Dear Students, Faculty, and Staff:
As we have successfully secured all required approvals, most notably from the Commonwealth of Virginia and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, today marks a transformational moment in the storied history of our great institution with the official establishment and first day of Macon & Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences at Â鶹´«Ã½. This special moment is a direct result of nearly three years of unwavering collaboration, true partnership, and hard work at both the individual and collective levels across our campus and the community.
In addition to the exemplary efforts of those on campus, especially our world-class faculty and dedicated staff who participated in visioning, planning, and implementing this critical initiative, there are a number of community advocates who championed and invested in this worthwhile endeavor, such as Joan Brock and Dennis and Jan Ellmer. We are also deeply appreciative of the strong support of Governor Glenn Youngkin and members of the General Assembly, as well as Sentara Health President and Chief Executive Officer Dennis Matheis, his Board of Directors, and his senior leadership team.
Today is just the beginning of our continued journey that will mark lasting impact, sustained improvement, and positive momentum in the fundamental areas of education, research, and clinical care throughout our region and the Commonwealth. As the largest academic health sciences center in the state, we offer more programs, enroll more students, and produce more graduates.
This is just the start of our combined efforts to ensure a healthier and stronger community for generations to come. I look forward to all that we will accomplish together in the months and years ahead, but today we celebrate our tremendous success and enjoy this historic moment!
With Monarch Pride,
Brian O. Hemphill, Ph.D.
President