Board of Trustees and Board of Advisors
Margaret G. Vanderhye, (Chair) is the former Executive Director of the Virginia Commission for the Arts, a position she was appointed to by then Governor McAuliffe in 2014. As the Director, she expanded roles and partnerships for arts therapy and wellness programs. She served as a member of the House of Delegates (D-34) from 2008-2010 representing the McLean-Great Falls area. With a professional background in national security and economics, Ms. Vanderhye has held a range of positions throughout her professional life. These include working at the White House for National Security Advisor Brent Scowcroft and a stint at the Brookings Institution. As President Bill Clinton’s Virginia appointee to the National Capital Planning Commission, she chaired the task force that developed a nationally recognized master plan for monuments, memorials and museums in the region.
She has served on a number of state boards and commissions as appointees of governors Wilder, Warner and Kaine, including the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority, where she helped develop a 2030 TransAction Plan.
Ms. Vanderhye is a co-founder and a current co-director of EduTutorVA, an award winning nonprofit founded in 2020 to address critical learning loss among Title One students during the pandemic. The program pairs college education majors with K-8 northern Virginia students for high impact targeted tutoring to help close their learning gaps and offer mentoring to aspiring teachers at our public two and four year colleges.
Ms. Vanderhye has an M.A. from Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies and a B.A. in political science from Northwestern University. She is a 1990 graduate of Leadership Fairfax and a 2006 alumna of the University of Virginia Sorensen Institute for Political Leadership. She and her husband, an intellectual property attorney, have two grown children.
Judith B. Collins, RN, MS, WHNP-C (Vice Chair), has had a long, varied and distinguished career as a health professional, educator, women’s health advocate and volunteer. Her professional accomplishments include: Founding Director of VCU Women’s Health at Stony Point Park (1993-2000); Founder and Director of the VCU Health Policy Office (1983-1993); Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Health Policy Fellow (1982-83); First Chair of the National Alliance of Nurse Practitioners; Gubernatorial appointment to the Virginia Board of Nursing (1991-1995) and leadership positions in numerous national and state nursing associations.
A host of professional awards and recognitions: VCU Presidential Medallion Award, 2011; MCVF Trani Leadership Award, 2017; Fellow in the American Academy of Nursing; Associate Professor Emeritus at VCU’s Schools of Nursing and Medicine; National Association of Nurse Practitioners Lifetime Achievement Award; Co-author of chapters in two books on Women and the Health Care System (2011) and the Policy and Politics of Nursing and Health Care (2015).
Ms. Collins has also held leadership positions in many community organizations over the years. A sampling follows: Richmond Memorial Health Foundation (Trustee and Chair); Children’s Hospital (Trustee); Woman’s Health Virginia (Founding Trustee and Chair); YWCA of Richmond (Trustee); CrossOver Healthcare Ministry (Director and Chair) and MCV Foundation (Trustee and Co-chair of the Development Committee).
In addition, she has served as the Chair of the Adult Missions Committee of River Road Baptist Church, and volunteers as a Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner at CrossOver and on several international mission trips.
Ms. Collins earned her B.S.N. from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill; her M.S. in Maternal-Child Health from Boston University; and her Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner Certificate from VCU.
Jeff Ricketts (Vice 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.
Nicholas C. Conte (Treasurer) is Executive Vice President and Chief Legal Officer, Carilion Clinic (Roanoke). In connection with his role, Mr. Conte oversees Carilion’s Legal Department, Governmental and External Affairs, Philanthropy, Compliance, Internal Audit, and Claims. He also participates in Carilion’s initiatives with Virginia Tech and its rural health initiatives.
Prior to taking this position at Carilion in 2016, Mr. Conte served as Chairman and CEO at the respected law firm Woods Rogers PLC. He is highly regarded throughout the state for his expertise in corporate and business law and has received a number of legal accolades. He has been active in the Virginia State Bar’s Business Law Section and serves on the Corporate Governance Committee of the American Bar Association’s Business Law Section.
Mr. Conte is active in a variety of community organizations, including serving on the boards of directors of the Virginia Western Community College Foundation, the Roanoke Symphony and the Taubman Museum of Art. He received both his undergraduate and law degrees from the College of William& Mary.
Anna Healy James, is currently the SVP, Government and Community Relations for Sentara Healthcare. Anna is responsible for our government and public policy strategy at the local, state and federal levels; leading all community relations activities, including the $50 million Sentara Healthier Communities Fund; overseeing the Sentara Foundation and all fundraising efforts; and advising senior leadership on all matters of health policy.
Ms. James joined Sentara in October 2016 as a Director of Strategic Operations at Sentara Norfolk General Hospital overseeing Patient Experience, construction, system capacity management and the EVMS partnership.
Prior to her time with Sentara, Anna served as Policy Director in the office of a former governor, Manager of State Government Affairs with strategic government relations consulting firm Troutman Sanders LLP, and Director of Government Relations and Health Policy for Virginia Commonwealth University Health System.
Ms. James serves as Treasurer for the Virginia Foundation of Community College Education, is a Trustee at the Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art, and she is a member of Virginia Tech’s Board of Visitors.
