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At University Medical Center, our leadership team has been proactive in its efforts to combat workplace violence, working to ensure the appropriate resources and processes are in place to prevent and respond to violent events. The recent addition of a dedicated Workplace Violence Prevention Coordinator further affirms University Medical Center’s commitment to ensuring the safety and well-being of our employees, patients, and visitors. 

“The creation of this new position is an indication that University Medical Center is invested in making sure that everyone is in a safe environment, and the resources needed to prevent and recover from violent events are readily available. We want to be sure our healthcare workers realize that their safety is also our number one priority,” says Emily Schacht Shabani, who stepped into this new role in September.

Learn more about Shabani’s career experience and her goals for shaping the future of our workplace violence prevention efforts in the Q&A below.

What is your professional background?

I began my career at Western State Hospital and later with the department of corrections as a substance use counselor. From there, I transitioned to the Community Services Board, where I worked with individuals experiencing severe mental illness and homelessness. Through these experiences, I witnessed firsthand how deeply workplace violence impacts those on the frontlines. The realization inspired me to be part of the solution. I pursued a masters degree in organizational psychology to better understand how to drive meaningful changes within organizations. Shortly after completing my degree, I came across this opportunity at UVA Health. I have always admired UVA’s mission and values, and this role felt like the perfect alignment with my passion for creating safer, more supportive work environments.

What will be your primary responsibilities as Workplace Violence Prevention Coordinator?

My primary responsibility will be to identify, prevent, and respond to incidents of workplace violence across UVA Health. A key focus will be ensuring that we learn from every incident and use those insights to strengthen our systems and culture of safety. I’ll be working collaboratively with partners across security, threat assessment, behavioral health, and nursing leadership to review processes following reported events, identify opportunities for improvement, and implement strategies to help prevent future occurrences. In addition, I’ll be dedicated to supporting our team members by providing post-incident resources, connecting them with trauma-informed care, and offering training that empowers them to feel safe and supported at work.

What are some of the most common challenges healthcare workers face related to workplace violence?

That’s a great question, and one that’s at the heart of many workplace violence prevention programs in healthcare. Healthcare workers frequently encounter verbal abuse, threats, or physical aggression. An incident can involve visitors, patients, and peers due to factors such as stress, pain, confusion, or behavioral health crises. This can create ongoing anxiety and impact healthcare workers’ sense of safety at work.

What will be some of your key priorities as you get started in this new role?

One of my top priorities is to reduce workplace violence incidents through proactive prevention and process improvement. I plan to take a close look at current incidents and trends to identify what changes are needed — whether that means enhancing training, updating policies, or ensuring that staff understand how to accurately document and communicate what occurs. In these early stages, my focus will be on assessing our existing systems to determine where we can strengthen our approach and build a more preventative, learning-centered culture. As the program evolves, we’ll continue to adapt and expand our efforts to create a safer environment for everyone.

How will you measure success?

I measure success by the impact of our work — when we see fewer incidents, stronger systems, and a workplace where team members feel safe and supported. Success isn’t just about the numbers; it’s also reflected in how confident staff feel in reporting, how well teams respond to incidents, and how supported people feel afterward. If our initiatives help foster a culture of safety, trust, and learning, then I consider that a true success.

How can our team members get involved in or support workplace violence prevention efforts?

The most important way team members can support workplace violence prevention is by preparing before an incident occurs and timely documentation post-incident. It’s essential to shift the mindset that violence is simply "part of the job." It isn’t, and it doesn’t have to be. Even incidents that may seem minor are important to report because that data helps us identify trends, update training, improve equipment, and refine policies. By documenting and reporting, team members play a direct role in creating a safer, more supportive workplace for everyone.

What is something personal about you that you’d like to share with your colleagues?

I love to go hiking, and I have two mini dachshunds, Otis and Zara, that take up a lot of my time when I’m not at work. I graduated with my bachelor’s in psychology from James Madison University and received my master’s in industrial-organizational psychology from Walden University.