Board of Directors

President: Ross Barber

Ross Barber is a Director for Bon Secours Mercy Health responsible for overseeing all aspects of Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation and the Health Aware / Health Promotion programs for the Richmond Market.  His responsibilities include 5 hospital sites, 7 departments all recognized as best practices in the health system.  He has over 20 years of experience in Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation and several years in Physical Therapy management.

Ross attended the Indiana University of Pennsylvania and received a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration while majoring in Marketing.  His passion for health, wellness and helping others saw him follow a career direction that included earning a Master of Science degree from the Virginia Commonwealth University in Exercise Physiology.  This propelled him on a career that has included Corporate Fitness, Physical Therapy, and Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation.  He has achieved National Certifications from the National Strength and Conditioning Association and American College of Sports Medicine.

He has successfully opened from ground up, multiple hospital departments. He is recognized as a content expert in Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation clinical operations and programming.  A long-time member of the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehab (AACVPR) and joint affiliate the Virginia Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehab (VACVPR); he has had the opportunity to serve in a leadership capacity and is the current VACVPR President.  He has spoken on many occasions at both State and National organizations in the field of Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation.  He has received numerous awards for his commitment and excellence in the field of health care including the 2020 Bon Secours Mercy Health Covid Leadership award and multiple annual fundraising awards from the American Heart Association.

Ross has successfully coached Fast Pitch Softball at both the Elite amateur and High School levels, having coached multiple D1 College fastpitch players.  His wife is a successful Architect, and his two children compete in college athletics at the University of Virginia and Washington & Lee University in softball and track & Field. 

President Elect: April Felts

April Felts is a native of the Richmond, Va. area and has worked at Memorial Regional Medical Center for 21 years. She has experience in women's health, perinatal bereavement, peri-anesthesia, and cardiac and pulmonary rehab. She received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Liberty University and her Master of Science in Nursing from Western Governors University. She is currently the Program Coordinator for the Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation department at Memorial Regional. 

Vice President: Linda Costello

Treasurer/Membership: LeAnn McCusker 

LeAnn McCusker is an exercise physiologist in the cardiac rehab department at UVA Health Prince William Medical Center in Manassas, VA.  She holds a degree in Kinesiology from Lubbock Christian University plus various fitness related certifications including being a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist by the National Strength and Conditioning Association.  LeAnn has 27 years’ experience in the cardiopulmonary rehab and medically based fitness fields.  In addition to cardiac rehab, she has coordinated employee wellness programs, led youth athletic development programs, and taught group exercise classes.  LeAnn was also director of wellness for 9 years at a health system which included managing a fitness center, cardiopulmonary rehab, employee wellness, and diabetes education programs.  She is currently serving in her first year as treasurer on the Virginia Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation board.   Most recently she earned her level 1 United States Track and Field track coach certification and completed her rookie season as a track and field coach at Metz Middle School in 2022.

Melissa Davies graduated from Clearwater Christian College with a Social Studies (6-12) Education degree and then taught 6^th and 7^th grade Geography for 5 years at a public school in Largo, Florida.   Melissa returned to school, graduating from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 2010.  She moved to Columbia, SC, where she worked one year on a cardiovascular step-down unit.  In 2012, she moved to Virginia and was excited to begin working at Sentara Careplex’s Cardiac and Pulmonary Rehab, where she could use both her nursing and education degrees.  Since joining the Daisy-winning team at the Careplex, she has helped the program grow, remain AACVPR certified, and add a Vascular Rehabilitation program.  Melissa is excited to learn and grow professionally as she serves as VACVPR secretary. 

Past President: Jennifer Smith

Historian/CEU: Cathy Reece 

Vendors: Wendy Taylor

Wendy has a Master’s degree in Exercise Science from Old Dominion University 1995. She is a Certified EMT and a member of  Wachapreague Volunteer Fire Company. She is a Certified Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation Professional, a Certified Massage Therapist, and a CPR instructor through AHA.

I started working in the field of Cardiopulmonary Rehab in 1999.  I helped establish the program for Shore Memorial Hospital which later became part of Riverside Health System.  I have worked there for 23 years with the first 16 years being in Cardiopulmonary rehab.  I have spent the last 7 years working in I.T. helping to establish the Epic EMR.  My first introduction to VACVPR came in the form of a research poster presentation at the annual VACVPR conference of which I continued to participate in that for many years that followed.  I have only missed a handful of conferences in the last 23 years.   I have been a member of the board of VACVPR for an estimated 18 years serving in various roles.  I started as member at large then moved on to research chair, awards and nominations chair, finance committee and was President from 2015-2016.  I have served the last few years as vendor chair.  I believe the VACVPR has a lot to offer the cardiopulmonary programs of Virginia and have valued all the knowledge I have gained from the annual conferences as well as being a member of the board.  I would encourage anyone who has a passion for Cardiopulmonary rehab to join the board. 

Research/Standards: Open

Nominations and Elections: OPEN

Liaisons: CR  Marianne Sherman, PR/PAD  Donna Gagnon

Marianne Sherman MA, CVRN- BC is a cardiac rehabilitation therapist at Inova Loudoun Hospital with over 30 years of experience including patient care in all phases of cardiac rehabilitation, diabetes education, stress testing, heart failure management and cardiac rehab program management and certification. She is board certified in cardiovascular nursing, and serves as Medicare liaison to the Virginia Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation (VACVPR) and is an AACVPR - MAC Resource Group member. Professional memberships include Association of Diabetes Care and Education Specialists (ADCES), American Diabetes Association (ADA), American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation (AACVPR) and the Virginia Association of Cardiac and Pulmonary Rehab (VACVPR). Education - Bachelor of Science degree in nursing Georgetown University, and a Master Degree from George Washington University in education and exercise science.

Bylaws: Donna Gagnon

Donna has served on the VACVPR Board of Directors since 2015.  Her current position includes Chairperson of the Bylaws committee and she also serves as the MAC liaison for Pulmonary and Vascular Rehab.  Her previous positions on the VACVPR Board include:  Treasurer, Past President, President, President Elect, Nominations and Awards, and Research.

Donna has managed and developed several outpatient programs at Sentara CarePlex Hospital to include Intensive Cardiac Rehab, SET PAD Vascular Rehab, and Pulmonary Rehab.  She has over 30 years’ experience in Cardiac Services.

Donna has a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from Pennsylvania State University and a certification in Emergency Management.

Website/Newsletter: Tara Steadman

CR Physician Liaison: Dr. Jose Rivero

Dr. Jose M Rivero is a Cardiovascular Disease Specialist in Christiansburg, Virginia. He graduated with honors in 1984. Having more than 38 years of diverse experiences, especially in cardiovascular disease, Dr. Jose M Rivero affiliates with several hospitals including Carilion Medical Center, Carilion New River Valley Medical Center, and Carilion Giles Community Hospital.

PR Physician Liaison: Dr. Johnny Wong

Member at Large: Lyndsey Schaffer

Member at Large: