Current Title/Position:Â Vice President
Company/Organization:Â Virginia Hospital Center (VHC Health)
Location:Â Arlington, Virginia
Industry:Â Healthcare
“Health equity isn’t just a goal—it’s a fundamental right that requires intentional action every single day.”
Sharon Brickhouse Martin | EVP & COO at Virginia Hospital Center Breaking Barriers in the Operating Room—and the Boardroom
When Sharon Brickhouse Martin walks the halls of Virginia Hospital Center, she doesn’t just see patients and staff—she sees possibility. As Vice President Martin orchestrates the daily symphony of one of Northern Virginia’s most respected healthcare systems, but her real superpower lies in seeing what others miss: the gaps where care falls short, the communities left behind, and the innovative solutions waiting to be unleashed.
It’s a vision born from two decades of refusing to accept healthcare’s status quo. While climbing the ranks of hospital administration, Martin witnessed firsthand how zip codes often determine health outcomes—a reality she was determined to disrupt. Her crowning achievement came in 2025 when Fierce Healthcare named her one of the nation’s Most Influential Minority Executives, recognizing her instrumental role in launching the Charlotte Stump Benjamin Center for Women’s Health. The center isn’t just another department; it’s a declaration that women’s health deserves specialized, culturally competent care that acknowledges both medical science and lived experience. Under her operational leadership, VHC Health has transformed from a hospital into a health equity engine, addressing everything from maternal mortality to chronic disease prevention with the urgency these crises demand.
But Martin isn’t satisfied with transforming one institution. She’s building a blueprint for what healthcare can become when equity isn’t an afterthought but the foundation. “Health equity isn’t just a goal—it’s a fundamental right that requires intentional action every single day,” she says, a mantra that guides her next ambitious chapter: expanding community partnerships that tackle social determinants of health head-on. Whether it’s addressing food insecurity, transportation barriers, or language access, Martin is proving that hospitals must venture beyond their walls to truly heal communities. Her vision? A DMV where your address, race, or income never determines whether you live or die.
Awards & Recognition: 2025 Fierce Healthcare Most Influential Minority Executive
Focus Areas/Expertise: Healthcare Operations, Health Equity, Women’s Health, Quality Improvement, Community Health
