WINCHESTER CARDIOLOGY - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Vice President, Medical Group Finance
Amanda Buckles-Barash, MS, PMP, joined Valley Health as the vice president of Medical Group Finance in August 2021. Buckles-Barash has over 10 years of finance and healthcare management experience. Prior to joining Valley Health, she was director of finance for Indiana University Health West Central Region. While there, she served as director of finance for three hospitals and a multispecialty physician group. Buckles-Barash also led development of business plans and proposals to establish new clinical services, evaluated staffing needs, and maximized revenue opportunities for the region.
Buckles-Barash has expertise in analyzing and reporting on complex financial systems and developing financial and operational models and projections. She earned her Master of Science in Technology, Leadership & Innovation from Purdue University and has a Bachelor of Science in accounting from Indiana Wesleyan University. She also earned a certificate of Entrepreneurship/Entrepreneurial Studies from Harvard Business School.
Amanda is a Nurse Practitioner with the Valley Health Metabolic & Bariatric Program. She started her career as a nurse with Winchester Medical Center in 2007-2013 as a Registered Nurse on various units within the hospital, including bariatrics. She graduated from Shenandoah University after completing the Nurse Practitioner program in 2013. She has experience as a Nurse Practitioner in orthopedics where she worked for 5 years and in urgent care for 2 years. Her primary focus with our program will be preoperative and postoperative care of our surgical patients, and assisting in the medical weight loss program. She looks forward to assisting patients through their weight loss journey with the Program.
Job Titles:
- Nurse Practitioner
- Nurse Practitioner With the Valley Health Metabolic
Anne is a nurse practitioner with the Valley Health Metabolic and Bariatric Program focusing on endocrinology. She started with Valley Health in 1987 as a registered nurse on the Orthopedic unit. She has worked as charge nurse, Orthopedic Program Coordinator, nurse educator, and most recently as clinical nurse manager of the Surgical/Bariatric/Trauma unit. Anne has maintained her Certification in Orthopedic Nursing (ONC) for over 25 years. Anne did her undergraduate work at Shepherd University and George Mason University. She completed her Masters in Advanced Clinical Nursing at George Mason University in 1994. Anne graduated from Shenandoah University with her post-masters family nurse practitioner certification in December, 2019. Anne joined the Metabolic and Bariatric program in March, 2020 and works closely with Dr. Anna Krishna, endocrinologist. Her primary focus will be supporting those with diabetes, thyroid and other metabolic and endocrine disorders.
Job Titles:
- Vice President, Medical Affairs, Page Memorial Hospital and Shenandoah Memorial Hospital
Barbara Walter, MD, is the vice president of Medical Affairs for Page Memorial Hospital in Luray, Virginia, and Shenandoah Memorial Hospital in Woodstock, Virginia, and is board certified in surgery. Dr. Walter received her medical degree from the Medical College of Philadelphia. She completed her residency at Walter Reed National Medical Center in Washington, DC.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Foundation Leadership Team
Job Titles:
- Chief Operating Officer, Valley Health Medical Group, and Vice President, Valley Physician Enterprise
Brad Rogers, MHA, is chief operating officer of Valley Health Medical Group and vice president of Valley Physician Enterprise. He joined the hospital system in August 2021. Rogers has over 10 years of senior healthcare management experience with a focus on physician practice management. Prior to joining Valley Health, Rogers was vice president of operations at Lexington Medical Center in South Carolina. He was also the chief administrative officer of UCLA Health's Department of Orthopaedic Surgery in Los Angeles, California. Rogers began his healthcare career at Palmetto GBA, a Blue Cross Blue Shield of South Carolina subsidiary, where he created training programs used by Medicare contractors throughout the U.S.
During his 25-year healthcare career, Rogers has built high-performing teams to assist physician practices in maximizing patient experience and optimizing physician efficiency and productivity. Rogers has also created successful healthcare administrative and nurse practitioner fellowship programs to prepare others for healthcare service. Rogers received his Bachelor of Arts from Emmanuel College and his Master of Health Administration from Saint Louis University.
Job Titles:
- Development Manager, Western Region
Job Titles:
- Member of the Valley Health System Board of Trustees
Job Titles:
- Member of the Valley Health System Board of Trustees
Job Titles:
- Customer Service Supervisor
Job Titles:
- Member of the Executive Leadership Team
- Chief Strategy Officer and Chief of Staff for Valley Health
Chris Rucker serves as chief strategy officer and chief of staff for Valley Health. Rucker is responsible for leading the development and execution of Valley Health's strategy, operational planning and business development. In addition, he leads brand and creative strategy, overseeing marketing and communications, physician relations, and public relations in support of the organization's mission and strategic growth objectives.
As President of Valley Regional Enterprises, an operating subsidiary of Valley Health, Rucker focuses on the organization's retail, consumer focus, and ease of access initiatives and is the healthcare system's executive responsible for Urgent Care and Employer Health services, outpatient pharmacy, medical transport service, home health, certain physician joint venture activities, and is the organization's lead emissary to regions without a Valley Health Hospital presence.
Rucker's previous experience includes executive roles in emergency services and outsourced safety, logistics, and medical transportation, where his responsibilities encompassed operations, strategy, business development, marketing, and governmental relations for markets spanning multiple states in the southern US.
A former paramedic firefighter, Rucker has a bachelor's degree in Business Administration and a Master's in Health Administration. He is active in the American College of Healthcare Executives and the Society for Healthcare Strategy and Market Development. A lifelong community volunteer, examples of Rucker's service in community and non-profit organizations include the United Way, Our Health, the Red Cross, Bright Futures, the Winchester Fire and Rescue Foundation, various chambers of commerce, and the Boy Scouts of America.
Job Titles:
- Vice President of Finance and Corporate Controller for Valley Health
Christine Lowman is vice president of finance and corporate controller for Valley Health. She joined Valley Health in 1998 in the Internal Audit Department. She has served in her current role since January 2015. Prior to her current role, Christine was the Vice President and CFO for the West Region for seven years, which includes both Hampshire and War Memorial Hospitals. She has 24 years of financial accounting and auditing experience with 22 of those years spent in the healthcare industry.