Anna received her master’s degree from Virginia Commonwealth University and her bachelor’s degree from Virginia Tech.
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.
Regina Milteer, MD, FAAP, 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
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.
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.
Augustus A. Petticolas, Jr., DDS, is a practicing dentist who has served as President of the Lynchburg Dental Society and President of the Virginia Board of Dentistry.
Dr. Petticolas is active in the Lynchburg community and currently serves on the Boards of the Centra Health Foundation, the Bank of the James, and The Free Clinic of Central Virginia. Previously, he served on the Board of Directors of Centra Health, and as President of Churches for Urban Ministry.
Dr. Petticolas was instrumental in the development of the Free Clinic of Central Virginia in 1987 and still volunteers there and serves on its Board of Directors. He has been recognized for his community service and is the recipient of the Humanitarian Award from the National Conference of Christians and Jews.
Dr. Petticolas graduated from Livingstone College and the University of Maryland School of Dentistry.
Sheldon Retchin, MD, M.S.P.H., is a physician executive with more than 20 years of chief executive experience at 2 major medical centers. First, he served as Vice President for Health Sciences and CEO of the VCU Health System at Virginia Commonwealth University. As CEO He was also Executive Vice President for Health Sciences and CEO of the Wexner Medical Center at The Ohio State University. At both VCU and Ohio State, he was responsible for all educational curricula, research and faculty affairs for all Life Science Schools, including medicine, pharmacy, nursing, dentistry and allied health. At Ohio State, in addition to the above, he also was responsible for the schools of public health and veterinary medicine.
As CEO of the VCU Health System, Dr. Retchin was also President of Virginia Premier, a provider-sponsored Medicaid health maintenance organization, that became the 2nd largest Medicaid HMO in the Commonwealth and was highly ranked nationally. Under his leadership, the VCU Health System received the prestigious 2014 AHA-McKesson Quest for Quality Prize from the American Hospital Association and was ranked the #1 hospital/health system in Virginia by US News & World Report.
Dr. Retchin has published more than 100 articles on the costs, quality, and outcomes of care, on issues concerning managed Medicare and Medicaid, the healthcare workforce, and the configuration of health insurance networks. His early work as the Co-Principal Investigator for the National Medicare Competition Demonstration was among the first evaluations of managed Medicare.
Dr. Retchin has had numerous federal and state appointments, including appointment by the Secretary of Health and Human Services in 2007 to the Council on Graduate Medical Education, the federal body responsible for oversight of the nation’s graduate medical programs. In 2010, he was appointed by the U.S. Comptroller General as Vice Chair of the National Health Care Workforce Commission, established by the Affordable Care Act. In 2015 and in 2018, the U.S. Comptroller General appointed him as one of 17 Commissioners on the Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission. Since 2016, Dr. Retchin has served as an independent director for Aveanna Healthcare, a public company that delivers home and hospice care in 33 states through more than 300 branch offices, to more than 40,000 children and adults. He is also an elected member of the Board of Directors for the National Association for Home Care and Hospice.
Dr. Retchin has 3 degrees (BA, MD, MSPH) from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he was also a Robert Wood Johnson Clinical Scholar. He is a Board Certified Internist and has had Added Qualifications in Geriatric Medicine. He is married to Tracy Retchin, an attorney and formerly Deputy Council to the Governor. They have 3 children, all of whom live in Manhattan.
Board of Advisors
Jean Clary Bagley, is the former President and Owner of Century 21 — Clary & Associates, Inc. She is a former board member of Virginia Power, the Virginia Business Education Partnership, and the Virginia Economic Development Partnership. Ms. Clary is also past Chairwoman of the Virginia Chamber of Commerce, former director of Virginia FREE and the Virginia Institute of Political Leadership, and past Chairman of the VCU-Community Memorial Hospital Foundation in South Hill. She has also served as Chairwoman of the Greensville County Education Foundation and has co-authored the CARES (Children are Really Extra Special) program, a business/education partnership that has mentored over 1,000 children in Greensville County and the Mecklenburg County School system.
LuAnn L. Bennett, is President/Owner of Bennett Group, a real estate service firm in Washington, DC. Bennett Group provides construction and construction management services in the Greater Washington, DC area with a growing emphasis on sustainability. A LEED accredited professional, LuAnn serves on the Governor’s Commission on Climate Change for the Commonwealth of Virginia. She is a partner in Bennett & Owens, a sports management and real estate development firm with a 30-plus year history in Washington, DC.
A long-time advocate for youth and education, she currently serves on the Board of the Directors of the National Children’s Museum and is a Board member of the Institute for Sustainable Communities. Ms. Bennett has also served on the Boards of Kingsbury Center in Washington, DC, The Potomac School Board in McLean, Virginia, which she chaired for three years, the Good Samaritan Foundation, the Advisory Board of CharityWorks, and the University of the District of Columbia.
Lawrence E. Blanchard, III, MD, is a managing partner with Dermatology Associates of Virginia. As a former president of both the Medical Society of Virginia and the Richmond Academy of Medicine, Dr. Blanchard has had the opportunity to participate locally, statewide and nationally in organized medicine, with special interests in cost containment and health care reform.
