Everyone in Virginia deserves to be healthy. We’re here to make that possible.
Virginia Health Catalyst works across the Commonwealth to ensure all Virginians have equitable access to comprehensive health care — care that includes oral health.
Our Role
What Makes Catalyst Different
Catalyst is a trusted convener, systems partner, and policy translator — bridging the gap between research and real-world action. We bring together data, community voices, and cross-sector expertise to move ideas from vision to action, and from pilot to lasting, statewide change.
In more than 15 years of work, Catalyst has helped:
16,000 students in rural, low-income school divisions access school-based oral health programs
Build a statewide coalition of water equity advocates through the Water Equity Taskforce
Expand comprehensive Medicaid dental coverage to more than one million Virginians
Support innovative care models including teledentistry and primary care–oral health integration
Equip providers across Virginia with tools to support and deliver quality care for expectant mothers and individuals with disabilities
Core Work
Our Focus Areas & Why They Matter
Health is shaped by far more than medical care alone. Policies, systems, and community conditions determine whether people can access care, afford preventive services, and trust the resources meant to support their well-being.
Catalyst works at the intersection of four interconnected focus areas:
Oral Health Access
Ensuring everyone can access quality dental care as part of their overall health.
Integration
Connecting medical, dental, behavioral, and social care around the whole person.
Our Impact
For more than a decade, Catalyst has helped drive meaningful change across the Commonwealth, including:
1 million+ Virginians
gained access to comprehensive Medicaid dental coverage
16,000 students
in rural school divisions reached through school-based oral health programs
100+ Virginia localities
face dental health provider shortages — Catalyst is working to change that.
15+ years
of advancing health equity across Virginia
Our work strengthens systems so they can better serve communities.
Our Approach
How We Create Change
Catalyst drives change through three interconnected levers:
The Advancement of Equity
Addressing disparities and ensuring community voices shape the solutions
Influencing & Translating Policy
Ensuring laws and regulations support positive health outcomes for all Virginians
Driving Innovation & Solutions
Designing and scaling approaches that improve care quality and expand access
Get Involved
Stay Connected
Ready to advance health equity in Virginia? There are many ways to join Catalyst in this work.