George Hurt, MD, a longtime central Virginia neurosurgeon, leads the foundation today as its chairman, and he has been a member of the Centra Foundation Board of Directors since 1993. Dr. Hurt graduated from the University of Virginia School of Medicine.

Dr. Hurt and his wife, Cinda, made an endowment to fund nursing education in memory of Cinda’s aunt, Virginia Avenel Henderson. Miss Henderson, a nurse, was a nursing education professor and author of texts used throughout the world. The Hurts made the gift as a way to give back to the nurses who have helped Dr. Hurt though his career and to honor the life and memory of Miss Henderson.

Dr. Hurt is a member of the Lynchburg Academy of Medicine, the Medical Society of Virginia, the American Medical Association, American Association of Neurological Surgeons, Congress of Neurological Surgery and a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons.

Dr. Townsend is the Associate Medical Director of the Centra Medical Group Stroobants Cardiovascular Center, and is the center’s Medical Director of Operations.  He is board-certified in adult congenital cardiology through internal medicine, and he is board-certified in pediatric cardiology.  He earned his medical degree from the Medical College of Virginia.  He served his internship and residency in internal medicine and pediatrics at the Medical College of Virginia at Virginia Commonwealth University where he also completed his fellowship in pediatric cardiology with a focus in adult congenital cardiology.  

E.W. Tibbs, Jr., a Bedford native, is President and CEO of Centra. Prior to becoming the President and CEO, E.W. had been the Centra senior vice-president and chief operating officer as well as the president and CEO of Centra Southside Community Hospital in Farmville. E.W. joined Centra in 2006, having previously served as president and CEO of Bedford Memorial Hospital. He is a registered nurse and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing from the Jefferson College of Health Sciences as well as a master’s degree in business administration from Averett University.

E.W.’s career in healthcare was formed at an early age by his mother and sister who were both nurses, and his experience as a teenage volunteer with the local rescue squad. After college he joined a hospital emergency department, where he worked for a decade. He helped treat patients during their most vulnerable times, and always considered it a privilege to care for others.  As someone who has cared directly for patients and has expertise in healthcare finances, E.W. has a well rounded view of how an excellent healthcare system should operate.

Kathryn M. Pumphrey, Ed.D., has been actively involved in fundraising for the Lynchburg community for more than 25 years. During her twenty-year tenure as executive vice president of the Centra Foundation, she has been responsible for the overall management of the Foundation, its programs and staff.

A native of Wilmington, Delaware, Pumphrey has lived in Lynchburg for thirty years and has served on numerous community boards. She currently serves on the Lynchburg College Board of Trustees and has been a past president of the Alumni Association.  She also presides as president of the Lynchburg Chapter of the Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities.  She is a member of the Lynchburg Leave a Legacy Board and the Lynchburg Estate Planning Council and has served as president of both. She also serves on the Board at Jefferson’s Poplar Forest.

Pumphrey received her undergraduate and master's degrees from Lynchburg College and her doctorate from the University of Virginia.  Her dissertation research focused on "Alumnae Giving at the University of Virginia."  Pumphrey is a Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE).

Robert R. (Bob) Chapman III is president and CEO of Bank of The James. After graduating from Virginia Military Institute and military service in the Army, Bob began his career in banking and helped establish the Bank of The James in 1999.

His civic memberships include the Lynchburg Rotary Club, The United Way and the Lynchburg Chamber of Commerce.

Melanie F. Christian is a graduate of Hollins University.  She is actively involved in the following Centra Foundation committees: Women & Philanthropy and the Resource Development Committee.

Christian is also a respected community leader who serves on the boards of Thomas Jefferson's Poplar Forest, Virginia Center for Creative Arts (VCCA) and the Lynchburg Museum Foundation.

Craddock is an attorney with Caskie & Frost, P.C., of Lynchburg.  He holds a bachelor's degree from Washington & Lee University and a law degree from the University of Virginia School of Law.

Dr. Delaney is a graduate of Cornell University, BA and Cornell University Medical College, MD.  He completed his residency and fellowship at the University of Virginia Medical Center in 1979.  Dr. Delaney is now an anesthesiologist at Lynchburg Anesthesia Associates with membership in the American Medical Association, the American Society of Anesthesiologists, and the Virginia Society of Anesthesiologists. 

MaryJane Tousignant-Dolan is president and CEO of Colonial Brokerage House, Inc.  She holds many professional memberships and was named the YWCA's Business & Industry Woman of the Year.  She serves on the YMCA Board of Directors, the Lynchburg College Business Advisory and the Point of Honor Museum Board.

Tousignant-Dolan serves as chair of the Centra Foundation Grants Committee.

Dr. Diminick is a graduate of Duke University, BS (Magna Cum Laude with Distinction) and Harvard Medical School in 1993. He completed his internship at the Harvard Medical School/New England Deaconess Medical Center and his residency at the Hospital for Special Surgery/Cornell Medical Center. Dr. Diminick’s areas of specialty are total joint replacement surgery, hip resurfacing, partial knee replacements and sports medicine.

