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This monthly community newsletter from Dr. Mitchell Rosner, interim Executive Vice President for Health Affairs, highlights how UVA Health serves our patients and the community. To stay up to date on operations, clinical services, and research efforts featured in UVA Health Community Update, subscribe here.

Dear Friends of UVA Health,

As we close out the year, I want to share an abbreviated edition of Community Update, in which you’ll find selected highlights that point to the momentum we’re carrying into the year ahead. UVA Health is here to serve our community, and we value your engagement and feedback. We are committed to continual improvement. As we head into the new year, I want to thank you for your comments and feedback and encourage you to reach out anytime.

News Feature

Expanded UVA Medical Park Zion Crossroads Increases Access to Primary and Specialty Care

I’m excited to share that UVA Health has opened an expanded UVA Medical Park Zion Crossroads, increasing access to primary and specialty care for Central Virginia residents and adding an estimated 50,000 additional appointment slots each year. The new space includes 30 exam and consult rooms, a laboratory suite, and expanded clinical services. In addition to newly added adult allergy and inflammatory bowel disease care, services at Zion Crossroads include imaging, pharmacy, labs, dermatology, pediatric allergy, women’s health, and more. At a time when timely access to care remains a challenge for many families, this expansion makes it easier for patients to receive the care they need.

Other News

Supporting One Another Through Grief During the Holidays

The holiday season can be especially difficult for people who are grieving a loss. This month, Kim Penberthy, PhD, a clinical psychologist and professor in the UVA School of Medicine, has shared compassionate and practical guidance for navigating these feelings.  Grief often surfaces during the holiday — sometimes unexpectedly — and her advice can help people navigate those moments. If anyone reading this is experiencing loss, I wish you strength and comfort in the days ahead. Some of Dr. Penberthy’s recommendations for getting through this season include:

• Setting realistic expectations and giving yourself grace
• Allowing traditions to change in ways that honor both loss and healing  
• Being mindful of coping strategies that may actually worsen grief, including alcohol use, suppressing grief, or isolating yourself
• Reaching out for support — and checking in on others who may be struggling

NICU Team Brings Holiday Joy to Families at UVA Health Children’s

I was grateful to spend time in our Newborn Intensive Care Unit (NICU) during a recent visit from Santa, Mrs. Claus, and their helpers, to UVA Health Children’s. Our NICU team goes above and beyond to coordinate photoshoots with Santa, and moments like this bring joy to families during what can be an incredibly difficult time. I’m thankful for the care and thoughtfulness they show our smallest patients and their loved ones — and I’m grateful Santa was able to fit us into his busy schedule! Watch our short behind-the-scenes video of Santa's visit. 

Research Highlight: Researchers Identify New Cause of Obesity-Related High Blood Pressure

• Who: UVA School of Medicine researchers led by Swapnil Sonkusare, PhD
• Focus: Understanding how obesity contributes to high blood pressure 
• Discovery: Researchers identified a previously unknown mechanism in which obesity triggers inflammatory signals within small blood vessels, disrupting normal blood flow regulation and driving up blood pressure. 
• Why it matters: High blood pressure affects millions of people living with obesity, and this discovery opens the door to more targeted therapies that could better control blood pressure and reduce long-term health risks.
• Learn more: The findings were published in Circulation Research. Read more about the discovery and its potential impact in UVA Health Newsroom. 

In Closing

On one final note, I wanted to share a short video we distributed internally featuring people throughout UVA Health sharing what gives them hope at this time of year. I wish you good health in the months ahead and hope this season brings time to rest and connect with those who matter most.

Mitch

Mitchell H. Rosner, MD, MACP, FRCP
Chief Executive Officer, UVA Health
Executive Vice President for Health Affairs, University of Virginia
Henry B. Mulholland Professor of Medicine