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“Caring for our community starts with caring for each other.”

More than 300 UVA Health team members and trainees participated in the 2026 UVA Health Community Mental Health and Wellness Festival on April 16 in the Carey Courtyard between MR5 and MR6.

UVA Health and UVA offices represented on-site this year included UVA Center for Community Partnerships, UVA Department of Psychiatry and Neurobehavioral Sciences, UVA Center for Leading Edge Addiction Research (CLEAR), Faculty and Employee Assistance Program (FEAP), President's Council on UVA-Community Partnerships, University Medical Associates Integrated Behavioral Health Program, and UVA Health Claude Moore Health Sciences Library.

Supporting a UVA Health strategic plan initiative of Cultivating Healthy Communities and Belonging for All with a goal of Best Place to Work — together, they offered engagement and resources focused on holistic mental health and wellness, just ahead of Mental Health Awareness Month in May.

UVA Health Office of Community Engagement and Health Outcomes (CEHO), UVA School of Medicine Office of Medical Sciences Outreach, and UVA School of Nursing Office of Community Health and Wellbeing sponsored the annual event.

Attendees joined wellness workshops on:

• Acupuncture led by Zarina Burdge, Director of Prevention Services, Region Ten Community Service Board
• Drumming led by Michael Deaton
• Embodiment practice led by Yolonda Coles Jones
• Kindness meditation led by Anna DeLong-Loving, LCSW, NPT-C, UVA Health Population Health
• Sound bath led by Selena Cozart, PhD
• Tai Chi led by Hiromi Johnson (above) led by UVA Contemplative Sciences Center
• Yoga led by Hannah Crosby, Assistant Director, Compassionate Care Initiative

Participants also enjoyed music by the Ebony Grove band (above), mini putt putt golf, bubble blowing, and a variety of food.

‘Truly Inspiring’

Leaders in attendance included:

Tracy M. Downs, MD, FACS, Chief Community Engagement and Health Outcomes Officer, UVA Health (above, center): “Seeing our UVA School of Medicine, UVA School of Nursing, and University Medical Center teams come together with local wellness and mental health organizations is truly inspiring! Many of our colleagues were introduced for the first time to the remarkable work these vendors are doing in Charlottesville and Albemarle County. Events like this remind us that caring for our community starts with caring for each other — and that we are stronger when we build these partnerships intentionally.” 

Colin Derdeyn, MD, (below, center) interim Dean, UVA School of Medicine. “Supporting the mental health and wellness of the UVA Health community is one of the most important things we can do as an organization. I was really impressed with the breadth of resources available internally and in the community, and the engagement of so many of our faculty and staff. The festival organizers did a great job of showcasing resources to sustain wellness — providing many options to put into practice.”

Among those organizers — Ashley Woodard, Ed.D., (above, right) Director of Student Engagement and Strategic Partnerships, Office of Medical Sciences Outreach, University of Virginia, School of Medicine, who hailed the festival as a “wonderful collaboration between UVA School of Medicine and UVA School of Nursing in service of our UVA Health community.” She describes: “After months of planning, I was in awe of what we created! Seeing folks engage with the many community resources in attendance is moving. We’ve been doing this for a few years now and I think this is our best one yet! Hopefully, those in attendance left feeling a little lighter, a little better — and with some tangible ways to prioritize health and wellbeing!”

In her role as Director of Healthcare Leadership Education and Community Wellness in the Office of Community Engagement and Health Outcomes, and as a Steering Committee Member of the Community Mental Health and Wellness Coalition, Melody M. Pannell, D.Min, M.Div., MSW, MACE, (above) says it's "particularly wonderful to experience the successful collaboration between UVA Health and community mental health providers."

She adds: "I received several glowing comments from those providers concerning the high level of engagement and positive interaction throughout the festival. It is my vision to continue encouraging these partnerships so that we can provide a strong, supportive community network that can promote the MAPP2 Health Mental Health Priority Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP) goals:

• Decreasing the days of self-reported poor mental health.
• Improving access to mental health services.

She's looking forward to championing programming for the Mental Health Awareness Month theme: "Empowering Community Wellness: More Good Days Together" in May.

Also sharing their expertise: Joel Anderson, PhD, RN, NEA-BC, CNL, (above, center) Co-Director, UVA Health Wisdom and Wellbeing Program; and from UVA School of Nursing: Melissa Gomes, PhD, APRN, PMHNP-BC, FNAP, FAAN, Associate Dean of Strategic Wellness and Opportunity;Jeanne Alhusen, PhD, CRNP, RN, FAAN, Associate Dean for Nursing Research; Windy Alonso, PhD, MS, RN, FAHA, FAAN, Chair, Department of Nursing Research; Dominique Tobbell, PhD, Director, Eleanor Crowder Bjoring Center for Nursing Historical Inquiry; John Teahan, Senior Associate Dean for Administration; Jennifer Hale, Director of Budget and Finance; and Christine Thalwitz, Director of Communications and Marketing.

Enjoy the photo gallery: