Virginia Health Care Foundation

Jeff Ricketts (Chair) had a nearly 40-year tenure with Anthem and served as the Virginia President for the last five years until he retired in September 2022.

Mr. Ricketts has been involved in many professional, community and charitable activities. He currently serves as Chair of the Virginia Center for Health Innovation Board of Directors and is Co-Chair of the Virginia Task Force for Primary Care. He also serves on the Board of Virginia Learns and the Virginia Healthcare Foundation, where he serves as Vice-Chair. He has previously served on the boards of the Virginia Chamber of Commerce, Chamber RVA, Venture Richmond, and the Virginia Association of Health Plans. He was a member of the Governor’s Advisory Council on Revenue Estimates, Virginia Chamber Blueprint VA 2030 Committee, the Virginia Business Council, and the Management Roundtable. He is also past chair of the Virginia March of Dimes State Board and was chair for the 2015 March for Babies.

Mr. Ricketts is a native of Richmond and graduate of James Madison University.

Regina Milteer, MD, FAAP (Vice-Chair) is the Medical Director at UnitedHealthcare Community Plan and has had a distinguished career focused on ensuring quality care and services for children, leading physicians, training residents and medical students, and creating and implementing a variety of initiatives in different settings to introduce new approaches to delivering medical care. She has served as Chairman of the Old Dominion Medical Society; on the Executive Board of the American Academy of Pediatrics Council on Media and Communications; and was appointed to the Virginia Child Fatality and Review Team by Governors Kaine, McDonnell and McAuliffe.

Dr. Milteer has developed curricula and training modules for residents and medical students and held academic appointments in pediatrics at the University of Virginia, Virginia Commonwealth University, and Howard University for much of her career. She has received outstanding teaching awards from all of them multiple times. She was also named Pediatrician of the Year at Inova’s Hospital for Children. In addition, Dr. Milteer has written a wide range of articles and papers. She graduated with honors from Hampton University and from VCU School of Medicine. Most recently, she has served as Senior Medical Director for the Exchange Product at Optum Health

 

Cynthia Hudson performs legal and government affairs services in support of Virginia local governments and other clients as owner and managing attorney of Eppes-Hudson Law, PLLC. She also provides mediation and ombuds services as a member of The McCammon Group.

Before forming her current solo practice, Cynthia practiced with Sands Anderson (Richmond, VA). Cynthia also served as Chief Deputy Attorney General of Virginia in the administration of former Attorney General Mark R. Herring from 2014 to 2020.

Prior to this, Cynthia served as City Attorney for the City of Hampton, Virginia from 2006 to 2014, following several years as Deputy City Attorney for Hampton where she managed the City’s litigation and government administrative compliance matters.

She has been an Adjunct Professor in State and Local Government law at the William & Mary Law School and previously served on the Board of Visitors of the College of William & Mary.

In addition, she is or has been a board member of numerous and varied professional, civic and non-profit organizations, including the Virginia Law Foundation, the Virginia Bar Association, the Peninsula YMCA, the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Hampton Roads, Bridging Virginia and the Moton Museum.

A native of Nottoway County, Virginia, Hudson received her undergraduate degree from Virginia Commonwealth University, and her law degree from the College of William & Mary.

Lisa K. Johnson, MD is a practicing radiologist and Partner at Washington Radiology, a premier radiology practice with offices in Virginia, Maryland and the District of Columbia. During her career she has served more than 12 years as a member of the practice’s Management Committee. Additionally, she managed and completed a software rollout critical to the physician staffing of multiple offices throughout the practice.

Dr. Johnson received her medical degree from Georgetown University School of Medicine in Washington, D.C. and completed a transitional internship at Fairfax Hospital in Fairfax, VA. She completed her residency in Diagnostic Radiology at Georgetown University Hospital, where she also completed a fellowship in Body Imaging before joining Washington Radiology in 1998. During the 2019-2020 academic year, she participated in a Pediatric Radiology Fellowship at Children’s National Hospital.

