By VCU Health Public Relations

Diana Cantor, current acting chair of the Virginia Commonwealth University Health System Authority Board of Directors, was elected to serve as chair of the board on Monday, July 13. Her term begins immediately and runs until June 30, 2028.

This election is consistent with a new law updating the Board of Directors’ structure and governance. Cantor is the first elected board chair in the authority’s history; the previous law required former VCU president Eugene Trani and current President Michael Rao to serve as chair.

Diana Cantor is chair of the VCU Health System Authority Board of Directors. (Contributed photo)“It's an honor to step into this role for the VCU Health Board of Directors,” Cantor said. “VCU Health has extraordinary momentum and an essential mission: to improve and save lives while helping more Virginians access the care they need. I am inspired by the dedication of our entire team; their compassionate, patient-centered care is strengthened every day by VCU research and our shared commitment to serving the Commonwealth.”

As chair, Cantor will lead the VCU Health System Authority board and focus on ensuring effective governance and supporting VCU Health’s statutory purposes. She will work in close partnership with VCU Health’s leadership team and fellow board members to advance the strategic objectives of the health system.

“Ms. Cantor has been a trusted voice on our board, consistently bringing thoughtful perspectives and an unwavering commitment to our mission,” said Marlon Levy, M.D., MBA, CEO of VCU Health. “As chair, she will provide invaluable leadership of the board as my leadership team and I continue to strengthen the VCU Health enterprise, supporting team members and delivering outstanding care to the patients and communities we serve.”

Cantor was first appointed to the Board of Directors in 2023 by former Virginia Gov. Glen Youngkin. She was reappointed to the board in 2026 by the Virginia House of Delegates Speaker, Don Scott.
 
She is a member of the Investment Committee and the Board of Managers of Alternative Investment Management, LLC and serves on several public and non-profit boards across the country. Cantor served for more than a decade as the founding chief executive officer of the Virginia College Savings Plan, the state agency that administers Virginia’s Section 529 college savings plans.
 
In addition, she is a past chairman of the board and served for more than 10 years as a trustee of the Virginia Retirement System. Cantor is a certified public accountant and member of the State Bar in Virginia, Florida and New York.
 
She holds an undergraduate degree from the University of Florida's School of Accounting, a master's degree in business administration from the University of Miami and a law degree from New York University.
 
“With Ms. Cantor’s extensive experience on boards and her familiarity with Virginia and our health system following three years as a board member, she is an ideal chair,” said Rao, who continues to serve on the board as VCU president. “For several years, I have advocated for a lay chair who is elected to lead the VCU Health board. I look forward to continuing to work with Diana in this role.”
 
Additionally, the following board members were elected as officers of the board and committee chairs:

• Fotini “Fay” Manolios – board vice chair; chair of the Evaluation and Compensation Committee
• Joel Nied – board secretary; chair of the Governance Committee
• Randolph Reynolds, Jr. – board treasurer; chair of the Finance Committee
• Hem Bhardwaj, M.D. – chair of the Quality, Safety, and Service Committee
• Mark Oley, PharmD – chair of the Audit and Compliance Committee

"We look forward to working with Ms. Cantor and our committee chairs in these leadership roles,” Levy said. “Every board member brings a great deal of experience, expertise and dedication to help us continue our mission critical work of preserving and restoring health for all people of Virginia and beyond.”

CEO contract extension

In June, the Board of Directors and VCU Board of Visitors extended Levy’s contract for four years. Levy served as interim CEO starting in 2022 and was named to the position permanently in 2024.

Under Levy’s leadership and vision, VCU Health has expanded access to its unrivaled care, bringing world-class services closer to home for communities across Virginia. Milestone achievements, including the completion of the Children’s Tower and current projects such as the Pauley Heart Center Pavilion and Chesterfield Pavilion, reflect his commitment to meeting the growing health care needs of the region.

Levy’s focus on quality, safety and operational excellence has also driven significant system-wide achievements. His leadership helped VCU Health earn its highest patient safety ratings to date in 2026 while strengthening the health system’s financial foundation, as reflected in strong credit ratings from S&P Global Ratings and Moody’s.

“Dr. Levy leads with the heart of a physician and the steadiness of an experienced executive,” Cantor said. “Under his leadership, VCU Health has strengthened its financial position, expanded access to care and built important momentum across our clinical, academic and research missions. The Board of Directors is grateful for his leadership, pleased to extend his contract and has confidence in the future.”

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