MSVF holds successful Physician Leadership Institute legislative day

15 February 2011

The Medical Society of Virginia Foundation (MSVF) held its fifth Physician Leadership Institute (PLI) legislative day on Wed., Jan. 19, and it was a huge success. Attended by the 20 selected fellows, this event trains physicians to engage in the state legislative process.

PLI fellows followed a jam-packed agenda that included speeches by:

• Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling
• Attorney Gen. Ken Cuccinelli II, J.D.
• Sec. of Health and Human Resources William A. Hazel Jr., M.D.
• Medical Society of Virginia (MSV) President Cynthia C. Romero, M.D., FAAFP
• Sen. L. Louise Lucas, M.A.
• Sen. Ralph Northam, M.D.
• Del. T. Scott Garrett, M.D.
• Speaker William J. Howell, J.D.
• Del. Christopher Stolle, M.D., M.B.A.

Each of the speakers addressed the fellows and urged them to get involved in the legislative process. PLI fellows also learned more about MSV’s legislative agenda, which focuses on Medicaid reimbursement rates, the medical malpractice cap agreement, scope of practice and quality of care.

During the legislative day, fellows participated in a leader-to-leader dialogue led by Steve Horan, Ph.D., president of Community Health Solutions, to share their leadership action plans and solicit input from peers on current challenges. The fellows also had the opportunity to get an update on the Virginia Health Reform Initiative (VHRI) from a panel of speakers who all serve on the VHRI Advisory Council: Cindi Jones, Shirley Gibson, R.N., Richard Hamrick III, M.D., M.B.A., Steve Horan, and Sterling Ransone, M.D.

Several PLI fellows shared some of the lessons they learned during the event. Please click the video link to hear some of the highlights of the event.


The MSV Foundation, through a five-year grant from the Claude Moore Charitable Foundation and with support from HCA Virginia and the Herndon Foundation, established PLI in 2006. This yearlong program is one of only a handful in the nation that is devoted to providing physicians with formal, ongoing leadership training. Since its inception in 2006, 78 fellows have graduated from this program. The goal of the Institute is to produce a network of physician leaders who work individually and together to effectively to advance health and health care in Virginia. To learn more about this program visit www.msvfoundation.org/CMPLI.