Patient First in the Community

On March 4th, students, teachers, administrative staff, and community members gathered together in excitement for the much-anticipated Fun Run Fundraiser, a collaborative effort with Boosterthon.

The event embodies the school's Tiger Pride with its spirit of unity and generosity. From zealous runs to a game of "Red Light, Green Light" to joyful skips and leisurely walks, students from every grade level welcomed the opportunity to support their school all while jamming out to their favorite tunes.

One of the highlights of the event was the sea of students running out from the tunnel as they were introduced, all donning their red Fun Run t-shirts adorned with the names of the generous community sponsors, including Patient First.

With each successful lap around the track, teachers cheered on their students - pom poms in tow, further reinforcing that sense of unity and Tiger Pride. Before too long, each grade's run was over and all that was left were fun memories and giggles with friends and classmates alike.

While the final numbers are still being tallied, there is no doubt the event was a success. Tussing Elementary is just one of our many school partners in the Richmond area, and we look forward to continuing to support their educational initiatives and building upon their strong sense of community.

For the first time, Patient First participated in the 2025 Special Olympics Virginia Polar Plunge! The event, which took place February 7th and 8th, invited participants to take the plunge into the frigid waters of the Atlantic Ocean in support of Special Olympics Virginia athletes. This Virginia tradition raises $2 million annually for the organization by helping to lead the charge for inclusion of those with intellectual disabilities. This year's theme, "Go for the Cold" was a nod to this past year's Summer Olympic Games in Paris. An estimated 5,000 plungers turned out this year, with thousands more turning out to watch the event, all adorned in their costumes and swim attire.

The costumes are a particular staple of this event, which over the years has evolved into a costume parade and contest before the plunge. Among the sights on display were the Titanic, various board game characters, pirates, and many more, making for a fun and relaxed atmosphere. 

Our Patient First table was well positioned near the photo booth, where we saw a steady stream of participants the entire time-- many of whom praised our services. While most who stopped by were from Hampton Roads, we met with a few from our other service areas across the state as well. We look forward to taking the plunge again next year!

The 41st Annual Dominion Energy Christmas Parade returned Saturday, December 7th, as tens of thousands lined up along Broad Street to watch Jolly Old Saint Nicholas come to town and usher in the holiday season. This year's theme was "Christmas Wishes," which included colorful floats, giant helium balloons, high school and college marching bands, princesses and superheroes, and more that even the Grinch could not resist!

The tradition, which is free and open to the public, has a reach that spans across the entire state, including many of our service areas. This year, Patient First was one of four balloons in the parade and had the prestigious honor of carrying the legendary Santa balloon. With 15 Patient First employees in tow, and a little Christmas magic, we pranced and sleighed around stoplights, light poles and tree branches, as the crowd cheered at each successful spin. This was a warm welcome in contrast to the bitter cold and wind we endured.

Our staff looks forward to participating in the parade each year, as it allows our mission to come full circle, affording us an opportunity to have a front row seat to our community and those we serve. We can hardly wait to see what next year has in store for us! Happy Holidays!

Tis the season for spreading germs! The holidays are generally considered the season of giving, and that includes germs. And no one does that better than little kids. Recently, a class of kindergartners got a hands-on lesson from Patient First physician, Dr. Trissana Emdadi, M.D., and Director of Medical Support, Michelle Kidd, on the importance of washing their hands amidst the holiday season.

To demonstrate the germs, Dr. Emdadi and Michelle put a little squirt of Glo Germ on each child's hand, and then shined a black light so they could see how many "germs" they had. Then, each child washed their hands, remembering to scrub in between each finger with soap and warm water while singing the "Happy Birthday" song twice through. Afterwards, they shined a black light again to see if the germs had disappeared.

While the Glo Germ may be part magic, it's a great visualization to show where the kids should be focusing on while washing their hands. The ultimate goal, of course, is to cut down on the number of illnesses that typically spread throughout the holiday season and into the cold and flu season.

Patient First offers our handwashing project program to area schools in each of our regions throughout the year, but especially in the colder months. "This time of year, we're getting colds and flus," Emdadi said. "And, I think as we get closer to the holidays, gathering together, our goal is to keep everyone healthy so they can enjoy their holidays together."

All eyes were on the skies for the NAS Oceana Air Show! The event, which took place September 21-22, brought together over 100 vendors and 300,000+ spectators for one of the nation's largest military air shows. Locals who've grown accustomed to the motto, "I Love Jet Noise" and those who aren't local, look forward to this event each year as it gives them a rare opportunity to come aboard an active military base and sit right on the flight line to watch their favorite jets, including the F-22 Raptor demonstration team. The event's main draw, however, are the Blue Angels, who travel the country conducting more than 60 shows in a 6-month period. Their precision during death-defying maneuvers is unlike anything you've ever seen before, and Patient First had a front row seat to all the action.

Patient First has been a supporter of this event for many years, as it's one of the few events that offers us the opportunity to connect with our local military. Over the course of the two-day event, we connected with numerous civilians, active and retired military personnel and their families. Like other vendors, we offered airplanes to the kids to help them pass the time while they eagerly awaited the Blue Angels to perform. We connected with several families who were familiar with our services, and others who were new to the area. In all, it was a great event and one we look forward to attending year after year!

