April 24, 2026
The soon-to-be graduates of Laurel Ridge Community College’s health professions’ programs spent April 17 practicing tai chi, meeting with therapy dogs, taking part in specialized art classes and learning other calming techniques they can take with them as they embark on careers that, while fulfilling and vital, also carry an inherent amount of stress.
About 130 students from the college’s Registered Nursing, Practical Nursing, Certified Nurse Aid, Surgical Technology, Emergency Medical Services and Medical Laboratory Technology programs attended the daylong event, said Dr. Scott Vanderkooi, dean of the School of Health Professions. The program was supported by Valley Health and the Claude Moore Charitable Foundation.
“There has been an effort in this region to bolster our healthcare workforce,” Dr. Vanderkooi said. “Creating greater resiliency is a key factor in retaining that workforce.”
Dr. William A. “Bill” Hazel Jr., CEO of Claude Moore Opportunities, gave the keynote address.
“Laurel Ridge is doing terrific work in bringing people into good jobs in healthcare and simultaneously solving this region’s shortage of healthcare providers,” said Dr. Hazel. “It was a privilege to meet with the group of new graduates and to provide a few tips that hopefully will lead them to long and rewarding careers.”
Other presenters included several college faculty and staff members, as well as healthcare and wellness leaders from the community. Sessions included “Fortifying Yourself to Live Fully: Caring for the Mind and Body so You Can Serve Others” delivered by Spanish Professor Polly Nesselrodt; “Grounded Movement” (tai chi) by Adrian VanKeuren; “Neurographic Drawing” and “Expressive Art Journaling as a Healing Art Intervention” with Abigail Gomez; “Pets to the Rescue,” led by Anne Dewey-Balzhiser; and “Ready to Rise: Building a Resilient, Purpose-Driven Career in Healthcare” with Dr. Karyn Flannagan.
“This serves as a really good capstone to the end of their training with us,” said Nursing Professor Kathryn Regula. “Because there is a lot of focus on self-care and the importance of communication as they prepare for their future careers, this is a good way to kind of tie it all together. I think it’s also really nice that they’re getting to meet each other across the different programs Laurel Ridge offers.”
2026 Registered Nursing graduate Joanna Lavertu found the symposium a worthwhile experience.
“It’s been good,” she said. “They discussed how we will be experiencing some hardships in the field, so finding ways to process it and move through it is helpful. I’m going to attend the neurographic drawing session, which I’m really curious about.”
Fellow nursing student Adwoa Kani, who spent 17 years working as an LPN before enrolling in Laurel Ridge in 2022, also enjoyed the symposium. She said she could feel her stress level dropping while doing the neurographic drawing.
“The discussion on resiliency was really good, especially knowing where your limit is,” said Kani, who graduates with her RN degree in May. “You have to find a place where you can relax. I hope they do the symposium every year.”
Founded in 1970, Laurel Ridge Community College is a multi-campus public institution of higher education. With three locations — Middletown, Warrenton, and Luray-Page County — the College serves eight localities in the Shenandoah Valley and northern Piedmont regions. The localities are the counties of Clarke, Fauquier, Frederick, Page, Rappahannock, Shenandoah and Warren and the city of Winchester. Laurel Ridge offers more than 75 associate degree and certificate programs in a wide variety of disciplines. Laurel Ridge also serves the business community by offering workforce preparation programs for employees and employers. Laurel Ridge serves more than 9,000 unduplicated credit students and more than 11,000 individuals in professional development and business and industry courses annually.
Laurel Ridge Community College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award associate degrees. Laurel Ridge Community College also may offer credentials such as certificates and diplomas at approved degree levels. Questions about the accreditation of Laurel Ridge Community College may be directed in writing to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, GA 30033-4097, by calling (404) 679-4500, or by using information available on SACSCOC’s website (www.sacscoc.org).
Laurel Ridge Community College is an equal opportunity institution providing educational and employment opportunities, programs, services, and activities. Laurel Ridge shall promote and maintain equal employment and educational opportunities without regard to race, color, religion, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, ethnicity, marital status, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions including lactation, age (except when age is a bona fide occupational qualification), status as a veteran, national origin, or other non-merit factors. Laurel Ridge also prohibits sexual misconduct including sexual violence or harassment. Inquiries may be directed to the Associate Vice President, Human Resources, [email protected], 173 Skirmisher Lane, Middletown, VA 22645, 540-868-7226.
Laurel Ridge Community College was known as Lord Fairfax Community College until June 2022. For consistency purposes, the college will be referenced as Laurel Ridge going forward.