Virginia Health Care Foundation Honors Health Care Champions from Across the Commonwealth
Richmond, Virginia, June 11, 2026 – More than 240 health care leaders, policymakers, providers, and community partners gathered at Richmond’s Dominion Energy Center for the Virginia Health Care Foundation’s (VHCF) annual Cheers for Champions! celebration, drawing record attendance and demonstrating the Commonwealth’s shared commitment to increasing access to care for uninsured and medically underserved Virginians.
The event recognized outstanding individuals and organizations whose dedication, innovation, and compassion are improving access to medical, oral health, behavioral health, prescription assistance, and health coverage services throughout Virginia.
“For more than three decades, the Virginia Health Care Foundation has worked to increase access to care for uninsured and medically underserved Virginians,” said Rachel L. Rees, Chief Executive Officer of the Virginia Health Care Foundation. “Tonight’s Cheers for Champions! honorees exemplify that mission in action. Their accomplishments, and the Foundation’s work more broadly, are made possible through the generosity of our donors, sponsors, and public and private partners. We are deeply grateful for their support.”
Virginia Secretary of Health and Human Resources Marvin Figueroa, Senator Barbara Favola, and Delegates Keith Hodges, and Rodney Willett presented awards throughout the evening, recognizing outstanding individuals and organizations whose work is expanding access to care across Virginia. The event was also attended by other members of the General Assembly, administration officials, and health agency leaders.
Among those honored during the event were:
You “Rx”ceptional Award
The Pharmacy Connection, a software platform developed by VHCF, helps patients access lifesaving medications at no cost. The software has helped more than 396,000 uninsured Virginians obtain 5.7 million prescriptions with a value exceeding $12.7 billion.
- Amanda Boggs, CPhT, Medication Access Program Specialist at Norton Community Hospital, Ballad Health, received the Foundation’s You “Rx”ceptional Award for her outstanding work helping uninsured and underinsured patients obtain critical prescription medications through patient assistance programs. During her tenure, Boggs has helped more than 800 patients obtain more than 5,200 prescriptions valued at more than $28 million in Average Wholesale Price (AWP). As a result of her efforts, the number of patients utilizing patient assistance programs at Norton Community Hospital has more than doubled.
Enrollment Excellence Award
For more than 25 years, in partnership with the Department of Medical Assistance Services, VHCF’s Project Connect program has helped eligible Virginians enroll in Medicaid coverage through a statewide network of outreach workers. The Enrollment Excellence Award recognizes outreach workers who go above and beyond to connect individuals and families with health insurance coverage.
- Norma A. Ryan, Application Specialist with the Virginia Health Care Foundation, received the Enrollment Excellence Award for her dedication to helping Virginians obtain health coverage through Medicaid. Over the past 11 years, Ryan has assisted more than 6,000 individuals, including more than 4,600 children, in enrolling in Medicaid Coverage.
Health Care Champion Awards
The Health Care Champion Awards recognize individuals whose leadership, innovation, and compassion are expanding access to medical, oral health, and behavioral health services in communities across the Commonwealth.
- Medical Champion – Dr. Jill Cottel, Medical Director of Lackey Clinic, was recognized for her leadership in expanding access to high-quality primary care and her innovative use of technology to improve services for patients in Yorktown, the Greater Williamsburg Area, and most recently statewide.
- Oral Health Champion – Dr. Stuart Fargiano, Dental Director of Rockbridge Area Health Center, received the Oral Health Champion Award for his decades of service and leadership in expanding access to dental care throughout the Shenandoah Valley.
- Behavioral Health Champion – Lorena Brennan Castro, LCSW, Bilingual Child & Family Therapist with Greater Richmond SCAN, was recognized for her efforts to increase access to behavioral health services for children and families, particularly within Spanish-speaking communities.
Health Care Transformation Award
The Virginia Health Care Foundation presented its inaugural Health Care Transformation Award to Eastern Shore Rural Health System in recognition of its extraordinary impact on access to care in Virginia’s Eastern Shore communities.
What began as a two-physician practice has grown into a network of health centers providing primary care, oral health, behavioral health, pharmacy, urgent care, and other services. Today, Eastern Shore Rural Health provides primary care for three out of every four residents of Virginia’s Eastern Shore.
Cheers for Our Sponsors!
The Virginia Health Care Foundation is grateful to the sponsors whose support made this year’s Cheers for Champions! celebration possible. Sponsors included Platinum Sponsors: Merck, Sentara Health, Gold Sponsors: Virginia Association of Health Plans, Dominion Energy, Patterson Dental, UnitedHealthcare, Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association, Bronze Sponsors: AARH/SAIC, Accenture, Acentra Health, Davenport Asset Management, Delta Dental of Virginia, Equality Health, Medical Society of Virginia, Mercer Government, and Patient First. VHCF also extends special thanks to CQ Fluency for sponsoring the evening’s awards.
About the Virginia Health Care Foundation
The Virginia Health Care Foundation is a public/private partnership dedicated to increasing access to primary health care for uninsured and medically underserved Virginians. Initiated by the General Assembly and its Joint Commission on Health Care in 1992, the Foundation has helped more than 950,000 uninsured and medically underserved Virginians obtain the health care they need. For more information, visit www.vhcf.org.
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