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Vol. 3 No. 52 | Richmond Suburban News | September 5, 2018
New MRMC CEO: role like coming home By Melody Kinser Managing Editor
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ECHANICSVILLE – Being named CEO of Bon Secours Memorial Regional Medical Center is like coming home for Leigh Sewell. Her grandparents’ home of 45 years was on Meadowbridge Road. “I spent my whole life traveling to Meadowbridge Road, and I remember the field that became the medical park and then it became the campus today. I feel drawn to Memorial Regional,” she said Thursday. She also noted that her mother grew up in Mechanicsville and graduated from Lee-Davis High School. In addition to MRMC, Sewell, who has been serving as the senior vice president of Strategic Operations for Bon Secours Virginia, also assumes
the role of CEO of Bon Secours Richmond Community Hospital and Bon Secours Memorial College of Nursing today (Wednesday, Sept. 5). She said the transition is “going great.” She and outgoing CEO Mark Gordon “have worked closely together as members of Toni Ardabell’s leadership team for a couple of years.” She also said, “We have worked closely to ensure that we have a seamless transition.” Gordon’s last day is today. “I’ve been at Memorial almost every day for the last few weeks,” Sewell said, “and I really look forward to building on the camaraderie Mark and my predecessors created at Memorial with the staff, volunteers and, of course, the local community.” As the Mechanicsville hospital continues to celebrate its 20th anni-
LEIGH SEWELL, CEO BON SECOURS MEMORIAL REGIONALMEDICAL CENTER
versary, Sewell said they are already looking to the 25th. “We really launched the [20th] cel-
ebration a few months ago. We have activities scheduled for the rest of the year to continue to commemorate the 20th anniversary of Memorial.” She also they were being “proactive, thinking about what we may do in five years to commeorate the 25th anniversary, which is seen as more special.” Michael Robinson was the CEO at MRMC before Gordon arrived. He described the hospital as a destination location. Sewell agrees with that assessment. “Memorial is unique in that the area is really widespread -- from points as far north as Fredericksburg toward the Northern Neck, obviously Mechanicsville and Hanover County, but then east to New Kent and Williamsburg. We are really the only comprehensive acute care facility in
ASHLAND – The largest entering class in the history of Randolph-Macon College has arrived on the Ashland campus for the 2018 fall semester. Anne Marie Lauranzon, director of Marketing & Communications, said 469 new students – 422 freshmen and 47 transfer students – join in an overall historic
enrollment of more than 1,480 students. President Robert R. Lindgren was out and about on Thursday greeting and welcoming members of the freshmen class as they started settling into their dorms and college life. “This is the fourth consecutive year that enrollment numbers have exceeded 1,400,” Lauranzon said. Athletes returned to see R-MC, pg. 3
see MRMC, pg. 2
Patriot Day Concert to benefit MCEF
Largest entering class arrives at R-MC; over 1,480 enrolled By Melody Kinser mkinser@mechlocal.com
Hanover County, and we have a very large patient population,” she added. Sewell said she plans to be very involved in the community, having been with Bon Secours about 12 years, the first four at Memorial. She said the hospital system has “worked hard across Bon Secours Richmond to build strong relationships with our commuity leaders in Hanover, Henrico, Chesterfield [counties] and the City of Richmond.” The leadership of Hanover County is supportive of MRMC, Sewell said, and understands the health care needs of the community. She doesn’t hesitate when asked what the strongest asset is at Memorial, saying, “our physicians and our employees. We have very, very strong specialists who have prac-
Contributed Report news@mechlocal.com
Joel Klein for The Local
Incoming freshman Cole Travia of Glen Ridge, New Jersey, and his parents Kara and Todd are greeted by RandolphMacon College President Robert R. Lindgren.
MECHANICSVILLE -- A Patriots Day Concert to benefit Mechanicsville Churches Emergency Function (MCEF) will get underway at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 11, at the Walnut Grove Baptist Church at 7046 Cold Harbor Road in Mechanicsville. The John Marshall Alumni Band will perform and special ceremonies will be presented
by American Legion Post 175. MCEF helps those in need in Hanover County by providing food, clothing and limited financial assistance to those in need. Members of the community are invited to “come and support this great cause.” The price of admission is a non-perishable food item and a $2 donation to MCEF. A special tribute will be paid to the brave men and women serving in the military.