Burlington Review

Virtua Health has been chosen as one of ten U.S. health systems to join the Davos Alzheimer’s Collaborative Healthcare System Preparedness U.S. Fellowship Program. This initiative, led by the Davos Alzheimer’s Collaborative (DAC), aims to cure Alzheimer’s disease and enhance brain health.

The DAC is focused on replicating the success seen in combating infectious diseases like HIV/AIDS, COVID-19, and malaria. The project supports health systems in the early detection of cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's within primary care settings across the United States. The selected health systems represent a variety of healthcare delivery models, regions, and patient demographics.

Virtua Health, a leading health system in southern New Jersey, will contribute to developing an early detection workflow for primary care using evidence-based training with assistance from DAC experts. Collaborating with the New Jersey Institute for Successful Aging (NJISA) at Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine, Virtua will share its findings with other participating systems through early 2026.

Tim MacLeod, Ph.D., director of DAC Healthcare System Preparedness, stated: “We are partnering with diverse healthcare systems nationwide to accelerate the adoption of early detection for cognitive impairment using the DAC Healthcare System Preparedness Blueprint.”

Jennifer Khelil, DO, MBA, Virtua's executive vice president and chief clinical officer said: “Virtua recognizes the growing population of individuals 65 and older and is committed to expanding our clinical capacities.”

Starting July 2025, Virtua Health will engage in an eight-year journey as part of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Innovation (CMMI) Guiding an Improved Dementia Experience (GUIDE) Model. This demonstrates their commitment to providing dementia-capable interprofessional team-based care alongside NJISA's expertise.

Sam Weiner, MD, chief medical officer for VMG and vice president with Virtua Health remarked: “The U.S. Fellowship Program...will serve as a catalyst for Virtua Medical Group to offer an array of new and expanded dementia-related services.”