FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

VHC Health™ Chair of Emergency Medicine Honored with “Spirit of Community” Award

Arlington, VA (September 19, 2022) – VHC Health™, a community-based health system providing medical services to the Washington, DC metropolitan area, is pleased to announce that Dr. Michael A. Silverman, Chair of the Department of Emergency Medicine, has been honored with the 2022 William T. Newman, Jr.  “Spirit of Community” Award from the Arlington Community Foundation in recognition of his service as chief of emergency medicine and for providing critical information about the pandemic to the DMV region.

“We are proud and fortunate to have Dr. Silverman at VHC Health — His work caring for patients who visit the Emergency Department, as well as his clear communication of essential information, especially during the height of the pandemic, offers guidance, comfort, and assurance to the community we serve,” said Chris Lane, CEO and President, VHC Health. “This achievement is a testament to Dr. Silverman’s steadfast support of VHC Health’s staff and community, and we are incredibly grateful for his service.”

At the start of the pandemic, Dr. Silverman began providing “Friday Night Updates” from the Emergency Room on his personal Facebook page, providing a source of trustworthy medical information for the community about the pandemic, and he has continued making these community updates on a weekly basis to a global audience of nearly 8,000 followers ever-since.

Named in honor of William T. Newman, Jr., who serves as Chief Judge of the 17th Judicial Circuit in Virginia, the “Spirit of Community” award was established to recognize individuals and organizations who have demonstrated a tireless and unselfish commitment to improving the quality of life in Arlington. Annually, a celebratory luncheon brings together hundreds of business, civic, and philanthropic leaders, as well as Arlingtonians from all walks of life, in recognition of individuals who have made the community a better place to live. This year’s luncheon will take place on Thursday, November 10.

In 2021, Dr. Silverman was selected as one of five 2020 Facility Medical Directors of the Year by Alteon Health, and as the 2021 recipient for the Dominion Energy Torch Award for Ethical Leadership by the Leadership Center for Excellence. 

About VHC Health^TM:
VHC Health provides exceptional medical services as the region’s community health system. Virginia Hospital Center was recently designated a 2021 Top Teaching Hospital by The Leapfrog Group. In 2022, the Hospital was selected for an 11th consecutive Healthgrades Outstanding Patient Experience Award™ and a 20th consecutive ‘A’ grade from The Leapfrog Group. Virginia Hospital Center is a 453-bed not-for-profit teaching facility and designated as a Magnet® hospital by the American Nurses Credentialing Center. VHC Health is a proud member of the Mayo Clinic Care Network – a national network of independent healthcare organizations.

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