Patients Come First

This episode of VHHA’s Patients Come First podcast features Commissioner Daryl Washington, the recently appointed leader of the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (DBHDS). He joins us for a conversation about his career in community-based behavioral health, public demand for mental health and substance use treatment services, his vision for DBHDS, and more. Send questions, comments, feedback, or guest suggestions to [email protected] or contact on X (Twitter) or Instagram using the #PatientsComeFirst hashtag.

This episode of VHHA’s Patients Come First podcast features Lawrence "Larry" Tan, JD, NRP, the System Safety Officer at ChristianaCare Health Services in Delaware. He joins us for a conversation about his career in public safety and emergency response, facility and contingency planning in healthcare settings including workplace violence prevention, and his role as a featured speaker at the upcoming 2026 Virginia Healthcare Emergency Preparedness Summit on April 22. Send questions, comments, feedback, or guest suggestions to [email protected] or contact on X (Twitter) or Instagram using the #PatientsComeFirst hashtag.

This episode of VHHA’s Patients Come First podcast features Dr. Amita Sudhir, an emergency medicine physician at UVA Health and the inaugural director for global health training at the University of Virginia’s Center for Global Health Equity, where she’s helping build international clinical training opportunities for students and residents. Send questions, comments, feedback, or guest suggestions to [email protected] or contact on X (Twitter) or Instagram using the #PatientsComeFirst hashtag.

This episode of VHHA’s Patients Come First podcast features Elizabeth Cintron, Program Director for the new Behavioral Health Inpatient Unit at Chesapeake Regional Medical Center, who joins us for a conversation about her professional journey and what the new unit means for the hospital and surrounding community. Send questions, comments, feedback, or guest suggestions to [email protected] or contact on X (Twitter) or Instagram using the #PatientsComeFirst hashtag.

This episode of VHHA’s Patients Come First podcast features Tammy Albright, Vice President and Chief Executive Officer for Behavioral Health Services at Ballad Health. She joins us for a conversation about the work to enhance access to behavioral health and substance use treatment across the Appalachian Highlands, including a recently announced Strong Futures residential treatment program for women and families in Norton, VA. Send questions, comments, feedback, or guest suggestions to [email protected] or contact on X (Twitter) or Instagram using the #PatientsComeFirst hashtag.