Healthcare has entered the digital chat, and Centra’s step into digital registration and online self-scheduling shows our dedication to patient care.  We sit down with Jen Halikman, our Vice President of IT Applications, to share how digit...

What if the morning “I feel sick” isn’t a dodge but anxiety talking through the body? We invited two seasoned clinicians to unpack why elementary struggles often snowball in middle school, how neurological growth and puberty raise the stakes an...

The school day doesn’t start at the first bell, it starts the night before, inside group chats where one message can snowball into a full day of distraction. We sat down with counselors from Lynchburg City Schools to unpack what kids are carryi...

Most people are told to “try harder” while fighting a disease their biology is trying to keep. We sit down with bariatric surgeon Dr. Joshua Alley to cut through stigma and explain how modern metabolic care actually works: minimally invasive pr...

The headlines are loud, the mailers are confusing and the clock is ticking. We’re making one thing simple: Centra will leave the Humana Medicare Advantage network on January 1, 2026, and you can protect your care by choosing the right plan duri...

A frightening diagnosis can steal the air from a room. Nicole’s story gives it back. From the shock of hearing “breast cancer” to the rhythm of surgery, sixteen chemo infusions and now the daily focus of radiation, she lets us into the real wor...

A tumor that seemed to “smile” back in a flashlight’s glare set Jamie Day on a year-long path that tested his body, rewired his priorities, and strengthened every bond that mattered. From the first uneasy swallow after a film festival to the be...

A routine mammogram set off a chain of decisions Erin Hagen never expected to make at 40. What the radiology report called DCIS felt both urgent and confusing, and the days that followed were a blur of consults, terminology and timelines. We si...

Misinformation surrounds vaping, despite its growing presence in our everyday lives. These sleek, rechargeable devices deliver not just fruit-flavored satisfaction but a potent cocktail of nicotine (sometimes exceeding levels found in ciga...

The journey of motherhood brings countless decisions, with feeding choices among the most significant. Rebecca Rose, an Internationally Board Certified Lactation Consultant at Virginia Baptist Hospital, guides us through the complexities and jo...

While surgical technology is not new to Centra, thanks to generous contribution from the Centra Foundation, the addition of our fifth DaVinci robot has opened doors for surgical care. Join us in the operating room with Jen Drudy, Vice President...

The transition from summer freedom to school structure affects every family differently. Whether you're celebrating the return to routine or mourning the end of family time, this critical period demands special attention to your child's physica...

"Your periods shouldn't be unbearably painful. Most women in their 50s will experience dryness. Muscle mass matters more than being thin." These are just some of the straightforward truths nurse midwife Claire McStacy shares in this comprehensi...

Nurse Practitioner Cody Sliger reveals the hidden crisis in men's healthcare through both professional expertise and personal experience. Despite significant advances in medical science, men continue to suffer worse health outcomes than women, ...

Carol Harvey's powerful journey from experienced nurse to breast cancer survivor offers a unique dual perspective that changes everything.Carol shares her unexpected triple-negative breast cancer diagnosis in September 2020 during the h...

What happens when we focus on strengths instead of limitations? R'Kel Mosely takes us on an unforgettable journey through his experience with Project Search, a program that's transformed his outlook on life, work, and his own capabilities.<...

Mental health needs have consistently topped community health assessments in our health system's area for years, reaching critical levels that demand immediate attention. Ismael Gama, Vice President of Centra's Psychiatry and Behavioral Health ...

Crystal Collette and Jennifer Watson Jamison share their journey to achieving Autism Commission on Quality accreditation for Centra's Applied Behavioral Analysis therapy program and explain how modern ABA helps children with autism through indi...

What wisdom would you choose to leave behind for your children if you suddenly weren't there to guide them? After losing his wife Johanna to  breast cancer in August 2023, Daryl Calfee found himself confronting this profound question—leadi...

Dr. Travis Engel, Chair of Pediatrics, brings his expertise and compassion to a thoughtful discussion on the current measles situation affecting parts of the United States. With just under 500 cases nationally—concentrated primarily in West Tex...

When 26-year-old Cody Towler walked into an emergency room for an unrelated issue, he never expected to walk out with a stage four colorectal cancer diagnosis that would transform his life forever. Despite his prognosis, Cody radiates a remarka...

Join us as we explore how Centra is addressing critical healthcare shortages by engaging local students through innovative educational programs. Our guests share how local healthcare camps provide students with exposure to a multitude of career...

Join us for a timely conversation during Heart Month, where clinical cardiac navigator MaryAnne Poling, cardiologist Dr. Parichart Junpaparp, and heart failure patient Ken Mueller offer invaluable insights and personal stories. Through an in-de...

Unlock the secrets to proactive health management with the expertise of Dr. Cindy Hanawalt and Dr. Micki Hall from HealthWorks. This episode delves into the essential role of biometric screening in personal health management, dispelling myths a...

Establishing a health baseline is critical for effective personal health management. By working closely with your primary care provider, you can tailor a plan that addresses your unique health needs and sets manageable goals for lifelong wellne...