The Northern Virginia Health Foundation is deeply saddened to announce the passing of its beloved former President and CEO, Patricia “Pat” Mathews, who led the Foundation from its inception with extraordinary vision, integrity and commitment to health equity. Ms. Mathews passed away on Friday, March 6, 2026.

Patricia Mathews served as President and CEO of the Northern Virginia Health Foundation (NVHF) from 2005 until her retirement in early 2024. Ms. Mathews’ visionary leadership forged a new path to improve community health in the region by confronting the structural drivers of health disparities.

As one of the first staffers at NVHF, Ms. Mathews helped establish the Foundation's identity and purpose. Under her leadership, NVHF awarded more than $17 million in grants to organizations that increased access to care for people who are uninsured, underinsured or have low incomes.

“Pat Mathews was a principled, steady leader who never lost sight of the work,” said Courtney Rice, President and CEO of Northern Virginia Health Foundation. “She was advancing efforts in this region that were in many ways, both new and unprecedented. Pat believed that if we are serious about improving health outcomes in this region, then we must be honest about the inequities present and be willing to confront them. She understood that real change requires people to come together, aligned in purpose, and moving in the same direction. Pat was accessible, generous with her insight, and deeply committed to partnership in service of this region and the people who call it home. I’m grateful for her vision. This Foundation, and this region, are stronger because of her leadership. Her impact will continue to be felt for years to come.”

Among her many accomplishments, Ms. Mathews led the Foundation to commission some of the first census tract-level research on health and racial inequities in Northern Virginia. The report identified “islands of disadvantage” throughout Northern Virginia, highlighted a 17-year gap in life expectancy between some communities in the region and examined the historic policy decisions that contributed to structural inequities.

The reports were widely adopted by local governments and policymakers and helped shift the regional conversation from general discussions about health equity to a more direct acknowledgment of racial inequity and structural barriers.

Prior to joining NVHF, Mathews served as Executive Director of Community Relations for Kaiser Permanente’s Mid-Atlantic region, overseeing grantmaking and charitable health care programs serving thousands of uninsured adults and children. She also served as Vice President for Programs at the National AIDS Fund and as President of the National Bank of Washington Foundation.

A graduate of George Washington University with a bachelor’s degree in sociology, she completed graduate work in urban planning at Howard University. Throughout her career and beyond, she served on numerous civic and nonprofit boards and remained a thoughtful, active presence in the region’s philanthropic community.

Known for her curiosity, her active listening and her insistence that the work was never a “dress rehearsal,” Mathews approached leadership with seriousness of purpose and quiet determination. She believed that if something was worth doing, it was worth doing fully.

We extend our deepest condolences to Ms. Mathews’ family, friends, colleagues, and the many other lives she has touched.

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Read Ms. Mathews' obituary [Legacy.com]

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Patricia Mathews
Northern Virginia Health Foundation President & CEO 2005-2024.
Copyright Northern Virginia Health Foundation
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