Celebrating Children’s Hospital of Richmond
Providing the children of Richmond and the region with a hospital built for their specific needs has been my goal since becoming president of VCU and VCU Health 11 years ago. As a university and health system leader, and as a parent, I am adamant about quality care for all children. And as a society, it is our moral obligation to ensure the well-being of our youngest and most vulnerable members.
A year ago, Children’s Hospital of Richmond celebrated a milestone when it broke ground for its pediatric inpatient treatment facility. At the event, I spoke of our goal to become a leader in pediatric treatment and care. My colleagues and I pledged to work with communities in Richmond and across Virginia to deliver world-class comprehensive healthcare to our youngest patients.
As construction on CHoR’s inpatient facility progresses, our work to treat and care for our youngest patients continues. Today, we celebrate CHoR’s well-earned designation by U.S. News & World Report as one of the nation’s top 50 children’s hospitals. In addition, CHoR also received recognition for excellence in the specialties of cancer, nephrology, pulmonology and urology.
Because of our exemplary community of caregivers, clinicians and staff, CHoR is a great place for the commonwealth’s youngest patients to receive specialized treatment and care. They embody the best of humanity in their drive to serve all children, their families and caregivers through world-class care, treatment and education.
I am proud of the innovative spirit of CHoR caregivers, clinicians and staff. At the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, CHoR team members pivoted from onsite care to remote care through telehealth, home visits and caregiver education. Because of this, our patients are able to receive timely care away from healthcare facilities. And as we return to clinical settings, their work to ensure safe and welcoming environments to our young patients, their families and caregivers continues to amaze me.
As CHoR’s CEO, Elias Neujahr’s leadership and dedication to pediatric health and wellness is admirable. His encouragement of CHoR team members to be innovative and develop solutions to problems that appear to be insurmountable has greatly improved the lives of countless children.
I am also grateful for Coley Wortham’s service as chairman of the Children’s Hospital Foundation. Coley’s dogged determination and work for over 40 years for the children of our community has poised us for another century of service to our youngest patients. With CEO, Lauren Moore’s leadership, I look forward to witnessing CHoR’s continued rise to become the national leader in pediatric health for all children. The intersection between the hospital and the foundation reflects the power that philanthropy can have in fueling the success of our efforts for children.
As we enter CHoR’s 100th year of caring for children in Richmond and the region, I am humbled by the tireless work of my colleagues. They are essential to humanity and my respect for them is unwavering.
Categories 21st-Century University, Community, Health