Christine earned a Master of Business Administration and Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Frostburg State University, in Maryland. She is also a Certified Public Accountant and maintains active licensure in both Virginia and Maryland, and is an alumnus of the Advisory Board Fellowship Program. She is a member of several associations, including the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA), and the Healthcare Financial Management (HFMA) organization, where she has earned the Certified Healthcare Finance Professional Certification, and is an active member of the HFMA Large System Controller Council.
In addition to her interest in the healthcare industry and finance, she enjoys traveling, and spending time with family at the beach.
Dr. Reed completed his undergraduate and medical school training at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. His passion for bariatric surgery began prior to medical school when he spent two years as a bariatric surgery research coordinator at East Carolina University. While there, he witnessed the life-changing results of bariatric surgery as it applied not only to weight loss, but to our patients' overall quality of life. He then completed his General Surgery residency and a fellowship in Bariatric and Advanced Minimally Invasive Surgery at Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine in Roanoke, VA. Dr. Reed is trained in robotic and advanced minimally invasive procedures.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Valley Health System Board of Trustees
Dr. Essaff began his work as an Interventional Spine specialist after developing an interest and passion for the life-changing benefits of spinal procedures during his residency at the University of Rochester Medical Center. During his education and fellowship, Dr. Essaff was drawn to the multidisciplinary and collaborative approach that is needed to treat patients with neck and back pain as well as other painful spine conditions. Dr. Essaff has worked with thousands of patients across the region, using minimally-invasive, image guided procedures, often for patients whose pain is a barrier to doing every day, basic life activities. It was this experience, as well as his reputation for individualized, high-quality patient care that led to Dr. Essaff becoming the Medical Director for Valley Health Interventional Spine. Dr. Essaff is passionate about expanding the program in order to improve health in our community. He particularly enjoys the one-to-one time he spends with his patients and is committed to helping reduce pain in an effort to improve overall quality of life.
Dr. Lam is an interventional spine care specialist who is passionate about improving his patients' quality of life by using evidence-based medicine approach to painful spine conditions. Dr. Lam specializes in image-guided, minimally invasive procedures, offering his Valley Health patients a variety of techniques to treat back pain, neck pain, spinal fractures, and other painful spinal conditions such as arm and leg pain from spinal stenosis or disc herniation, as well as spine pain mimickers such as hip pain. Dr. Lam is a graduate of the University of Rochester School of Medicine, and then stayed at the University of Rochester to complete his residency training, serving as chief resident in his final year. He subsequently completed a nationally recognized fellowship at Virginia I-Spine Physicians, in Richmond. As a first generation college graduate in his family, Dr. Lam saw first-hand how back/neck pain and sciatica resulting from job-related manual labor affected the lives of those around him. Those experiences, as well as early exposure to the interventional spine specialty in medical school, led him to this exciting field of medicine. His procedures not only treat pain, but also can improve the everyday lives of his patients, a goal Dr. Lam is especially passionate about.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Foundation Leadership Team
Job Titles:
- Chief Human Resources Officer ( CHRO ), Joined Valley Health in 2010, and Serves on the Health System 's Executive Leadership Team.
- Member of the Society
Elizabeth (Liz) Savage, chief human resources officer (CHRO), joined Valley Health in 2010, and serves on the health system's executive leadership team.
She has more than 25 years of experience in human resources and organizational development at for-profit and not-for-profit organizations. Prior to joining Valley Health, Savage served the healthcare community as senior vice president, Human Resources, at Bon Secours Charity Health System in the Hudson Valley region of New York. Prior to that, she led workplace improvement efforts at GE Capital, Norbert Technologies, and Hyperion Software.
Savage received her Master of Science in organization development from American University/National Training Laboratory in Washington, D.C., and her undergraduate degree in business administration from the State University of New York at Albany. In addition, she has earned Lean and Myers-Briggs Type Indicator certifications. She is a member of the Society of Human Resource Management and American Society for Healthcare Human Resource Administration. She serves on the Discovery Museum Board in Winchester, and actively works in the community to develop career paths into healthcare.
Savage is a member of the Society of Human Resource Management Executive Network. She serves on the Our Health Board in Winchester, the Shenandoah Valley Workforce Development Board for the Shenandoah Valley region, and co-chairs the HR Forum for the Virginia Hospital and Healthcare Association. She actively works with high schools, community colleges and universities in the region to develop career paths into health care.
Job Titles:
- Assistant Clinical Professor VCU / MCV / Front Royal Family Practice and Multispecialty Clinic
Job Titles:
- Senior Director of Development
Job Titles:
- Residency Director - Shenandoah Valley Family Practice Residency / Clinical Professor VCU / MCV
Dr. Dennehy was raised mostly in metro Philadelphia, and got his yearning for rural and open spaces during his teen years living in Nevada. After medical school, he did his internship in Colorado. Then he spent four years in the Air Force as a "GP" medical officer - Emergency Physician, Flight Surgeon, and Primary Care Physician - with many adventures, many stories. He returned to Pennsylvania to complete residency. He practiced for almost a decade in the mountains of northern Pennsylvania, in a rural Community Health Center doing full-spectrum family medicine with obstetrics. He then opened a small non-profit Christian health center. He was involved in overseas missions, doing medical work several times in poor areas of the Caribbean. He came to the residency in Virginia in 2003, to begin full-time teaching in Family Medicine. He became the Program Director about a year later. He has completed extra training as a Medical Consultant in Natural Family Planning (NaPro Technology) and the Program Directors' Fellowship of the National Institute for Program Director Development (branch of AAFP). He continues full-spectrum Family Medicine, including hospital/ICU and Obstetrics. His presentations nationally and regionally have included medical uses of Natural Family Planning, the Hippocratic Oath, and workforce demographics.
In 2010, he was named the Family Medicine Teacher of the Year by the Virginia Academy of Family Physicians.
He lives with his wife, Kristin, and they are the homeschooling parents of four children, all of whom love living in Virginia. He is an avid reader, and enjoys running, hiking, biking, kayaking, and Church activities. Medically, he enjoys Sports Medicine, NFP, and Medical Ethics. He manages the Sports Medicine and Preventive Medicine curricula.