Additionally, he has served on the Board of the Medical Society of Virginia Foundation for six years, holding several leadership positions including Board Chairman of the Medical Society of Virginia Foundation (2006-2007). He was also on the Founding Board of the Richmond Academy of Medicine’s Access Now program, and volunteers to see uninsured Project Access patients in his practice.
Dr. Blanchard is a graduate of Duke University and received his medical degree and his dermatology training from Washington University in St. Louis.
Robert M. “Bob” Blue, (Former Chairman), is chair, president, and chief executive officer of Dominion Energy.
Blue became chair of the Dominion Energy board of directors in April 2021. Before becoming CEO and president in October 2020, Blue was Dominion Energy’s executive vice president and co-chief operating officer, and president-Dominion Energy Virginia, the company’s vertically integrated electric utility in Virginia and North Carolina.
Blue joined Dominion Energy in 2005 and has held a succession of services and operational executive roles since his promotion to officer in 2007, including vice president-State and Federal Affairs; senior vice president-Public Policy and Corporate Communications; senior vice president-Regulation, Law, Energy Solutions, & Policy; and president-Dominion Virginia Power.
Prior to joining Dominion Energy, Blue served as counselor to the Governor and director of policy for Virginia Governor Mark Warner and as an attorney at Hogan & Hartson.
Blue has been a board member of a wide range of community and industry organizations, including the Nuclear Energy Institute. He currently serves on the board of directors for the Edison Electric Institute and the Institute of Nuclear Power Operations. He is a member of the boards of the AEGIS Insurance Services, Inc., the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond, the Greater Washington Partnership, Sports Backers, and Communities in Schools of Virginia, as well as the University of Virginia’s Board of Visitors.
Blue is a graduate of the University of Virginia and Yale Law School. He also earned his master’s degree in business administration from the University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business.
Roger L. Boeve, co-founded Performance Food Group, a $50 billion food service distribution company, in 1988. Since his retirement, Mr. Boeve has served as Chair of the Board of Trustees of The Science Museum of Virginia, Chair of the Board of Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden and chair of Shalom Farms. He served on the Board of the Medical College of Virginia Foundation, the Virginia Commonwealth University Health System Advisory Board of Massey Cancer Center, Weil Institute of Critical Care, and founding Chair of Pauley Heart Center Advisory Board. He is currently a Board member of ChildSavers. A long-term community leader, he serves on many civic, charity and church endeavors.
Mr. Boeve received his M.B.A. from Michigan State University.
Thomas R. ‘Tom’ Byrd, Chairman, (Former Chairman) retired from Anthem in 2008 after 17 years in various management roles, including President & CEO, Anthem Virginia. Tom continues to put his leadership skills to work. In 2009, he founded Take Care Group LLC, a leadership-advisory firm. Tom recently completed ten years of service on the VHCF Board. Tom is also past president of the board of directors for Crossover Healthcare Ministry, which provides free health care to the low-income uninsured in greater Richmond. Tom’s additional current and past Board service includes Corvesta Inc (Chair), Delta Dental of Virginia, Riverside Health Systems (Vice Chair), Greater Richmond Fit4Kids (co-founder and past Chair), FeedMore, Virginia Tech Foundation, and Virginia Tech’s Pamplin Accounting Advisory Board. In addition to supporting Virginia Tech, he has demonstrated his passion for education by serving as a mentor in local schools and serving on the Richmond Regional Early Childhood Leadership Council. Before joining Anthem, he was a senior manager with the public accounting firm KPMG LLP. He earned a BS in business from Virginia Tech.
Christopher M. Carney (Immediate Past Chairman) has 35 years of leadership experience in healthcare administration. He most recently served as the Chief Executive Officer and President of Diamond Healthcare Corporation and Chief Executive Officer of the Virginia Eye Institute. Prior to that, Mr. Carney served in a variety of leadership positions within the Bon Secours Health System for 24 years, which culminated in his role as the President and CEO for 9 years. During that time, he was recognized with the Virginia Hospital and Healthcare Association’s Distinguished Service Award.
Since his retirement in 2016, he enjoys serving as a consultant and community volunteer. Over the years, Mr. Carney has been active on the Boards of Directors of many local healthcare organizations, including the Richmond Memorial Health Foundation, Crossover Healthcare Ministry, and the American Heart Association. He most recently served on the Westminster Canterbury Richmond Foundation.
Mr. Carney holds a Masters in Healthcare Administration (MHA) and undergraduate degrees in business administration and psychology from St. Louis University.
Mark Clark, MD, MPH, is a retired cardiologist. Dr. Clark earned both his Doctor of Medicine and his Masters in Public Health from Harvard University and received his Bachelor of Arts from Columbia University. Dr. Clark is past President of Tidewater Heart Specialists, Inc.
