General Info

Dr. Virginia Powel is originally from Maryland. She earned her undergraduate degree at Towson University in nursing then moved on to Johns Hopkins University to earn her MPH with a concentration in maternal child health. After working several years in nursing, she entered medical school at the University of Maryland, graduating in 1992. She remained in Baltimore for pediatric residency at the University of Maryland Medical System, staying a fourth year as chief resident. Following residency, Dr. Powel pursued her fellowship in Pediatric Critical Care, graduating from Children's Hospital of San Diego (now Rady Children's Hospital) in 1999. From California Dr. Powel first moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma where she was a PICU and peds hospitalist attending for 10 years at St. Francis Children's Hospital. Dr. Powel came to Carilion Children's Hospital in 2009 to join the PICU staff as medical director and, in 2013, section chief. A recent addition to her ICU interest is weight loss management. She has a certificate of nutrition coaching and in 2020 completed her obesity medicine training and is now boarded in Obesity Medicine. When Dr. Powel isn't in the PICU, you can find her at home with her two daughters and multiple pets or at the gym working out.