«  EVENTS

VASEM Health Care Summit:
Virginia Investments to Advance Innovation, Access, Affordability, and Trust

Join the Virginia Academy of Science, Engineering, and Medicine (VASEM) for the 2026 VASEM Annual Summit, October 8 in Richmond at Reynolds Community College.

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October 8, 2026
Lipman Auditorium
Reynolds Community College
1651 E Parham Rd, Richmond, VA 23228

The financial impact of H.R. 1, officially titled the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), represents one of the most significant shifts in U.S. healthcare funding in decades. The legislation is projected to cut over $1 trillion in healthcare spending through 2034, primarily through substantial reductions to Medicaid. This high-stakes policy change requires states and private industry to work together to make strategic healthcare investments to avoid significant and harmful reductions in care, especially for those most at risk.

Emerging healthcare investments will be heavily focused on mitigating rising costs, stabilizing access to primary and rural health care, adopting AI-driven efficiencies, developing U.S.-based pharmaceutical capacity, and building the necessary workforce to serve patient needs.

VASEM extends its gratitude to this year’s Summit Organizing Committee:

NameName Two

Co-Chair: Beth Bortz, MPP
President & CEO
Virginia Center for Health Innovation

Co-Chair: Robert L. Phillips, Jr., MD, MSPH
Founding Executive Director
Center for Professionalism and Value in Health Care at the American Board of Family Medicine
Milton Brown, MD, PhD
Senior Associate Vice President of Research
Old Dominion University		Sandy Chung, MD
CEO, Trusted Doctors
Medical Director, Virginia Mental Health Access Program (VMAP)
William A. Hazel, Jr., MD
CEO, Claude Moore Opportunities		Alexander H. Krist, MD, MPH
Virginia Commonwealth University Family Medicine
Co-Director, Ambulatory Care Outcomes Research Network
F. Gerald Moeller, MD
C. Kenneth and Dianne Wright Distinguished Chair in Clinical and Translational Research: Addiction Science
Virginia Commonwealth University

Agenda

October 8, 2026

TimeActivity
8:00 to 8:45 a.m. Coffee and conversation
8:45 to 9:10 a.m.Welcome Remarks & Health Care Committee Introductions
  • Al Grasso, President, VASEM
  • Dr. David Dore, Chancellor, Virginia Community Colleges
  • Robert L. Phillips, Jr., MD, MSPH, VASEM Committee Co-Chair
9:10 to 9:55 a.m.Session One: Three Health Care TED Talks - Diverse Perspectives on National Priorities for Investment
  • TED Talk One: "Scaling Expertise through Redesigning Systems," Sandy Chung, MD
  • TED Talk Two: Alex Krist, MD
  • TED Talk Three:  Anne Greiner
9:55 to 10:15 a.m.Session Two: State Government Priorities for Investment

Marvin Figueroa, Secretary, Virginia Health and Human Resources (invited) 
    10:15 to 10:30 a.m.Break
    10:30 to 11:30 a.m.Session Three: Virginia's Rural Health Transformation Investment

    Moderator: Heidi Hertz, Director, Virginia Rural Health Care Transformation

    • Joe Benevento, President & CEO, Virginia Innovation Partnership Corporation
    • William Hazel, MD, Executive Director of the Claude Moore Opportunities, Chair of the Virginia Community College System Foundation
    • Rachel Rees, CEO, Virginia Health Care Foundation
    • Kelly Cannon, CEO, Virginia Hospital and Healthcare Association Foundation
    11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Lunch and Poster Session
    12:30 to 1:00 p.m. VASEM New Member Induction
    1:00 to 2:00 p.m.Session Four: VA Industry Investments To Expand Pharmaceutical Capacity

    Moderator: Joy Polefrone,  Regional Innovation Officer, Alliance for Building Better Medicine
    • Allan Coukell, Chief Government Affairs and Public Policy Officer, Civica Rx
    • B. Frank Gupton, PhD, CEO, Medicines for All Institute 
    • Mark T. Esser, PhD, CEO, Paul & Diane Manning Institute of Biotechnology, UVA 
    • Sneha Atwal, Vice President, Manufacturing, Virginia Economic Development Partnership
    2:00 to 2:15 p.m.Break
    2:15 to 3:15 p.m.Session Five: Virginia Partnerships and Data for Healthcare Workforce Training and Development

    Moderator: Delegate Rodney Willett, 58th District, Chair, Virginia Health Workforce Development Authority

    • F. Gerard Moeller, MD – Data and community engagement for workforce innovations supported by the Virginia Opioid Abatement Authority
    • Caroline Sutter, DNP, Mason Center for Health Workforce – Training clinicians to address mental health
    • Cynthia Lawrence, Director of the Office of Workforce Development, Carilion Clinic – VT Blue Ridge Partnership for Health Science Careers.  
    3:15 to 4:00 p.m.

    Session Six: How Can Virginia Accelerate Its Industry and Research Partnerships to Increase Positive Impact?
    4:00 to 4:15 p.m.Summit Wrap Up
    Al Grasso, President, VASEM
    4:30 to 6:30 p.m.

    Reception and Networking

    Poster Session continues; Networking with heavy hors d'oeurves served

     

    Registration

     

     

    Sponsorship Opportunities

    Sponsorship of the 2026 VASEM Summit includes speaking opportunities, great visibility, and options for your team to attend.  Learn more and become a sponsor here.

     

     

    FAQs

    About the Summit
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    The VASEM Summit on Health Care will play a crucial role in advancing innovation, access, affordability, and trust. Our goal is to foster collaboration among health care researchers, industry leaders, and policymakers.
    What is the cost to attend?
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    Registration for the VASEM Summit is $90.00 per person to attend. Students may register for $20.00.
    Will there be a poster session at the 2026 VASEM Summit?
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    Posters are exclusive to students & faculty. If you have any questions or would like to participate in the poster sessions, please contact: ndraper@vasem.org.
    Where is the 2026 VASEM Summit taking place?
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    Lipman Auditorium
    Reynolds Community College
    1651 E Parham Rd, Richmond, VA 23228

    Directions
    Where do I park for the 2026 VASEM Summit?
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    There is complimentary on-site parking located next to the auditorium.
    Where do I stay for the 2026 VASEM Summit?
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    We have negotiated a special rate ($173 USD per night) for the 2026 Summit attendees at the Westin Richmond (6631 W Broad St, Richmond, VA 23230).

    Room Block Summary:
    Start Date: Wednesday, October 7, 2026
    End Date: Friday, October 9, 2026
    Last Day to Book: Wednesday, September 16, 2026

    Free, on-site parking available.

    Book your group rate for the 2026 VASEM Summit
    Additional Questions?
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    Please contact Nat Draper at VASEM - ndraper@vasem.org - with additional questions on the 2026 VASEM Summit.