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Welcome
Every 40 seconds, somebody in the United States has a stroke. That’s why it’s important to keep up the Stroke Smart momentum. It is up to all of us to help reduce pre-hospital delays.
In this issue, you will read about the work of many champions in this collective effort. Thank you all for being part of the work to promote Stroke Smart.
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Focus on the Southwest
Region of Virginia
Focus on Data for the Southwest Region of Virginia
This year, each newsletter will highlight stroke data for a region of the state. The map shows the five regions and their health districts. The Southwest Region is the focus area for this newsletter. It focuses on Central Virginia, Roanoke City, and West Piedmont health districts.
Figure 1. Regions and Health Districts in Virginia
How do We Use Rates? Rates are used to understand the impact of stroke across the state. The rates are age-adjusted, which allows for accurate comparison across groups. Age-adjusted rates are available at the state, regional, and locality level by age, sex, and race. Rates are calculated for every 100,000 people. A rate of 100 per 100,000 means that the event happens to 100 out of 100,000 people or 0.1% of people.
Stroke hospitalization rates increased in Virginia from 2022 to 2024. These rates per 100,000 people are similar in the Southwest Region (235.8) compared to Virginia (237.9). However, stroke hospitalization rates for Black or African American groups are higher for those in Central Virginia Health District (HD) and Roanoke City HD than in the Southwest Region and Virginia overall; see Table 1.
Figure 2. Stroke hospitalization rates for Black or African American racial groups are higher for those in the Southwest Region compared to Virginia in 2024.
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Central Virginia HD
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Roanoke City HD
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West Piedmont HD
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Southwest Region
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Virginia
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Black / African American Stroke Hospitalization Rate per 100,000
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432.9
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474.6
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389.13
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401.2
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383.9
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Males and females in the three HDs have age-adjusted stroke hospitalization rates higher than the Southwest Region and the state; see Figure 3 below. This shows that stroke education is needed in these areas and the Southwest Region.
Figure 3. Males and Females in Roanoke City HD have the highest stroke hospitalization rates in 2024.
 Are you interested in this or other stroke data? Use this form to submit your request.
How the Southwest Healthy Hearts Program is
Promoting Stroke Smart
VDH has a CDC grant to promote heart health and reduce stroke risk in certain communities, including three in southwest Virginia. Michele King is the VDH Cardiovascular Regional Coordinator supporting the activities below.
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In Roanoke City, the Healthy Hearts Learning Collaborative (LC) partnered with City of Roanoke EMS to provide facts about calling 9-1-1. They created a handout that includes stroke-specific issues. EMS and the LC share the handout at community events. Note that some of the information in the handout is specific to Roanoke City. Key partners include Marquita Johnson (the Healthy Hearts CHW), Valley Inc., Mt. Zion AME Church, Hill Street Baptist Church, and 727 Kombat Fitness.
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In Martinsville, the Fieldale Community Center donated space to use for activities like checking blood pressure and fitness classes. They share Stroke Smart yard signs, wallets, magnets and posters with participants. The two CHWs, Christa Moore and Loleader Valentine, promote Stroke Smart materials. They are also enlisting organizations to become Stroke Smart Partners. Other partners include Performance 276, Garland Properties, Maplewood Apartments, JoVin Health and Wellness Solutions, Empowering Voices, and the Martinsville Chamber of Commerce.
In Lynchburg and Danville, Healthy Hearts LCs have distributed Stroke Smart yard signs around the community. They focus on where people are driving, walking, and doing business.
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Best Practice Feature
Food City – Helping Employees Become Stroke Smart!
Lori Hamilton is the Employee Wellness Nurse for Food City. Food City is a family-owned grocery store chain with 162 store locations throughout Southwest Virginia and four other states. She has a passion for keeping employees safe and healthy. She shared with VDH that she “wants associates to achieve their best health.”
Lori visits every store location, including the Distribution Center and Corporate Support Center. She does employee wellness sessions on many topics including stroke. Lori shares Stroke Smart posters and magnets during her store visits. “I’m so appreciative of the Stroke Smart materials,” she said. Stores are requesting additional Stroke Smart materials to share with their customers.
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Spreading Stroke Smart through Bus Campaigns
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In 2025, the Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) Stroke Smart Committee partnered with the Greater Richmond Transit Company (GRTC) to do a Stroke Smart campaign. It featured Stroke Smart advertisements on 157 buses, reaching riders across 27 zip codes in the region. GRTC generously donated the ad space.
Riders were exposed to the ads for a total of 9.8 million boardings. Many people would have seen the ads multiple times per day. The ads included a QR code that people could scan to learn more.
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The strategy of Stroke Smart bus ads was first tried by the City of Alexandria in 2021 with 100 buses. The idea is catching on. Recently, it was announced that Hampton Roads Transit (HRT) will display Stroke Smart posters inside its buses for a year (2026-2027). HRT provides 10 million passenger trips each year, with a fleet of more than 200 buses in the tidewater area.
This is a low-cost, repeat-exposure model that can turn everyday riders into lifesavers. Visit our website to learn more about Stroke Smart Cities and Counties!
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 Partner Spotlight
Encompass Health Rehab Hospital of Northern Virginia is a Stroke Smart Partner
Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital of Northern Virginia is the first rehabilitation hospital in the nation to be part of the Stroke Smart Partner program. The hospital is an 80-bed inpatient rehabilitation hospital in Loudoun County. It provides rehabilitative services that help patients recover from life-changing events like strokes.
On June 22, 2026, hospital leaders and staff gathered to receive the award, which was presented by Alan Stillman and VDH staff. To receive this award, Encompass had trained all their staff to be Stroke Smart and put up materials throughout the building. They also educated all patients about stroke and shared stroke information at community events.
“This is a big milestone for Encompass Health Northern Virginia because it acknowledges our team’s commitment to preventing and recognizing strokes, and responding quickly,” said Vidhya Kannan, hospital CEO.
Visit our webpage to learn more about the Stroke Smart Partner program.
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Stroke Smart Success Story
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Mother Recognizes Toddler's Stroke and Acts Quickly to Save Her Life
When she was only three years old, Emi suffered a stroke. Her mother, Jill, recognized the signs of stroke in Emi and acted quickly to get her to the hospital. She also advocated for the neurologist to administer treatment in the face of uncertainty. Emi is now a healthy, typical four-year-old.
Read Emi’s Story.
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Announcements
Congratulations to the Newest Stroke Smart Partners!
The Stroke Smart Virginia Partner recognition program is a way to learn about and be recognized for Stroke Smart efforts. Any organization or business can apply! Congratulations to our newest 2026 Stroke Smart Partners!
• Pamunkey Indian Tribe
• Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital of Northern Virginia
• Stroke Comeback Center
• Riverside Rehabilitation Hospital
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