Connect

This week, in addition to honoring two incredible team members for their exceptional work, I'm proud to highlight the first of four team members leading our new Culture Work Initiatives. These initiatives will help us contribute to a stronger culture at UVA Health and a more united health system team. 

Four exceptional team members will lead new Strategic Planning Initiatives that will help shape the future of UVA Health. Anne Mills, Associate Professor of Pathology, will drive our Communications and Engagement Pathways Initiative. Bob Thiele, Associate Professor of Anesthesiology, will lead our efforts to revamp the Be Safe Initiative. Neeral Shah, Associate Professor of Medicine, will spearhead our Mission Statement Refresh Initiative. Andy Southerland, Associate Professor of Neurology, will charge our UVA Health Innovation and Ideas Competition Initiative, a program that will allow team members to address a cultural, research, or operational challenge by submitting ideas and proposals to the competition. This is an important first step in a greater plan to enhance the culture at UVA Health. Together, this group will engage with fellow faculty and physicians to address challenges and help us build a brighter future.

Today, I'm excited to share more information about Anne Mills' efforts to develop Communications Pathways. Be on the lookout for more about our Culture Work and how you can contribute soon!

With gratitude,

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

Anne Mills

A culture of effective communication and engagement is essential to the future of our organization, and engagement from frontline physicians and faculty is critical to this mission. Grassroots initiatives can bring together faculty and leaders from across the health system for open discussion that can drive meaningful change for our care providers, educators, and researchers and our patients. That's why Anne Mills, Associate Professor of Pathology, is leading our Communications Pathways Initiative to enhance communication between faculty, physicians, and leadership. 
 
 Dr. Mills is collaborating with peers from across the clinics, inpatient units, operating rooms, and laboratories to establish new pathways for transparent discussion that can inform positive change throughout the health system. For example, Dr. Mills and her team are creating a Communications Council that will regularly convene with leadership to share thoughts, ideas, and concerns that can impact future directions for UVA's health system. These discussions will address issues that faculty are invested in, such as strategic planning, compensation and finances, and ambulatory expansion. Open, honest, and face-to-face communication will be emphasized to foster a culture of trust and collaboration between team members and leadership. Communication Council members will be chosen based on self and peer nominations. In addition, ongoing leadership meetings with clinical and basic science department chairs will be open to faculty guests on a recurring basis to enhance top-down transparency and bottom-up communication. 
 
 Physicians and researchers with diverse perspectives are encouraged to participate in these efforts to advocate for their fellow faculty and their patients and their faculty and staff peers across the institution. We hope to bring a frontline perspective to the forefront of decision-making at UVA Health through these efforts.  

Rajesh Balkrishnan

The African Cancer Institute, Stellenbosch University, Capetown, South Africa, recently presented the honorary title of "Extraordinary Professor in Public Health" to Rajesh Balkrishnan, Professor of Public Health Sciences and Clinical Professor of Nursing. The institute helps South Africa and other African countries build capacity, provide education and training, and promote national and international collaboration in cancer care with learning and research institutions from other countries. This honorific title recognizes Dr. Balkrishnan's status as among the top 2 percent of scientists in the world based on the impact of his published research. 

Clareen Wiencek

The American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) Certification Corporation has appointed Clareen Wiencek, Professor of Nursing, to a three-year term on its board of directors. The AACN Certification Corporation is the credentialing arm of the AACN, driving patient health and safety through the credentialing of acute and critical care nurses. Wiencek was appointed based on her incredible leadership record and past experience as president of the AACN board of directors.

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