Job Titles:
- Program Dietitian
- Registered Dietitian
Georgeann is a Registered Dietitian who completed her BS, dietetic internship and Masters in Nutrition and Dietetics from Northern Illinois University. Her focus of study in her graduate program was obesity and eating disorders. She is currently pursuing her Doctorate in Clinical Nutrition from Kansas University Medical Center. Georgeann has worked in clinical, renal, outpatient and pediatric nutrition. She teaches part-time as an adjunct professor at Shepherd University. She is certified in Adult Weight Management. She has a passion for helping patients meet their goals through behavior change strategies.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Executive Leadership Team
- Senior Vice President, Valley Health Acute Care Hospitals, and President, Winchester Medical Center
- Winchester Medical Center President
Grady W. (Skip) Philips, III, serves as senior vice president of Valley Health Acute Care Hospitals, which includes oversight of Warren Memorial Hospital and Winchester Medical Center, and as President of Winchester Medical Center. He joined the Valley Health team in 2013 with experience as a corporate officer, chief executive, and administrator of healthcare facilities providing a continuum of services from acute care to rehabilitation and retirement communities.
Philips began his career with Riverside Health System (VA) as an administrative resident with his last role as senior vice president and COO, and he worked in various executive roles during his 20 year tenure with Riverside. He also served as administrator, COO and CEO at Houston Healthcare in Warner Robins, GA. Prior to joining Valley Health, Philips was the CEO for LifePoint Hospitals' Memorial Hospital of Martinsville and Henry County (VA).
Philips is passionate about being part of the ministry of Healthcare and making the community healthier through people and relationships. During his career, he has served in numerous community, church, civic and business organizations, including United Way, Chamber of Commerce, Rotary, Healthy Families, Virginia Association of Free Clinics and local Free Clinic boards, Healthy Workforce, and arts and education.
Philips graduated from Emory University in Atlanta, with bachelor's degrees in Chemistry and History, and earned a Master of Business Administration and a Masters of Healthcare Administration from Georgia State University, also in Atlanta. He is a fellow in the American College of Healthcare Executives.
Job Titles:
- Assistant Professor / Shenandoah University School of Pharmacy / Assistant Clinical Professor VCU / MCV
Job Titles:
- Vice Chair of the Valley Health System Board of Trustees
Job Titles:
- Vice President of War Memorial Hospital and Has Been With Valley Health
- Vice President, War Memorial Hospital
Heather Sigel is the vice president of War Memorial Hospital and has been with Valley Health since 2014.
Heather has been involved in healthcare for over 20 years and has served in numerous clinical and leadership roles. She is a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives, Board of Directors for United Way of Eastern Panhandle, Board of Directors for WVONE (West Virginia Organization of Nurse Executives) and also serves as Rotary Member in Morgan County, WV.
Sigel received a bachelor's degree in Nursing from The Pennsylvania State University and a Master in Business Administration from Mount St. Mary's University.
Job Titles:
- Ex - Officio Trustee, WMC Auxiliary
Job Titles:
- Chief Physician Executive
- Member of the Executive Leadership Team
- President
- Chief Physician Executive and President, Valley Physician Enterprise
- Physician Enterprise
Iyad Sabbagh, MD, MBA, is chief physician executive and president of Valley Physician Enterprise. Dr. Sabbagh has over 13 years of senior healthcare management experience within multi-hospital systems. Most recently, he served as vice president, chief quality officer, and associate chief medical officer for Northern Light Health, a nine-hospital, not-for-profit health system in Maine with over 10,000 employees, a 690-member employed physician group, and nine long-term care and residential facilities
Dr. Sabbagh earned his medical degree from the University of Damascus, School of Medicine in Syria and completed a residency in Internal Medicine at Mercy Hospital and Medical Center, University of Illinois in Chicago. He earned a Master of Business Administration from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and is a Certified Physician Executive (CPE). He is a diplomate of the American Board of Internal Medicine and a Fellow of the American College of Physicians.
Job Titles:
- Clinical Professor VCU / MCV / Front Royal Family Practice and Multispecialty Clinic
Job Titles:
- Vice President
- Member of the American College
- Valley Health in 2010 As Director
- Vice President, Operations, Ambulatory, Post - Acute and Community Services
Jake Meza is vice president for Operations, Ambulatory, Post-Acute and Community Services. He is responsible for Valley Health's Home Health agencies; Wellness and Fitness Centers; outpatient rehabilitation services; Valley Medical Transport; Urgent Care and Employer Health services; retail pharmacies; and Valley Health's telemedicine program. Jake also leads operational activities for Valley Health service providers in the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia.
Meza joined Valley Health in 2010 as director, Urgent Care Services, after working as executive director of GTM Medical Consulting, managing over 30 medical practices in Richmond, VA. Because of his successes regionally expanding Valley Health's Urgent Care operations, he was promoted to senior director, Valley Regional Enterprises, where oversight of Valley Pharmacy and Valley Medical Transport were added to his responsibilities.
Meza is a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives, and has served in numerous roles in his community, including six years as an elected City Council member in Front Royal, VA, and as a volunteer board member of the Free Medical Community Clinic.
Meza received a BA from Christendom College in Front Royal and a Master's in Business Administration from Benedictine University in Kansas.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Valley Health System Board of Trustees
Job Titles:
- Osteopathic Program Director
Dr. Groesbeck grew up in a small town in Wisconsin. Prior to medical school Dr. Groesbeck was a certified massage therapist. It was during massage school that he recognized a talent for, and belief in a hands-on approach to diagnosis and healing. He then attended the University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine before completing Family Practice residency in Cleveland, OH. After residency, Dr. Groesbeck completed a fellowship in Neuromusculoskeletal/Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine at the University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine which provided further training in inpatient and outpatient OMT on a diverse range of patients with acute and chronic, complex problems. Dr. Groesbeck uses trigger point injections, joint injections, prolotherapy and kinesiotaping in addition to OMT to help heal his patients. He takes a holistic approach to care for every patient. He enjoys providing care for patients of all ages. Prior to joining the residency program Dr. Groesbeck practiced in a rural community health center in Elkton, VA.