Board certified in cardiovascular disease and internal medicine, Dr. Clark has long been active in the medical community, including serving as Chairman, Department of Medicine, and Chair of the Divisions of Cardiology and Critical Care Medicine at the Sentara Hampton General Hospital. Dr. Clark has previously served on the Board of the Community Free Clinic of Newport News and is a volunteer physician at the clinic.
Jean Cunningham, (Former Chairman), retired from Alcoa in 2001 where she had been Director of Arbitration and then Vice President of Human Resources for the business unit of Alcoa, formerly a part of the Reynolds Metals Company. For years, she served as a labor and personnel attorney for Reynolds Metals Company.
A former member of the Virginia House of Delegates (1986-1998), she was a key figure on both the Health, Welfare & Institutions and Appropriations Committees. Ms. Cunningham has served on the boards of numerous organizations, including Virginia State University’s Board of Visitors, the State Social Services Board, the Virginia Poverty Law Center, the Civil Rights Memorial Foundation board, and the State Council for Higher Education (SCHEV). She is also a member of the Links, Inc. and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., public-service organizations.
Ms. Cunningham has received numerous awards, including the YWCA Outstanding Woman of the Year Award in Law, the 1998 Lifetime Achievement Award from the Virginia Legislative Black Caucus, the Dominion Power Strong Men and Women Award, Virginia State Conference of the NAACP Lifetime Achievement Award and the Advocate of the Year Award from the Virginians Against Handgun Violence. Ms. Cunningham is a graduate of Virginia State University and Howard University School of Law.
Ben J. Davenport, Jr., is the Chairman of First Piedmont Corporation, a regional waste hauling and disposal company, and Davenport Energy, a regional petroleum supplier.
He is a member of the Board of Directors of the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research and sits on the Board of MBC. Ben is also the Vice-Chair of the GoVa Board.
A graduate of Hargrave Military Academy and Virginia Tech, he resides in Pittsylvania County, Virginia with his wife Betty. His local volunteer commitments include serving on the Boards of Hargrave Military Academy and the Future of the Piedmont Foundation. He is a former Rector of the Board of Visitors of Virginia Tech.
John F. Fick, III, retired as the President and CEO of J. F. Fick, Inc., an Anheuser-Busch Distributor to the Fredericksburg area since 1936. Mr. Fick serves on the Boards of the Virginia Military Institute Foundation, the Community Foundation of the Rappahannock River Region, the Lloyd F. Moss Free Clinic, and the Fredericksburg Baptist Church.
A licensed pharmacist, Mr. Fick helped found the Moss Free Clinic and has devoted significant expertise and time volunteering there and raising money for it. In 2005, he chaired its successful $10 million capital campaign for a new building.
Mr. Fick has received numerous awards for leadership and community service, including the “Business of the Year” Award and the “Good Will” Award from the Fredericksburg Chamber of Commerce, and the Prince B. Woodard Leadership Award for Community Service.
Mr. Fick is a graduate of the Virginia Military Institute and holds an advanced degree in Pharmacology from the Medical College of Virginia.
May H. Fox, is a Government Relations Consultant for numerous clients doing business within Virginia. She specializes in providing representation of health care, environmental concerns, and other business interests before the Virginia General Assembly and Executive agencies. Ms. Fox currently serves on the Virginia Commonwealth University Health System Authority Board. She is a former Trustee of the Westminster Canterbury Management Board, the Westminster Canterbury Foundation Board, the Bon Secours Richmond Health System Foundation Board, the Board of Directors for Greater Richmond Chamber of Commerce (GRCC), Leadership Metro Richmond, GRCC’s Youth Matters Advisory Board, and the Virginia League for Planned Parenthood.
Ms. Fox was the founding Executive Director of the Virginia Association of Health Plans and also served in Governor L. Douglas Wilder’s cabinet, first as Deputy Secretary of Administration and then as Deputy Secretary of Health and Human Resources. She received her bachelor’s degree at Sweet Briar College and her Master’s from Boston College.
Kester S. Freeman, is the retired founding Chief Executive Officer of Prisma Health (created by a merger between Palmetto Health and Greenville Hospital), the largest integrated healthcare delivery system in South Carolina. Prisma Health includes a regional teaching hospital and tertiary center, an acute care hospital, a heart hospital, a children’s hospital, and a psychiatric hospital.
As President of KSF Consulting, Mr. Freeman serves as a healthcare consultant to Prisma Health and to the law firm of Ogletree Deakins Nash Smoak & Stewart, PC. He also serves as chair of the South Carolina Research Foundation Board and as a member of the Prisma Health Foundation Board. He previously served as a member of the American Hospital Association’s Mental Health Task Force, as founding chair of the South Carolina Hospital Association’s Universal Coverage Work Group, as a member of the Sabal Medical, Inc., Board, as a member and chair of the finance committee of the Virginia Healthcare Foundation Board, as chair of the Premier, Inc., blog group, and as a member of the advisory committee of Perfect Select, Inc.
As Chief Executive Officer of Prisma Health, Mr. Freeman spearheaded the creation and development of Health Sciences South Carolina – an inclusive, collaborative, public-private partnership that brings together universities, health systems, and other partners committed to the vision of using health science education and research to drive economic growth and improved health status throughout the state. He served as founding chair of the Health Sciences South Carolina board, which is currently comprised of Prisma Health, the Medical University of South Carolina, Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System, the University of South Carolina and Clemson University.
