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By Mary Westbrook

One year ago, ���ϲ����� embarked on one of the most ambitious transformations in the history of health and education in Virginia. With the July 1, 2024, integration of then-Eastern Virginia Medical School (EVMS) into the institution and the launch of Macon & Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences at ���ϲ�����, a vision to unite academic excellence, clinical care and community service took a bold step forward for the campus, the community and the Commonwealth of Virginia. 

Today, the impact of that vision is clear. 

Macon & Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences at ���ϲ����� brings together Ellmer College of Health Sciences, Ellmer School of Nursing, Eastern Virginia Medical School and the EVMS School of Health Professions, along with the EVMS Medical Group, and, in partnership with Norfolk State University, the Joint School of Public Health.  

Supported by a wide network of state leaders, philanthropic donors and critical partners, it represents the largest and most comprehensive academic health sciences center in the commonwealth. 

This historic effort made possible through key investments from the Commonwealth of Virginia and Sentara Health, with strong backing from Governor Glenn Youngkin and the General Assembly, unites the expertise and dedication of students, faculty, staff, clinicians and community partners. 

“From enhancing education and advancing research to strengthening the clinical workforce pipeline, this milestone year has laid a powerful foundation for our students and our region,” said ���ϲ����� President Brian O. Hemphill, Ph.D. “The launch of Macon & Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences at ���ϲ����� signifies a powerful investment in the future of health and healthcare — one that unlocks new possibilities for education and discovery, while also shaping a workforce ready to lead for generations to come.”  

A Year of Achievements and Milestones 

From its inception, Macon & Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences at ���ϲ����� was designed to address the most urgent healthcare needs in Virginia — including workforce shortages and gaps in care and challenges in talent retention — through an integrated model for health education, research and service. 

“This past year represents a pivotal moment in the evolution of health and medical education for our community,” said Executive Vice President for Health Sciences Alfred Abuhamad, MD. “Through ongoing integration of rigorous academic programs, pioneering research and exemplary clinical practice, we are establishing a new standard for excellence. Our graduates are poised to shape the health of this region for the better."  

Coupled by a strong and unwavering commitment from the state and central to the transformation is a $350 million commitment over the next decade from Sentara Health. The investment supports the establishment of the unified academic health sciences center, including academic infrastructure to strengthen health sciences degree programs and new residency opportunities. 

“The formation of Macon & Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences at ���ϲ����� is a critical step in maturing the healthcare infrastructure of our region,” said Michael Hooper, MD, senior vice president and chief medical and academic officer for Sentara Health. “We look forward to a long-term partnership that will help Hampton Roads attract talent, build expertise and develop our healthcare industry. We remain thankful to all of the leaders who came together to make this a reality."  

Achievements that Shaped the Year 

• Collaborating with State Partners. The integration of EVMS into ���ϲ����� required critical approval from the commonwealth, whose early investments provided the foundational funding to bring this vision to life. Continued state support remains essential to the long-term success and growth of the academic health sciences center, enabling expanded educational opportunities, research innovation and community impact. 

• Scaling Access to Clinical Experience. Sentara Health’s landmark investment, which is being deployed over the next decade to grow infrastructure and accelerate innovation, already is making a significant impact through residency program growth, faculty and leadership recruitment and by supporting enhanced student experiences via opportunities for expanded clinical rotations. 

• Fueling Excellence Across Health Sciences. The EVMS Foundation now supports critical initiatives across the academic health sciences center, including Eastern Virginia Medical School and the EVMS School of Health Professions, along with Ellmer College of Health Sciences, Ellmer School of Nursing and the Joint School of Public Health. Through this expanded role, the EVMS Foundation remains committed to ensuring the academic health sciences center attains national prominence for leadership in exceptional patient care, health sciences and nursing education, while maintaining its strong commitment to community health and preparing students to meet immediate, local workforce gaps. 

• Structuring Departments for Strategic Growth. The consolidation of basic sciences units into the new Department of Biomedical and Translational Sciences was undertaken to improve research collaboration and bridge the gap between basic science and clinical practice. This restructuring supports a dynamic, interconnected curriculum that prepares students to excel in both academic and clinical environments. In addition, as part of continuing efforts to strengthen its educational mission, Eastern Virginia Medical School recently established a Department of Medical Education to provide a dedicated academic home for faculty whose primary focus is medical education and offer meaningful faculty appointments for valued community educators, many of whom have long played a vital role in precepting and mentoring students. 

