Connect

At UVA Health, our Supply Chain Department is the backbone of our patient care and hospital operations. From medications and medical equipment to paper products and mail deliveries — this dynamic team ensures that the critical resources to deliver superior patient care are available when and where they are needed.  

'Delivering Exceptional Care'

Without the correct supplies and support, even the most skilled providers cannot deliver the highest quality care. UVA Health Supply Chain Manager Rena Cohen-Kurzrock first noticed this “critical truth” as she grew up watching her physician parents. 

“I came to understand that optimal patient outcomes also require the right resources, the right culture of collaboration and accountability — and in supply chain’s case — the right supplies,” Cohen-Kurzrock says. “The presence or absence of essential supplies can directly impact a patient’s care experience and outcome. That’s why, every day, our team is committed to getting it right. We work to ensure clinical teams are empowered with everything they need — because when we support them effectively, they can focus on what matters most: delivering exceptional care.”  

As our supply chain team members support staff throughout UVA Health, this department has a support system of its own. Many members of the Supply Chain Department have family members who are also UVA Health team members. As Mother's Day approaches, Connect talks to several of them about those family ties and the remarkable experience of calling a family member, a colleague:

Aligning With Mission and Strategic Plan Goals

What does your role entail?

McCurdy: I do all the ordering and stocking for the IR, OR, and Surgery Center. 

Beckner: I manage the daily operations of Guest and Volunteer Services by providing direct supervision for my team in achieving ongoing quality, productivity, efficiency, and service. I develop programs and activities that ensure patient, physician, and employee satisfaction — and maintain a robust volunteer program that aligns with the organization’s mission and goals. I also serve as the liaison for our auxiliary and oversight of our three hospital gift shops. 

Did having a family member at UVA Health influence your decision to join our team? 

McCurdy: Yes! My mom shared with me how good of a work environment it is, with plenty of opportunity to advance. 

What are some benefits of working with a family member in the same organization? 

McCurdy: My mom only comes to Culpeper once a week, but it’s nice to be able to see her while she’s here. 

Beckner: It’s wonderful having my daughter working in the same organization even though we don’t cross pathsn often. I love when team members tell me how much they love working with her and what a great job she does. It makes a mom proud!

'Tenacity, Dedication, and Drive'

What does your role entail?

Silas: Ordering and delivering supplies to various departments. 

Thecla: Daily food service operations in Nutritional Services. Taking care of our patient meal service and providing meal service in the café and coffee shop. 

What is your history with UVA Health, and how did you start working here?

Thecla: We relocated from California in December 2019. My husband was offered a job at another hospital system, so we relocated the family and drove our fifth wheel cross country to begin a new adventure. I have worked with Morrison since 1998, and at the time, the director’s position was available. I interviewed, and the rest is history.

Silas: I did not originally make the cross-country trip with my parents. A year later, I joined them in Virginia. I had previous experience in supply chain and wanted to find something closer to home, so my mom encouraged me to apply at Prince William Medical Center, and I was accepted.

What are some benefits of working with a family member in the same organization?

Silas: I feel safe. I know my mom is not too far away if I need advice or am having a bad day. She is there to encourage me and help me see things from a different perspective, when necessary. Plus, I can always get a hug in the hallway if I see her. 

What values do you think your family collectively brings to UVA Health?

Silas: As children, we do our best to follow in our parents’ footsteps, although we like to do our own things, too. We both love taking care of our patients in whatever capacity we can while supporting our teams. We both are committed to getting our work done to the best of our abilities. My mom is always coaching me up and helping me … get better at what I do. In turn, this gives me the confidence I need to keep pushing through. Our tenacity, dedication, and drive bring value to UVA Health because we are committed! 

'It Makes Me Feel Proud Indeed!'

What does your role entail?

Haynes: I stock and maintain supplies in the ER, IR, Clinical Pathology Lab, Rehab, and Radiology Departments as well as maintain code carts and other odds and ends here at Haymarket Medical Center. I also handle a good chunk of the receiving and processing of packages that we get in from FedEx and UPS from our vendors every day. 

Woodier: As house supervisor, I am responsible for patient movement, patient transfers, staffing, and supporting all clinical areas. On weekends and holidays, I am the sole administrative presence in the building. I also manage patient concerns and support all team members, including physicians, with admissions, transfers, and surgical bookings. 

What are some benefits of working with a family member in the same organization?

Haynes: Having mutual friends, being able to figure out and solve problems from different perspectives, being that one [of us] is heavily involved with hands-on clinical patient care and the other is on the logistical side of things. 

Woodier: It is wonderful to have developed mutual friends here at work. I love seeing him around the campus.

Do you have any funny or memorable moments from working together?

Woodier: Last summer, Cameron and I were together on a family vacation for a week. When I rounded in the emergency room upon my return, team members were excited to see me back at work … because that meant that Cameron was back! They said how much he had been missed and how no one could do their stocking like Cameron. It makes me feel proud indeed! I secretly hope they were also glad to have me back.

'A Great Culture to Work Within'

What does your role entail?

Matt:  I’m very new to the position, [it includes] checking inventories in assigned departments, placing orders, and restocking. I also pull any outdated materials and resupply code carts. 

Terri: I am the Assistant Nurse Manager of the Emergency Department (ED), assisting with daily operations of the ED, helping at the bedside to care for patients, and working on process improvement projects. 

What is your history with UVA Health and how did you start working here? 

Terri: We moved to Virginia during the pandemic. Everyone I talked to, from Realtors® to businesspeople in the community, told me I needed to work at Haymarket Medical Center.

Matt: Terri has liked working at Haymarket Medical Center, and an opportunity came up in Prince William Medical Center and I applied. 

As parents, what values do you think your family collectively brings to UVA Health? 

Terri: A great work ethic, willingness to learn and grow professionally, and a positive attitude. 

Matt: I couldn’t say it better. 

What would you say to others who are considering working at UVA Health, especially if they have a family connection there? 

Terri: I would highly recommend! I think it is a great culture to work within. 

Matt: It’s very new to me. My background is in manufacturing and distribution, so the worlds are very different. I like what I’ve seen and would highly recommend UVA Health. 

Shared Commitment to Care

From different roles and departments, these family teams reflect what makes UVA Health thrive: support, connection, and a shared commitment to care. Their dedication — both to each other and to our mission — strengthens the foundation of everything we do.