A Commonwealth United by Purpose
By: Mohamed G. Abbamin, MPA
Senior Policy Analyst
Virginia Office of Emergency Medical Services
Women Leading with Purpose
As Virginia recognizes Women’s History Month, the Commonwealth’s public health and emergency medical services system finds itself in a historic moment of leadership and alignment.
From the Executive Mansion to the State EMS Advisory Board, women are shaping the direction of Virginia’s emergency and public health infrastructure at every level.
The election of Governor Abigail Spanberger as the first woman to serve as Governor of Virginia marked a defining milestone in the Commonwealth’s history. Her administration reflects a renewed commitment to service-driven policy, representation, and community-centered leadership.
Within the Virginia Department of Health (VDH), this new chapter continues under the leadership of State Health Commissioner B. Cameron Webb, MD, JD, whose medical and legal background reinforces a whole-of-system approach to public health and emergency preparedness. That framework aligns public health, healthcare systems, emergency medical services, and community partners into a coordinated structure designed to strengthen system resilience, advance health equity, and enhance the Commonwealth’s ability to prevent, respond to, and recover from public health and medical emergencies.
Within the Office of Emergency Medical Services (OEMS), Dr. Maria Beermann-Foat recently completed her first year as Director. Her career spans service as an EMT, paramedic, training chief, operations battalion chief, and quality management division chief. Her leadership reflects operational depth, clinical expertise, and a commitment to transparency and accountability.
Supporting this work is Deputy Commissioner Stephanie Dunkel, who oversees Population Health and Preparedness and ensures strategic alignment across VDH’s emergency response and public health systems.
Within the State EMS Advisory Board, Dr. Paula Ferrada now serves as Chair, with Beth Matish serving as Vice Chair. Their appointments represent a significant moment in Virginia EMS history, reinforcing the depth of expertise and leadership guiding the statewide system.
Structural Reform in Action
Leadership alignment coincides with one of the most significant governance realignments in Virginia EMS history.
As of January 1, 2026, contracts for the Commonwealth’s seven designated EMS regions went into effect, completing the transition from eleven regional councils to a streamlined seven-region structure.
This reform was rooted in extensive stakeholder engagement and system-level assessment. The objective was deliberate: strengthen coordination, improve administrative alignment, ensure equitable regional representation, and enhance long-term sustainability.
The transition includes a defined ramp-up period, allowing regions to establish operational presence across their full geographic areas, finalize contract deliverables, and maintain continuity of services. OEMS coordinators continue working alongside both new and transitioning councils to ensure a structured and supported implementation. This measured approach reinforces operational continuity while strengthening equity in representation and consistent service delivery across the Commonwealth.
A System Grounded in Engagement
Under Director Beermann-Foat’s leadership, Year One focused on a comprehensive assessment of Virginia’s EMS environment, identifying structural and operational opportunities for improvement.
Year Two shifts toward deeper engagement within statewide systems, with emphasis on partnership across the newly structured regions. Collaborative initiative development and strengthened coordination across the EMS continuum are central priorities.
VDH recognizes that system improvement is not achieved solely through policy updates. It requires sustained engagement with those delivering care on the ground, including clinicians, educators, administrators, volunteers, and regional leaders.
The mission remains clear: To reduce death and disability from sudden illness or injury by planning and developing a comprehensive, coordinated statewide EMS system that delivers high-quality emergency medical care.
What has evolved is how leadership, governance, and regional execution align to meet that mission.
Purpose in Motion
Virginia’s progress in EMS is not simply structural. It is cultural.
The Commonwealth is building a system rooted in collaboration, transparency, and accountability. Leadership across VDH and the EMS community reflects both experience and representation, reinforcing a unified direction for the future.
As we recognize Women’s History Month, we also recognize the broader workforce whose dedication sustains Virginia’s EMS system every day.
With new executive leadership, a strengthened public health framework, and historic representation across EMS governance, Virginia enters this chapter with confidence and clarity.
A Commonwealth united by purpose is not merely adapting to change.
It is leading it.
