HCA Virginia invests $3 million in Richmond's first community college radiology program

Richmond, VA — HCA Virginia has announced a significant investment of $2.97 million to establish a new radiologic technology degree program in partnership with Brightpoint Community College. Located on the campus of Chippenham Hospital, this academic partnership introduces the first community college-based radiology program to the Richmond market. The inaugural cohort of students began classes in August 2024 and is expected to graduate in May 2026. As part of the investment, HCA Virginia will provide $625,000 in full scholarships over the next five years to support students in the program.

“Education is at the heart of advancing healthcare,” said Lance Jones, CEO of Chippenham Hospital. “Collaborating with an institution like Brightpoint Community College enables us to combine our resources and expertise to develop a new generation of highly trained, compassionate and skilled imaging technologists. This alignment is proof of our commitment to improving high-quality patient care through education and innovation.”

According to the Mason Center for Health Workforce, radiologic technicians are among the top five most in-demand healthcare occupations in Virginia, with over 3,400 job openings statewide in September 2024. The demand for imaging technologists has grown significantly in recent years, partly because of the increase in freestanding emergency departments and ambulatory surgery centers, which offer care closer to patients’ homes.

“As technology advances, imaging takes center stage in diagnosing and treating patients,” said Jones. “Particularly in oncology and cardiology, treatments often cannot begin until doctors accurately see the patient’s exact condition. The Brightpoint imaging technologists will play a critical role in meeting the needs of the communities we serve, creating healthier tomorrows for our patients.”

HCA Virginia participated in the development of the curriculum and assisted with faculty recruitment to ensure students are prepared for emerging workforce needs and the latest technology advancements. As part of the agreement, HCA Virginia also invested in renovations and equipment to create a state-of-the-art, 3,000-square-foot learning environment on the campus of Chippenham Hospital, including a patient care lab, X-ray labs, classrooms and a faculty wing.

“Offering the programs and courses that prepare students with the skills and knowledge needed by business and industry today and in the future is paramount to fulfilling our mission,” said Dr. Bill Fiege, president of Brightpoint Community College. “Key to this work is public-private partnerships, such as the one between Brightpoint and HCA Virginia. Through our partnership, we identified a critical workforce need in the field of radiologic technology and developed an associate degree program that includes real-world, hands-on experiences that prepare students for these in-demand careers. I am grateful to HCA for all the support it is offering to this initiative and for working with our wonderful team at Brightpoint to bring this new program to life.”

The two-year associate degree in radiography provides a quality entry-level education through a competency-based clinical and didactic instructional curriculum in diagnostic imaging. Students will be able to fulfill their clinical rotations at HCA Virginia hospitals, freestanding emergency rooms and outpatient imaging centers. Graduates of the program will be eligible to take the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists exam, leading to certification and registration as a registered technologist in radiography.

“The collaboration between HCA Virginia and Brightpoint Community College underscores the importance of academic partnerships in healthcare,” said Ron Carey, Board of Trustee chair at Chippenham Hospital. “By combining our resources and expertise, we are creating opportunities for students and ensuring hospitals are staffed with highly trained professionals dedicated to patient care.”