West Virginia State Medical Association

08/22/2026

Day 2 of Session 3 of Physician LEADS West Virginia continued an outstanding weekend of learning, connection, and leadership development in Charleston.

Today’s program challenged our physician leaders to think beyond the clinical setting and consider the many ways physicians can influence healthcare, organizations, communities, and public policy. The morning began with Senator Tom Takubo, DO, discussing physician public service leadership and the unique perspective physicians can bring to positions of civic responsibility.

Participants then explored negotiation skills for physician leaders with Allison Anderson, Chief Legal Officer for Medical Staff Governance, Employment and Graduate Medical Education at Vandalia Health, before concluding the afternoon with Jean Rettos, DO, and a discussion of innovative models of care and the fundamentals of Direct Primary Care.

Throughout Session 3, our cohort continued building the knowledge, relationships, and confidence necessary to lead effectively in a rapidly changing healthcare environment.

We are grateful to our faculty, partners, and participants for another meaningful Physician LEADS West Virginia session and for their continued commitment to strengthening physician leadership across the Mountain State.






Lisa Costello
West Virginia Osteopathic Medical Association
West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine
Vandalia Health Southern Region

08/22/2026

Day 1 of Session 3 of Physician LEADS West Virginia is in the books!

Our 2026 cohort gathered in Charleston at the CAMC Center for Learning and Research for an afternoon focused on building stronger physicians, stronger teams, and stronger advocates for West Virginia healthcare. We were pleased to begin the session with a welcome from James Campbell, MD, FACP, Vice President for Health Sciences at Vandalia Health.

The afternoon featured Kristan Rogers on team building and the foundations of effective teams, followed by Alex Macia for an engaging discussion on significant legal issues in healthcare and the important role physicians play in advocacy.

We wrapped up Day 1 with an evening networking dinner, giving our participants another opportunity to strengthen relationships, share perspectives, and learn from one another.

Physician LEADS West Virginia continues to invest in the physicians who are shaping the future of healthcare across the Mountain State. We look forward to another full day of leadership development tomorrow!






West Virginia Osteopathic Medical Association
Vandalia Health Southern Region
Lisa Costello

08/22/2026

07/18/2026

📍 Physician LEADS West Virginia | Session 2 – Day 1

Our Physician LEADS WV cohort gathered in Huntington for the first day of Session 2, continuing their journey to become the next generation of physician leaders for our state. This session brings together legal, executive, and physician leaders to explore the complex challenges facing healthcare and the leadership skills needed to navigate them.

The afternoon featured an outstanding lineup of speakers and discussions, including:

⚖️ Bradley D. Dunkle, Esq. and Ralph "Joe" Hagy, Esq., of Spilman Thomas & Battle, provided practical guidance on physician licensure, regulatory oversight, professional liability, risk management, and strategies for protecting one's medical career.

🧩 Problem-Solving for Physician Leaders with Ali Oliashirazi, MD, challenging participants to think critically, collaborate effectively, and apply structured approaches to solving complex organizational problems.

💬 An engaging Leadership Panel featuring:

Scott Raynes, President & CEO, Marshall Health Network
Chad Smith, MD, Chief Population Officer, Marshall Health Network
Hilary Porter, MD, Physician LEADS Class of 2024
Ali Oliashirazi, MD, Vice Dean for Business Development & External Affairs, Marshall University

Together, they shared valuable perspectives on leadership, organizational culture, physician engagement, and the evolving role of physicians in shaping the future of healthcare.

The day concluded with continued networking over dinner, strengthening relationships among physicians from across West Virginia who share a common commitment to leading positive change in their organizations and communities.

Thank you to our outstanding faculty, speakers, and hosts at Marshall Health Network for investing in the development of physician leaders across the Mountain State.






Lisa Costello
West Virginia Osteopathic Medical Association
Marshall Health Network - Cabell Huntington Hospital
Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine
Marshall University

07/18/2026

The Physician LEADS WV program is proud to recognize Marshall Health Network as a valued sponsor and partner in developing the next generation of physician leaders.

By investing in leadership development, together, we are helping strengthen the future of healthcare across West Virginia. Physician LEADS WV is dedicated to equipping physicians with the knowledge and skills to lead healthcare organizations, improve patient care, influence health policy, and serve their communities.

We are grateful for Marshall Health Network's commitment to advancing physician leadership and for supporting a program that will help shape the future of healthcare throughout our state.

Thank you for your partnership and your investment in West Virginia's physician leaders!







Lisa Costello
West Virginia Osteopathic Medical Association
Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine

05/20/2026

https://www.wvnews.com/news/wvnews/physician-leadership-development-program-announces-class-of-2026-participants/article_286495b3-6e93-47c8-b33f-80c4034a2d08.html

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The West Virginia Medical Foundation announced the participants selected for the Physician LEADS West Virginia Class of 2026, a physician leadership development program focused on advancing healthcare

05/09/2026

Introducing the Physician LEADS West Virginia Class of 2026.

This cohort brings together a diverse group of physician leaders from across the state – each committed to strengthening healthcare, advancing leadership, and shaping the future of West Virginia.

Different backgrounds. Shared purpose. One goal: lead forward.

We’re proud to launch this journey with a group that represents the very best of our profession and our state!






Lisa Costello
West Virginia Osteopathic Medical Association

05/09/2026

Day 2 of our Physician LEADS WV first session continued with powerful, practical conversations focused on the human side of leadership.

Brad Hall, MD, led an important session on the Continuum of Wellness, Illness, and Potentially Impairing Conditions, highlighting the responsibility physician leaders carry in recognizing, supporting, and advocating for well-being – both for themselves and their colleagues.

We then shifted to Communication Skills Development for Medical Leaders with Julia Fraustino, PhD, emphasizing how effective communication shapes culture, builds trust, and drives outcomes across teams and organizations.

We closed with a dynamic Physician Leader Panel of Physician LEADS Alumni, featuring Brian Dilcher, MD; Byron Dodson, DO; Bonnie Forman, MD; and Patrick Tomboc, DO, who shared real-world insights, lessons learned, and what leadership truly looks like in practice across West Virginia.

A strong finish to an impactful first session!






Lisa Costello
West Virginia Osteopathic Medical Association
Mon Health

05/09/2026

The morning portion of Day 2 of our Physician LEADS WV session is underway in Morgantown, delivering exactly what this program is built for – perspective, insight, and practical leadership skills.

We started with a Program Overview, led by Lisa Costello, MD, MPH, FAAP, and Matthew A. Davis, DO, MBA, MHA, FACHE, FAAFP, FACOFP, grounding our cohort in the vision and purpose behind building physician leaders across West Virginia. A special thank you to Leadership West Virginia, whose model and partnership were instrumental in helping shape and develop this program.

From there, Kevin Gessler took us into the boardroom with Physician Executive Leadership: Interpreting Boardroom Finances – breaking down financial concepts every physician leader needs to understand to lead effectively at the organizational level.

Strong discussions. Real-world application. Leadership in action.






Lisa Costello
West Virginia Osteopathic Medical Association
Mon Health