Clifton Forge, VA (May 21, 2026)- At the recent Clifton Forge Community Gathering meeting, held at the Historic Masonic Theatre at 510 Main Street, locals convened to tackle one of the most pressing issues facing the community: healthcare access and the disparities that accompany it. The meeting brought together residents, healthcare professionals, and local leaders, all eager to discuss and devise strategies to improve the health and well-being of the community.
The meeting began with opening remarks from emcee, Shannon Miller-Brantley, member of the Alleghany County Board of Supervisors. Brantley quickly turned the meeting over to Bobbie Wagner, CEO of the Alleghany Highlands YMCA, and Dr. Sandra McHenry, who gave the first presentation of the night. After a few words from Wagner highlighting the importance of the local YMCA, McHenry led a slideshow featuring many statistics about the health and wellness of residents in Virginia and, especially, the Alleghany Highlands.
The second presentation was conducted by LewisGale Hospital-Alleghany's Dr. Nicole Tucker, CEO and CNO, and Erin Via, Assistant Administrator. The duo discussed their roles in the hospital, the role of the hospital in the community, and the accolades that Lewis Gale-Alleghany has received, including the 2025 Alleghany Highlands Business of the Year.
The final segment was a panel discussion with the following regional healthcare representatives: Dr. Scott Just, CEO of UVA Physicians Group; Mr. Greg Madsen, FACHE, President of Carilion Rockbridge Community Hospital; Dr. Jane Russell, President and CEO of Bath Community Hospital; and Ms. Tasha Walsh, LCSW, PCC, ConnectionsPlus Healthcare and Hospice.
The sole purpose of tonight's Community Gathering was to discuss local Healthcare and the disparities in Healthcare access, all of which was addressed during the panel, moderated by Courtney Howard, Alleghany County Board of Supervisors. The discussion was based on a recent survey conducted in the Alleghany Highlands which received over 115 responses.
The results of that survey are as follows: 83% of residents noted having to travel outside the region for care and 70% reported a loss of local services. In terms of access difficulty, 41% noted it was difficult (32%) or very difficult (9%) while 29% reported it was not difficult (21%) or very easy (8%). 30% reported it was neither difficult nor easy. In terms of affordability, 51% reported it can be difficult to afford, 22% found it appropriate with the cost of living, 15% found it affordable, 11% said it wad prohibitively expensive, and less than 1% stating it was very affordable. |  | Tonight's panel was made of up (L to R) Mr. Greg Madsen, Dr. Jane Russell, Dr. Scott Just, and Ms. Tasha Walsh.
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