MSV Blog Posts

Member Spotlight: Lee Ouyang, MD

By Paige Bishop posted 18 days ago
A Decade of MSV Leadership Meet Dr. Lee Ouyang, an OBGYN in Virginia Beach who has been leading the charge at MSV since his first year of medical school. Dr. Ouyang’s evolution from student member to MSV Foundation President is one you don’t want to miss! Check out the second installment of our 2026 Member Spotlight series. Lee Ouyang, MD I'm Lee Ouyang. I'm an OB-GYN. I work in private practice in Newport News, Virginia. Interviewer How long have you been a an MSV member and why did you join? Lee Ouyang, MD I joined MSV during my first year of medical school in 2013. I joined because my med school colleagues said it would ...

Member Spotlight: Bobby Cockram, PA-C

By Paige Bishop posted 01-22-2026
New year, new stories! In 2026, we’re stepping behind the scenes with our Member Spotlight series. From life-changing patient care to 'aha!' moments that define your career, we’re putting the heart of healthcare on camera. Meet the members who make an impact. Our kick-off starts with Bobby Cockram, PA‑C, with Inova Health. Bobby’s healthcare career began as a medic, where he first discovered his passion for helping people—an ethos that continues to define his work today. His commitment to his patients and profession exemplifies the best of healthcare in Virginia. We’re honored to have him as a member, and fortunate to have him serving communities across ...

Member Spotlight: Josephine Nguyen, MD

By Paige Bishop posted 01-09-2026
Where did you grow up? I grew up in Burke, Virginia. Why did you choose a career in medicine? I chose to be a doctor because as a young child, I had an innate passion to help people. Over time, I realized the best way to get a direct window to people’s lives and positively impact them is by being a doctor. Having the ability to lay hands on people and educate and encourage them to live healthier lives is a true gift that I don’t take lightly. What is your favorite part about being a physician and why? Being able to connect to people is my favorite part of my profession. Most people come into the doctor’s office ...

Member Spotlight: Andreya Risser, MD

By Paige Bishop posted 12-18-2025
Where did you grow up? I am from Lancaster Pennsylvania but spent most of my childhood in Chesterfield Virginia. Why did you choose a career in medicine? I was inspired by my time working as a scribe in the Emergency Room. I wanted to help create a medical home for patients to focus on preventative care. What is your favorite part about being a physician and why? My favorite part of being a physician is the small wins, the person who achieves diabetic control, the patient who feels like they were heard, someone who gets the recommended screening which led to an earlier diagnosis. What is the best piece ...

Member Spotlight: Scott Armistead, MD

By Paige Bishop posted 12-03-2025
Where did you grow up? Mechanicsville, VA Why did you choose a career in medicine? I felt called to missionary medicine during my first year in college. What is your favorite part about being a physician and why? I value the bond with people and families formed by walking with them in their journey through the challenges of illness. Is there a specific event or learning experience that you had that served as an “a-ha” moment or growth opportunity? I was able to shadow a missionary doctor in Kenya during the summer after my junior year in college. I observed the demise of a young boy with Burkitt’s ...

Member Spotlight: Mark Townsend, MD

By Paige Bishop posted 11-12-2025
Where did you grow up? I lived in 14 different places (all in Canada) by the age of 14, and then my family moved to a cabin in the woods of Shenandoah County, Virginia. I lived there until I went to college, and count it as my childhood home. Why did you choose a career in medicine? I actually wanted to be a Corpsman in the Marine Corps, and tried to enlist when I was 17 / before finishing college. When I brought a Marine recruiter home with me, rather than signing the paper work, my Dad encouraged me to complete high school and figure out how to go to college. That launched my medical career. What is your favorite part about ...

Member Spotlight: Therese Weidenkopf

By Paige Bishop posted 10-30-2025
Where did you grow up? Northern Virginia (NOVA) Why did you choose a career in medicine? I wanted to be a surgeon since I was eight and had an appendectomy. I liked the hospital, my surgeon, my abdominal scar, and really wanted to see my appendix. I figured the only way to get there was to be a doctor and I pursued it and became more interested in it throughout my life and ended up applying to be a neurosurgeon this year for residency. What is your favorite part about being a physician and why? I love operating. I find something so unique in understanding the anatomy of a person’s body and spirit. Giving someone function ...

Member Spotlight: Priyanka Kumar, MD

By Paige Bishop posted 10-10-2025
Where did you grow up? I grew up in Houston, Texas. I went to the University of Texas at Austin for undergrad, stayed for medical school at UT, and then came to Virginia for residency and fellowship—which has now become home for me and my family. Why did you choose a career in medicine? For me, medicine was always about making a difference for people who didn’t have resources or a strong voice in their care. Growing up, I saw my parents struggle with language barriers in the healthcare system, and it left a lasting impression. I wanted to become the kind of physician who could not only treat but also advocate for patients. That same passion for ...

Member Spotlight: Lee Ouyang, MD

By Paige Bishop posted 09-24-2025
Where did you grow up? Flemington, NJ. It was the garden part of the Garden State! Why did you choose a career in medicine? My undergraduate degree was in biomedical engineering, and while it was exciting and there were many opportunities from that, I felt that medicine was a natural fit. There are just as many opportunities to solve problems, but I am able to get to know my patients and their stories. What is your favorite part about being a physician and why? There are lots of great parts of being an OBGYN. Selfishly, when a patient comes back to my office for a post operative visit telling me that they are feeling the best ...