During the weekend of August 23rd and 24th, music filled the air at the Virginia Beach Oceanfront for two full days of music, food, and funk during the 15th Annual Virginia Beach Funk Fest Party. Rooted in R&B, jazz, gospel, and blues, thousands gathered from near and far to hear the likes of WAR, Doug E. Fresh, the SOS Band, and others reverberating off the shoreline and in between the hotels that line the boardwalk of the resort city. It was the perfect sendoff party to summer, and Patient First was there with a front row seat to all the action!

A participant for a few years now, Patient First was once again back to offer free blood pressure screenings to festival goers and other passersby along the boardwalk. We completed well over 200 blood pressure checks in the two days we were at the event! Our giveaway items were big hits as well.

This event marks the fourth event we've done at the Virginia Beach Oceanfront this summer. Events like these are a great way for us to not only meet locals who visit our centers, but those within the other regions we serve. We enjoyed many conversations regarding the efficiency of our services, and look forward to returning in October for our final event on the boardwalk this year!

On August 11, the community in and around Carytown gathered for the 42nd Annual Carytown Watermelon Festival- a sweet slice of Richmond tradition. Back in the day, merchants in Carytown would set out slices of watermelon in the middle of the dog days of summer to help promote their business and draw customers in. This idea grew in popularity and continued to grow until eventually, the merchants decided their idea would be better served as a 1-day festival. Since then, every August, Carytown shuts down for one day to hold an annual festival dedicated to summer's favorite fruit. At the center of the festival are still the bowls of watermelon, which are sold for $2, with proceeds benefitting local Shriners.

In addition to the bowls of watermelon, the theme of watermelon - red and green- can be seen throughout the event between the many vendors, food trucks, kids' activities, down to the festive attire worn by children and adults alike. An additional 3,000 watermelons are provided by Publix, the presenting sponsor of the event. There is also live music that spans across the six blocks for the festival, including the street closest to the Carytown Patient First center. 

Patient First, who's been a supporter of the festival for many years, participated again this year; providing free blood pressure screenings and passing out additional giveaway items and informational material. As a staple in the Richmond community, we heard numerous stories of those who have visited at least one of our centers. A favorite event amongst our staff, we look forward to returning next year!

As the saying goes, "Virginia is for Lovers"-or, in this case, sports lovers- as thousands flocked to the Virginia Beach Oceanfront the weekend of June 7-9 for the 30th Annual North American Sand Soccer Championships. The event, which spanned over 30 blocks, drew more than 800 teams worldwide from Central and South America, Europe, Canada, and all over the United States! Nearly 100,000 attendees spanned across the two miles of beachfront throughout the three-day event.

Patient First has participated in this event for several years now. This year, we were located just on the other side of the main stage, so we saw many of the attendees pass through. Our blood pressure screenings, Band-Aids, and hand sanitizer were particularly popular. Throughout the weekend, we heard numerous stories from those familiar with our centers both locally and from afar. Many indicated it was nice to see a familiar face on hand, especially in the event if services were needed.

This is just one of several events in which Patient First will be participating at the Virginia Beach Oceanfront throughout the summer and into the fall.

Dominion Energy Riverrock, advertised as the nation's premier outdoor sports and music festival, took place over the weekend of May 17-19 at Brown's Island and Belle Isle in Richmond, VA. Forecasted rains throughout the weekend did not stop the fun as the event offered a preview of summer fun on the horizon in Richmond. The event was initially designed to promote the City's unique riverfront, downtown trails, and whitewater rapids, but has since evolved and now has over 30 participatory events throughout the 3-day festival, including yoga, a kayak polo competition, and dog jumping, as well as several free demos, offering plenty of ways to be a part of the adventure. In between events, festival goers enjoyed music from local Richmond bands as well as samplings from Richmond's burgeoning foodie scene.

Patient First was on site all three days of the festival and was positioned across from the dog jumping event, offering great views of the competition. Several festival goers stopped by our tent to take advantage of our free blood pressure screenings. While the rain kept the crowds at bay the first two days, the final day made up for it. Of those we talked to, many had visited Patient First and had many wonderful things to say. A highlight of our year, we are already looking forward to next year's festival!

With sunnier skies and warmer temperatures, events returned to the Virginia Beach Oceanfront this month, where kite enthusiasts and spectators united for the Atlantic Coast Kite Festival. This popular event took place along 16th and 17th streets on the boardwalk, where kites of all varying sizes and shapes could be seen soaring from a mile away. 

Spectators watched as experienced members of the American Kite Association conducted captivating kite demonstrations and routines set to music. With an array of other activities, people of all ages and skill levels were able to participate in the fun through a "Best Kite Contest," allowing them to show off their flying abilities. Kite building workshops helped teach people not only  how to build a kite, but also on the various aspects of kite launching, flying techniques, and safety precautions. Daily awards were given out to the oldest and youngest kite fliers, the funniest kite, the most unusual kite, and the biggest kite. 

While Patient First did not have a kite of their own at the event, we were on site to conduct free blood pressure screenings, and to pass out informational brochures and other giveaway items. Patient First will be back on the boardwalk throughout the summer season for other fun events too!