Mr. Freeman is the recipient of the South Carolina Hospital Association’s 1998 Distinguished Service Award, its highest honor presented to individuals who have contributed significantly to health care in South Carolina. He also received the Association’s Merit Award for Distinguished Service. He served as chair of the South Carolina Hospital Association board, as chair of the Carolina HealthChoice Network board, as a member of the American Hospital Association’s Organizational Ethics Task Force, as a COTH representative to the Association of American Medical Colleges Assembly, as a member of Duke University’s Alumni Association board and as president of that university’s Hospital and Health Administration Alumni Association, and as chair of the H. Carl Rowland Memorial Library board of The Duke Endowment. He also served for seven years as a member of the Premier, Inc. board of directors and as chair of their audit committee, as a member of the National Committee on Quality Health Care board, and as a delegate to the Academy for International Health Studies.
In his role as a community leader, Mr. Freeman served as founding chair and member of the executive committee of the City Center Partnership board, chair of the United Way of the Midlands board, as a member of the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce executive committee and board, as chair of the Greater Columbia Chamber of Commerce board, and as a founding member of the Midlands Business Leadership Group executive committee and board.
Mr. Freeman earned his bachelor’s degree in Economics from the College of William and Mary where he also minored in Sociology. He earned his master’s degree in Hospital Administration from Duke University. He began his career in health care administration as an officer in the US Navy’s Medical Service Corp and at the Greenville Hospital System. He subsequently served as executive vice president at The Fairfax Hospital Association, now known as INOVA, and later returned to South Carolina where he served as chief executive officer and president of Richland Memorial Hospital. In that capacity he helped spearhead the merger in 1998 of Richland Memorial Hospital and Baptist Healthcare System, Inc., into what is now known as Palmetto Health.
Mr. Freeman received his B.A. in economics from the College of William and Mary, and his Master’s in hospital administration from Duke University.
Richard L. Grier, (Former Chairman), retired in 2020 as an attorney at the Richmond, Virginia law firm, Thompson McMullan, P.C. He also serves on the Board of Directors of Least of These Ministries and Change the World RVA. He was a former board member of the Westminster Canterbury Foundation. Mr. Grier is a graduate of Duke University and the University of North Carolina Law School.
Ellen McCloy Hall, is the former President of the Mobil Foundation and Manager of the Corporate and Community Affairs Department. Before her career at Mobil Corporation, she held the position of Assistant to the President of CBS News. Ms. McCloy Hall also has served on the boards of Wolf Trap and Marymount University. Now in retirement, she is active in various local community and church endeavors. She received her bachelor’s degree from Smith College.
Charlie W. Hill, retired as EVP, Human Resources of Landmark Media Enterprises LLC formerly Landmark Communications, Inc. His retirement ended more than 40 years of progressive leadership and managerial experience in the telecommunications, business services, shipbuilding, chemical and media industries. He is co-founder and President of the Hampton Roads Prostate Health Forum and a founding Board member of the Charlie W. and Golden Bethune Hill Community Health Clinic (formerly the Community Free Clinic of Newport News), named in recognition of him and his wife’s lifetime contributions. He has been an active board member of several civic and business groups, including the Board of Directors of the Crispus Attucks Cultural Center, the Corporate Advisory Board of Darden Graduate School of Business at the University of Virginia, the INROADS Mid-Atlantic Regional Board of Directors, and the Salvation Army Adult Rehabilitation Advisory Council of Hampton Roads, among many other civic endeavors.
Mr. Hill also is a former member of the Hampton Roads Health Coalition Board of Directors and a member of the National Association of Minorities in Cable Hall of Fame. He was awarded the Honorary Associate Degree of Humane Letters from the Thomas Nelson Community College in Hampton, Virginia in 2011, and is a CIVIC Leadership Institute graduate. In addition, the City of Hampton, VA presented him with the Distinguished Citizen Award for his commitment to the City.
Charlie holds an MBA from Hampton University, a Bachelor’s in economics from Virginia State College, and is an active member of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. He has served as a Trustee and Elder at Carver Memorial Presbyterian Church in Newport News, Virginia, a member of the Virginia Peninsula Chapter of the 100 Black Men of America, co-chair of the International 100 Black Men of America Health and Wellness Committee, and International chair of the 100 Black Men of America Prostate Cancer Initiative. He has received several awards and has been featured in numerous publications for his work in prostate cancer awareness and education.
Mr. Hill received the Virginia State University President’s Medal, was conferred the degree of Doctor of Humane Letters, and has completed eight years of service as a member of the university’s Board of Visitors, serving as the Board’s lead on updating the Strategic Plan (and serving as vice rector for a period). He also received the Hampton University Presidential Citizenship Award Citation, and is a 2020 Community Builders Award recipient from the Hampton Roads Community Action Program.
