President's Letter                   September 2008        

Dr. Watts is happy to report that Project Access Virginia held its initial meeting on July 31st in Richmond.  Our local program has been instrumental in helping three new programs get their start in Richmond, Newport News/Peninsula, and Northern Virginia, bringing the total number of state Project Access programs to five.  The Medical Society of Virginia Foundation and Virginia Health Care Foundation hosted a brainstorming and informational meeting for the five current Virginia programs at MSV Headquarters.  The goal is that formation of a central PROJECT ACCESS VIRGINIA can help spawn more community programs throughtout the Commonwealth and lend support to the present independent programs.  I am proud that Project Access of the Roanoke Valley is very highly regarded by the other state programs who hope to emulate our success.  Kate and her staff deserve our thanks for running a topnotch program.

I also want to thank all of our 502 participating physicians and dentists who have made a significant difference in the lives of 1,681 local patients.  I appreciate the tremendous in-kind support of our many other sponsors who allow us to provide nearly $16 in care for every dollar spent on our program.  I encourage all of our participating physicians to also join and support our parent organization, the Roanoke Valley Academy of Medicine, who drove the process and made Project Access a reality.  We are lucky to be part of such a caring community!

                                                                                             E. Mark Watts, M.D.