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This edition of The CEO’s List features UVA Health team members who have been recognized for their excellence in clinical care, research, and leadership. I am also pleased to share the latest video from our new CEO's Spotlight series, this time featuring Dr. Laura Shaffer. Join me in congratulating her and our other team members highlighted in this edition! 

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

CEO Spotlight: Laura Shaffer, PhD

In this month’s CEO’s Spotlight video, I am thrilled to speak with Dr. Laura Shaffer, Chief of Pediatric Psychology at UVA Health Children’s. Dr. Shaffer, along with her team members, has been instrumental in launching our new Children’s Neurodevelopmental and Behavioral Health Care clinic at Riverside on Route 29. This clinic significantly expands access to greatly needed services in our community. In this video, Dr. Shaffer talks about how this clinic helps to fulfil greatly needed services in our community, how the COVID-19 pandemic impacted children and teens, and what motivates her as a care provider. Thank you, Laura, for sharing your time, your passion, and your expertise! 

Linda Martin, MD

Congratulations to Dr. Linda Martin, Chief of Thoracic Surgery, on her selection to serve on the Staging and Prognostic Factors Group of the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer, 10th edition. This prestigious global effort will inform the way we categorize lung cancer into stage groups. Dr. Martin joins 70 world experts in this seven-year commitment. Her expertise in thoracic malignancies and commitment to clinical research will be invaluable, as the group helps to shape the future of lung cancer diagnosis and treatment. Additionally, Dr. Martin recently co-chaired the 2024 World Conference on Lung Cancer, a monumental undertaking that involved guiding discussions among 7,000 attendees who presented their latest research.  At UVA Health, Dr. Martin has been a leader in advancing thoracic surgery and lung cancer care. She also plays a pivotal role in designing clinical trials and collaborating across disciplines to improve patient outcomes. Congratulations, Dr. Martin — your contributions at UVA Health and globally are remarkable. Thank you for your dedication to this important cause!

Josh Colston, PhD

Congratulations to several UVA research team members for their groundbreaking work in creating a powerful computer model to map the quality of housing construction in low- and middle-income countries. Leading this important effort is Dr. Josh Colston, an epidemiologist in the School of Medicine’s Division of Infectious Diseases and International Health, whose vision and expertise have been instrumental in developing this powerful predictive model. Doctors, scientists, governments, and community leaders will be able to use the predictive model free of charge to determine how best to target resources to help people at risk of contracting infections. Dr. Colston collaborated with researchers across the UVA School of Medicine, Data Science, Engineering, and the College of Arts & Sciences. Their work through UVA’s Planetary Child Health & Enterics Observatory (Plan-EO) represents a major step forward in using data-driven approaches to improve health outcomes worldwide. Thank you to Dr. Colston and the entire team for advancing global public health and making these critical findings freely accessible to benefit communities in need!

UVA Nursing and Medical Simulation Team

Congratulations to the UVA Schools of Medicine and Nursing Simulation Collaborative, whose team members recently showcased their expertise at the International Meeting on Simulation in Healthcare sponsored by the Society for Simulation in Healthcare. Representing the School of Nursing and School of Medicine, several team members contributed to seven presentations, highlighting UVA Health’s leadership in innovative simulation education. Special recognition goes to the Simulation Collaborative’s Bradley Accipiter, Ryne Ackard, Cindi Dellett, Jennifer Gaines, Andrew Guertler, Samantha Hudgins, Jaclyn McCann, and Dr. James Nisley; the School of Medicine’s Dr. Vaia Abatzis and Dr. Keith Littlewood; and the School of Nursing’s Dr. Tanya Thomas and Dr. Gina DeGennaro. Their work — ranging from competency-based education and disaster preparedness to AI-driven simulation design — demonstrates the depth of UVA’s medical simulation program and its impact on preparing and training future healthcare professionals. Thank you for your dedication to advancing simulation education and for representing UVA on this global stage!

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