Sentara Norfolk General Hospital

08/28/2025

The art of healing 🎨 🦋

After Susan Kressel spent 70 days at Sentara Norfolk General Hospital receiving treatment for acute myeloid leukemia, she described her care team as “angels.”

She received more than 150 blood transfusions, several bone marrow biopsies, and a splenic embolization.

“I went 70 days with not one negative interaction,” Susan said. “Everyone was so kind and personable, they became like family. They made me feel like I wasn’t forgotten. These oncology nurses are angels.”

During her stay, Susan turned to painting as a source of strength and connection, creating portraits for her nurses and even a special mural for the cancer unit’s family room.

Colleen Coulehan, nurse manager of the cancer unit, asked if Susan could paint a butterfly mural for a family room on the unit, which Colleen had been wanting to revamp for years.

“Obviously, you could buy wall art, but I knew one day there was going to be an artist, one of our patients, who would want to give back,” said Colleen. “I told Ms. Susan, ‘I’ve been waiting two years for you to show up because I had a dream about a mural.’”

Susan recently returned with family, friends, and her care team to unveil her butterfly mural—a lasting gift of beauty and hope for others facing cancer.

💛 Thank you to Susan for this gift, and to our incredible oncology teams for embodying compassion every day. Read more about this story linked in the comments!

07/18/2025

🚗 Safety starts early, and thanks to a $15,000 donation from Hall Toyota, Sentara Norfolk General Hospital's Safe Start Program can provide more car seats to families in need.

With this donation, the Safe Start program will be able to purchase nearly 300 car seats and have them ready for families who need them.

“We’re trying to reach families who are working hard but can’t afford a car seat,” said Teresita Hammond, Sentara community outreach coordinator.

This partnership helps protect our tiniest passengers. 💛 Thank you, Hall Toyota and Hall Automotive Group, for helping us keep kids safe on every journey.

07/09/2025

Celebrating 50 Years of Excellence!

This month, we proudly celebrate 50 years of Sentara Vascular Specialists’ Surgery Training Program at Eastern Virginia Medical School (EVMS)! Since 1975, our program has trained generations of vascular surgeons who have gone on to make significant impacts in patient care, research, and education across the nation and beyond. This milestone is a testament to our dedicated providers, resilient trainees, and the strong legacy of innovation and excellence at Sentara and EVMS.

Here’s to 50 years of shaping the future of vascular surgery — and many more to come!

06/11/2025

Jennifer walked down the hallway of the Sentara Norfolk General Hospital Cardiac ICU unit with a bouquet and her soon-to-be father-in-law by her side. Inside the ICU hospital room, her partner of nearly 14 years and their local pastor were waiting.

Jennifer and Joshua planned on getting married next Spring, but a few days before this, she asked Joshua if he would be okay with a small ceremony in his hospital room. She wanted to make their long-time love official.

“I’ve been waiting to marry you for forever,“ Joshua said. “Let’s do it.”

Jennifer, who also works at Sentara in the eICU, started quietly planning a small wedding ceremony. Throughout her daily visits with Joshua, who is currently hospitalized due to pulmonary hypertension and heart failure, some of the nurses caught on to what they were doing.

Without being asked, Joshua’s care team stepped in to help. In addition to providing quality care, they made bouquets, brought in decorations, and coordinated with food services to make cupcakes and bring in sparkling juice.

“They have been there for us every step of the way,” Jennifer said. “Cheering on Josh's recovery. I cannot say enough good things. They are what got us through this.”

Jennifer and Josh celebrated their love with Josh’s family, pastor, and dedicated care team. He is making progress in his recovery and hopes to be able to go home with his wife by his side.

📷: Captured beautifully by a care team colleague

05/16/2025

Last week, Sentara Norfolk General Hospital nurses gathered to celebrate Nurses Week! They enjoyed a nice tea reception while recognizing their peers who received the Nurse Excellence Awards. Thank you to Joyce Bowen, Nurse Education Specialist at SNGH, for always capturing the fun!

05/09/2025

The calming voice of chaplain Monica Barnes brought peace and comfort to nurses at Sentara Norfolk General Hospital.

For a moment, everything slowed down, and they were able to be fully present as chaplain Barnes anointed their hands with oil and said a blessing over them.

This Nurses Week, we thank the nurses and healthcare team members whose hands bring blessings to all those they touch.

Whether you’re a nurse, housekeeper, or patient transporter, you touch lives every single day and we hope you’re able to take a moment to realize the full and true impact you make.

05/05/2025

A big thank you to everyone who joined us at the Community Fair at Sentara Norfolk General Hospital this past weekend! We loved seeing our community come together for a day of fun, learning, and connection.

From health screenings and CPR training to the petting zoo and meeting the Nightingale flight crew—thank you for being part of this exciting day!

04/25/2025

Join us on May 3, 2025 at Virginia Beach General Hospital for Her Health 4 All Seasons—a free women’s multi-generational health and cancer prevention event focused on wellness at every stage of life. Enjoy a light lunch, keynote speakers, and expert-led roundtable discussions on topics like pelvic health, cancer prevention, nutrition, holistic wellness, and more. You'll also hear inspiring stories from a cancer survivor panel and connect with community partners.

Seating is limited! Register now at sentara.com/events. Deadline is May 2, 2025 or until spots are full.

04/04/2025

Join us for a fun-filled Community Fair at Sentara Norfolk General Hospital on Saturday, May 3rd from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Event highlights include:
- Chance to meet the Nightingale Regional Air Ambulance flight crew
- Health education
- Health screenings including blood pressure checks and cancer screenings
- A free petting zoo and other kids' activities
- Hands-only CPR training
- Resume reviews with the Sentara Talent Acquisition Team
- Food trucks, and more!

This event is outdoors and free to attend. Bring the whole family and enjoy a day of fun. See you there!

04/03/2025

100 Treatments. 100 Stories of Transformation.

We're thrilled to celebrate a significant milestone - our 100th MRI-guided Focused Ultrasound treatment for essential tremor and certain types of Parkinson’s Disease. Check out the amazing before-and-after treatment results of these patients. These outcomes are why we do what we do.

Thank you to our dedicated team and the amazing patients who have shared their journeys with us. Here's to the next 100.

Learn more about Focused Ultrasound as a treatment option. https://bit.ly/41O8oc8

03/11/2025

🧠 March is Essential Tremor Awareness Month!

Essential Tremor makes everyday tasks like writing or drinking challenging. Focused Ultrasound is a non-invasive treatment that offers lasting relief—without any incisions.

Take control and learn more today! https://www.sentara.com/focusedultrasound

03/05/2025

Are you curious about GLP-1 medications compared to weight loss surgery? We've asked the experts for you.

The medical understanding of obesity is shifting, recognizing it as a complex disease rather than a lack of willpower. For those considering weight loss options, Sentara Comprehensive Weight Loss Solutions provides a judgment-free environment where patients can explore surgical and medical solutions tailored to their individual goals.

Find out more and gain insights from our specialists at Sentara Comprehensive Weight Loss Solutions. https://bit.ly/4ikSk7b

With the rise of GLP-1 medications and the continued success of bariatric surgery, patients today have more options to improve their health.