Myra Pellissier decided to come to WCBR as our new Director of Nursing for a number of reasons, and perhaps the greatest was this: “It’s a community.”

It’s not, for example, “just a hospital,” although it provides excellent health care to those who need it. Nor is it simply a nice place to live. Many places appear that way, but lack the depth she sees here: “The lobby looks nice” at such a place, “but that’s about it.” If it lacks high-quality health care, it’s not where she would want to work, or live. And she sees WCBR as a place that has it all.

“Myra brings to WCBR a plethora of experience in many aspects of nursing,” said Sandi Hall, our Health Services Administrator. “Being a nurse executive, compliance manager, educator and a mentor, Myra has the sought-after qualities needed to lead our Nursing Department.”

Myra started work on May 10. “Since she has begun her role here at WCBR, Myra has been engaged with our associates on all shifts as well as with our residents, while she navigates through her onboarding process,” Sandi said.

Some highlights of Myra’s career:

• She was the Director of Nursing, Quality and Regulatory Compliance, as well as Senior Compliance Manager, at the University of Virginia. She was responsible for the healthcare accreditation program, and served as the Infection Control Officer. She designed, implemented, and maintained a complete, accurate, compliant reporting system. She coordinated the School of Medicine and School of Nursing influenza clinics.
• More recently, she led the COVID-19 response for St. Anne’s-Belfield School, which included COVID screening and mitigation strategies not only for students, but also for teachers, coaches, staff, and families. She created, coordinated and implemented athletic and residential life COVID testing and treatment protocols, and worked directly with the Blue Ridge Health Department and Virginia Department of Health to ensure all activities met best-known practices.
• Before UVA, she worked at Sentara Martha Jefferson Hospital as the Director of Patient Care Services and Critical Care. In this role, she was responsible for a 30-bed Telemetry Unit, a 12-bed Mixed Intensive Care Unit and leading the team of patient care supervisors that managed 24/7 staffing.
• She is an assistant professor at Piedmont Virginia Community College, where she is a clinical site instructor for first- and second-year nursing students, in both inpatient and outpatient settings.

Myra received her bachelor’s degree in nursing from the University of North Carolina and her master’s in Healthcare Administration from the Medical University of South Carolina. She is a certified Nurse Executive, a Lean Six Sigma Green Belt and serves as a Hospice of the Piedmont mentor.

She is originally from North Carolina, but she and husband Steve have lived in Charlottesville for 15 years with their three sons. They are members of Church of Our Saviour Episcopal. She enjoys her family, dogs, traveling and cooking. Steve is a veteran, and the whole clan are avid Army fans.

As she prepared to take on the responsibility for nursing here, she looked forward to joining another family – the community she sees at WCBR.

“We look forward to Myra leading, challenging, and growing our Clinical Team in all of our levels of care,” said Sandi Hall. “We feel blessed that she has chosen to be part of the WCBR family!”