Power players: VCU and VCU Health highlighted on Virginia 500 Power List
Virginia Business’ annual list highlights leaders across the state who are making a difference in their industries and communities.
September 04, 2025
Three individuals with connections to VCU and VCU Health made it onto the Virginia 500: The 2025-26 Power List compiled by Virginia Business. (Enterprise Marketing and Communications)
By Sara McCloskey-Nieves
How do you measure someone’s influence?
When it comes to the Virginia 500: The 2025-26 Power List, the staff at Virginia Business look at a leader’s responsibilities, their achievements and their involvement in their field and community.
This is the sixth year the staff from Virginia Business compiled the list of 500 Virginia executives and officials in 21 categories, including higher education and health care. Three people with Virginia Commonwealth University and VCU Health connections were recognized for their influence:
- Michael Rao, Ph.D., president of VCU.
- Marlon Levy, M.D., MBA, senior vice president for VCU Health Sciences and CEO of VCU Health System.
- Todd R. Stravitz, M.D., VCU Health hepatologist and philanthropist who co-founded the VCU Stravitz-Sanyal Institute for Liver Disease and Metabolic Health.
VCU has become a top urban research university under the leadership of Rao, who has been university president since 2009. His collaborative efforts to promote research opportunities for all students – including undergraduates – continue to raise the reputation of VCU both nationally and internationally. U.S. News’ 2025 Best Colleges ranked VCU in the top 100 public universities in the nation and among the top 20% of global universities.
Levy leads VCU Health to deliver on its mission of improving health for all Virginians through research, service, and education. After serving as the interim leader for two years, he was appointed the senior vice president for VCU Health Sciences and CEO of VCU Health System in November 2024. Over the course of nearly three years, Levy has worked to stabilize VCU Health from the challenges brought on by the pandemic, and his efforts have helped lead to upgraded bond ratings from Moody’s and S&P.
One of the many VCU Health programs recognized for research and innovations is Gastroenterology and Hepatology, which is ranked No. 9 worldwide by U.S. News & World Report. The philanthropic work of Stravitz, the co-founder of the Stravitz-Sanyal Institute for Liver Disease and Metabolic Health, continues to support clinician-scientists who are finding new ways to treat and prevent liver disease.
Each of these individuals consistently demonstrate their unwavering dedication to training the next generation of medical professionals and innovative medical research that will help patients in Virginia and beyond.
Check out the full Virginia 500 Power List 2025-26 from Virginia Business
