VHHA Hosts 15th Annual Virginia Patient Safety Summit, Attracting 2,300-Plus Participants

VHHA Hosts 15^th Annual Virginia Patient Safety Summit, a Virtual Event Focused on Care Quality, Innovation, and Workforce Well-Being

February 26, 2026

"Safe Care Every Step of the Way: Advancing a Culture of Safety in Healthcare" is the Theme for the Summit Featuring Noted Physicians and Nurse Leaders as well as Programming on Safeguarding Safety Systems, the Intersection of Patient Safety and Artificial Intelligence, Workplace Wellness, and Patient Experience

RICHMOND, VA - Today (Thursday, February 26), the Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association (VHHA), the VHHA Foundation, and the VHHA Center for Healthcare Excellence are hosting the annual Virginia Patient Safety Summit, whose theme is "Safe Care Every Step of the Way: Advancing a Culture of Safety in Healthcare."

This year's event is the 15^th Summit, whose origins date to 2011 when VHHA successfully pursued legislation in the Virginia General Assembly recognizing each February 2 as "Virginia Patient Safety Day." The 2026 edition of the Summit has attracted more than 2,300 registrants for the virtual event, which is being presented in collaboration with the Virginia Nurses Association and the Virginia Nurses Foundation, the Virginia Pharmacists Association, the Virginia Society of Health System Pharmacists, and the Medical Society of Virginia. It also coincides with the centennial anniversary of VHHA (1926-2026).

Featured speakers at the Summit include keynote remarks from RaDonda Vaught, BSN, on the topic of "When Seconds Change Lives: Patient Safety and System Breakdowns;" physician leader, professor, and podcaster Dr. Kedar S. Mate, MD, presenting on "Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Patient Safety: Promise, Pitfalls and Path Forward;" and Dr. Thomas H. Lee, MD, MSc, Chief Medical Officer at Press Ganey and Editor-in-Chief of NEJM Catalyst, sharing remarks on "Building Trust and Social Capital in a Time of Turmoil."

Additional Summit speakers include Planning Committee Chair Dr. John Harrington, Vice President of Quality, Safety, and Clinical Integration with Children's Hospital of The King's Daughters; Valley Health President and CEO Mark Nantz, the Chair of the VHHA Board of Directors; Virginia Health and Human Resources Secretary Marvin Figueroa; and Inova Fairfax Medical Campus President Dr. Steve Narang, MD, the Chair of the VHHA Center for Healthcare Excellence Quality and Safety Advisory Council.

During the Summit, Inova Chief Nurse Executive Maureen Sintich, DNP, MBA, RN, WHNP-BC, NEA-BC, will be recognized as the 2026 recipient of the Senior Leader Quality and Safety Award. Hospital team members who received 2025 Virginians Speak Up for Safety Awards from VHHA, as well those who are 2025-2026 VHHA IHI Open School Quality and Safety Scholars, will also be acknowledged at the Summit.

"We have a diverse group of hospitals and health systems serving communities across Virginia that are united by our dedication to service and a shared commitment to strengthening the quality and safety of care provided to patients and families," said Valley Health President and CEO Mark Nantz, the Chair of the VHHA Board of Directors. "The Virginia Patient Safety Summit is a celebration of our collective work to enhance and promote safety culture principles as well as an important opportunity to bring clinicians, quality leaders, and healthcare teams together to learn from each other."

The Summit is an extension of the VHHA Center for Healthcare Excellence, which was launched in January 2015 as an initiative of VHHA and the VHHA Foundation, to support the adoption of best practices in patient care across Virginia hospitals, to facilitate provider and stakeholder collaboration, and to serve as a hub for the pursuit of patient safety and healthcare quality initiatives in Virginia.

"VHHA's celebration of 100 years of service in support of hospitals, patients, and the healthcare delivery system alongside the arrival of the 15^th annual Virginia Patient Safety Summit is an opportunity to renew and affirm our work to make Virginia the healthiest state in the nation," said VHHA President and CEO Sean T. Connaughton. "Advancing the cause of patient safety and care reliability across the continuum of care is central to that and reflected in the Summit agenda's emphasis on designing safer systems, carefully integrating new technology, and investing in clinician well-being to effectively serve patients and families."

In addition to the partner organizations supporting the 2026 Virginia Patient Safety Summit, VHHA extends its thanks to the following sponsors:

• Elite Industry Partner: Qualivis; and
• Exhibiting Sponsors: Carilion Clinic, Centra Health, Valley Health, and VHHA Solutions.

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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