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This edition of The CEO’s List recognizes the remarkable range of talent and impact we see across UVA Health. These team members include UVA School of Medicine and UVA School of Nursing faculty, medical residents, and our entire UVA Health Pharmacy team — all of whom are committed to providing excellent care for our patients and those throughout the world. Please join me in celebrating their successes.

With gratitude,
K. Craig Kent, MD
Chief Executive Officer, UVA Health

Randy A. Jones, PhD, RN, FADLN, FAAN

I am pleased to share that Dr. Randy Jones, UVA School of Nursing associate dean for partner development and engagement and the Jeanette Lancaster Alumni Professor of Nursing, was recently inducted into the National Black Nurses Association’s inaugural Academy of Diversity Leaders in Nursing (ADLN). Dr. Jones is an award-winning educator and NIH-funded nurse-scientist who studies treatment decision-making among men with advanced prostate cancer and their families. He has also been involved locally by helping to organize community health stations in the Southwood and Fifeville neighborhoods of Charlottesville. This new ADLN fellowship recognizes nurse leaders who create innovative justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion initiatives in nursing that transform nursing education, research, practice, policy, or administration. I am grateful for Dr. Jones’ leadership within the School of Nursing and throughout our community, and I am proud to see UVA representation within this distinguished group of leaders.

Shelly Smith, PhD, DNP, APRN-BC, FAAN, FNAP

Congratulations to Dr. Shelly Smith, who has been appointed by Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin to the Virginia Board of Nursing — a recognition of her expertise and leadership throughout the state. Dr. Smith, UVA School of Nursing interim associate dean of academic programs and Advanced Practice Program director for the MSN program, began her term on the board in July. This key group oversees the regulation of nurses, prescriptive authority for nurse practitioners, and in-state education programs for nurses, nurses’ aides, and medication aides. Dr. Smith is one of Virginia’s leading clinician-advocates and has been involved in shaping several House and Senate bills with regard to nurse practitioners. She also has helped to address health workforce issues through service on the Virginia Health Workforce Development Authority’s executive board. Here at UVA Health, she helped develop a new BSN to DNP pathway program. I am so proud to share this most recent news about Dr. Smith’s state leadership role, and I am grateful we have her as one of our outstanding team members at UVA Health.

UVA Health Pharmacy Team

UVA Health’s pharmacy services team has earned the 2024 High-Value Pharmacy Award from Premier Inc. for providing exceptional leadership and delivering incredible value for pharmacy patients. I visited our Outpatient Pharmacy and Specialty Pharmacy this summer and was so impressed by how much work goes into caring for our patients. At the UVA Pharmacy Outpatient location on Lee Street — the only retail pharmacy within 50 miles of Charlottesville open around the clock — this team dispensed more than 311,000 prescriptions this past year, averaging more than 1,000 prescriptions each weekday. This award recognizes the dedication of those individuals and all 500 UVA Health pharmacy services team members who are committed to high-quality care at our 23 locations throughout Central and Northern Virginia. I want to also congratulate Mark Vestal, UVA Health Pharmacy supply chain coordinator; Jordan DeAngelis, UVA Health Pharmacy director; and Danielle Griggs, UVA Health chief pharmacy officer, who are pictured here accepting this award, for their strong leadership and vision!

Thomas Platts-Mills, MD,
and Christopher Holstege, MD

Two UVA School of Medicine faculty, Dr. Thomas Platts-Mills and Dr. Christopher Holstege, have received 2024 Thomas Jefferson Awards — the highest honors given to members of the university community. Both professors are highly deserving! This honor is given annually to an extremely select group of individuals who exemplify the principles, ideals, and mission of UVA in their character, work, and influence. I am thrilled that both the  2024 award for scholarship and the 2024 award for service went to UVA Health physicians. 

• Dr. Platts-Mills is a professor of medicine and microbiology within the division of asthma, allergy, and immunology who is recognized for his excellence in scholarship. He is known widely for discovering the link between certain tick bites and a red meat allergy. Considered one of the leading experts in the world on asthma and allergic diseases, Dr. Platts-Mills has performed extensive research on common household allergens. His methodical and insightful research during his four decades at UVA has been transformative in saving and improving the lives of patients around the world.  
• Dr. Holstege, who was also honored for his service, has many roles. He is a professor in the Departments of Emergency Medicine and Pediatrics, chief of UVA’s Division of Medical Toxicology, senior associate vice president of Student Health and Wellness, and director of the Blue Ridge Poison Control Center. Through his various leadership roles, Dr. Holstege has cared compassionately for tens of thousands of patients at UVA and his research has impacted patients throughout the world. He is also a remarkable educator.

Erik Scott, MD, and Bridgette Love, MD

I am excited to share that two UVA School of Medicine residents, Dr. Erik Scott and Dr. Bridgette Love, have received a Back to Bedside Project award from the national Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME). Dr. Scott is a resident in thoracic surgery, and Dr. Love is a resident in anesthesiology. They were awarded a $15,000 grant this summer to lead the UVA Anesthesiology and Surgery Spanish Perioperative Augmentation Initiative (SPAIN). This was a resident-led initiative that seeks to improve the perioperative experience for Spanish-speaking patients by providing Spanish-language training and certification for residents in multiple programs throughout UVA Health. This competitive national funding opportunity, given to only 30 resident/fellow teams this cycle, is a remarkable way to celebrate and support innovative ideas across the country that have the potential to enhance the clinical experience and allow physicians to connect more fully with their patients and colleagues. I am impressed by their cross-departmental collaboration, and the program that they developed that will lead to more culturally sensitive care for our patients. Congratulations Dr. Scott and Dr. Love!

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