Read the full stored bill text
Commending M. Catherine Slusher, M.D.
Agreed to by the Senate, February 26, 2026
Agreed to by the House of Delegates, March 2, 2026
WHEREAS, M. Catherine Slusher, M.D., an esteemed obstetrician and gynecologist who has greatly served the Harrisonburg community for more than 30 years, retired in 2026; and
WHEREAS, after earning a medical degree from what is today the Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine at Marshall University, Catherine “Cathy” Slusher practiced medicine for the entirety of her career with Harrisonburg OBGYN, a highly respected local practice that partnered with Sentara Medical Group and became Sentara Obstetrics, Gynecology & Midwifery Specialists in 2024; and
WHEREAS, over her career as an obstetrician and gynecologist, Cathy Slusher delivered thousands of babies, building lasting and meaningful relationships with an untold number of women and families along the way; and
WHEREAS, from routine to complex cases, Cathy Slusher worked tirelessly to understand her patients' concerns and priorities as she determined the best options for their care; and
WHEREAS, Cathy Slusher has seen remarkable advancements in women's health over the past three decades and has kept pace with these changes to ensure the best health outcomes for her patients; and
WHEREAS, in the later years of her career, Cathy Slusher became certified in fetal echocardiography, a procedure in which sound waves are used to examine a developing baby's heart, enhancing her ability to detect abnormalities early and to deliver the best quality of care; and
WHEREAS, outside of her work as a physician, Cathy Slusher supported and advocated for young people and families as a member of the Harrisonburg City School Board; and
WHEREAS, in 2020, Cathy Slusher participated in the National Dialogue on Safely Reopening America's Schools panel discussion at the White House, appearing before President Donald J. Trump, Vice President Mike Pence, and other dignitaries as she addressed the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on student learning and how schools could safely and effectively reopen; and
WHEREAS, in her well-deserved retirement following an illustrious career in service to the community, Cathy Slusher looks forward to spending more quality time with family and to travelling the world; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED by the Senate of Virginia, the House of Delegates concurring, That the General Assembly hereby commend M. Catherine Slusher, M.D., an obstetrician and gynecologist with Sentara Obstetrics, Gynecology & Midwifery Specialists in Harrisonburg, on the occasion of her retirement; and, be it
RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the Senate prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to M. Catherine Slusher, M.D., as an expression of the General Assembly's admiration for her contributions to women's health in Harrisonburg and the Commonwealth.