Charlie was honored by Truist Foundation at the Sentara Brock Cancer Center dedication ceremony for the Inspirational Greenwall in the new Healing Garden. His cancer history includes being diagnosed with Prostate Cancer in 2002, followed by a recurrence a few years later and a new diagnosis of Lymphoma in 2011.
Ralph L. Howell, Jr., DDS, MAGD, (Former Chairman), is the owner of RL Howell DDS & Associates, a family operated dental practice providing the greater Suffolk community with comprehensive general dentistry. Using insight from his own practice, Dr. Howell teamed up with two dentists to form Atlantic Dental Care, PLC, a hybrid group practice comprised of over 130 dentists serving Hampton Roads. Dr. Howell is a past president of the Virginia Dental Association (VDA), and is on the ADA Council on Dental Practice. Currently, he represents the VDA as a delegate to the American Dental Association (ADA). Previously, Dr. Howell served on the strategic planning committee for the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine. He serves on the boards of the Virginia Dental Association Foundation; and the Colonial Virginia Council Executive Board for the Boy Scouts of America. Currently, Dr. Howell serves as the Finance Committee Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Obici Healthcare Foundation; and is a member and past president of the Suffolk Rotary Club.
Dr. Howell received his BS in Chemistry from the College of William and Mary and his DDS with honors from the Medical College of Virginia. In June 2012, he was awarded the Master’s from the Academy of General Dentistry. Dr. Howell has been honored as the Western Tidewater Free Clinic’s Volunteer of the Year, Richard F. Simmons Memorial Award by the Tidewater Dental Association, and the Emanuel W. Michaels Distinguished Dentist Award by the Virginia Dental Association.
Anderson Hughes, retired in 2016 as Regional President of the Central Virginia Region of BB&T after a 38-year career in the banking business. He joined BB&T as a Regional President in 2003 through the merger with First Virginia Banks, Inc. At the time of the merger, he was the President and Chief Executive Officer of First Virginia Bank-Colonial and a member of its Board of Directors.
Mr. Hughes has been involved with many civic and charitable organizations over the years. He is presently a member of the Finance Committee of St. Mary’s Episcopal Church and a member of the Board of Christopher Newport University’s Education Foundation.
Mr. Hughes is a former Trustee and Treasurer of the Virginia Health Care Foundation, a former Trustee of the Virginia Foundation for Independent Colleges, a former member of the Board of Visitors of Christopher Newport University, a former Treasurer and Director of the Greater Richmond Chapter of the American Red Cross, a former Chairman and Board member of the John Tyler Community College Foundation and a former Board member for Junior Achievement of Central Virginia, the Steward School Education Foundation and the Executive Advisory Council of the University of Richmond’s Robins School of Business. Mr. Hughes is also a former member of the Vestry of St. Mary’s Episcopal Church.
Mr. Hughes holds a B.S. degree from the University of Virginia and is a graduate of the Virginia Bankers School of Bank Management and the American Bankers Stonier Graduate School of Banking.
Clarion E. Johnson, MD, (Former Chairman), retired as Medical Global Director for Exxon Mobil, but serves as a Consultant. He is on the Board of Advisors for Yale School of Public Health.
A cardiologist and internist, Dr. Johnson has received a significant number of awards and fellowships, and has published extensively. He is a diplomat of the American Board of Internal Medicine in the subspecialty Cardiovascular Diseases as well as Occupational Medicine. In January of 2020 he was given a lifetime appointment as a National Associate to the National Academy of Medicine for his work for the Institute of Medicine
Dr. Johnson is a graduate of Sarah Lawrence College and the Yale School of Medicine.
Jane Norwood Kusiak, (Former Chair), Ms. Kusiak served the Commonwealth of Virginia in senior leadership and policy positions in the legislative and executive branches for over thirty years: including the House Appropriations Committee, the Governor’s Office, the Joint Commission on Health Care and the Council on Virginia’s Future.
She has also served on a number of boards, including Retreat Hospital, Virginia Health Information, the Advisory Board for the University of Virginia School of Nursing, Virginia Premier and is currently the VHCF representative on the Virginia Center for Health Innovation.
In 1992, Ms. Kusiak received the Outstanding Woman in Government Award from the Richmond Metropolitan Area YWCA; and in 2009, she and the Council received an Excellence in Virginia Government Award from the Virginia Commonwealth University’s Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs.
Ms. Kusiak holds a Bachelor of Science degree in hospital administration from Ithaca College and a Master of Arts degree from St. Louis University.
George A. Levicki, DDS, (Former Chairman), is the former President and Chief Executive Officer of Delta Dental of Virginia. He is the former Chairman for the Delta Dental Plans Association and continues to serve on the Board of Directors and is currently serving as the Chairman of the E-Business & Technology Committee. Delta Dental is a national organization of member plans in all 50 states and Puerto Rico, who make up the nation’s leading dental benefits provider with enrollment of 68 million Americans. He is a member of the American Dental Association and serves on the Board of Directors for Corvesta, Inc., OneMind Health, Inc., Corvesta Life Insurance Company, Revolv, Inc., Delta Dental of Virginia Foundation, Encara, Inc. and Healthentic, Inc.
