Thanking Drs. Tamara Sutherland and Liv Gorla as they end their tenure on the VCCN board of managers
CHoR launched Virginia Children’s Care Network in 2020 with an ambition to improve the health and wellbeing of kids throughout Central Virginia. It was a big undertaking in its own right, let alone during a pandemic. Six years later, the network is delivering on its mission – thanks in no small part to the commitment of some devoted pediatrician leaders.
Coming together with a common focus – the health of our community’s children
VCCN is a clinically integrated network bringing the region’s children’s hospital – CHoR – together with large and small pediatric practices across the community to combine knowledge and resources. It’s supported by CHoR and led by community pediatricians with the ultimate goals of enhancing communication, coordinating care and promoting quality through value-based care initiatives. Two instrumental leaders, Drs. Tamara Sutherland and Liv Gorla, have served on the board of managers since the beginning, including in the chair role. As they prepare to rotate off the board, they remain stalwart supporters of the network and its mission.
“The focus on providing integrated, high-quality care for the Richmond community, while also helping pediatricians gain better access to specialists, quality protocols and stronger contracting opportunities, has been incredibly exciting,” said Dr. Sutherland of Pediatric Partners of Virginia, who served as VCCN’s inaugural board chair from 2020-2023. “From the outset, I felt that CHoR was making a genuine effort to understand what community pediatricians need to succeed in their practices and continue delivering exceptional care to children and families.”
Specific achievements of VCCN include:
- Advancing value-based contracting efforts
- Implementing quality improvement initiatives across numerous pediatric practices
- Creating educational opportunities for providers
- Helping patients navigate the healthcare system
- Increasing access to pediatric subspecialists
- Enhancing mental health support following hospital or emergency department discharge
These all add up to improved care for pediatric patients, no matter where they receive it.
Dr. Gorla of The Pediatric Center took the reins in 2023 and built upon this momentum. She is concluding her term as board chair this year.
“Honestly, I was inspired by other community physicians like Dr. Sutherland and the entire CHoR executive leadership, specifically President Elias Neujahr,” Dr. Gorla said when asked what motivated her to take on the chair role. “They set the standard of envisioning a future of CHoR and community practice partnerships, moving us from the first stage of dreaming to the current stage of doing. I just had to follow their leads!”
Thank you to these trusted leaders and passionate advocates for children’s health
These dedicated physician leaders worked alongside their colleagues, providing strategic oversight and guidance, and bringing frontline clinical insight into important decision-making. This work was done above and beyond long hours caring for their own patients each day.
“Drs. Gorla and Sutherland were with us from VCCN’s inception. They were quickly identified as leaders and passionate advocates for their patients and our community,” said Dr. Keith Derco, director of physician community relations at CHoR and co-medical director of Virginia Children's Care Network. “They both recognized the critical role of a children’s hospital as an essential part of a healthy community and were a vital link with their community colleagues.”
Lindsay Bowerman, VCCN operations manager added, “Their leadership reflects a thoughtful balance of clinical expertise, collaborative spirit and strategic perspective, which has been instrumental in guiding VCCN’s growth and success.”
Thankfully, Drs. Sutherland and Gorla aren’t going far. They’ll continue to lend their time and talents to VCCN as members of the Contracting and Finance Committee. Thank you also to Dr. Sylvia Lee from Complete Care for Kids and Dr. Mary Michael Schweiker from Monument Avenue Pediatrics who concluded their time on the VCCN board of managers in 2025.