Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association Celebrates its 100^th Anniversary and a Legacy of Service in Support of Hospitals and Public Health

January 29, 2026

Virginia Lieutenant Governor Ghazala Hashmi, State Leaders, and Hospital Officials Among the Special Guests at the VHHA Centennial Celebration Event in Richmond; VHHA Unveils a new Logo at the Event Kicking off a Series of Activities Commemorating 100 Years of Service, Advocacy, and Partnership

RICHMOND, VA – This week, the Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association (VHHA) held a Centennial Celebration commemorating its 100^th anniversary as the first event in a series of activities planned this year to recognize a century of service to the Commonwealth in support of hospitals and public health.

The event was held on Wednesday, January 28 on the Carpenter Theatre Stage at the Dominion Energy Center and featured distinguished guests including Virginia Lieutenant Governor Ghazala Hashmi, Virginia General Assembly members, state officials, hospital and health system executives, and other stakeholders. View a photo gallery of images from the Centennial Celebration event here.

During the event, VHHA also unveiled its new logo and organizational colors – the mark incorporates a stylized design of Virginia, the VHHA acronym, and a color palette of blues commonly associated with hospitals. This updated imagery reflects the purpose and direction of the Association. It honors history while embracing a modern, forward‑looking vision. The symbolic move of debuting a new logo helps mark the Association’s transition into a new century of service, advocacy, and partnership with hospitals and health systems across the Commonwealth in pursuit of a shared goal to make Virginia the healthiest state in the nation. View the new VHHA logo here.

“This centennial milestone demonstrates that Virginia hospitals are united in our dedication and commitment to public health. It is a reminder that our greatest achievements often come from collaborating to advance the health and well-being of Virginians,” said Valley Health President and CEO Mark Nantz, the Chair of the VHHA Board of Directors. “As we move forward, VHHA and its members remain rooted in service and leadership as we navigate the challenges and opportunities of the next century.”

The Virginia Hospital Association was established in 1926 by 13 hospital leaders with a common purpose “to promote the welfare of the people through the development of hospital and outpatient service.” VHHA continues that legacy today by working with 26 health systems representing 117 acute care, children’s, psychiatric, long-term care, rehabilitation, and specialty hospitals that provide essential medical care 24/7/365 to patients and families across Virginia. Recently, U.S. Congresswoman Jennifer McClellan of Richmond authored a formal congressional record proclamation recognizing VHHA’s centennial anniversary.

“We stand on the shoulders of visionary leaders who came before us as we celebrate 100 years of service and the vital work of Virginia hospitals. The spirit of their original mission endures through our work today,” added VHHA President and CEO Sean T. Connaughton. “Virginia hospitals are community pillars and beacons of health and safety. We are immensely proud of the legacy established by the Association and its members. As we enter a new century, we are unified in our alignment around advancing the health of Virginians.”

Each day, Virginia hospitals provide care and essential services to patients and families. They are also major employers and economic contributors. The latest data shows that on an annual basis Virginia hospitals contribute $4.5 billion in community support, generate $68.8 billion in positive economic activity, directly provide more than 138,000 jobs with more than $13 billion in payroll, accommodate more than 4.45 million patient days, handle 92 percent of all voluntary and involuntary behavioral health inpatient admissions, and deliver more than 86,000 babies. Virginia hospitals are leaders on expanding access to care. VHHA and Virginia’s acute care hospitals worked with the Virginia General Assembly on a 2018 deal to expand Medicaid eligibility to hundreds of thousands of low-income adults. Under that deal, acute care hospitals agreed to fund the state share of Medicaid expansion costs through a levy on hospital revenue. Since then, hospitals have generated more than $3.6 billion to fund state costs for coverage under Medicaid expansion. And Virginia hospitals lead on innovation, clinical research, and quality care, with the Commonwealth consistently rated among the best states in the nation for hospital patient safety in the bi-annual Leapfrog Group Hospital Safety Grades.

About VHHA: The Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association is an alliance of 117 hospitals and 26 health delivery systems that develops and advocates for sound health care policy in the Commonwealth. Its mission is to achieve excellence in both health care and health to make Virginia the healthiest state in the nation. Its vision is through collaboration with members and stakeholders, to ensure the sustainability of Virginia’s health care system, transform the delivery of care to promote lower costs and high value across the continuum of care, and to improve health for all Virginians. Connect with VHHA through Facebook, X (Twitter), Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn, and YouTube.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
Julian Walker
Vice President of Communications
(804) 297-3193 office
(804) 304-7402 mobile
jtwalker@vhha.com