Becker’s Honors Dr. Restrepo's Leadership in Patient Safety and Quality Care

Valley Health is proud to announce that Dr. Nicolas Restrepo, Chief Quality and Patient Safety Officer, has been named to Becker’s Hospital Review’s 2025 prestigious list of “132 Patient Safety Experts to Know”. This national recognition highlights his commitment to driving meaningful improvements in care quality, reducing patient harm, and shaping the future of healthcare safety.

Dr. Restrepo leads patient safety strategy across Valley Health’s six-hospital system, building on decades of clinical and medical staff leadership. Under his guidance, Valley Health has implemented systemwide safety protocols and achieved notable recognitions, including the Leapfrog “Top Hospital Award”.

“We are incredibly proud of Dr. Restrepo for receiving this well-deserved national recognition,” said Iyad Sabbagh, MD, Chief Physician Executive, Valley Health. “His commitment to patient safety, both within our hospitals and throughout the community, continues to elevate the standard of care we provide. This honor from Becker’s Hospital Review is a testament to his leadership, innovation, and the meaningful difference he makes in the lives of our patients and caregivers every day.”

His commitment to safety extends beyond hospital walls. As co-founder of the Northern Shenandoah Valley Substance Abuse Coalition, Dr. Restrepo has championed a public health approach to addressing opioid addiction. He advocates for the use of the Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) model and has integrated evidence-based practices throughout the health system.

He was also awarded a regional recognition for his leadership in patient safety: in 2019, Dr. Restrepo received the Virginia Hospital and Healthcare Association’s “Senior Leader Quality & Patient Safety Award.” His recent inclusion in Becker’s Hospital Review’s 2025 list of “Patient Safety Experts to Know” further affirms his continued dedication to advancing safety and improving outcomes across the Valley Health system and the broader community.