WVU Medicine United Hospital Center (UHC) welcomed three West Virginia state legislators in late 2025 for a collaborative legislative roundtable, reinforcing the hospital’s commitment to delivering high-quality care across Central West Virginia. The event was a joint effort with the West Virginia Hospital Association (WVHA).
The visiting legislators included Senator Ben Queen (Senate District 12), Delegate Keith Marple (House District 69), and Delegate Clay Riley (House District 72). UHC President and CEO David F. Hess, M.D., provided an overview of the hospital’s operations and significant regional impact. His presentation highlighted notable areas of growth, including surgeries, the lung center, acute admissions, the cancer center, and outpatient clinic visits. Dr. Hess emphasized UHC’s evolving role as a regional referral center for complex care.
“We are proud to serve as a vital regional referral center, providing the advanced, complex care that our communities depend on,” said Dr. Hess. “Hosting discussions like these underscores the importance of collaboration with our state leaders to ensure the sustained delivery of high-quality healthcare services to all Central West Virginia residents.”
Attendees also included Sahil Virdi, M.D., a pulmonologist at UHC Lung Center; Danielle Walz, WVU Medicine AVP of Government Relations and Associate General Counsel; Karen Bowling, President and CEO of WVU Medicine Princeton Community Hospital; Tony Gregory, WVHA Vice President of Legislative Affairs; and members of the UHC leadership team. The roundtable concluded with a luncheon and productive discussions regarding the future of healthcare in the region.
David F. Hess, M.D., regional president of the Central Region for WVU Health System and CEO of WVU Medicine United Hospital Center, highlights the hospital’s recent successes, including its 2025 achievement of earning The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval and the American Stroke Association’s Heart Checkmark for Advanced Primary Stroke Center Certification.
Sahil Virdi, M.D., a pulmonologist at UHC Lung Center, is pictured discussing lung center data, noting a “favorable direction” in the facility’s lung cancer staging. The diagnosis is shifting from late-stage to early-stage detection.
Please note, the information provided throughout this site is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. All content, including text, graphics, images, and video, on or available through this website is for general information purposes only. If you are experiencing related symptoms, please visit your doctor or call 9-1-1 in an emergency.
