients aren’t just numbers — and that speaks to our culture of compassion and teamwork which makes it such a special place to work.” 

Marilynn Woodward, RN, Nursing Supervisor recalls, “I began as a pharmacy technician 26 years ago and continued my education to become a registered nurse. Every day, I have the privilege of being part of a team that puts patients first. I go home knowing the work we do directly improves lives. I remember charting on paper — now it is all electronic. We also would call doctors at home in the middle of the night for support — now we have doctors on staff 24/7 caring for patients. This hospital built my career. I bring my family here, we care for our neighbors, I have purpose, and I've found lifelong friends. I am proud to work here!"

Looking Ahead With Purpose 

UVA Health Culpeper Medical Center continues to prioritize team member support, commitment to patient safety, quality healthcare, and innovation in care delivery — all while staying focused on its core mission of putting patients at the center of everything it does. 

“It is not often enough that I have the opportunity to say thank you to our volunteers, team members, partners, and patients,” says Staton. “They are at the heart of this hospital and the reason we’ve been able to provide extraordinary care for 65 years — and counting. I am so very excited to see where we go next in delivering exemplary care to this wonderful community!” 

Here’s to 65 years of compassion, progress, and healing — and a future of even greater impact.