Dr. Groesbeck and his wife have four daughters and a son. They enjoy time outside and singing together and are actively involved in their church community. Among Dr. Groesbeck's favorite outdoor activities and exercises are running, yoga and disc golf. He enjoys baking breads and pizza and crafting original ice cream flavors. He also loves music and plays the piano, organ, guitar, harmonica and sings.
Job Titles:
- Valley Health Population Health and Community Health Officer
Jeffrey M. Feit, MD, MS, serves as Valley Health population health and community health officer. He collaborates with community partners to advance region-wide health and wellness efforts. Dr. Feit joined the System administrative team in 2012, following six years as vice president of Medical Affairs at Page Memorial Hospital (PMH), where he championed initiatives in performance improvement, Lean engineering and the electronic medical record.
He previously practiced family medicine in Luray and Fairfax, Va., and has held appointments on the faculty of VCU and UVA departments of Family Medicine.
Dr. Feit earned his medical degree and completed a residency in family medicine at the UVA School of Medicine. He has a bachelor's degree in International Affairs and Public Policy from Princeton University and a Master's of Science in Health Care Administration from Virginia Commonwealth University.
Jennifer is a Registered Dietitian who graduated from Radford University with a BS in Nutrition and Dietetics. She completed her dietetic internship at Virginia State University and Master of Science degree in Nutrition and Dietetics at Central Michigan University. The medical journal Surgery for Obesity and Related Diseases published Jennifer's review article titled, "Impact of bariatric surgery on breastfeeding: a systematic review." Prior to joining the Bariatric Program in 2015, Jennifer worked as a Clinical Dietitian at Sentara Norfolk General Hospital and also worked near Washington DC at a medical quality supplement company where she counseled bariatric patients to meet their nutrition goals. Jennifer has obtained the Level 1 Certificate of Training in Adult Weight Management. She is a member of the Weight Management Dietetic Practice Group with the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. She enjoys helping patients improve their health through nutrition and lifestyle interventions.
Job Titles:
- Associate Clinical Professor VCU / MCV / Front Royal Family Practice and Multispecialty Clinic
Dr. Barron joined the practice in 1999 straight from her residency training at Harrisburg Family Practice in Pennsylvania. She had completed medical school at the Medical College of Virginia at Virginia Commonwealth University. She has a love of office procedures and teaches our no-scalpel vasectomies and other procedures. In 2006, she attended Harvard's Mind Body Institute and has worked to incorporate the ideas of patient self-care and stress reduction into both her own practice and that of the residents (the Mind-Body Curriculum). As part of her journey as a practitioner and an educator, she has felt as though she may have missed something in her medical school training, and so she has pursued an education in osteopathic medicine. Her training has included all major modalities including cranial therapy. The residents say she is an osteopath at heart. Dr Barron runs the Mind-Body Curriculum, with Dr Wheat, as well as the entire curriculum related to the Electronic Medical Record. She serves as a consultant to other practices, on EMRs. She continues the full-spectrum of Family Medicine, including hospital/ICU and Obstetrics.
As part of her medical staff involvement, Dr. Barron sits on the Board of Trustees and on many working committees for our local hospital, Warren Memorial Hospital. On the home front, she has teenage children who are active in soccer. She and her husband enjoy entertaining and often host residency events in their home, which has a game and theatre room - their home has become the "second home" for the residency. With her seamstress skills, she is often the instigator of elaborate Halloween costume themes in the office, which the patients have come to expect on a yearly basis.
Job Titles:
- Vice President, Operations and Administrator, Warren Memorial Hospital
- WMH Administrator
Jennifer Coello, MHA, is vice president, Operations and Administrator for Warren Memorial Hospital, and brings rich healthcare experience, including work at a national health quality association, a regional health planning agency, and in the management of hospitals in Virginia, Georgia, and Ohio. She most recently served as Administrator for East Ohio Regional Hospital where during her tenure, the hospital grew it's clinical service lines, achieved a significant decrease in its overall readmission rate, and attained the 2019 Patient Safety Excellence Award by Healthgrades.
As WMH Vice President Operations & Administrator, Coello will be a key member of the Valley Health System Acute Care executive and senior leadership teams, and will work to positively impact employee and provider engagement, patient experience, and clinical program growth and outcomes at Valley Health's newest hospital.
Coello is a graduate of the University of Virginia with a BA in psychology, and earned a Master of Health Administration from Virginia Commonwealth University. She is board certified in healthcare management by the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE) and was the recipient of the 2013 ACHE Regent's Award. Coello is community-minded, having served on the boards of Chambers of Commerce, Kiwanis, and other local health and arts organizations.
Job Titles:
- Assistant Clinical Professor VCU / MCV / Front Royal Family Practice and Multispecialty Clinic
Job Titles:
- Chairman of the Valley Health System Board of Trustees
Job Titles:
- Behavioral Health Director / Clinical Professor VCU / MCV
- Clinical Professor
Dr. Wheat is a Clinical Professor and the Director of Behavioral Health for the Residency program. One of the original faculty Dr. Wheat has been with the Residency since its beginnings in 1998. Born in Atlanta, and raised a Southern Belle, she obtained her Bachelor's degree from the University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa...ROLL TIDE!! Always the adventuresome traveler and explorer of exotic places, after college Dr. Wheat signed on for two years with the Department of Defense and shipped off to Subic Bay Naval Base, Philippines. Hair-raising adventures teaching first graders, and travel throughout Asia and the Western Pacific, made for some tales she is still fond to tell. Back stateside, she completed her Master's degree and worked as a school psychologist and clinical counselor until earning her Doctorate in Clinical Psychology in 2000 from James Madison University. Always a believer in the biopsychosocial approach to patient care, she developed a keen interest in psychopharmacology and health psychology and has worked with Dr. Jennifer Barron to co-create and implement the Mind-Body Medicine curriculum for the Residency. Dr Wheat regularly presents at national conferences on mental health in Family Medicine and on our curriculum. She is married to Bill, the "other Dr. Wheat" who spent his career wearing Navy wings of gold and hovering in a helicopter in West Pac. With the children grown and an empty nest, they moved to "the Valley", and soon their home was full of feline rescues. Recently, they adopted Boo, a Ragdoll, who is a most fascinating breed of cat. Dr. Wheat's friends tell her that if she acquires one more cat, she will go from cat owner to "cat lady". When not coaching resident physicians in the nuances of interviewing, diagnosing, and treating patients with mental health complaints, Dr. Wheat's leisure time is spent pursuing her love of wine, gourmet cooking, ballroom dancing, and hanging out with friends. She and her husband travel as much as possible and otherwise can be found either on a golf course, at wine tastings, or dancing an Argentine tango. The only time she is not moving at breakneck speed through life is when she settles in to read a good book.
