Patients Come First
The Patients Come First Podcast is presented by the Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association. Each episode will feature people in the health care community whose work is focused on enhancing patient experience, whether through direct care, medical research, or other efforts. Send questions, commen...
Recent Episodes
Oct. 26, 2026
Patients Come First Podcast - Dana Weston Graves
This episode of VHHA’s Patients Come First podcast features Dana Weston Graves, Senior Vice President and Acute Care Market President for Sentara Health’s Southeast Market – Norfolk. She joins us for a conversation about her career and leadership journey, Sentara’s regional approach to healthcare delivery, navigating a changing healthcare and policy environment, workplace culture and Sentara’s recognition as one of America’s Best Workplaces for Women, and lessons on leadership, mentorship, and p
Oct. 19, 2026
Patients Come First Podcast - Morgan McDowell
This episode of VHHA’s Patients Come First podcast features Dr. Morgan McDowell, President of the Virginia Council of Nurse Practitioners and Director of Advanced Practice Provider Education at Centra Health. She joins us for a conversation about her career and clinical work, the important role nurse practitioners play in patient care, healthcare workforce challenges, expanding access to care in rural communities, and advocacy priorities for NPs in Virginia. Send questions, comments, feedback, o
Oct. 11, 2026
Patients Come First Podcast - Kevin Key
This episode of VHHA’s Patients Come First podcast features Kevin Key, a Virginia man who received a life-saving living-donor kidney transplant at VCU Health's Hume-Lee Transplant Center. The conversation covers Kevin's history with kidney disease, a frightening health crisis that landed him on emergency dialysis, a living organ donation from his sister-in-law, National Minority Donor Awareness Month, and more. Send questions, comments, feedback, or guest suggestions to pcfpodcast@vhha.com or co
Oct. 3, 2026
Patients Come First Podcast - Allison Held
This episode of VHHA’s Patients Come First podcast features Allison Held, Director of the VCU Health Medical-Legal Partnership (MLP). She joins us for a conversation about the work of the MLP at the intersection of health care and legal services to help patients navigate address legal issues that can impact health and quality of life, as well as efforts to expand the MLP framework in Virginia. Send a message to MLP@vcuhealth.org to learn more and get involved. Visit this link to join the MLP.Sen
Sept. 27, 2026
Patients Come First Podcast - Boryana Peeva
This episode of VHHA’s Patients Come First podcast features Boryana Peeva, an intensive care unit nurse at Sentara Northern Virginia Medical Center and a lifelong adventurer. She joins us to discuss a personal journey that’s taken her from her homeland in Southeastern Europe to a clinical career in America, and how a chance patient care encounter gave added meaning to her trip to Mount Everest Base Camp. Send questions, comments, feedback, or guest suggestions to pcfpodcast@vhha.com or contact u
Sept. 20, 2026
Patients Come First Podcast - Leora Brown
This episode of VHHA’s Patients Come First podcast features Leora Brown, BSN, RN, CNOR, Program Manager for Product Implementation at Sentara Health. She joins us for a conversation about her work on the successful advocacy effort that resulted in a state law being passed to require surgical smoke evacuation systems in hospital operating rooms to protect healthcare professionals. Send questions, comments, feedback, or guest suggestions to pcfpodcast@vhha.com or contact us on X (Twitter) or Insta