• Advancing Education with New Leaders and Programs. The University recently appointed two new deans critical to the future of its medical and health sciences education: Rene Love, Ph.D., D.N.P. (Ellmer School of Nursing, effective April 1, 2025) and Judette Louis, MD, M.P.H. (Eastern Virginia Medical School, effective Sept. 2, 2025). Drs. Love and Louis are both renowned experts in their fields. New academic offerings include a Doctor of Applied Science in Kinesiology (launching 2025), a Doctor of Nursing Science (launching 2026) and a Master of Science in Nutrition (launching 2026), among other initiatives.  

Key Milestones of Success 

• Supporting Tomorrow’s Health Professionals. The July 2024 launch of the academic health sciences center created enhanced scholarship opportunities for medical and health professions students committed to the Hampton Roads region, made possible by generous investments from Joan Brock and Dennis and Jan Ellmer, along with the University’s broader network of philanthropic supporters. The inaugural Dennis & Jan Ellmer Health Scholars were awarded in Fall 2024. The endowed Brock Opportunity Scholarships will debut in Fall 2025 and benefit MD students for generations to come. 

• Launching a New Innovation Hub. The August 2024 opening of a new state-of-the-art home for the Ellmer College of Health Sciences cemented the University’s place as a leader in health sciences education with a focus on innovative learning and interdisciplinary collaboration. The nearly 130,000-square-foot building, which began development in 2016, is home to two public-facing clinics, the Faschini Wallach Center for Restorative Therapies and the Sofia & David Konikoff Dental Hygiene Care Facility, and houses six of the University’s health sciences programs.  

• Answering Public Health Challenges through Partnership. State agency of the Joint School of Public Health in October 2024 — within the first year of integration — marked an important milestone in the University’s commitment to train public health leaders and address health gaps around Hampton Roads. The school creates a unique collaboration between ���ϲ����� and Norfolk State University, connecting students and faculty across three campuses to improve health and well-being around the region. It is the only partnership of its kind in Virginia. 

• Transforming Sickle Cell Care. The Sentara-EVMS Comprehensive Sickle Cell Program is the region’s first multidisciplinary center for adult sickle cell patients. The opened in October 2024 and was designed to bring together specialists from the medical school’s Department of Medicine, along with its Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation and Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences departments. Previously, adult patients had to travel to Richmond or North Carolina to receive comparable care.  

• Attaining National Recognition for Impact. In April 2025, the U.S. News & World Report 2025 Best Graduate Schools, compiled from the results of peer assessment surveys, multiple Macon & Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences at ���ϲ����� programs — including top placements for Nurse Anesthesia (No. 19), Master of Science in Nursing (No. 34), Physician Assistant (No. 35), Doctor of Nursing Practice (No. 36) and others — with Eastern Virginia Medical School named a Tier 3 medical school (No. 2 in Virginia). 

• Expanding Academic Honors. In Spring 2025, the EVMS Foundation announced the establishment of two new academic honors: the Jordan R. Asher, MD, M.S., Distinguished Professorship in Medicine (EVMS Department of Medicine) and the Aubrey L. Layne Jr. Distinguished Professorship in Health Policy and Management (Joint School of Public Health). These honors recognize the significant roles Dr. Asher and Layne played as Sentara Health leaders during the integration and launch of the academic health sciences center. 

• Strengthening the Workforce Pipeline. During the 2024-2025 academic year, ���ϲ����� celebrated a pivotal chapter in its evolution with the graduation of its first class of students from the colleges and schools now united under Macon & Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences at ���ϲ�����. This accomplishment underscores the University’s commitment to transforming health education by creating an integrated academic center prepared to tackle the nation’s most pressing workforce needs. These graduates joined a powerful legacy of roughly 13,880 alumni from Eastern Virginia Medical School, EVMS residency programs and the EVMS School of Health Professions; nearly 8,500 graduates of Ellmer School of Nursing; and 9,480 from Ellmer College of Health Sciences — as well as the total ���ϲ����� alumni network of more than 175,300 strong across academic disciplines. Their entry into the workforce comes at a critical time, as projections from the National Center for Health Workforce Analysis forecast significant shortfalls in healthcare providers by 2037, including nearly 30,000 dental hygienists, more than 87,000 primary care physicians and more than 200,000 registered nurses, along with other key allied health professionals. With its unified academic health sciences center, ���ϲ����� is preparing future clinicians, educators, researchers and leaders and rising to meet a national challenge with local and global impact. 

“Looking back on this past year, I have never been more confident in the future of our community’s health and our region’s future,” said President Hemphill. “This is a defining moment for healthcare in Virginia, and ���ϲ����� is proud to be at the forefront.”  

Read more in the of Macon & Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences at ���ϲ����� Magazine.