Founder's Society Exclusive Event: State of the System

Founder’s Society Exclusive Event: State of the System 

Riverside Health recently welcomed members of its Founder’s Society for an exclusive State of the System event—an opportunity to share mission-critical updates, celebrate progress and highlight the powerful role philanthropy continues to play across the organization.

Pictured: Dr. Mike Dacey, Jesse Goodrich, Ed Heckler

Voices of Leadership and Philanthropy

Founder’s Society members had the opportunity to hear directly from Dr. Mike Dacey, President and CEO of Riverside Health, during this intimate and engaging event. His remarks offered a candid and comprehensive look at the current state of the system, the challenges ahead and the strategic priorities guiding Riverside’s future.

Adding to the conversation, several members of Riverside’s executive team shared off-the-cuff reflections, including Adria Vanhoozier, Vice President, System Financial and Operational Integration, Ed Heckler, Vice President of Lifelong Health, Jesse Goodrich, Senior Vice President of Human Resources and Robin Nelhuebel, PhD, President of Riverside College of Health Sciences. Each brought a unique perspective shaped not only by their leadership roles within the organization, but also by their personal commitment as Founder’s Society members.

Their dual roles as both leaders and donors underscore something especially meaningful: a deep, firsthand understanding of how private funding and philanthropy directly strengthen Riverside’s ability to deliver high-quality care, invest in innovation and respond to the evolving needs of the community. Their participation reinforced a shared belief that philanthropy is not supplemental, but essential to advancing Riverside’s mission and ensuring long-term impact.

Pictured: Linda McKee (AVP, Oncology, Retired), Adria Vanhoozier, Jesse Goodrich

Event Takeaways

• Hand in Hand, Riverside’s Hospital-Based Violence Intervention Program, has now served more than 2,600 survivors. With a re-injury rate of just 1.9%—compared to the national average of 40%—the program is making a profound difference in breaking cycles of violence.
• The Lung Cancer Screening CT program is dramatically improving early detection. Today, 67% of lung cancer diagnoses across Riverside are caught at an early stage, far surpassing the statewide average of approximately 27%. 

2) Commitment to Quality Excellence
Riverside’s focus on delivering exceptional care is reflected in its outcomes. Key metrics including inpatient mortality, total harm score and hospital readmissions continue to trend downward and outperform national benchmarks. These results underscore a system-wide commitment to safety, quality and continuous improvement.

3) Strong Market Leadership
Despite an increasingly competitive health care environment, Riverside remains the market leader across all service areas. While minor shifts have occurred, they reflect healthy competition—not a change in Riverside’s strong position within the region.

4) Investing in the Future Workforce
The Riverside College of Health Sciences is a cornerstone of long-term success. With strong enrollment, a growing partnership with Christopher Newport University’s College of Nursing and an impressive 80% of graduates choosing careers within Riverside, the College is helping build a sustainable, highly skilled workforce from within.

5) Financial Strength and Stability
Through focused operational improvements - and with the support of dedicated donors - Riverside is in a strong financial position. This resilience allows the organization to adapt, invest and meet emerging challenges with confidence.

Event Photos

Sara Harris Photography joined the event to capture the memories. See event photos here.
Please note this Google Photos album will not open on a Riverside Network.

Thank you, Founders!

Your involvement is more important now than ever as we raise funds for The Campaign for Riverside Smithfield Hospital and continue to support areas of impact like oncology, the neurosciences, memory care, hospice and so much more.

Together, we can ensure that Riverside Health remains strong, responsive and mission-driven—no matter what lies ahead.