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Stephanie McNerney, MSN, PNP, RN, is a nurse practitioner in developmental pediatrics. Early this year, she helped launch the Village Care Program (VCP), a multidisciplinary program at UVA Children’s designed to meet the complex medical and mental health needs of kids in foster care, group homes, or other unique living situations. McNerney and her husband have first-hand knowledge: They are trained foster parents who have had two long-term foster placements.

VCP is the outcome of a proposal McNerney wrote about how UVA could better support foster children who are often in challenging situations. It outlined the capacity of UVA Children's and the importance of a dedicated medical and mental health program for these families.

Thinking about the past year, McNerney has had lots of challenges professionally and personally, however, she is thankful for those around her who have supported her and made the year feel meaningful.

“I have been stretched in ways that at times felt unsustainable,” she says. “I know that my colleagues feel similarly. In fact, this is such a unique situation in our world, where the helpers and healers share the collective stress and trauma with our patients. We just belong to each other more and more. I have been supported by my colleagues in meaningful and tangible ways, from covering clinics, triaging patient care, thoughtful words, and even food. To see my colleagues continue to show up despite the intense exhaustion of our times and hold onto that glimmer of hope that this all has great meaning has been such an honor. I work with amazing, thoughtful, kind, and generous humans — this year was extra in that way.”

VCP and the support and comradery amongst colleagues are just two examples of the extraordinary accomplishments within UVA Children’s this year. See below for a sampling of others.

As UVA Health is preparing to launch its employee engagement survey, take a moment to reflect on your past year. What are YOU most proud of?

July 2022 | Turning Passion Into Practice, Stephanie McNerney Is Helping Improve Care for Foster Kids

From her professional and personal experience, McNerney saw an opportunity to help children in foster care, and she turned it into reality with the Village Care Program.

June 2022 | UVA Children’s Is Ranked No. 1 in Virginia Two Years Running

UVA Children's is the No. 1 children's hospital in Virginia for the second consecutive year as ranked by U.S. News and World Report — the first two years the publication has produced state-by-state rankings of the nation's best children's hospitals. In addition, six UVA Children's specialties are now among the top 50 in the country (an increase in ranked specialties over last year), proving that UVA Children’s is truly home to an elite group of compassionate pediatric specialists and care teams.

May 2022 | Photos: UVA Children’s Arranged Pampering for Over 100 Caregivers on Mother’s Day

Volunteer members from UVA Children’s Advisory Board and the Patient and Family Centered Care Committee assembled and passed out over 100 Mother’s Day care packages, which featured pre-designed canvases for pediatric patients to complete and other care items. The next day, six stylists from Moxie Hair & Body Lounge donated their time and gave 27 haircuts and blowouts to caregivers.

December 2021 | Behind the Scenes of Season’s Treatings: What It Took to Bring Presents to Pediatric Patients This Christmas

The holidays are always a magical time a UVA Children’s. The team knows how hard it is for the children to be sick and away from their families, so they step in to make it as special as possible. Some of the most beloved events are Seasons Treatings, Santa Visiting the NICU, the Lights of Love tree lighting, and more.