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The first UVA Health Leadership Institute (HLI) Landin Family Nursing Summit, held at Newcomb Hall Ballroom on Grounds,  brought together about 60 nursing leaders from all four UVA Health medical centers — University, Culpeper, Haymarket, and Prince William — and from UVA School of Nursing, thanks to the generosity of the Susan and David Landin UVA Health Leadership Institute Nursing Endowment Fund.  

The Landins are UVA alumni: attorney David (above, left), UVA Health Foundation Board Vice Chair, and nurse Susan (above, right) who worked at UVA Health, served as past President of the UVA School of Nursing Alumni Association, and is a UVA Health Foundation Board Emeritus Trustee and a UVA Comprehensive Cancer Center Advisory Board Member. 

‘Incredible Time to Be in Nursing’ 

“The 2026 summit gave nurse leaders from across all UVA entities a unique opportunity to learn together, collaborate, and innovate to advance nursing practice across all of UVA Health," says Kathy Baker, PhD, RN, NE-BC, FAAN, Chief Nursing Officer, UVA Health University Medical Center and Associate Dean, Clinical Affairs, UVA School of Nursing (right). “It was remarkable to watch the engagement and alignment amongst so many nurse leaders and a gift to be part of such a great event!”  

“This marked the first time nursing leadership teams from UVA Health, UVA School of Nursing, and UVA Community Health came together in a shared leadership forum, creating an important opportunity to reflect on our mission and the future of nursing across UVA Health,” says Marianne Baernholdt, PhD, MPH, RN, FAAN, Dean, UVA School of Nursing and UVA Health Professional Nursing (speaking, left). “I left energized by what we can accomplish together and excited for the next chapter of nursing leadership!” 

“This summit left me feeling inspired and confident in where we are heading as a nursing team,” says Michelle Strider, MBA, RN, CPHQ, Chief Nursing Officer, UVA Health community medical centers and clinics in northern Virginia and Culpeper (right). “The collaboration across the different organizations was palpable. It’s a truly incredible time to be in nursing — where the focus is on growth, innovation, and building ownership of our profession. I am honored and humbled to be part of an organization that puts so much value in the work that we do.” 

Full Slate 

The day began with a breakfast and networking, followed by welcome and opening remarks from David Landin; Brian Hunter, MHA, Executive Director, HLI (above, left); and C. Mike Valentine, MD, MACC, Senior Director, HLI, and Chair, UVA Health Heart and Vascular (above, right). 

"It was a real honor to work with the Landins on the first UVA Health Leadership Institute Landin Family Nursing Leadership Summit,” says Dr. Valentine. “Both have been inspiring leaders in their fields: law, nursing, and community engagement. They remain very involved in so many valuable projects and support emerging leaders by example and through mentorship and philanthropy." 

Delivering the keynote on “Transforming Relationships for High Performance at UVA Health”: Jody Hoffer Gittell, PhD — Professor and PhD Program Director, Brandeis University Heller School; Founder and Director, Relational Coordination Collaborative; and CEO, Relational Coordination Analytics (right). She addressed challenges in healthcare, and at UVA Health: What is the impact of “relational coordination” within health systems and with external partners? What is the role of “relational leaders”? 

Then Gittell led a workshop on “A Relational Model of Change: Getting from Here to There.” “UVA Health nursing leaders are developing relational coordination among themselves, so then they can build it with other key partners across the health system to increase quality, safety, and wellbeing while increasing efficiency. They’veselected medication safety as an initial area of improvement. Now, you’ll identify three other areas that also could benefit from greater relational coordination,” she told attendees.  

That was followed by a lunch and a panel discussion featuring Jordan Rosen, MD, Chief of Adult Psychiatry Services, UVA Health University Medical Center; Amy Emkes, LCSW, Manager of Behavioral Health Operations, UVA Health community medical centers and clinics in northern Virginia and Culpeper; and Jennifer Strickland, LPC, LSATP, Behavioral Health Supervisor, UVA Health Prince William Medical Center. Dr. Rosen, Emkes, and Strickland — alumni of the HLI Team Member Cohort Program — shared their experience collaborating on a capstone project that brought together expertise from UVA Health University Medical Center and UVA Community Health, leveraging the collective strengths of both entities in an effort to expand behavioral health services.  

‘Drawing on Collective Strengths’ 

The next activity involved nursing leaders from across UVA Health: Baker, Baernholdt, Strider, Tracye Proffitt, PhD, RN, Senior Director, Nurse Scientist; and Jennifer “JT” Hall, MSN, RN, CNL, Director, UVA Health University Medical Center Nursing Professional Practice, Magnet Recognition Programs (right; second from left). They led small group discussions on “Advancing New Knowledge, Innovation, and Improvements Across UVA Health Nursing.” 

“It’s energizing to brainstorm strategies for advancing new knowledge, innovation, and improvements,” describes Proffitt. “The conversation sparked thoughtful ideas and real enthusiasm for drawing on collective strengths.”  

“The opportunity to network with nurse leaders from across the system is wonderful!” hails Hall. “It provides the opportunity to create synergy, share learnings, and support each other.”  

Then Lynn Seth, MPH, MA, Senior Consultant, Inspire Corps (right), who previously held roles at companies including Johnson & Johnson and Novartis, led an interactive presentation on “Fuel the Future: Leading Through Change.”  

Hunter and Dr. Valentine returned for closing remarks and reflections on the event, which was followed by a reception. 

“We are deeply grateful to the Landin Family for their vision and extraordinary generosity,” says Hunter. “Their commitment to advancing nursing leadership will benefit patients, families, and our communities for years to come. We are also extremely grateful for the partnership of Kathy, Marianne, Michelle, and UVA Health University Medical Center Associate Chief Nursing Officer Veronica Brill, MSN, RN, NEA-BC, [left] in helping us plan this special day and for their dedication to ensuring UVA Health nurses have the time and opportunity to engage in leadership development.” 

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