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This monthly community newsletter from Dr. Mitchell Rosner, Acting Executive Vice President for Health Affairs, highlights how UVA Health serves our patients and the community. To stay up to date on operations, clinical services, and research efforts featured in UVA Health Community Update, subscribe here.

Dear Friends of UVA Health,

I want to thank you for continuing to read and respond to these monthly updates. I have received thoughtful feedback from so many of you, and I especially appreciate the stories you’ve shared about UVA Health team members who have made a positive difference in your life. These reflections are a powerful reminder of the impact our people have every day. This month’s update includes a spotlight on UVA President Jim Ryan’s support for UVA Health, summer safety tips from the UVA Health Blue Ridge Poison Center, and a major fundraising milestone.

News Feature

A Note of Thanks to President Ryan

Since UVA President Jim Ryan announced his resignation in June, I’ve been reflecting on the past seven years. I want to express my deep gratitude for his profound impact on UVA Health and on me personally. From the outset of his presidency, he led with purpose, guided by integrity, compassion, and service. During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, he was an unwavering ally to our health system. I remember that time vividly and will always appreciate his steadfast presence. 

Beyond his support for the daily triumphs and tribulations of a growing health system, President Ryan clearly understood the promising time we are living in for the future of clinical care, medical education, and research, and he demonstrated this through his actions while in office. His leadership was instrumental in the creation of the Paul and Diane Manning Institute of Biotechnology, which will accelerate research into life-saving treatments for cancer, Alzheimer’s, and rare diseases. Sincerely appreciative of the role of philanthropy, he personally raised funds for pediatric care and Alzheimer’s research through his “Run with Jim” campaign.

Over the past four months, I have had the pleasure of working closely with President Ryan. He is deeply grounded in his values and his love for UVA and for all who work and learn here. In my experience, he is the epitome of a servant leader, and I will carry forward many lessons learned from his model of leadership.

Other News

Preventing Summer Poison Risks: Tips from the Experts

Summer brings sunshine, travel, and outdoor fun — but it also brings seasonal risks. In this month’s Q&A, Kristin Wenger, education coordinator at the UVA Health Blue Ridge Poison Center, discusses the most common warm-weather exposures they handle and how families can stay safe this summer. She offers practical tips to help you prevent poison emergencies and enjoy a safer summer. The Blue Ridge Poison Center team is available 24/7 to provide free, expert advice to Virginians in need — no matter the season.

Q: What are some of the most common reasons people call poison control during the summer months?
A: Year-round, the most common reason people call UVA Health’s Blue Ridge Poison Center is because of problems with medicine: prescriptions, over-the-counters, herbals, and supplements. Medicine becomes a potential poison when someone takes too much of the medicine, takes the wrong medicine, or takes dangerous combinations of medicines with other products. 

Other than medicine, there are exposures calls we get primarily in summer, including:

• Sunscreen (such as toddlers ingesting it)
• Mosquito repellents and other pesticides (including inappropriate applications) 
• Lawn and garden chemicals (inhalation after spraying, etc.)
• Pool chemicals (such as wrong application causing irritation fumes)
• Environmental (including plants, mushrooms, and snakes, or mistaken identification in foraging)

Q: How can families stay safe when using summer essentials like bug spray, sunscreen, or pool chemicals?

A: When using any household chemical product, always follow the instructions on the label. Keep all products UP and AWAY, out of the sight and reach of children. Leave products in their original containers. Do not transfer the contents to bottles or dishes used for food and drinks. Finally, store them separately from food and drinks. 

Q: What’s one summer safety tip you wish more people knew about?
A: Vacations bring special poisoning risks. Some of those include:

Avoid pooling all of your medicines into one container. While this may be convenient for packing, it can lead to mistakes. Use their original containers or find another way to keep medicine separate and properly labeled.

If you travel with medicines and personal care products, find a place to store them that is out of the sight and reach of children. Do not keep them in your suitcase. Also be careful when visiting relatives on vacation with young children, as their homes may not be childproofed.

If you take medicine, develop a plan to keep your prescribed doses on schedule when you are away from your normal routine.

$1 Billion and Counting: A New Era of Impact for UVA Health Made Possible by You

Thanks to the generosity of more than 52,000 donors — including two recent $25 million estate gifts — UVA Health has now surpassed its $1 billion goal as part of the University’s Honor the Future campaign. I want to take a moment to thank everyone in our community who helped make this milestone possible.

These gifts support much more than buildings or programs. They represent trust — in our care teams, in our researchers, in our students, and in the mission we all share to improve health and bring hope to every corner of Virginia. You’ve already seen this impact through expanded pediatric services, mobile health outreach, scholarships for future healthcare professionals, and cutting-edge research at the Paul and Diane Manning Institute of Biotechnology. 

We are here to serve. This outpouring of support reminds me how deeply that service matters to those around us. I’m grateful every day to do this work alongside you.

In Closing

Thank you for taking the time to read this month’s update. Whether you’ve been part of a recent gift, shared a story, or simply placed your trust in our care, please know how much it means. Your support and connection continue to shape our path forward. We remain focused on listening, learning, and improving — with the goal of better serving our patients, families, and communities across Virginia. I look forward to sharing more progress with you soon.

With best wishes, 

Mitch

Mitchell H. Rosner, MD, MACP, FRCP
Acting Executive Vice President for Health Affairs, University of Virginia
Henry B. Mulholland Professor of Medicine