Recognizing Excellence in Long Term Care

Every year the VHCA-VCAL Annual Awards Program celebrates the outstanding achievements of administrators, nurses, corporate staff, volunteers and others who help make Virginia long term care centers places of quality care for Virginia’s frailest citizens. The program also recognizes outstanding activity and event programs at Virginia’s nursing centers and assisted living communities.

We are so excited to announce our 2023 Recognition Award Recipients!

Award Categories

Clockwise from upper left: Leslie Ruffner, NF Administrator of the Year; Stefanie Stevens, Life Enrichment Director at Falls Run Nursing and Rehabilitation with Amanda Morgan, DON of the Year; and Valerie Holden, AL Administrator of the Year.

Recognition Awards: Honoring lifetime achievement, administrators, director of nursing, and CNA of the year

  • James Dunton Distinguished Service Award for Lifetime Achievement: Tommy East, President & CEO of American HealthCare, LLC, whose career demonstrates a rare combination of technical expertise, relational excellence, and leadership to create a culture across the organization he leads that is committed to caring for residents like they are family.
  • Nursing Facility Administrator of the Year: Leslie Ruffner, Dulles Health and Rehab, whose personal motto and driving force in her life and career is to leave people better than she finds them. She lives this in her words, actions, and leadership improving the lives of her patients, residents, families, staff, colleagues, and friends.
  • Assisted Living Administrator of the Year: Valerie Holden of Harbourway Assisted Living, for staying the course despite all the pressures of this profession and for showing genuine fidelity and compassion to her responsibilities, her residents, professional standards, and her staff.
  • Director of Nursing of the Year: Amanda Morgan of Falls Run Nursing and Rehabilitation, for her exceptional clinical and managerial skills, leadership abilities, respect for residents and co-workers, integrity, ability to maintain an efficient environment, and availability to staff and family members.
  • Certified Nursing Assistants of the Year: 
    • Patricia Boyd of the VCU Health Community Memorial Hospital – The Hundley Center, for her respect for residents, her loving character, and the pride she shows in her work caring for residents at the same facility for the last 43 years.
    • Ruth Garner of South Boston Health and Rehabilitation Center, who for more than 20 years has worked to build trust with her residents and patients and is a true asset not only to her center, but also to the profession as a whole.

D.A. “Woody” Brown Community Involvement Awards: Recognizing outstanding activity and event programs

For over 30 years, VHCA-VCAL has acknowledged the outstanding efforts of members, who use their activity programs to involve, entertain, educate and enrich not only their residents and families but the greater community. The D. A. “Woody” Brown Community Involvement Awards program was named in honor of Woody Brown, the first Director of Operations of Autumn Corporation, a Vietnam Veteran, and a dedicated, enthusiastic leader in long term care.

  • National Skilled Nursing Care Week or National Assisted Living Week Program: This category celebrates special events centers host during these annually themed weeks, which occur in May and September, respectively.
    • 1st Place – Falls Run Nursing & Rehabilitation
    • 2nd Place – Roman Eagle Rehabilitation and Health Care Center
    • 3rd Place – Dulles Health & Rehab Center
  • Special Event Program: The Special Event award is designed to recognize a one-time activity such as a holiday-specific open house or a fundraiser. The award is granted based on program design and its ability to unite residents and the community.
    • 1st Place – The Landmark Center
    • 2nd Place – Friendship Health and Rehab Center North
    • 3rd Place – Dulles Health & Rehab Center
  • Facility Newsletter: This award recognizes excellence in facility newsletters. Newsletters are a special form of communication that is essential both inside and outside of your centers. Staff, residents, family members and the greater community all rely upon them. Judging is based on content, readability, creativity, special features, relevance, timeliness, and resident/employee involvement.
    • 1st Place – Friendship Health and Rehab Center South
    • 2nd Place – Roman Eagle Rehabilitation and Health Care Center
    • 3rd Place – Autumn Care of Mechanicsville