He serves his community by serving on the Roanoke Chamber of Commerce Business Council and the Carilion Executive Health Care Forum. Dr. Levicki received his B.S. in Biology from Virginia Tech and his graduate education from the Medical College of Virginia School of Dentistry at Virginia Commonwealth University.
Lemuel E. Lewis, is president of LocalWeather.com, a web-based privately held media company he founded in 2008. He served as executive vice president and chief financial officer of Landmark Communications, Inc., a privately-held media and broadcasting company, from 2000 to 2006. Lewis was appointed to the board of the Federal Reserve Bank in 2004, where he served as deputy chairman from 2007 to 2008, chairman of the audit committee from 2005 to 2008, and chairman from 2009 until his retirement. He currently serves on the boards of Owens & Minor, Markel Corporation and Dollar Tree, Inc. Mr. Lewis holds both a B.A. in economics and an M.B.A. from the University of Virginia.
Brian Macnamara, is the Senior Advisor to Host Hotels & Resorts CFO, and was previously the Senior Vice President, Principal Financial Officer and Corporate Controller (Ret. 2020).
Mr. Macnamara has more than 30 years of experience in accounting, finance and real estate. During his more than 25-year-career at Host, he held a number of finance positions with increasing responsibilities as the company grew from 23 domestic hotels to an S&P 500 corporation with a market value of $18+ billion. Prior to Host, Brian worked at the Securities & Exchange Commission and Deloitte & Touche.
Brian is on the Board for the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay and serves as its Vice Chairman. He previously held the position of Treasurer and Chair of its Finance Committee. He is a graduate of Virginia Tech and has a Master’s degree in Natural Resources from Tech’s Center for Leadership in Global Sustainability.
Carter Melton, Jr., (Former Chairman), is the former President and CEO of Rockingham Memorial Hospital, a position he held for 30 years until his retirement in 2008. He also served as President of the Rockingham Memorial Hospital Foundation, from 1974-2008, and was a member of Virginia’s Health Reform Commission, created by Governor Kaine to improve access to competent, affordable healthcare for all Virginians.
A recipient of the Distinguished Service Award from the Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association and the Businessman of the Year award from the Harrisonburg-Rockingham Chamber of Commerce. He also received the Silver Hope Award, the National MS Society’s highest honor.
He served on the Board of Directors of the MCV Foundation, is the former Chairman of the Board of Rockingham Group Insurance Company, the former Chairman of the Board of both the Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association and the Voluntary Hospitals of America-Central Atlantic, Inc. and was a longtime member of the Board of Visitors of Virginia Military Institute. Mr. Melton received his BA from Virginia Military Institute and his MHA from the Medical College of Virginia.
Senior Justice William C. Mims, Senior Justice William C. Mims was a full-time member of the Supreme Court of Virginia from 2010 until 2022. From 1992 until 2010, Senior Justice Mims served successively as a member of the Virginia House of Delegates and State Senate, and as Chief Deputy Attorney General and Attorney General of Virginia. He grew up in Harrisonburg and was educated in the Harrisonburg public schools. He received a degree in History from the College of William and Mary, where he also did graduate work in Public Administration. He has law degrees from George Washington University and Georgetown University.
During his years in the General Assembly, Senior Justice Mims worked as an attorney in Leesburg. Prior to practicing law, he served as Chief of Staff to U.S. Representative Frank Wolf and as Deputy Legislative Director to Senator Paul Trible. He has been an adjunct professor at Antonin Scalia Law School (GMU) and Appalachian School of Law.
He presently teaches American Studies and Leadership at Christopher Newport University, where he also directs the pre-law program.
Bruce Randolph Murray, is the president of Greenbrier Management, LP in Charlottesville, Virginia. Ms. Murray is the former Chairman of the Charlottesville Free Clinic Board. She is active on several Charlottesville area Boards including the Women’s Initiative Board and The Volunteer Community Board for the James River Boys and Girls Club of Central Virginia. She is Vice President of the Crystal Downs Country Club in Frankfort, Michigan.
She formally served on the Martha Jefferson Hospital Health Services Board, and the Central Virginia Chapter National Multiple Sclerosis Society Advisory Board and the Advisory Board of Habitat for Humanity in Central Virginia. In addition, Ms. Murray was one of the original founders of the Emily Couric Leadership Forum.
Ms. Murray was the co-recipient of the Silver Hope Award in 1988, and the Shenandoah Chapter of the National Society Fund Raising Executives (NSFRE) Volunteer Philanthropist of the Year in 1999. The Junior League of Charlottesville recognized her as the recipient of the 2005 Emily Couric Community Advocacy Award. In April 2008, the American Heart Association honored Ms. Murray for commitment to community with the William “Billy” Getchell Award.
Ms. Murray is a graduate of Marjorie Webster Junior College with an Associate in Arts Degree.
