2023
Virginia Healthcare-Associated Infections Advisory Group (VHAG) Workgroup Designations |
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| Infection Prevention Education Workgroup | Annual Priority Workgroup | Safe Antibiotic Stewardship Innovators (SASI) Workgroup |
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 - 'C' within membership symbol indicates individual is a workgroup co-chair
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- 'W' within membership symbol indicates individual is a workgroup member, but not a VHAG member
Rehab Abdelfattah, MD, MPH, CIC
HAI Investigator
VDH, Office of Epidemiology
Sandra Agostinelli, BSN, RN, CCRN
Infection Preventionist
VCU Community Memorial Hospital
Alexis Aplasca, MD, FAAP, FAPA
Chief Clinical Officer
Dept. of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services
Connie Atkinson, BSN, RN, CIC
Infection Preventionist
Acute care IP / Central Region (VCU Health Systems)
Anthony Baffoe-Bonnie, MD
Virginia Tech University
Carilion School of Medicine
Medical Director of Infection Prevention and Control
Carilion Clinic
Patricia Bair, MPH
Northwest Regional Epidemiologist
VDH, Office of Epidemiology
Thelma Baker
Chief Operating Officer
Health Quality Innovators (HQI)
Kimberly Beazley
Director
VDH, Office of Licensure & Certification
Christian Bergman, MD, CMD
Assistant Professor Division of Geriatric Medicine
Medical Director CAHM - NFAS, Virginia Commonwealth University
Shaina Bernard, PharmD, BCPS 
Antimicrobial Resistance Coordinator
VDH, Office of Epidemiology
Kate Lim Bradshaw, PhD, FACHE, CPHQ
Director of Quality
VCU Health Tappahannock Hospital
Joan Buckner, MA, RN, CIC
Director of Infection Prevention & Control Hospital Epidemiology and Infection Prevention & Control
University of Virginia Health System
Joel Bundy, MD, FACP, CPE
Vice President Chief Quality and Safety Officer
Sentara Healthcare
Leigh Burke
Licensing Administrator, Central Licensing Office
Dept. of Social Services
Jacque Butler, CIC
President
APIC-VA
Andrea Chapman, MPH, CHOP, CIC
Regional Infection Prevention Coordinator
VDH, Office of Epidemiology
Smrithi Chikkala, MBBS, MPH
HAI Training & Communications Assistant
VDH, Office of Epidemiology
Rebeccah Collins, PharmD, BCPS
Clinical Pharmacy Manager
Henrico Doctors' Hospital
Jane Colwell, MD 
Directory of Surgery
Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital
Heather Cox 
Emily Craig, M.S., M(ASCP)CM
Microbial Reference Principal Scientist
DCLS- VA State Lab
Emily Craig, MS, M(ASCP) CM
Microbial Reference Principle Scientist
DCLS- VA State Lab
Linda Crane, BS MT, SM, CIC
DICON Infection Preventionist
APIC-VA, Duke Infection Control Outreach Network (DICON)
Delores Darnell, MBA, RN, NHA 
Chief Clinical Officer
Commonwealth Care of Roanoke (CCR)
Joyce Dayvault, RN, BBA, CPHQ 
Director, Performance Improvement
Virginia Hospital and Healthcare Association (VHHA)
Erin Deja
Virginia Commonwealth University
Michelle Doll, MD, MPH
Assistant Professor of Medicine, Associate Hospital Epidemiologist
VCU Medical Center, Division of Infectious Disease
Sherri Dressler
SW Regional Congregate Coordinator
Virginia Department of Health
Karen Edwards, RN
Medical Facilities Inspector
VDH, Office of Licensure & Certification
Susan Elmore,
SAElmore Consulting, LLC
Kurt Elward, MD, MPH
Senior Advisor
Dept. of Medical Assistance Services
Jef Ferguson, MD
GYN Surgeon
University of Virginia
Marly Fieldhouse
Infection Prevention
Chippenham & Johnston-Willis Hospitals, Inc.
