UVA Heart and Vascular Center Fontaine

01/02/2026

You may have heard that walking 10,000 steps per day is the get-fit gold standard. But do you know why?

The truth: the concept of walking 10,000 steps per day for optimal health was introduced as part of a marketing campaign for a pedometer. Instead, the American Heart Association recommends that adults get at least 150 minutes of both moderate- and vigorous-intensity exercise each week. Here are 10 ways of meeting that goal (especially when it's too cold outside to pound the pavement!):

🚴‍♂️ BIKING: easy on the joints and promotes leg strength and balance
🏊‍♀️ SWIMMING: also a low-impact alternative to walking or running; it’s great for cardiovascular fitness, endurance and muscle strength
🦵 ELLIPTICAL: works your upper and lower body, so you burn more calories in a shorter period of time with the potential to target specific leg muscles
⏱️ INTERVAL TRAINING: short bursts of a variety of high-intensity exercises mixed with periods of rest, improving cardiovascular fitness, builds muscle and burns fat
🏋️ WEIGHT LIFTING: not only builds muscle, it improves bone health and balance
🥊 KICKBOXING: burns calories, boosts cardiovascular fitness and improves coordination
💃 DANCING: takes coordination, improving fine motor skills and balance as well as strength and flexibility
🎾 TENNIS: requires you to be quick on your feet, improving response time, muscle tone and strength
🤾‍♀️ JUMPING ROPE: great for adults too since it's easier on the joints than running but still raises heart rate
🥾 HIKING: engages some of the largest muscle groups in your body, which gets your heart rate up

01/01/2026

"It touched my heart to be so well cared for in our darkest days — Anthony Williams made a selfless sacrifice that by no means was he required to offer. I will forever respect and carry fondness in our hearts for him."

Our BEE (Being Excellent Everyday) Award is an award dedicated to celebrating the team members who work alongside our nurses delivering expert, compassionate care.

Today, we're proud to honor Anthony Williams of UVA Nutrition who was nominated by a patient's family member for making sure that both the family members and patient had food to eat during a challenging hospital stay.

🐝 Read Anthony's full nomination at https://bit.ly/3MaDCES

12/29/2025

If you've ever had high blood pressure, high blood sugar, or kidney issues, you might have thought of them as separate, unrelated health problems. But cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic syndrome (CKM) syndrome is a recently recognized condition that affects major organs.

🩺 Find out how you can prevent CKM syndrome or address it before it gets worse: https://bit.ly/4jf8aC3

12/28/2025

"Anna checked on me a lot and whenever I wanted to express my feelings she listened and showed me kindness — I could just see the love in her eyes. Her willingness to show nothing but respect to me meant a lot to me. She was genuinely and sincerely interested in how I felt and what I was dealing with."

's DAISY Foundation Award is a nursing-specific award created to honor extraordinary care. We're proud to honor Anna Rath, BSN, RN who was nominated by both patients and visitors alike for being "full of joy, kindness ... like a real live angel. There's something about her that makes her a very special and unique individual. She deserves a whole field of daisies!"

🌼 Read Anna's full DAISY nomination at https://bit.ly/3KZtyyo

12/27/2025

Mark Weathers, MBA, who has more than nine years of higher education and 28 years of military leadership, has been named the inaugural chief operating officer for the University of Virginia’s Paul and Diane Manning Institute of Biotechnology. Weathers will provide day-to-day strategic and operational oversight and expertise for all administrative aspects of the institute, as well as help build partnerships and serve as a spokesperson.

Weathers will move to the Manning Institute from the School of Medicine at the University of Virginia, where he has served as chief of staff since 2022 and assisted School of Medicine and health system leadership with the selection of the institute’s architecture and construction firms.

💼 Learn more: https://bit.ly/4atMLm9

12/26/2025

"Vonda acknowledged my pain and frustration. She did not become bothered in any way, repeatedly reassuring me that I was not being a nuisance and that I should ask her for help. When I expressed anxiety over pressing the call button for medicine and other issues, she encouraged me to call for her by name whenever I had a question or concern. She continued to reassure and encourage me throughout the day, making me feel more confident and less fearful in the hospital."

's DAISY Foundation Award is a nursing-specific award created to honor extraordinary care. We're proud to honor Vonda Lillard, BSN, RN, who was nominated by a patient for being an "extraordinary nurse and a genuinely good person who deserves recognition for her efforts!"

🌼 Read Vonda's full DAISY nomination at https://bit.ly/4iPaKhX

12/25/2025

12/23/2025

12/23/2025

"Erica embodies the highest qualities of a healthcare provider and my mom is better off because she is on her team! It warms our hearts to see a professional care about our mom and be willing to do whatever it takes for her to feel comfortable. Thank you!"

Our BEE (Being Excellent Everyday) Award is an award dedicated to celebrating the team members who work alongside our nurses delivering expert, compassionate care.

Today, we're proud to honor Erica Morris, CNA, 3 East, who was nominated by a patient's family member for going the extra mile to provide care to their mother during her stay.

🐝 Read Erica's full nomination at https://bit.ly/3MaDCES

12/22/2025

Endocrine surgeon Anna Fashandi, MD, treats both noncancerous and cancerous conditions, guiding patients through their diagnosis and helping them choose the treatment that’s right for them.

We asked her our 7 Quick Questions around her approach to patient care, her own fears as a patient, and dogs vs. cats. 🐾 Read more: https://bit.ly/49j2iUK

12/21/2025

In a new article, Frederick Hayden, MD, discusses concerns about a new H3N2 variant spreading in the U.S. that may be less well matched to this year’s vaccines.

The good news: vaccination still reduces the risk of serious illness and transmission, and the CDC continues to recommend influenza vaccination for everyone ages 6 months and older, with rare
exceptions.

The finding are published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

📘 https://bit.ly/48NqJJV

12/20/2025