Dr. Johnson is a member of the Virginia Reserve Medical Corps. She served on the board of the Langley Club and was a volunteer manager for an Arlington Soccer Association’s nationally-ranked travel soccer team. She is a member of the Medical Society of Virginia, Medical Society of the District of Columbia, the American Association of Women Radiologists, the American College of Radiology, the Radiological Society of North America and Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society of Georgetown University School of Medicine.

Dr. Johnson received a BA in Economics from the University of Virginia prior to attending Georgetown for her medical degree. She is the mother of three grown children.

Sean M. Mahoney is a seasoned C-suite executive with extensive experience in the real estate and hospitality industries. He specializes in strategic planning, acquisitions, finance, accounting, design and construction, and asset management.

Mr. Mahoney served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer at RLJ Lodging Trust (NYSE – RLJ) from 2018 to 2025, where he played a pivotal role in corporate strategy, capital markets, investor relations, hotel operations, and financial reporting. Prior to this, he served as Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, and Treasurer at DiamondRock Hospitality Company (NYSE – DRH) from 2004 to 2018, where he contributed to the company’s successful IPO.

Earlier in his career, Mr. Mahoney held leadership roles at Ernst & Young, KPMG Ireland and Arthur Andersen LLP, managing high-profile clients in real estate, hospitality, and financial services.

A graduate of Syracuse University with a BS in Accounting, Mr. Mahoney is a former Certified Public Accountant and has served on the Board of Directors for the American Lodging & Hotel Association and currently serves on the Bord of Directors of KMI International, Inc.

William L. “Bill” Murray is Senior Vice President – Corporate Affairs & Communications at Dominion Energy. He is responsible for federal, state and local government relations; corporate communications; advertising; public relations; creative services; philanthropy; and community affairs. He previously served as a management analyst at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; a senior staff member for the Virginia General Assembly; and Vice President-Policy at the Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association. He also held several positions in the offices of former Virginia Governors Mark Warner and Tim Kaine.

He is a member of the Boards of Youth For Tomorrow, Peter Paul Development Center, and the National Association of Manufacturers.

Mr. Murray received his doctorate and master’s degrees from Virginia Tech, and his bachelor’s degree from the University of Virginia.

John O’Bannon, MD is a well-known neurologist in the Richmond area. John represented Henrico County in the House of Delegates for 16 years (2002 – 2018) and was part of the House Republican leadership during that time. Among other things, he served on the Joint Commission on Health Care and was a member of the Appropriations; Health Welfare and Institutions; and Privileges and Elections committees. Most importantly, he was a good friend to VHCF and knows our work well.

He currently serves as Chair of the Virginia Board of Elections, is a Board member of the Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth, and on the Board of Administration of River Road Baptist Church. He is also an active member of the West Richmond Rotary. A more detailed description of John’s background and some of his former leadership positions follows, courtesy of the Board of Elections website.

A graduate of Hargrave Military Academy and the University of Richmond, John attended medical school at the Medical College of Virginia (MCV), where he was elected President of the Student Body. Later, as a resident at MCV, he was elected President of the Housestaff Council, served as Chairman of the Dean’s Advisory Committee, and was named Chief Resident in Neurology.

A well-regarded physician, John O’Bannon was a partner in Neurological Associates. He has served as Chief of Staff of Henrico Doctors’ Hospital and has served on the Board of Trustees. He has also served 2 terms on the VCU Health System Authority Board, where he chaired the Quality Committee. His peers have named him one of the “Outstanding Physicians of the Year” in Richmond Magazine’s annual poll.

Dr. O’Bannon is a national leader in improving the medical profession. A leader in the American Medical Association (AMA), John served on the AMA Delegation from the Medical Society of Virginia (MSV) and served as a member of the AMA’s Council for Ethical and Judicial Affairs from 1997 through 2004. John is a past Chairman of the Board of the Richmond Academy of Medicine. He also served as Chairman of the MSV’s Legislative Committee, where he helped pass the Virginia Patients’ Bill of Rights.

