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Our team members continue to go above and beyond in their community work, clinical care, research, education, and leadership. I'm so proud to showcase these four leaders for their tremendous efforts. Do you have any outstanding colleagues who should be featured? Please send in nominations below.

With gratitude,

K. Craig Kent, MD
Executive Vice President for Health Affairs, University of Virginia
Chief Executive Officer, UVA Health

Nishtha Sodhi

Nishtha Sodhi, Medical Director of the Advanced Cardiac Valve Center, and the UVA structural heart disease team, comprised of interventional cardiologists and cardiac surgeons, performed the first trans-septal transcatheter mitral valve replacement as part of a clinical trial using the Medtronic Intrepid Valve. The team replaced the mitral valve via a leg vein with no incision in the chest. This was the 18th successful procedure of its kind in the world and the 1st in Virginia.

Max Luna

Max Luna, Associate Professor of Medicine, created the Latino Health Initiative to spread awareness about COVID-19 vaccine safety and accessibility in the local Latino community. During the pandemic, COVID-19 cases have been higher in the Latino population than in any other racial group. Now, over 60% of the Latino community in Albemarle County has received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, more than any other racial group. The leadership of this effort is credited to Dr. Luna. 

Susan Kools

The School of Nursing’s Inclusion, Diversity, and Excellence Achievement (IDEA) Initiative, led by Susan Kools, Associate Dean, was recently recognized in a study published in the Journal of the Association of Nurses in AIDS Care. The study assessed how nursing schools responded to the murder of George Floyd in the summer of 2020 with position statements and calls to action, looking for six key themes. The UVA School of Nursing was one of just 10 in the U.S. that addressed the key themes reflecting important commitments to combating racism in academic institutions and, more specifically, among nursing students.

Kathleen Bledsoe 

The Neurocritical Care Society (NCS) recognized Kathleen Bledsoe, NNICU Pharmacist, with the prestegious designation of Fellow. Bledsoe received this high honor based on exceptional service, academic excellence and leadership in her field. In addition to this recognition from NCS, the American College of Clinical Pharmacy recognized Bledsoe for her contributions to the 2021 Pharmacotherapy Self-Assessment Program series as a contributing author. This mission-critical program provides educational content to pharmacists to maintain their board certification for pharmacotherapy specialties.

To nominate a colleague for recognition or share an accomplishment, please email Abby Schulte at as4qj@virginia.edu.