FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
VHC Health Announces $17.5 Million Donation from Arlene Evans and Barry Dewberry, Its Largest Philanthropic Gift to Date
Arlington, VA (August 11, 2026) – VHC Health, a community-based health system serving the Washington, DC metropolitan area, today announced a donation of $17.5 million —the largest in the health system’s history—from Arlene Evans and Barry Dewberry. To honor their groundbreaking impact, the VHC Health Outpatient Pavilion will be renamed the Arlene Evans and Barry Dewberry Outpatient Pavilion. Additionally, the new Arlene Evans and Barry Dewberry Cancer Center will be established within it, unifying access to cancer care for more than 2,000 patients annually in one convenient location.
“Anchoring the names of Arlene Evans and Barry Dewberry to our outpatient services reflects the commitment they have made to improve the health of our community. We want to create the warmest experience possible, allowing our patients to navigate their healthcare journey with ease and comfort,” said Chris Lane, President and CEO, VHC Health. “Their commitment to VHC Health began with a $3 million gift in 2023 to establish the Arlene Evans and Barry Dewberry Simulation Center and now has grown into supporting a full-service Outpatient Pavilion. Our shared vision to add cancer services in a single location could not have been possible without their philanthropic foresight.”
The Arlene Evans and Barry Dewberry Cancer Center is expected to open on the sixth floor of the Outpatient Pavilion in the summer of 2028, establishing a medical practice integrating multiple oncology specialties, including medical oncology, radiation oncology, surgical oncology, hematology, infusion therapy, diagnostics, imaging, research, palliative care, and survivorship services.
“For the Northern Virginia community, VHC Health represents excellence in compassionate care. This Center will integrate state-of-the-art cancer care with a purposeful design informed by community input, ultimately putting the needs of patients and their families first. The design will further promote coordination of care among physicians, patients, and the health care team,” said Patricia Rodriguez, MD, VHC Health Board Member. “We are excited to provide the latest technology and advances in cancer care to our patients.”
“When our diagnostics, infusion therapy, radiation, and support services are located under one roof, it will alleviate the burden on patients and their families, allowing them to concentrate on healing. VHC Health provides our patients—and our community—with access to world-class care right in their neighborhood,” said Melody Dickerson, Senior Vice President for Hospital Operations and Chief Nursing Officer. "I witness the toll that cancer takes on our patients, not just physically, but emotionally and logistically. This Center will transform that experience by creating an environment where clinical teams from various disciplines can coordinate seamlessly, focusing on each patient's specific care needs. That will lead to the development of the best care plans for our patients.”
“Arlene’s relationship with VHC Health began through her service as an operating department nurse. She saw firsthand the compassion, commitment, and excellence that defines this health system. This gift is our way of continuing that relationship and honoring the people who make VHC Health such an important part of this community,” said Barry Dewberry.
“We have long admired VHC Health’s independence, its deep connection to the Northern Virginia region, and the physicians, nurses, and care teams who care for patients and families. That is why we chose to make this investment here,” said Arlene Evans. “When cancer care is available close to home, it eases an already painful and difficult experience, and we are proud to support this Center that will help ease that burden.”
The Center will unify multidisciplinary care and introduce innovative services from VHC Health. For the first time in VHC Health’s history, the Clinical Research and Trial Office will be created alongside patient care services. It will also expand survivorship, psychosocial, nutrition, and integrative therapy programs to support families from the moment of diagnosis through long-term recovery.
“Advancing cancer care in this specialized manner is uniquely possible through the philanthropy of Arlene Evans and Barry Dewberry,” said Amy Ellis Hauser, VHC Health Foundation President and Senior Vice President, VHC Health. “The Arlene Evans and Barry Dewberry Cancer Center reflects a holistic vision for the future of cancer care at VHC Health. To make this vision a reality, the Foundation will engage the community with philanthropic opportunities to support these first-of-their-kind services for VHC Health.”
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About VHC Health:
VHC Health® is an independent, not-for-profit, 548-bed health system serving the Washington, DC metropolitan area, anchored by a nationally recognized top teaching hospital. We deliver high-quality, patient-centered care using advanced technology. With a growing network of primary and specialty care locations, we make healthcare more accessible for our community. Consistently recognized as a leading health system in Virginia, VHC Health has earned numerous awards and proudly holds the Magnet® designation for nursing excellence.
