Academic Coach & Advisor

Retired Riverside exec caroline Martin among first patients at new Smithfield hospital. Retired Riverside executive caroline Martin was among the first patients at the new Riverside Smithfield Hospital, which has already logged thousands of visits and procedures since opening in January. Caroline Martin discusses her recovery progress after a knee replacement with Dr. Mohamad Halawi, an orthopedic surgeon who began practicing in the Jamison-Longford Medical Office Building on Riverside Smithfield Hospital's campus last fall.Submitted photo Since opening in early January, Riverside Smithfield Hospital has performed over 200 procedures and surgeries, including a knee replacement for a familiar face within its first two weeks. Caroline Martin, a retired executive vice president with Riverside Health who serves on Riverside Smithfield Hospital's cabinet, had learned through that role that Dr. Mohamad Halawi, an orthopedic surgeon specializing in hip and knee replacements, planned to move his practice from Doctors Hospital in Williamsburg to Smithfield. "I had been in severe pain for two-and-a-half years and had tried every non-invasive method there was," Martin said. She was discharged the same day as her surgery and within eight weeks was walking unassisted. Martin credits her quick recovery to the hospital's proximity and Halawi's after-care instructions. "As a nurse I do believe the patient and the doctor have to have a partnership ,and he literally used those words," Martin said. "He said, '...I can do a really good job on your knee, but when you go home it will be all up to you and your family and your support system,' and so I followed his instructions to the letter and got my results." She went home and started doing two exercises Halawi told her to do. "They sound simple if your knee hasn't been replaced," Martin said. "The first one is to make sure you can keep your knee, your whole leg, straight and the second one is to be able to make a right angle and then slowly be able to go 100 (degrees), 110 and 120." Martin, a resident of North Suffolk, said the presence of Riverside Smithfield Hospital and the Jamison-Longford building that houses multiple specialist practices has drastically shortened her distance from medical care. "Everyone that I have spoken to, including myself, finds this a godsend," Martin said. "... They can get all the care they need whether it is primary care right here on this campus or whether it's specialty care or outpatient care, and then if it is something more traumatic, there's a helicopter here that can take them to Riverside Regional Medical Center for Level 2 care there." Martin's husband, due to a 2022 stroke, can't drive, so "I was very anxious if someone had to help me other than my husband or myself that they wouldn't have to drive miles and miles and miles away, and both of my adult children live in Smithfield, so this is a triple bonus, if you will, in terms of time and access, and having been with Riverside Health System for the number of years I was there... we know that hospitals the size of Riverside Smithfield, Riverside Walter Reed, Doctors Hospital, can create the culture of patient-centered care that is the backbone of the value system for Riverside." As of March 11, Riverside Smithfield had seen just over 3,000 emergency department patients, 343 admissions, 226 surgeries and procedures and performed 7,152 diagnostic images. "This is not an isolated hospital," Martin said. "It has everything it needs to treat right here 90-plus percent of the patients who present. However, it also has the benefit of our new technologies both here personally but also to connect them with a specialist that they might not be on staff here... through teleconferencing." Story Tags

Riverside Regional Medical Center earned Blue Distinction Center for excellence in spinal surgery. March 19, 2026 Riverside Regional Medical Center (RRMC) has earned the prestigious Blue Distinction(R) Specialty Care designation for spine surgery, recognizing the hospital's commitment to delivering high-quality, patient-centered care with exceptional outcomes for patients across Hampton Roads. The Blue Distinction(R) Specialty Care program is a national initiative that identifies health care facilities with demonstrated expertise in delivering specialty care. Hospitals receiving the designation must meet rigorous, evidence-based selection criteria, including lower complication and readmission rates, a history of surgical excellence, and a proven commitment to continuous quality improvement. At Riverside, spinal surgery is performed exclusively by board-certified neurosurgeons who specialize in the surgical treatment of complex spine conditions. The team combines advanced surgical techniques with coordinated pre- and post-operative care to help patients regain mobility, reduce pain and return to their daily lives as safely and quickly as possible. "This national recognition reflects the skill and dedication of our neurosurgical team and the high standards we maintain for spinal surgery," said Dr. Michael Oshiki, President of Riverside Regional Medical Center. "When patients require spine surgery, they deserve a team with specialized expertise, proven outcomes and a deep commitment to safety and quality. This designation reinforces that Riverside is delivering that level of care right here in our community." For the neurosurgeons and clinical teams performing these procedures, the recognition represents the daily commitment behind the scenes. "Our priority is to ensure every patient feels informed, supported and confident in their care," said Dr. William McAllister, neurosurgeon at Riverside Hampton Roads Neurosurgical and Spine Specialists Newport News. "This designation affirms the consistent, patient-centered approach we take in spinal surgery and our commitment to delivering the highest standard of care to the communities we serve." The Blue Distinction designation helps patients make more informed decisions about where to receive care, offering confidence that they are choosing a hospital that consistently delivers high-quality surgical results. This latest recognition adds to Riverside spine services' growing list of national honors. Riverside Hampton Roads' Neurosurgical & Spine Specialists has been named to the Top 100 Spine Surgery Program and two neurosurgeons named to the Best Spine Surgeons in the United States. Brain and Spine March 19, 2026 Blue Distinction(R) recognition adds to Riverside's growing list of national honors in spine surgery... System Women's Health Brain and Spine March 12, 2026 New women's health and neurosurgery services build on the recent opening of Riverside Smithfield...