Jessica Fielek, MPH CIC CHOP
Infection Prevention
Sentara Williamsburg Regional Medical Center
Martha Grammer
VDH, Office of Licensure & Certification
LaToya Griffin-Thomas, PhD
Lead Scientist, Bioterrorism/Special Pathogens Response Coordinator
DCLS- VA State Lab
Jasie Hearn, MPH, MA, Director
Division of Clinical Epidemiology
VDH, Office of Epidemiology
Diane Heipel
Infection Preventionst
Virginia Commonwealth University
Laura Homewood, MD
GYN Surgeon
University of Virginia
Maimuna Jatta, MSH, RN, PCCN, CIC
Infection Prevention & Control
Carilion Clinic Infection Prevention and Control
Alexis Johnson
Infection Prevention
Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital
Lajuana Jordan, MSN, RN, GNP-BC
Long-term care (Medical Facilities of America)
APIC-VA President (current)
Carolyn Kiefer, RN, BSN, CIC
Regional IP Coordinator, HAI/AR Program
VDH, Office of Epidemiology
Sarah Lineberger, MPH
HAI Program Manager
VDH, Office of Epidemiology
Mary Locklin, MSN, RN, CIC 
Quality Improvement Advisor - Infection Prevention
Health Quality Innovators (HQI)
Matthew Marry
Assistant Director, Emergency Preparedness
Virginia Hospital and Healthcare Association (VHHA)
Lauren F. McDaniel
Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital
Karen McGoldrick, BS, MT(ASCP), CIC
Infection Preventionist
APIC-VA, Acute care IP / Eastern Region (Sentara Leigh Hospital)
Douglas Middlebrooks, PhD
Acute Care Supervisor
VDH, Office of Licensure & Certification
Heather Minton, BS, MS, M(ASCP), CIC
Prevention
Henrico, Parham, and Retreat Doctors' Hospitals
Sue Moeslein, MSA, BSN, ACM, CIC
Consultant
Health Quality Innovators (HQI)
Amanda Morelli
Quality Improvement Coordinator
Quality Insights
James Moss
State Hospital Coordinator
VDH, Office of Emergency Preparedness
Nuhame Mulugeta
HAI Epidemiologist
Richmond City & Henrico County Health District
Laurie Archbald-Pannone, MD
Associate Professor
Department of Internal Medicine
Geriatric Medicine, Infections Diseases
UVA Health
Dana Parsons
Legislative Affairs Legal Counsel
LeadingAge Virginia
Kevin, Patel
April Payne, LNHA
VP Quality Improvement/ Director VCAL
Virginia Health Care Association/ Virginia Center for Assisted Living (VHCA/VCAL)
https://www.vhca.org/
Michelle Peninger
System IP Director
INOVA
Julius Potian, MS, PhD
Prevention Consultant
Dept. of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (DBHDS)
Tara Ragland, MSA
Division Director, Adult Licensing
Dept. of Social Services
Ryan Raisig
Director of Case Management
Acute care / VCU Health System
Barry J. Rittmann Jr.
Assistant Professor of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases
Eastern Virginia Medical School (EVMS)
Paula Ropelewski
Manager, Education and Member Services
LeadingAge Virginia
Kelley Schultz
Infection Prevention
INOVA Fairfax
Ben Schwartz
Director, Division of Epidemiology & Population Health
Fairfax County Health Department
Sandra Sebestin, B.S., M.T., CIC
NW & SW Regional Infection Prevention Coordinator, VDH HAI/AR Program
VDH, Office of Epidemiology
Abraham Segres
Vice President, Quality and Patient Safety
Virginia Hospital and Healthcare Association (VHHA)
Katherine Sheppard, MSN, APRN, AGCNS-BC, CCRN
Manager of Professional Practice| Magnet Program Director| Manager of Resource Pool
Sentara Williamsburg Regional Medical Center
Lorrie Shumaker, BSN, RN
Nurse Consultant
Virginia Dept. of Social Services
Costi Sifri, MD, FACP, FIDSA
Professor of Medicine
University of Virginia School of Medicine
Hospital Epidemiologist
Director, Hospital Epidemiology/Infection Prevention & Control
Medical Director, Immunocompromised Infectious Disease Program
UVA Health
Kirsten Simpkins
SW Regional Infection Preventionist
VDH, Office of Epidemiology
Marina Sinyard, RN, MA
Operations Consultant
Virginia Dept. of Social Services
Catherine Smith, DNP, RN, CCNS, CCRN
System Director, Advanced Nursing Practice/Patient Outcomes
Sentara Healthcare
Deb Smith, MLT (ASCP), BSN, CIC, CPHQ
Improvement Consultant
Health Quality Innovators (HQI)
Denise Sockwell, MSPH, CP-FS
Northern Virginia Regional Epidemiologist
VDH, Office of Epidemiology
Angela Spleen, PhD
Health Educator, VDH HAI/AR Program
VDH, Office of Epidemiology
Wendy St. Clair
Michele Thomas, RPh, PharmD, BCPP
Manager
Dept. of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (DBHDS)
Michelle Thomas, RN, BSN, WCCN
Risk Analyst
Risk Management/Regulatory Compliance VCU Health at Community Memorial Hospital
Emily Valencia, MPH
Antimicrobial Resistance Epidemiologist
VDH, Office of Epidemiology
Ginger Vanhoozer, BSN, RN, CIC, CCHM
IPC Educator
VDH, Office of Epidemiology
Emily Varvil, MPH
IPC Policy Research Specialist
VDH, Office of Epidemiology
Susan Verschneider
Infection Prevention
University of Virginia Health System
Cindy Warriner
Health Quality Innovators (HQI)
Robin Williamson, RN
Infection Prevention Manager
Stony Point Surgery Center
Devonne, Winston
Eastern Region Surge Team
VDH, Office of Epidemiology
Page Last Updated March, 2023