Chesapeake Regional Celebrates its Four 2026 Healthcare Heroes

CHESAPEAKE, VA – For decades, Virginia Media, publishers of The Virginian-Pilot, Daily Press, Virginia Gazette, and Inside Business newspapers, has sponsored the annual Healthcare Heroes competition honoring outstanding individuals and organizations making a difference in health care across Hampton Roads. The awards breakfast honoring 2026 Healthcare Heroes was held this morning, Monday, March 30, at the Westin Town Center in Virginia Beach, Virginia. 

All winners are featured in a special section of Inside Business, published today. Chesapeake Regional Healthcare is proud to support the Healthcare Heroes recognition and highlight the people and programs that positively impact patient care.

This year, four honorees are from Chesapeake Regional Healthcare:

ADVANCEMENTS IN HEALTHCARE
The Region's First Coronary Microvascular Dysfunction (CMD) Testing Program

Led by Ashesh N. Buch, MB, ChB, MD, FRCP, an interventional cardiologist at Chesapeake Regional Heart Care, this innovation fills a critical gap in cardiac care, helping 20-30% of cardiac catheterization patients who have chest pain but lack a proper diagnosis. Chesapeake Regional’s CMD testing program employs advanced coronary function testing to assess the heart's microvasculature, the tiny vessels too small to see on standard angiograms. Traditional cardiac tests focus on major coronary arteries, often overlooking issues in the heart's microscopic blood vessels. These patients, mostly women, are frequently dismissed or subjected to repeated procedures. 

Previously, the closest facility offering CMD testing was the University of Virginia, creating a significant barrier to access for the region’s residents. This testing represents a shift in cardiac diagnostics, providing answers where none existed before and demonstrating Chesapeake Regional’s commitment to the community it serves. 

NURSE – LEADER
Kimberly “Kim” Green, MSN, RN, MEDSURG-BC

Kim Green, Director of Acute Care Services at Chesapeake Regional Healthcare, has built a career defined by exceptional leadership and a commitment to patients. She continually seeks ways to improve care delivery, support her nursing staff, and she has a passion for mentoring.

Recognizing the critical nursing shortage, Green pioneered Chesapeake Regional’s “Draft Day,” completely different from traditional recruitment, and she developed "Brunch & Brainwaves," specifically targeting experienced nurses for specialized neurology positions.

Central to Green’s leadership style is constant evaluation to ensure patients receive safe, high-quality care. This brings measurable improvements in patient experience and engagement. Her nursing units consistently outperform other acute care areas.

NURSE - RN
Tocarra "Cari" Robinson, RN

Cari Robinson is an infusion nurse at Chesapeake Regional Healthcare’s Priority Toyota Cancer Center. Her willingness to pause on a busy day to follow her instincts quite literally saved a life. One day this past December, a patient named “Sharlene” (not her real name) didn’t show up for her appointment. Robinson had a feeling something was wrong. She knew that Sharlene lived alone, so instead of brushing it off and going on with her day, she chose to check on her. 

The phone rang a few times, and when Sharlene finally answered, what she said didn’t make sense. “Her words were slurred, jumbled, and it sounded like she was having a stroke,” Robinson recalled. She told Sharlene, “I think you need some help. I’m calling 911.” She immediately called 911, requesting a welfare check based on their conversation. EMS arrived, confirmed that Sharlene had had a stroke, and rushed her to the hospital. 

A former oncology and hospice nurse, Robinson, had a feeling something wasn’t right when her patient didn’t show up for her appointment. Her instinct, empathy, and decisive action transformed a missed appointment into a lifesaving intervention. Because of her attentiveness and compassion, a mother was given more time, a family was spared unimaginable loss, and a life was saved. Robinson's commitment to her patients makes her an extraordinary nurse.

HEALTHCARE STAFF
Kimberly “Kim” Whitaker, CRCR, MA

For nearly three decades, Kimberly “Kim” Whitaker has been a constant at Chesapeake Regional Healthcare. A gifted collaborator, she brings teams together with steady leadership and rare managerial grace. Her work often happens behind the scenes, but she has made a lasting impact on patients, peers, and leadership at Chesapeake Regional. 

Her first position at Chesapeake Regional Medical Center was in the Patient Access Department as an Emergency Room Registrar. She quickly rose to supervisor, managing over 20 employees, then became an educator, and finally the manager of the Patient Access Department. In 2010, she began as director of the Jennings Outpatient Center, managing a staff of 40. Fourteen years later, she was asked by the COO/CNO to become director of the Priority Toyota Cancer Center. She now manages over 110 employees between the two departments. Whitaker’s dedication, institutional knowledge, and instinct for collaboration have made her invaluable.

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