John is a member of the West Richmond Rotary Club and serves on the Boards of several organizations including the Virginia War Memorial Foundation, Tuckahoe YMCA, Hargrave Military Academy, and the Advisory board at the Science Museum of Virginia.

Tonya Parris-Wilkins, DDS has been a practicing dentist for more than 20 years, with much of her career spent in the dental safety net. During her tenure as Dental Director at Central Virginia Health Services, Virginia’s largest community health center, the dental program expanded from 4 to 10 sites and doubled the number of those who received treatment. Similarly, when she was the Dental Director for the Bland Ministry Center in Bland County, she oversaw the expansion of dental services in Wythe County with a five operatory facility and delivery of dental services into the public school systems to Wythe and Bland counties. Dr. Wilkins also owned and operated her own dental practice in Colonial Heights for some years and was featured in the EVB Potential of Women Entrepreneurs Realized (POWER) campaign, which recognizes successful female business owners across the Commonwealth.

Dr. Parris-Wilkins previously served on the VCU Board of Visitors where she was the Board Secretary and Chair of the Academic and Health Affairs Committee. She also served on the Boards of Directors for Virginia Health Catalyst and the Free Clinic of Powhatan. In addition, she served on the Virginia Board of Dentistry for several years and became president of the Board in 2018.

Dr. Parris-Wilkins currently serves on Virginia Health Catalyst as Vice Chair and is the Chief of Dentistry at the Hampton Veterans Administration Medical Center.

In 2012, Dr. Parris-Wilkins created the Parris Wilkins Scholarship, an endowed scholarship within Virginia Commonwealth University’s School of Dentistry to benefit students from disadvantaged backgrounds. To date, the scholarship has been awarded to 17 students in need.

Dr. Parris-Wilkins obtained her Bachelor of Arts degree from the College of William and Mary and her Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from Virginia Commonwealth University. She completed a general practice residency at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, obtained a certificate from Cornell University in Business Excellence for Healthcare Professionals and a certificate from Duke University in Non-Profit Management. She is a Master of the Academy of General Dentistry and a Fellow of the American Association of Hospital Dentists.

Dr. Parris-Wilkins resides in Richmond, Virginia with her husband Joseph D. Wilkins, D.P.T., M.S.H.A. and their three children.

Nelson Smith, FACHE is Chief Executive Officer of Sobrius, a behavioral health provider serving communities across Virginia. He previously served as Commissioner of the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services, where he led the Commonwealth’s behavioral and developmental services including treatment capacity, and workforce development, driving measurable improvements in access, outcomes, and system performance.

Mr. Smith brings extensive leadership experience across both public and private sectors, including serving as CEO of multiple behavioral health hospitals and senior leadership roles at CJW Medical Center. His work has focused on expanding access to care, improving operational performance, and strengthening partnerships across the healthcare system.

He began his career with 15 years in the U.S. Army’s 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne) and is a decorated veteran.

Mr. Smith holds an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University and a B.A. from Thomas Edison State University.

Mohsin Syed is a former political appointee with the US Department of Transportation (USDOT), having served as Chief of Staff to the Secretary of Transportation and previously as Assistant Secretary for Governmental Affairs (US Senate confirmed).

Mohsin has held several positions on Capitol Hill, including as Majority Chief Counsel for the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure; Minority Staff Director for Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation’s Subcommittee on Aviation Operations, Safety, and Security; and Legislative Counsel for Senator Bill Nelson.

Earlier in his career, Mohsin worked as a career Attorney-Advisor within USDOT’s Office of the General Counsel, an attorney in private practice, and an intelligence officer with the Defense Intelligence Agency.

Collectively, Mohsin’s roles in government have given him a broad perspective on law and public policy, legislative strategy, strategic advising, and organizational and crisis management.

Mohsin received a BA and JD from the University of Virginia. He also graduated from the University of Virginia’s Sorenson Institute for Political Leadership’s Political Leaders Program in 2024.