Dr. Diminick has professional affiliations with the AmericanAcademy of Orthopaedic Surgery, the American College of Physician Executives and is a Board Certified Physician Executive. He is also the team physician for Liberty University.

Paul F. Fitzgerald, M.D., was a founding partner of Piedmont Orthopaedic Surgery.  He and his partner performed the first joint replacement surgery in Lynchburg.  Dr. Fitzgerald is a graduate of the New York University School of Medicine. He has served on the Centra Board of Directors, the Lynchburg City School Board, Lynchburg Academy of Medicine and E.C. Glass High School Athletic Boosters.  Dr. Fitzgerald is also a clinical member of the orthopaedic faculty at the University of Virginia Medical Center.

Now semi-retired, Dr. Fitzgerald works in the Free Clinic of Central Virginia and also serves on the Johnson Health Center Board of Directors.

Robert (Rob) Gilliam Jr. is president and CEO of First National Bank and its holding company, Pinnacle Bankshares Corporation.  The Bank was founded in 1908 and is the oldest business in continuous operation in the Town of Altavista.

Gilliam is active in the Region 2000 Economic Development Council, the Altavista Life Saving Crew, Altavista Economic Development Authority, Altavista Lions Club and Altavista Chamber of Commerce.  He graduated from Guilford College and the Virginia Bankers School of Bank Management at the University of Virginia.

John J. Halpin, M.D., graduated from Georgetown University School of Medicine and is an oncologist at the Lynchburg Hematology/Oncology Clinic at the Centra Alan B. Pearson Regional Cancer Center.

Dr. Halpin is a member of the Lynchburg Academy of Medicine and the American Society of Clinical Oncology and has served as president of both.

Janet G. Hickman, M.D., is a dermatologist with Dermatology Consultants, Inc.  She graduated from Harvard Medical School magna cum laude and Michigan State University with a bachelor's degree in biochemistry with high honors.  She also holds positions at the Education & Research Foundation, Inc., and is a medical consultant and principal investigator.

Dr. Hickman has professional memberships in the American Academy of Dermatology, Virginia Dermatologic Society, Lynchburg Academy of Medicine, Medical Society of Virginia, Women's Dermatologic Society Foundation and has served in many leadership capacities.

Dr. Hickman's community involvement includes Family Services of Virginia Board of Directors, Virginia School of the Arts Board of Directors, E.C. Glass High School Band Boosters and Hillside Garden Club.

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Yuille (Skipper) Holt III is the president and CEO of Campbell Insurance.  He is active in many local organizations and is known throughout the Lynchburg community as a good will ambassador for civic involvement.

Holt is involved with the Academy of Arts, Amazement Square Children's Museum, Central Virginia Industries, The Greater Lynchburg Community Trust and Meals on Wheels.

Holt has been the recipient of many awards including the Lynchburg Exchange Club Book of Golden Deeds Award, Lynch's Landing Margaret Burnette Award, Greater Lynchburg Regional Chamber of Commerce F. M. Dink Cloyd Award for Service and the Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities Humanitarian Award.

Augustus A. Petticolas Jr., D.D.S., is a Lynchburg dentist.  He has been instrumental in the development of The Free Clinic, volunteered his time to treat patients, served as its president and continues to be a member of the board of directors.

Dr. Petticolas has been appointed by the Governor to serve a four-year term on the Virginia Board of Dentistry.  He also serves on the Bank of The James board and has served as president of the Churches for Urban Ministry.  He has been recognized for his community service and is the recipient of the Humanitarian Award from The National Conference of Christians and Jews, the Alpha Centennial Award and the Mayor's Award of Excellence.  He is a member and past president of the Lynchburg Dental Society and is a member of the Piedmont Dental Society, the American Dental Association, the National Dental Association and the NAACP.  He was inducted into the International College of Dentists in 1998.

Dr. Petticolas graduated from Livingstone College in Salisbury, North Carolina, and the University of Maryland Dental School.

Elliot S. Schewel, a graduate of Washington & Lee University, served as a Virginia State Senator for twenty years and was part owner and president of Schewel Furniture Company.

Schewel is most active in the community and has served in leadership capacities in the following organizations: Lynchburg Chapter, American Red Cross, United Negro College Fund, Lynchburg Jewish Community Council, Red Cross Bloodmobile Program, Lynchburg Area Development Corporation, Family Services Bureau, Lynchburg Art Club, United Way of Central Virginia and Lynchburg College Board of Overseers.

Schewel was one of several organizers and vice president of the Friends of the Lynchburg Public Library (This group was responsible for the creation of our present Public Library System.)

Sorrells holds a bachelor's degree in business administration from Washington & Lee University.

Chairman of the Centra Board

Walker P. Sydnor Jr. is president of Scott Insurance Company, Virginia's oldest and largest employee-owned provider of insurance, benefits services and financial management.

His company has offices in Lynchburg, Roanoke, Danville and Richmond, Virginia; Greensboro and Charlotte, North Carolina; Knoxville and Nashville, Tennessee; and Captive Insurance operations in Grand Cayman.

Sydnor graduated from Hampden-Sydney College.  He worked for insurance firms across the country before joining Scott Insurance Company.

He is vice-chairman of the board of trustees at Lynchburg College.