Keisha Smith is on a mission to provide better access to health care for all Virginians, particularly in underserved communities such as Richmond.

She aims to do so in her new position as the executive director of the Henrico County-based Virginia Health Workforce Development Authority.

“We are a statewide voice coordinating with other relevant state, regional and local entities and community partners to identify and address health workforce needs,” Ms. Smith told the Free Press.

The authority collaborates with community partners to provide underserved communities with “competent, qualified, well-trained health professionals,” Ms. Smith said.

The authority’s efforts are broad, ranging from aiding young people interested in health careers to influencing state health policy.

In Richmond and other communities that she calls “health professional shortage areas,” Ms. Smith’s office seeks to identify students at an early age who are interested in health care professions in order to provide them with mentors and other resources to help them prepare for college.

The VHWDA also advocates reducing the educational debt load of health professionals, increasing scholarships for students in health care fields and supporting collaborations between communities, businesses and social organizations to recruit and retain health professionals.

One key to increasing access to health care in Richmond and other underserved communities, Ms. Smith said, is to increase the number of slots for medical residents at teaching sites around the state. She said research shows “that where students do their residencies is where they usually end up practicing.”

The General Assembly created the Virginia Health Workforce Development Authority in 2010 during the administration of former Gov. Bob McDonnell to study how to improve health care throughout the state and to provide more health care professionals in underserved areas.

Initially, it was funded with a federal grant of $1.93 million, according to its website. The authority’s 13-member board appointed the 42-year-old Lynchburg native as executive director effective July 1.

The authority sets priorities for Virginia’s eight Area Health Education Centers (AHEC), including the Capital Area Health Education Center that serves Metro Richmond. The center provides student and program consulting, as well as advising on health professions, Ms. Smith said.

Among the other agencies with which the VHWDA partners, she said, are the Virginia Department of Health, the Virginia Department of Health Professions and the Capital Area Health Network based in the East End.

Ms. Smith’s small staff also evaluates AHEC activities.

She said she’s proud to serve in her new role.

“At the end of the day, the reward will be improving the overall quality of life for all Virginians,” Ms. Smith said.