Get to Know Dr. Grant Greenberg

Meet Dr. Grant Greenberg, Senior Vice President, Family and Community Medicine Chair 

What excites you most about leading this department at this point in its history? 

What excites me most is the opportunity to lead a department that is uniquely positioned to make a meaningful impact on the health of our region. Carilion has built an integrated health system that combines outstanding clinical care, education, and research, and the Department of Family and Community Medicine sits at the center of that mission. 

Southwest Virginia presents both tremendous opportunities and real challenges. We care for patients across urban, suburban, and rural communities, many of whom face barriers related to access, transportation, chronic disease, and socioeconomic factors. Family medicine is uniquely positioned to address those challenges because we care for patients across the lifespan and develop long-term relationships with families and communities. 

I also believe we're entering an exciting era where advances in digital health, artificial intelligence, and population health can help us improve access and support our clinicians—particularly in rural communities where resources are often limited. I'm excited about helping our department lead that work while remaining grounded in the values that define family medicine. 

As you begin this new role, what is your vision for the department over the next three to five years? 

My vision is for our department to become the premier destination for training and developing the next generation of family physicians who will care for the communities of Southwest Virginia and beyond. As our region continues to grow, we have a tremendous opportunity to strengthen the pipeline from medical school through residency and into practice, ensuring that more physicians choose careers in primary care and choose to build those careers here. 

I want us to continue expanding our educational programs in partnership with the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine, providing students and residents with exceptional clinical experiences while highlighting the unique rewards of practicing family medicine in both rural and urban communities. As the medical school and residency programs continue to evolve, our department should be at the forefront of preparing physicians who are equipped to meet the changing healthcare needs of our region. 

I also see an opportunity to further strengthen our commitment to rural health. Many of the communities we serve face unique challenges, but they also offer tremendous opportunities for family physicians to make a lasting impact. By developing innovative training experiences, building strong community partnerships, and supporting physicians throughout their careers, we can help ensure that high-quality primary care remains available across Southwest Virginia. 

Finally, I want our department to be known as a place where people thrive. That means creating an environment where faculty, residents, students, and staff feel supported, valued, and able to find joy in the practice of medicine. If we can balance excellent patient care with meaningful education and a culture that prioritizes professional fulfillment and well-being, we'll be well positioned to serve our communities for decades to come. 

What do you see as the greatest opportunities - and challenges - for family medicine today? 

Family medicine has never been more important. As our population ages and chronic diseases become increasingly common, there is tremendous opportunity for primary care to improve health outcomes while reducing unnecessary healthcare utilization. 

In our region, we also have an opportunity to address longstanding challenges in rural healthcare. Access to primary care, behavioral health, maternity care, and specialty services remains difficult for many communities throughout western Virginia. Family physicians are uniquely equipped to bridge many of those gaps because we provide comprehensive, relationship-centered care. 

At the same time, we cannot ignore the challenges facing our specialty. Workforce shortages, clinician burnout, increasing administrative complexity, and financial pressures continue to affect practices across the country, particularly in rural areas. Our responsibility as an academic department is not only to prepare the next generation of physicians but also to develop innovative models of care that better support both patients and clinicians. I believe technology—including telehealth, data-driven population management, and thoughtfully implemented artificial intelligence—can be part of that solution, but only if it strengthens rather than replaces the patient-physician relationship. 

Outside of medicine, what are a few things you'd like our Carilion colleagues to know about you? 

Outside of medicine, I enjoy spending time outdoors and appreciate everything this region has to offer. One of the things that makes Southwest Virginia so special is its natural beauty, and I look forward to exploring more of the hiking trails, parks, and small communities throughout the area. 

I also enjoy reading, learning about new technologies, and thinking about how innovation can improve people's lives—not just in healthcare, but more broadly. At the same time, I value slowing down, spending time with family and friends, and getting to know the communities we serve.  I have 4 children.  My oldest daughter Morgan (25) works in event planning in Orlando; my son Auden (23) is in school to get a MSW at the University of Pittsburgh and works with autistic children.  My daughter Dahlia (20) is a senior at the University of Vermont and is will be applying to Medical School, and my youngest daughter Rhea is a Freshman at the University of Michigan (Go Blue!).  

Ultimately, I believe relationships are what matter most. That's true in family medicine, in leadership, and in life. I'm looking forward to meeting more of our colleagues, learning from your experiences, and working together to advance the mission of Family and Community Medicine at Carilion.