By Danielle Pierce

VCU Health Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Michael Elliott, Pharm.D., MSHA, FACHE, has been unanimously elected as chair of the Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association board of directors.

Elliott’s election marks a milestone: He is the first African American board chair in VHHA history. The association has more than two dozen member health systems, representing over 100 community, psychiatric, rehabilitation and specialty and children’s hospitals throughout Virginia.

“Virginia hospitals are hubs of healing and wellness working on the leading edge of advancing clinical research and driving innovation to help people thrive in reaching their full potential,” Elliott said. “Across the commonwealth, hospitals promote enhanced access to care, train future clinicians to offset workforce shortages and stand ready to respond to public health crises. Knowing that challenges loom on the horizon, our shared focus remains on caring for patients and improving communities through collaboration. It is a humbling honor to be selected as VHHA board chair by my colleagues as we continue to work together to serve the health needs of Virginians.”

VHHA works closely with hospitals and health delivery systems throughout the commonwealth to ensure the sustainability of the state’s health care system and to improve the health of all Virginians. Each officer serves for a 12-month term on the board. Elliott previously served as vice chair.

“Dr. Elliott’s passion and commitment to patients throughout the commonwealth speaks for itself,” said Marlon Levy, M.D., interim CEO of VCU Health and interim senior vice president of VCU Health Sciences. “His visionary leadership, strategic acumen and unwavering dedication to excellence make him a natural choice for this prestigious role. Dr. Elliott embodies our commitment to patient care, innovation and health equity, and we are confident that his contributions will continue to significantly impact the VHHA and the commonwealth.”

Elliott joined VCU Health in May 2022 after serving as senior vice president and chief transformation officer of Centra Health in Lynchburg. He is also a graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University, holding a doctorate in pharmacy and a master’s degree in health administration.