Job Titles:
- Vice President of Operations and Service Lines, Winchester Medical Center
Julie Miksit, RN, BSN, MBA, joined Valley Health in September 2021 as Vice President of Operations and Service Lines at Winchester Medical Center (WMC). Miksit's primary responsibilities include ensuring WMC's service lines deliver a high level of patient care and working collaboratively with Valley Health entity leadership in Business Development and Strategic Services. Miksit also directs operations for Heart & Vascular, Oncology, Neurosciences, Orthopedics and Rehabilitation Services.
Miksit comes to Valley Health from The Christ Hospital in Cincinnati, Ohio, where she served as executive director of the heart and vascular service line. She also brings several years of experience in operations and management from other healthcare systems across Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey.
Miksit graduated from Cleveland's MetroHealth Center as an RN, and holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Ursuline College in Ohio and an MBA from Cleveland State University. In 2005, Miksit was recognized with a Nightingale Award for Nursing Administration at The Good Samaritan Hospital located in Pennsylvania. She is a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives, American College of Cardiology, Society of Thoracic Surgery, and Sigma Theta Tau National Nurses Honor Society.
Job Titles:
- Licensed Clinical Social Worker
Kacie is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with the Valley Health Metabolic & Bariatric Program. She completed her Master of Social Work degree at Radford University, following undergraduate work at Virginia Commonwealth University. Kacie has 9 years of experience in Clinical Social Work, serving diverse populations in multiple settings. She appreciates the opportunity to support individuals in the community that she lives and works, as they strive towards their goals.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Valley Health System Board of Trustees
Job Titles:
- Vice President of Medical Affairs at Winchester Medical Center
Kenneth Janowski has joined Valley Health as vice president of medical affairs at Winchester Medical Center. As a key member of the medical center's executive team and liaison with its nearly 600 medical providers, Dr. Janowski will lead the organization's continued development as a High Reliability Organization. He will monitor patient satisfaction and lead WMC imperatives in the areas of quality improvement, patient safety and risk management, as well as oversee the credentialing and peer review of WMC physicians and advanced practice providers and support medical staff committees.
Dr. Janowski was most recently the chief medical officer of Bon Secours Charity Health System in New York. He has also served as New York Medical College program director, chief medical officer of Hackettstown Regional Medical Center (NJ), medical director of Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice (NJ) and medical director of The House of the Good Shepherd, a senior living facility in New Jersey.
Dr. Janowski graduated from the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey School of Osteopathic Medicine and completed his residency in internal medicine. After 10 years in private practice, he became the first chief medical officer at Hackettstown Regional Medical Center, where he led the medical staff through an Electronic Health Record conversion and a merger/acquisition. He earned his Certified Physician Executive (CPE) credential in 2015.
Job Titles:
- Vice President of Operations - Clinical Services for Winchester Medical Center
- Vice President of Operations - Clinical Services, Winchester Medical Center and Valley Health
Kevin S. Sheppard is the Vice President of Operations-Clinical Services for Winchester Medical Center (WMC) and Valley Health. He has executive responsibility for system-wide clinical services, including Imaging, Laboratory, Pharmacy and Respiratory, along with non-clinical departments of Facilities and Information Systems. Sheppard supports Acute Care Surgical Services at WMC and Warren Memorial Hospital, in partnership with Howard Green, MD, physician director of Surgical Services.
Sheppard began his career as an accountant and audit manager with Ernst and Young, transitioning to healthcare finance with Baptist Health System in Birmingham, Alabama. He spent 17 years with Ohio's Bon Secours Health System, starting in finance and moving into various operations and executive leadership roles. He has also served as vice president of operations, vice president of ambulatory services, vice president of population health, and interim chief executive officer for St. Francis Medical Center and St. Mary's Hospital, both in Virginia.
Sheppard graduated from the University of Alabama with a Bachelor of Science in accounting. He later earned his Master of Health Administration from the University of Minnesota. He is a Fellow in the American College of Healthcare Executives.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Valley Health System Board of Trustees
Job Titles:
- Valley Health in 1994 As a Facilities Engineer
- Vice President, Facilities
- Vice President, Facilities Management and Safety, Valley Health
Mark Baker is vice president, Facilities Management and Safety, for Valley Health. He is responsible for clinical engineering, construction services, engineering, safety and emergency management and security.
Baker joined Valley Health in 1994 as a facilities engineer and within four years was promoted to director. He has directed the design, construction and occupancy of more than $700 million in projects including replacement facilities for Hampshire Memorial Hospital, Page Memorial Hospital and War Memorial Hospital; the Winchester Medical Center north tower expansion; and the new emergency department and medical building at Shenandoah Memorial Hospital. He has also implemented clinical engineering, construction, and energy management programs, resulting in considerable cost savings.
Baker earned his bachelor's degree in industrial engineering technology from the University of Maryland.
Job Titles:
- CEO
- Member of the Executive Leadership Team
- President
- President and Chief Executive Officer of Valley Health System
- President and Chief Executive Officer, Valley Health
- Visionary Executive
Mark Nantz is president and chief executive officer of Valley Health System, a not-for-profit network of hospitals, services and providers based in Winchester, Virginia.
Prior to joining Valley Health, Nantz served in executive roles with Bon Secours Mercy Health, including most recently as chief administrative officer and Atlantic Group President; before then, he was executive vice president and chief strategy officer at Bon Secours. He has also held executive positions at Carolinas Healthcare System (now Atrium Health) and Carolinas Medical Center - NorthEast, and leadership roles in the audit practice of a Big 5 accounting firm. He is a Certified Public Accountant and a fellow in the American College of Healthcare Executives.