Christopher Turnbull serves as Chief of Staff at Carilion Clinic, a not-for-profit academic health system serving communities across western Virginia. A member of the executive team, he helps drive enterprise strategy, strengthen organizational alignment, and advance the system’s most critical priorities. He previously founded and led Carilion’s corporate communications function and established its Operational Continuity Program, building capabilities in crisis leadership, governance, and organizational resilience.

Beyond Carilion, through his boutique consultancy, Crisis Partners, Mr. Turnbull has advised some of the world’s largest international non-governmental organizations on crisis management and executive decision-making. Earlier in his career, he led global business continuity efforts for the World Bank Group across more than 50 countries. His board and civic service includes Roanoke College, Cardinal News, which he helped found, and the Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association Communications Group.

A native of Baltimore, Mr. Turnbull is a graduate of Roanoke College and holds a master’s degree in management from the University of Maryland Global Campus.

Shannon Valentine is a former businesswoman and public policy leader with experience in delivering infrastructure and economic development investments. She has led initiatives in transportation, education, health, affordable housing and commerce, and has expertise in public-private partnerships, strategic planning and multilateral negotiations.

Shannon served as Virginia’s Secretary of Transportation (2018 to 2022), overseeing an $8 billion multimodal transportation system with a network that includes rail, transit, Metro, aviation, Virginia Space, Port of Virginia and the third largest network of highways. During her tenure, Virginia led an historic multi-state agreement for Metro; launched the $3.7 billion investment in Transforming Rail in Virginia; expanded capacity at the Port of Virginia; finalized a 90-miles integrated express lane network in Northern Virginia; and completed seven resupply missions to the International Space Station. She also served as Chair of the Commonwealth Transportation Board.

As a former member of the Virginia House of Delegates, Shannon served on House Transportation, Courts of Justice, and Science & Technology committees – and was appointed to the Interagency Coordinating Council for early childhood intervention. She led the bipartisan legislative effort to invest in intercity passenger rail service for the first time in Virginia’s history, established tools for economic expansion, and created the first comprehensive study of autism in the Commonwealth.

For more than 25 years, Shannon worked with organizations to create opportunities for children and families through housing and education. Today, she serves on several boards including the Batten School of Leadership & Public Policy Advisory Board at the University of Virginia and is a fledgling writer and poet.

Shannon received her BA in Economics from the University of Virginia, elected Phi Beta Kappa. She graduated from the Sorensen Institute for Political Leadership at UVA, and completed Education for Ministry, a four-year program through Sewanee University’s School of Theology. Shannon received an honorary doctorate in law from the Virginia University of Lynchburg, and an honorary doctorate in rocket science from NASA and the Virginia Space Authority.

Board of Advisors

Jean Clary Bagley

LuAnn L. Bennett

Lawrence E. Blanchard, III, MD

Robert M. “Bob” Blue (Former Chairman)

Roger L. Boeve

Thomas R. ‘Tom’ Byrd (Former Chairman)

Christopher M. Carney (Former Chairman)

Mark Clark, MD, MPH

Judith B. Collins, RN, MS, WHNP-C

Nicholas C. Conte

The Honorable Jean Cunningham (Former Chair)

Ben J. Davenport, Jr.

John F. Fick, III

May H. Fox

Kester S. Freeman

Richard L. Grier (Former Chairman)

Anna Healy James

Charlie W. Hill

Ralph L. Howell, Jr., DDS, MAGD (Former Chairman)

Anderson Hughes

Clarion E. Johnson, MD (Former Chairman)

Jane Norwood Kusiak (Former Chair)

George A. Levicki, DDS (Former Chairman)

Brian Macnamara

Carter Melton, Jr. (Former Chairman)

The Honorable William C. Mims

Augustus A. Petticolas, Jr., DDS

Philip M. Reilly (Former Chairman)

Gordon Smith

Thomas G. Snead, Jr. (Former Chairman)

Sally W. Southard

James M. Turner, Jr.

The Honorable Margaret G. Vanderhye (Former Chair)