CHRISTIANSBURG – Steven “Alex” Wood, DDS, Dental Director for the Community Health Center of the New River Valley (CHCNRV), has been named Dentist of the Year by the Virginia Community Healthcare Association (VCHA).
The award recognizes Wood’s commitment to providing compassionate, patient-centered care and expanding access to dental services for people throughout Southwest Virginia. It was presented by Tracy Douglas, VCHA Chief Executive Officer, during VCHA’s Annual Membership Meeting and Conference in Williamsburg on Sept. 18.
“Dr. Wood is an innovative leader who continually looks beyond conventional solutions to meet the needs of his patients and our community,” said CHCNRV CEO Michelle Brauns, MS, APR. “His compassion, creativity and commitment to continuous improvement have strengthened our dental program and helped more people receive the care they need.”
Wood has introduced several initiatives designed to make dental care more comfortable and accessible. He helped develop a dental anxiety screening and intervention process that enables the care team to recognize patients’ concerns, respond appropriately and reduce barriers that might otherwise prevent them from receiving treatment.
Wood regularly works with CHCNRV behavioral health providers when patients experience anxiety during dental appointments and accommodates urgent visits for people with substance use disorders and other vulnerable populations. He also partners with local hospital emergency departments to help patients experiencing acute dental problems receive timely treatment while reducing unnecessary emergency room use.
Under Wood’s leadership, CHCNRV has expanded dental services for the population at Warm Hearth Village in Blacksburg and strengthened access to oral healthcare through its School-Based Health Centers. He has also worked to recruit dental providers with ties to rural Southwest Virginia and is helping develop a dental residency program intended to build a sustainable dental workforce for the region.
“Dr. Wood treats every patient with dignity and respect,” Brauns said. “He takes the time to listen, answer questions and create a calm, reassuring environment. His clinical expertise is exceptional, but it is his genuine kindness that helps patients feel safe and confident in their care.”
Dr. Wood’s work reflects CHCNRV’s whole-person approach to care and its commitment to improving access to essential health services for underserved communities.
CHCNRV