Nantz is a visionary executive with a record of improving patient satisfaction, quality metrics, and physician and employee engagement. During his 30-plus year tenure in health care, his professional accomplishments include building advanced clinical programs and successful physician and community partnerships, and instituting organizational effectiveness and strategic business plans at the local, regional, and system levels.
Nantz earned a Master of Health Administration from Pfieffer University, and a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from the University of North Carolina - Charlotte. An engaged community leader, he has volunteered in leadership roles with numerous non-profit and civic organizations, including chambers of commerce, the American Heart Association, the March of Dimes, and organizations supporting the fine arts. He and his wife, Courtenay, reside in Winchester.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Valley Health System Board of Trustees
Job Titles:
- Vice President of Hampshire Memorial Hospital
Mary Sas is vice president of Hampshire Memorial Hospital. She has been with Valley Health since 2014, and has more than 29 years of clinical leadership experience.
Prior to joining Hampshire Memorial Hospital as the director of Clinical Services, she served as the chief nursing officer for Fairfield Memorial Hospital in South Carolina and as an emergency department nurse manager at Lexington Medical Center and night administrator at Palmetto Health in South Carolina.
She is on the West Virginia University School of Nursing Advisory Board, is a member of the Rotary in Romney, WV and is a Board Certified Emergency Nurse.
Sas has a Bachelor of Science in Education and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of South Carolina. She received her Master of Science in Health Care Management and MBA from the University of Phoenix.
Job Titles:
- Vice President, Patient Financial Services
Matthew T. Toomey, JD, joined Valley Health in 2015 as vice president, Patient Financial Services, focused on optimizing technology and creating opportunities for service excellence.
Toomey was previously director of Patient Financial Services at Johns Hopkins Health System and a senior consultant with O'Boyle, Inc., in Baltimore, providing healthcare clients with revenue cycle review, project management and accounts collections.
Toomey earned a Juris Doctor degree from The Columbus School of Law at The Catholic University of America, where he also completed his bachelor's degree.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Valley Health System Board of Trustees
Job Titles:
- Page Memorial Hospital President
- Shenandoah Memorial Hospital President
- Vice President, and President of Page Memorial Hospital
N. Travis Clark is a Valley Health vice president, and president of Page Memorial Hospital and Shenandoah Memorial Hospital.
Clark began his career at Page Memorial Hospital in 1997 as the Director of Rural Health Clinics. In 2000 he was promoted to Chief Financial Officer, a position he held for five years before his promotion in 2005 to President of Page Memorial Hospital. In 2016, Travis was promoted to vice president of operations for Valley Health Southern Region, and president of Page Memorial Hospital and Shenandoah Memorial Hospital.
Clark has a bachelor's degree in Business Administration and a Master's in Organizational Leadership. He is a member of the Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association's HosPAC Board of Directors and a board member of the Page County Broadband Authority.
Job Titles:
- Valley Health Quality and Patient Safety Officer
Nicolas C. Restrepo, MD, serves as the quality and patient safety officer of Valley Health. A board-certified urologist, prior to assuming his current role as vice president of Medical Affairs, Dr. Restrepo had been in private practice with Urology Clinic of Winchester and a member of the Winchester Medical Center attending medical staff since 1995. He has served as chairman of Winchester Medical Center's Division of Urology, chair of the Department of Surgery, and a member of the Medical Staff Executive Committee. Dr. Restrepo has provided leadership to the Medical Staff Affairs department on a variety of technology and communication initiatives, quality reviews, and new physician orientation.
Dr. Restrepo earned his undergraduate degree from Catholic University of America, and his medical degree from the University of Virginia. He completed his internship and residency at Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine in Hershey, PA.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Foundation Leadership Team
Job Titles:
- Member of the Executive Leadership Team
- Chief Financial Officer for Valley Health System
- Chief Financial Officer, Valley Health
Peter F. Gallagher, chief financial officer for Valley Health System, joined the team in 2014.
Gallagher began his career with Coopers & Lybrand in Cincinnati, and has served in financial leadership at Health Corporation of Virginia, The Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Scioto Valley Health Foundation in Portsmouth, Ohio, and Bon Secours Virginia. His experience includes work as president and CEO at a healthcare advisory firm with expertise in finance, interim financial leadership, sales training, expert testimony, business development, and new product and service development.
Gallagher has been honored with the Mid-Career Award from the Catholic Health Association of the United States, and the Founder's Medal of Honor from the Healthcare Financial Management Association. He has been involved in volunteer leadership positions with the American Red Cross, Catholic Consortium for International Healthcare and other healthcare nonprofits.
Gallagher graduated from Miami University in Ohio with a bachelor's degree in accountancy, and earned a Master of Business Administration from Xavier University in Cincinnati. He is licensed as a Certified Public Accountant in Virginia, and is a Fellow of the Healthcare Financial Management Association.
Job Titles:
- MOL / Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Valley Health Critical Access Hospitals
Phillip Graybeal is vice president of Valley Health's Critical Access Hospitals (in Virginia: Page Memorial Hospital and Shenandoah Memorial Hospital; in West Virginia: Hampshire Memorial Hospital and War Memorial Hospital).
Graybeal is responsible for the financial operations of the four critical access facilities and serves on Valley Health's senior management team. Graybeal oversees strategies related to cost-based reimbursement, expense management, productivity, budgeting, capital, growth initiatives and financial improvement opportunities. Graybeal has a passion and 20+ year's experience in rural healthcare. He started his career in public accounting providing auditing and consulting services to rural hospitals in Virginia and West Virginia. He has been with Valley Health since 2005 working with its rural facilities.
Graybeal has a bachelor's degree in Business Administration and a Master's in Organizational Leadership. He is a Certified Public Accountant and member of Healthcare Financial Management Association and past president of the VADC Chapter. He is currently the treasurer for the Page Free Clinic and has served on several community boards in the past.
Job Titles:
- Vice President of Page Memorial Hospital and Is Responsible
- Vice President, Page Memorial Hospital
Portia C. Brown is vice president of Page Memorial Hospital and is responsible for daily hospital and ambulatory clinic operations.
She has been with Valley Health for 18 years, and has more than 33 years of healthcare administration experience.
Prior to this position Brown was director of Quality and Regulatory Affairs and Risk Management for the Page Memorial Hospital senior management team, where she developed initiatives to improve patient care and improve performance and regulatory compliance.
Brown is a Fellow in the American College of Healthcare Executives and a Fellow of the National Rural Health Association. She has been a co-presenter at various Lean conferences in the northeast and mid-Atlantic United States.
In 2019, Brown was elected to serve a two-year term as president of the Virginia Rural Health Association. The VRHA is a non-profit association that advocates for improved health care on behalf of the 2.5 million Virginians living in rural areas throughout the Commonwealth.
She has a Bachelor of Science in Medical Technology and Laboratory Technology from Auburn University, and received her Master of Science in Health Administration from Medical College of Virginia/Virginia Commonwealth University.
Job Titles:
- Vice President, Medical Affairs, Warren Memorial Hospital
Robert C. Meltvedt, Jr., MD is the vice president of medical affairs for Warren Memorial Hospital and is board certified in surgery.
Dr. Meltvedt has been with Warren Memorial Hospital for nearly 20 years, and prior to this position served at Grande Ronde Hospital in La Grande, Oregon.
He is a Fellow in the American College of Surgeons.
Dr. Meltvedt received his medical degree from University of California San Diego. He completed his residency in General Surgery at the University of Washington, where he also served as chief resident.
Job Titles:
- Vice President of Finance
- Vice President Finance, Winchester Medical Center and Warren Memorial Hospital
Robert M. "Bob" Amos is vice president of finance for Winchester Medical Center and Warren Memorial Hospital.
Amos joined Valley Health in 2005 and has 20 years of diverse healthcare experience. Previous employment includes Jefferson Memorial Hospital, The Hospital for Sick Children, The Daughters of Charity, Ascension Health Care, Fairmont General Hospital, and Genesis Health System.
He is a member of the Healthcare Financial Management Association.
Amos earned his bachelor's degree in accounting from Fairmont State University, and his Master in Business Administration from West Virginia University. He became a West Virginia Certified Public Accountant in 1993.
Dr. Sadi received his medical degree from the University of Baghdad/Iraq. With a passion for surgery, Dr. Sadi went on to attend and conduct research at Georgetown University and Georgetown University Hospital Center/Lombardi Cancer Center. He completed his residency in general surgery at Medstar Georgetown University-Washington Hospital Center. During his training he learned more about the obesity epidemic saw first-hand how morbidly obese patients could benefit from an improved quality of life. Dr. Sadi was drawn to robotic surgery and its positive outcomes for bariatric and general surgery patients. Dr. Sadi went on to receive further training in minimally invasive robotic bariatric and advanced GI surgery through a one-year fellowship with the Albany Medical Center, during which time he performed more than 300 robotic procedures. He also received robust training in robotic incisional hernia repair and advanced abdominal wall reconstruction, including the novel approach of enhanced view totally-extra-peritoneal eTEP procedure for incisional hernia repair. This advanced minimally invasive approach repairs the abdominal wall with a shorter hospital stay compared to open hernia repair.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Foundation Leadership Team
Job Titles:
- Program Dietitian
- Registered Dietitian
Sarah is a Registered Dietitian. She graduated from Virginia Tech with a BS in Human Nutrition, Foods, and Exercise with a focus in Dietetics. She completed her dietetic internship at the University of New Haven with a focus in community and sustainable nutrition. She is a member of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and Weight Management Dietetic Practice Group. Sarah is excited to help patients in their weight loss journey.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Foundation Leadership Team
Job Titles:
- Member of the Valley Health System Board of Trustees
Job Titles:
- Assistant Clinical Professor VCU / MCV / Front Royal Family Practice and Multispecialty Clinic
Job Titles:
- Vice President of Shenandoah Memorial Hospital
- Vice President, Shenandoah Memorial Hospital Southern Region Medical Staff Services & Clinical Program Development
Tammy L. Gasper is vice president of Shenandoah Memorial Hospital, and Southern Region Medical Staff Services & Clinic Program Development. She has been with Valley Health for 22 years in various positions, including Corporate Director of Laboratory, Respiratory, Sleep Medicine and Imaging and, most recent, Vice President of Medical Staff Affairs and Clinical Program Development for Valley Health, Southern Region.
Gasper is responsible for providing administrative leadership, support and oversight for the medical staffs at Page Memorial Hospital, Shenandoah Memorial Hospital and Warren Memorial Hospital. She is also responsible for the assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation of clinical services and programs in the southern region.
A native of Page County, Gasper holds a Bachelor of Science in Medical Technology and a Masters in Healthcare Administration. She is a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives and the American Society for Clinical Pathology.
Job Titles:
- Associate Clinical Professor VCU / MCV / Front Royal Family Practice and Multispecialty Clinic
Dr. Ball enjoys the mix of teaching at Shenandoah Family Practice Residency and practicing as a partner at Front Royal Family Practice and Multispecialty Clinic | Valley Health. Born and raised in Lynchburg, Virginia, he completed medical school and residency at the University of Virginia after a brief first career teaching high school in Brooklyn, New York. He was pleased to return to his home state in 2001 following a busy eight years with an obstetrics heavy medical practice in rural South Carolina. Dr. Ball enjoys a full range of family medical care from prenatal to the nursing home. He has particular interest in obstetrical care, primary care for the HIV patient, and preventive care. He has won statewide awards for teaching excellence and is active in the community, currently sitting on the board of St. Luke Free Clinic and starting as president of the Warren Memorial Hospital medical staff in January 2014.
Married to Christy Hartman, Dr. Ball enjoys the outdoors. These days he and Christy have only pets in the home, though they fostered children intermittently until 2007. Since then they have devoted much of their spare time to renovating a 19 th century farmhouse near the Shenandoah National Park. When not roaming the office or repairing plumbing at home, Dr. Ball is often found hiking or biking in the nearby mountains.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Executive Leadership Team
- Senior Vice President
- Hampshire Memorial Hospital and War Memorial Hospital President
- Senior Vice President, Valley Health Critical Access Hospitals, and Vice President, War and Hampshire Memorial Hospitals
Thomas S. Kluge is senior vice president of Valley Health's Critical Access Hospitals (in Virginia: Page Memorial Hospital and Shenandoah Memorial Hospital; in West Virginia: Hampshire Memorial Hospital and War Memorial Hospital).