Member Spotlight: Kathleen Scarbalis, PA-C

By Paige Bishop posted 09-12-2025
Where did you grow up? Saratoga Springs, NY; the foothills of the Adirondack Mountains, a beautiful place I have family and continue to visit. Why did you choose a career in medicine? Two of my loves are science and education. Medicine beautifully combines these. I was a chemistry major with a teaching minor in college. In the days before the internet, my mother sent me a newspaper clipping about the PA program at Albany Medical Center. What a great idea! What is your favorite part about being a PA and why? Relationships are important to me. The collaborative relationship with work colleagues and patient relationships ...

Member Spotlight: Karina Parr, MD

By Paige Bishop posted 08-29-2025
Where did you grow up? I have lived overseas and traveled extensively throughout my childhood before moving to Texas, where I finished high school. All my subsequent education was there, including Texas A&M Medical School and Baylor Scott and White residency. Why did you choose a career in medicine? Both of my parents are physicians. My mother is a pediatric orthopedic surgeon and my father is a pathologist. They were always very generous with their time and medical training. My mom made house calls to check on her friends’ children any time there was a need. She volunteered as a team doctor for my and my sister’s athletic ...

Member Spotlight: Olaoluwa Omotowa, MD

By Paige Bishop posted 08-08-2025
Where did you grow up? I grew up in Idaho Falls, Idaho Why did you choose a career in medicine? My father was trained as a chemist, obtaining his PhD in Chemistry and my mother was trained as a bedside nurse, obtaining her PhD in Nursing Policy. From an early age I enjoyed meeting all the people my mother helped and loved having discussions about science with my father. A career in Medicine was a natural fit for me as it was a perfect blend of science and caring for others. What is your favorite part about being a physician and why? My favorite part about being a physician is caring for patients and answering ...

Member Spotlight: Trice Gravette, MD

By Paige Bishop posted 08-01-2025
Where did you grow up? West Springfield , VA Why did you choose a career in medicine? My father, and grandfather; who were not docs, told me I had to become one. What is your favorite part about being a physician and why? Seeing patients of all ages and walks as part of a family and our community. It is joy to walk with someone in all parts of their health What is the best piece of advice someone has given you? “If you listen to a patient long enough, they will tell you what is wrong with them” What advice would you give to new MSV members? We are the legacy and most respected force for Medicine ...

Member Spotlight: Raziuddin Ali , MD

By Paige Bishop posted 06-27-2025
Where did you grow up? The suburbs of RVA! Why did you choose a career in medicine? I knew I drew strength from interacting with people, hearing their stories, and wanting to improve people’s lives, but I did not know where to go with that. I candy striped at a local hospital as a teenager which piqued my curiosity in healthcare. When I was in high school, my father suffered a heart attack, and it cemented my desire to positively impact people’s health. That set off a cascade of events that led me to pursue medicine. What is your favorite part about being a physician and why? The relationship and trust with patients. ...

Member Spotlight: Lindsay Gould, MD

By Paige Bishop posted 06-13-2025
Where did you grow up? Virginia Beach, VA Why did you choose a career in medicine? Global health first made a strong impact on me during several service trips to a partner organization in Nicaragua, where I spent time at multiple feeding centers. I witnessed how these same children who were once malnourished and ill became noticeably healthier through the public health initiatives we helped support. Later, through conversations with physician leaders and witnessing the work they did every day, I came to realize that there are also many meaningful opportunities to make a difference locally, and that there is a significant need ...

Member Spotlight: Afifa Adiba, MD

By Paige Bishop posted 05-30-2025
Where did you grow up? I was born and raised in Bangladesh, where I also completed my medical studies. After graduating from medical school, I made the life-changing decision to move to the USA, ready to embark on a new chapter of my journey. Why did you choose a career in medicine? My journey toward medicine has been deeply personal, shaped by both my experiences growing up in Bangladesh and a profound desire to make a lasting impact. From an early age, I was exposed to stark inequalities in healthcare. I witnessed families struggling with illnesses simply because they couldn’t afford the necessary treatments or lacked access ...

Member Spotlight! Dr. Steven Lewis

By Paige Bishop posted 05-12-2025
Where did you grow up? My parents were both military so I grew up mostly moving between Northern Virginia and several countries overseas, including Germany, Korea, and Egypt. My family is originally from Mississippi and I often spent time there while my parents were deployed. Why did you choose a career in medicine? I initially did not plan on going into medicine. While I was living in Egypt in high school, I had the opportunity to see how medical care was provided to people with limited resources and that at times even lived in desert areas and I was amazed by the passion the physicians and interdisciplinary team provided ...

Member Spotlight: Courtney Corboy, PA-C

By Paige Bishop posted 04-18-2025
Thank you Courtney Corboy, PA-C for being our spotlight! Currently Corboy works clinically with Head and Neck Cancer at VCU Health as well as PA Educator at RMC PA Program. Read her spotlight below. Where did you grow up? I grew up in Smithfield, VA, affectionately known for “Ham, History, and Hospitality.” Why did you choose a career in medicine? Practicing medicine is a beautiful combination of my love for science and people. What is your favorite part about being a physician assistant and why? Learning from members of my team and educating patients make this career life-giving for me. I appreciate that every member ...