Philip M. Reilly, (Former Chairman), retired as Chief Financial Officer of the National Catholic Educational Association. A resident of Fairfax City, he is past Chairman of the Virginia Chamber of Commerce Business Healthcare Task Force; past Vice Chairman of the Northern Region of the Virginia Chamber of Commerce; past Chairman of the Fairfax County Chamber of Commerce; and winner of the Washington Post Cup as Citizen of the Year. Mr. Reilly graduated from King’s College in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania; and received his MBA from the Stern School of Business at New York University. He has served as Chairman of the Arts Council of Fairfax County and is a past Chairman of the Board of the Medmarc Insurance Group. As a lieutenant in the Marine Corps, he served as an infantry platoon commander in Vietnam.
Gordon Smith, retired from McGuireWoods LLP, an international law firm based in Richmond, Virginia. While with the firm, Mr. Smith specialized in the areas of healthcare, corporate finance and securities, mergers, acquisitions, and securities compliance and enforcement. He represented the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Plan in Virginia from 1970 until his retirement in 2015.
Mr. Smith is a former Chairman of the Council of Virginia Institute of Marine Science, and former Board member of the Foundation of the Virginia Institute of Marine Science. He is also a member of the American Law Institute, and a Fellow of the American Bar Association. In addition, he has served on the Boards of Directors of Trigon Healthcare, Inc.; Scott & Stringfellow Financial, Inc.; and the Virginia Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Smith also served as General Counsel to Signet Banking Corporation, and as President of the Virginia Bar Association.
In 2012, Mr. Smith was named the “Richmond Health Care Lawyer of the Year,” by Best Lawyers, and has been named one of the “Best Lawyers in America” by Woodward/White, Inc. for the past 25 years. He is a magna cum laude graduate of Harvard Law School, and has a B.A. from the University of Virginia.
Thomas G. Snead, Jr., (Former Chairman), is the retired president and CEO of the Southeast Region for Anthem, Inc.
Mr. Snead joined Trigon Healthcare, Inc. (acquired by Anthem in 2002) in 1985 and held several financial positions until 1990. Mr. Snead was appointed Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer in 1990 and was elected President and Chief Operating Officer in 1997. In 1999, Mr. Snead was elected to the Trigon Board of Directors and named President and Chief Executive Officer. In 2000, he was elected Chairman of the Board. Before joining the company, Mr. Snead served on the staff of public accounting firm KPMG, LLP and was financial executive for several small firms in the Richmond area.
In addition to having served as Chair of the Virginia Health Care Foundation Board of Trustees, Mr. Snead serves as director on the following boards: Virginia Commonwealth University School of Business Foundation, Atlantic Union Bank, Tredegar Corporation and CSA Medical Inc.
Mr. Snead earned a BS in Accounting from Virginia Commonwealth University in 1976.
Karla M. Sorensen, spent the last 22 years as Vice-President of both Alban Development Corporation and Sorensen Construction Corporation in Woodbridge, Virginia. The companies are residential land developers, homebuilders, and residential marketing specialists. Certified as a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, Ms. Sorensen has served on numerous community, medical, and educational boards including the Board of Visitors of Marymount University; the Virginia Hospital Centers, Visiting Nurse Home Care, Inc., the Arlington Health Ventures Group, Inc.; and the University of Virginia, School of Nursing Advisory Board. Ms. Sorensen is a graduate of Marymount University, the University of Virginia, and the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
Sally W. Southard is a retired pediatric nurse practitioner who worked for Carilion Children’s for more than 38 years, the last 23 in the Pediatric Pulmonology and Allergy Clinic in Roanoke, Virginia. She was an instructor at the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine as well as for the University of Virginia School of Nursing. In addition to her work at Carilion, Ms. Southard was a clinical preceptor for the Radford University School of Nursing. She was a member of the Board of Directors of the Virginia Asthma Coalition.
Ms. Southard retired from the Salem City School Board after 16 years of service, 14 years as Chairman. She has served in leadership roles of the Greater Blue Ridge Chapter of JDRF and now serves as of the JDRF Virginia Mission Board. Sally is the Past President of the board of directors of CHIP of the Roanoke Valley.
Sally received her B.A. in Psychology from Roanoke College and obtained her BSN and MSN with a pediatric nurse practitioner certificate from the University of Virginia.
James M. Turner, Jr., retired as Chief Executive Officer and Board Chairman of J.M. Turner & Company, Inc. He earned his B.S. in Commerce from Washington and Lee University and received his J.D. from W&L’s School of Law. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserves from 1967 to 1973.
Mr. Turner was a Trustee of Home Town Bank and a Trustee Emeritus of Carilion Health System. Mr. Turner has served on a number of boards, including Virginia Foundation for Independent Colleges, and the Advisory Board of BB&T. In addition to participating in many other civic activities, he is past President of the Western Virginia Land Trust, Valley Beautiful, the Roanoke Valley Chamber of Commerce, the United Way of Roanoke Valley, the Science Museum of Western Virginia and the Roanoke Chapter of Trout Unlimited. He is past Chairman of the Roanoke Regional Airport Commission, the Roanoke Civic Center Commission, the Roanoke Neighborhood Partnership, and the Roanoke City School Board.
Other interests include fly fishing, hiking, learning to paint with watercolors and birding.
Last Updated on October 15, 2024