UVA Health Teams Join Celebration of a 'Significant Step Forward' — the Result of a 'Tremendous Collaboration'

10.1.2026

UVA Health Teams Join Celebration of a ‘Significant Step Forward’ — the Result of a ‘Tremendous Collaboration’

By Mary Coffey, PhD, MPH, RN, NEA-BC, TIPC, and Sudha Kamath
Photos by Reagan Heale, Nursing Professional Development Services

"It demonstrates what is possible when we bring together the strengths of different teams around a shared goal!"

UVA Health University Medical Center Office of the Chief Nursing Officer hosted the Kahuna Launch Appreciation Luncheon at Northridge Nursing Professional Development in Charlottesville to celebrate a key milestone: the launch of a digital competency management system within our organization.

"Kahuna is much more than the implementation of a new technology platform," hails Mary Coffey, PhD, MPH, RN, NEA-BC, TIPC, Director of Nursing Professional Development. "It represents a significant step forward in how we support competency, professional development, and workforce growth. It required tremendous collaboration across the organization."

She adds: "Many teams and individuals contributed their expertise, challenged our thinking, helped solve problems, and remained committed to moving this work forward. It demonstrates what is possible when we bring together the strengths of different teams around a shared goal!"

More than 40 team members representing nursing leadership, nursing professional development and practitioners, Project Management Office, Human Resources, and Health Information and Technology (HIT) joined the celebration.

Huge, festive balloons welcomed guests and served as the background for photo opportunities! UVA Health University Medical Center Chief Nursing Officer Kathy Baker, PhD, RN,NE-BC, FAAN, opened the event with remarks celebrating the collaboration across teams to elevate and modernize our competency management and tracking system. She also shared her appreciation and thanked the teams.

NPDS Clinical Lead Kathryn McGough, MSN, RN, NPD-BC, and Project Manager Senior Katherine Talley, MBA, PMP, CSM, cut the ribbon to acknowledge team members, teams, and leaders who contributed to making this new day in competency management possible. Attendees savored a luncheon served by the University Medical Center catering team.

“What I’m most excited about is where this takes us next!" says Coffey. "Kahuna gives us an infrastructure that can continue to grow with us, not only supporting competency and professional development but also helping us strengthen the relationships and connections that make excellent care possible."

She adds: "For those of us living and breathing Kahuna for the last year, the day felt especially meaningful because we're finally able to see and celebrate all of the behind-the-scenes work becoming something that will touch the everyday experience of our nurses and many other team members!”