Kluge provides strategic leadership and oversight of the operations of the four critical access facilities and serves on Valley Health's senior management team. Working with the Board and hospital leadership teams, he is responsible for the growth, development, financial performance, talent management and employee engagement. He also oversees physician recruitment and relations, development of clinical and service programs, and patient safety, quality and process improvement initiatives.
Kluge has more than 30 years of experience in hospital administration in Virginia and Georgia. He was chief operating officer at Sentara Halifax Regional Hospital in South Boston, Va., from 1989 until May 2016, and has worked on Certificate of Public Need, construction, information technology upgrades, service line development and capital projects.
Kluge earned a Master of Health Services Administration and Bachelor Science degree from the Medical College of Virginia/Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU).
Job Titles:
- Secretary of the Valley Health System Board of Trustees
- Ex - Officio Trustee, VHS Board of Trustees
Job Titles:
- Residency Program Manager
Tina was born in a small rural town in central Pennsylvania. She is the second of seven children and completely enjoyed being surrounded by a large family. During her last two years in high school Tina also attended The Greater Altoona Career and Technology Center where she received a two year Associate/Certificate in Accounting and Distributive Education. She has also attended Strayer University where she has taken additional accounting courses as she works toward her Bachelor Degree. Tina has been a Notary Public for the state of Virginia since 1999. In 1998 Tina and her family moved to Virginia. Though her career has primarily been focused in and around the Accounting field, in 2007 Tina became a part of the Valley Health team as an Administrative Assistant on MSU/ICU and then as the Staffing Coordinator for Warren Memorial Hospital. She took on the role of Residency Coordinator in 2011, then Residency Program Manager in 2019. In March 2017 Tina became an active member on the Board of Directors for AFMA (Association of Family Medicine Administration) and in April 2020 she became the President for AFMA, the national organization for Residency Coordinators.
Tina married John in 1988 and they have two grown children, son Michael and daughter Kalyne. Both children are married; and God has truly blessed her son and daughter-in-law with a 19 month old and a new baby born in June of 2021. Her daughter and son-in-law have three beautiful children ages 10, 8 and 6. Tina loves being a grandma "Nah Nah" to her grandchildren. Tina is active in her church and enjoys singing both with the choir and as a soloist, working with the nursery team, and ladies ministries. She enjoys spending quiet time with family and friends making great memories.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Valley Health System Board of Trustees
Job Titles:
- Director, Hampshire Wellness & Fitness
Job Titles:
- Chairman
- Medical Director of the Valley Health Metabolic & Bariatric Program
Dr. Glembot is the Medical Director of the Valley Health Metabolic & Bariatric Program. A native of Warrenton, VA, he attended Eastern Virginia Medical School in Norfolk, VA where he received his medical degree and completed his general surgery residency and research fellowship. Bariatric surgery is Dr. Glembot's passion. "It is very satisfying to see the improvements in a person's health that occurs after this life-saving procedure." Dr. Glembot completed his surgical residency in 1998 where he was introduced to the highly specialized field of metabolic and bariatric surgery. As Medical Director of the Valley Health Metabolic and Bariatric Program, Dr. Glembot is responsible for overseeing the entire program and ensuring that all components are well integrated to make metabolic and bariatric surgery as safe as possible for all patients. Dr. Glembot also serves as Chief for the Section of General Surgery. He has written or co-authored numerous journal articles as well as a book chapter. He lives in Winchester and enjoys outdoor activities, exercise, and motorcycling.
William (Bill) Kerns was born and raised in Richmond, Virginia, where he attended public high school during a transitional era; hisIowa-born wife Christina jokes that she couldn't get him across the Mason-Dixon Line. The truth is more that after graduating from Yale with honors in Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, he welcomed being closer to home at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville for what he thought was going to be a research-oriented MD PhD. Instead, he found that a life of libraries and labs did not suit him. He also discovered that his affinity for people was helpful in medicine. He ran away from research to Family Medicine Residency at Eastern Virginia Medical School. Christine, a nurse, and he were considering mission work at home or abroad, but found that the need was significant in small-town Virginia as well. So, with one secretary and a line of credit, they started a practice in 1978, expecting to be slack for a time. It has never stopped being busy, and they were extremely happy to see Dr. Westfall and then other fine physicians and Nurse Practitioners join the practice in the years following. For a number of years, Dr Kerns and Dr Westfall were the only Family Physicians in the county and in the hospital, resurrecting the specialty here. After several successful and intense clinical years, the opportunity to help found the Residency came along, and with his partners he pursued a Fellowship in Adult Learning from the Department of Family Medicine at Virginia Commonwealth University (now Clinical Professor).In the new residency he took on the Evidence-Based Medicine and Information Mastery Curriculum. He has continued to practice full-spectrum Family Medicine, including hospital/ICU and Obstetrics. Then a weird thing happened; research came back into his life through VCU's Department of Family Medicine, where he has partnered with their wonderful team in primary care research, making a difference to people.
He and Dr. Ball, in the Community Medicine curriculum, produce scholarly works with the residents in their second and third years, with the object of helping people in the practice and in the community directly, via scholarship. With Dr. Winter he is engaged in ongoing grants and research projects directly related to primary care practice. He regularly presents at national and international primary care research meetings.
Christine and he have two grown children, two granddaughters (Tallulah Femke Lake and Paloma Jolene Lake), and two dogs. Besides just enjoying living out in the county of Warren, walking the dogs, snorkeling (a trip to blue water regularly!) etc., Dr. Kerns enjoys being ornery, good scotch and wine, and aging his spirits as well.
Dr. Kerns received the STFM 2009 Mid-Career Achievement Award, he participated in the 2009 STFM Best Research Paper with the VCU FM Research team, and in 2010 was named Family Physician of the Year by the Virginia Academy of Family Physicians.