Richmond, Va - Members of the Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association (VHHA) today elected William B. Downey, executive vice president/chief operating officer, Riverside Health System in Newport News, chairman of the association. Mr. Downey was honored earlier this morning during the association’s 80th Annual Meeting of the Membership at The Homestead in Hot Springs, Virginia. He succeeds Rodger H. Baker, president and chief executive officer of The Fauquier Hospital, Inc., in Warrenton, who remains on the VHHA Board of Directors as immediate past chairman.

Chairman-Elect is Michael J. Schwartz, president and chief executive officer of Prince William Health System in Manassas and Nancy Howell Agee, executive vice president and chief operating officer of Carilion Health System in Roanoke, was elected secretary/treasurer.

Elected as directors-at-large were:

• David J. Fikse, chief executive officer, Southside Regional Medical Center, Petersburg
• Michael K. Kerner, executive vice president and administrator, Bon Secours St. Mary’s Hospital, Richmond
• R. Edward Howell, vice president and chief executive officer, University of Virginia Medical Center, Charlottesville

Other VHHA directors serving on the board include:

• W. Scott Burnette, president and chief executive officer, Community Memorial Healthcenter, South Hill
• James B. Cole, president and chief executive officer, Virginia Hospital Center, Arlington
• John F. Duval, chief executive officer, MCV Hospitals of VCU Health System, Richmond
• William C. Giermak, chief executive officer, St. Mary’s Home for Disabled Children, Norfolk
• Howard P. Kern, president and chief operating officer, Sentara Healthcare, Norfolk
• Margaret G. Lewis, president, HCA, Capital Division, Reston
• Sean S. McMurray, chief executive officer, Johnston Memorial Hospital, Abingdon
• Laurens Sartoris, president, Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association, Richmond
• William W. Semones, vice president/mental health services, Centra Health, Lynchburg
• James F. Spaulding, trustee, Halifax Regional Health System, Inc., South Boston
• Barbara B. Stoltzfus, chairperson/board of directors, Rockingham Memorial Hospital, Harrisonburg

Representatives to the American Hospital Association’s Region 3 Regional Policy Board also serve on the VHHA Board of Directors. They are:

• E. George Middleton, Jr., trustee, Sentara Healthcare, Norfolk
• Fred M. Rankin III, president and chief executive officer, MediCorp Health System, Fredericksburg