Executive Directors Conference

The VAFCC's 2022 Executive Directors Conference was March 16-18 in Lynchburg at the Virginian Hotel. The premier educational and networking meeting for the leaders of Virginia's free and charitable clinics, attendees were able to learn, share, and network with their peers from across the state. 
 

Conference schedule

Wednesday, March 16

6:30-7:00pm: New Clinic Leader Meet & Greet 
Ideal for newer executive directors of long-time member clinics or for executive directors of clinics that are new members of the association. Meet association staff and be introduced to veteran clinic leaders.

7:00 - 9:00pm: Welcome Reception 
Catch up with longtime colleagues and make new acquaintances during an evening welcome reception featuring beer and wine as well as hot and cold appetizers (included in conference registration).
 

Thursday, March 17

8:00 - 9:30am Breakfast

9:45 - 10:00am Welcome 
Lynchburg Mayor Mary Jane Dolan will welcome attendees and Christine Kennedy, COO & Executive Vice President with the Lynchburg Regional Business Alliance, will share collaborative efforts to strengthen relations between the business community and area clinics.

10:00 - 11:00am Introductions & Icebreaker
An effective and fun way of kicking off our day, participants will be lead in an interactive session that will help them get to know each other and be energized for the rest of the day!

11:00 - 11:15am Break

11:15 - 12:15pm Human-Centered Design: A Tool To Address Challenges in Free Clinics with Chris Bennett, The Spark Mill
Most free clinics were created to address the challenge of overcoming access issues to quality, affordable health care in their community. As clinics continue to work to address this ongoing challenge, they need impactful models and tools in their toolbox.  Human-centered design (HCD) is one such tool. Throughout the day, we’ll explore HCD as a tool we can apply within our clinics to help us address challenges inside and outside our organizations. In this session, we’ll define HCD, explore principles of HCD (empathy, defining the problem, ideation, prototyping, and testing), and look at real-life examples of how HCD has addressed challenges in communities.

12:15 - 1:45pm Lunch 

1:45 - 2:45pm Human-Centered Design: A Tool To Address Challenges - Applying Human Centered Design (Part One - Mission Possible) with Chris Bennett, The Spark Mill
Building on our understanding of HCD, participants will experience the process of HCD and apply the principles through Mission Possible, a gamified version of HCD. In this session, you'll get hands on experience with the principles. In small groups, you will work together through a guide to apply HCD principles to issues you're currently facing. Teams will generate ideas that could be implemented in their organizations to address real-world issues.

2:45 - 3:00pm Break

3:00 - 4:00pm Human-Centered Design: A Tool To Address Challenges - Applying Human Centered Design (Part Two - Taking This Back To Your Organization)  with Chris Bennett, The Spark Mill
Now that we're more comfortable with HCD, we’ll debrief the previous session and talk through tools and methods to apply the principles of HCD in your own organization and the challenges you want to address. Participants will walk away with concrete tools they can use in their own organizations.

5:00 - 6:00pm Tour of the Free Clinic of Central Virginia 
The Free Clinic of Central Virginia (1016 Main Street) offers medical, dental, pharmacy, and behavioral services to uninsured and underinsured adults. Tour the newly renovated space which is an easy walk from our hotel or a short drive with convenient parking. ​Head out for dinner after touring from this downtown location.

6:00 - 9:00pm Dine Around On Your own
Enjoy a meal out together. We’ve suggested several downtown area restaurants to enjoy, many of which are within easy walking distance of our hotel (we do recommend making reservations in advance):

• Market at Main ($$ - American, 0.2 miles)
• Bootleggers ($$ - Beer Hall, 0.5 miles)
• The Water Dog ($$ Grille, 0.5 miles)
• {RA} Bistro ($$ American, 0.5 miles)
• Fratelli Italian Kitchen & Wine Bar ($$, 0.5 miles)
• El Jefe's Taqueria Garaje ($$ - Mexican, 0.4 miles)
• Shoemakers America Grille ($$$ - American, 0.5 miles)

Don't feel like venturing out? You could also stay in as the Virginian Hotel offers multiple onsite restaurants:

• William & Henry Steakhouse ($$$$)
• Skyline ($$$)

 

Friday, March 18 

7:00 - 8:15am Breakfast

8:30-9:30am Executive Director 'Show & Tell'
For our “Show & Tell”, clinic leaders will be encouraged to briefly present something special or unique from their clinic that they are especially proud of or seeing promising results from that other clinics would benefit from learning about.  

9:30 - 10:30am 'Choose Your Own Adventure' Peer Learning 
For our “Choose your Own Adventure” peer-learning session, participants will crowdsource topics to be discussed among their peers.

10:30 - 10:45am Break

10:45 - 11:45am Advocacy & Policy Update
Updates from the outcome of the past General Assembly session will be provided on key policies and legislation affecting the healthcare safety net. We'll also dive into some exciting work the association is making on behalf of our member clinics in the coming months. 

11:45 - 12:00pm Closing & Raffle
 

Registration

Conference registration is no longer open but was $200. 

All registrations must be paid in full and in advance. Scholarships are available for members in good standing (application available in the VAFCC Member Center). Refunds will be issued through February 10, 2022 with a $15 service charge. After that date, no refunds will be issued. 

COVID Safety & Crowd Release:
By submitting this registration, I affirm I have read and agree to the following terms:

• You acknowledge that there is a risk of exposure to COVID-19 that could result in illness, disability or death and agree to release and hold harmless VAFCC, its employees, officers, and vendors from and against all claims of damages and liability resulting from exposure to COVID-19 at this event.
• Attendees at any in-person VAFCC event are required to provide proof of fully vaccinated status (including boosters) against COVID-19, or proof of a negative COVID test administered within 72 hours of the event. Documentation may either be emailed to charris@vafreeclinics.org or shown upon check-in. Photo image, paper documentation, or VA Health Dept.-issued QR code are acceptable. Your VA vaccination record is available at the Virginia COVID-19 vaccination portal.
• Masks are to be worn at all times when indoors and not eating or drinking. The Virginian Hotel will be adhering to a variety of safety protocols and practices consistent with federal, state, and local COVID guidelines including spacing out seating at meals and during meetings.

Click here to learn more about the VAFCC’s COVID Policy.

Additionally, you consent to be photographed, filmed, and/or otherwise recorded. Your registration constitutes your consent to such photography, filming, and/or recording and to any use, in all media in perpetuity, of your appearance, voice, and name for any purpose whatsoever in connection with any VAFCC events.
 

Accommodations

The event will be held at The Virginian Lynchburg, Curio Collection by Hilton located at 712 Church Street. A centerpiece of downtown Lynchburg since 1913, this magnificent hotel has been thoughtfully restored to its historic grandeur and refreshed with modern amenities.

Our rate at the Virginian is $125 per night, plus taxes. This includes parking and Wi-Fi in both guest rooms as well as meeting spaces. The room reservation deadline is February 24, 2022. Group rate is available for two nights pre- and post-event based on availability. All attendees need to secure their own hotel reservations.
 

Presenting Sponsor:

 

Hospitality Sponsor: