The Virginia Medical Freedom Alliance (VAMFA), a nonprofit organization based in the Commonwealth, is set to host its Health Choice Summit on September 12, 2026, at the Founders Inn Conference Center in Virginia Beach. Titled “Health Choice: Liberation from Mandates” and associated with the theme “Operation Save Our Children,” the event is organized in partnership with North Carolina Physicians for Freedom. It aims to bring together healthcare professionals, advocates, and members of the public for discussions on medical decision-making, alternatives to certain conventional treatments, and the preservation of individual choice in healthcare.
Event Schedule and Format
According to VAMFA’s website, the summit will run from approximately 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., followed by a gala dinner, awards presentation, music, and dancing from 6 p.m. to midnight. The daytime program includes breakfast, registration, a series of speakers, lunch, and afternoon sessions. Ticket options are priced at $75 for the day of speakers (including breakfast and lunch) and $75 for the gala dinner featuring a keynote address. Hotel accommodations are available at the venue through a group booking link.
Speakers and Agenda
The agenda, subject to change, features a range of speakers with backgrounds in medicine, policy, nutrition, and advocacy. Confirmed or listed participants include Dr. Paul Marik, a critical care physician and researcher known for work on sepsis protocols and later involvement with the Front Line COVID-19 Critical Care Alliance; Winsome Earle-Sears, a Marine Corps veteran and former Lieutenant Governor of Virginia; Pamela Burnham, a former critical care nurse and author focused on lifestyle and natural approaches; Maureen Diaz of the Weston A. Price Foundation and God’s Good Table; Charles Frohman of the National Health Federation; Patriek Karayil, described as a White House Presidential Innovation Fellow involved in health-related initiatives; Dr. Daphne Kasperek, an emergency physician who operates an independent practice; Dr. James Kelly, a psychiatrist; Steve Krahling, a research scientist and former Merck employee involved in a qui tam lawsuit related to a vaccine; Dianna Lightfoot of North Carolina Physicians for Freedom; Gary Porter, a retired Air Force pilot and constitutional educator; Dr. Boze Ravenell, a pediatrician; Crisanna Shackelford, a retired Department of Defense professional; and Jeffrey Tucker of the Brownstone Institute. Welcome remarks are scheduled from Dr. Sheila Furey of VAMFA and Dianna Lightfoot.
The gala will feature Dr. Marik as keynote speaker on topics related to therapeutic interventions, along with awards, semi-formal to formal attire, and entertainment by DJ Tim Lemon. Sponsors listed at various levels include organizations such as the Weston A. Price Foundation, Brownstone Institute, Children’s Health Defense, Feds for Freedom, Turning Point USA, the John Birch Society, and others.
About the Host Organization
VAMFA describes itself as a 501(c)(4) non-profit, non-partisan coalition of Virginia doctors, other healthcare professionals, organizations, and citizens. Its stated mission is “to restore and protect the unalienable individual right to medical freedom within the Commonwealth of Virginia by ensuring informed consent, bodily sovereignty, and the sanctity of the doctor-patient relationship.” The group was established in the period following the COVID-19 pandemic and expresses concern over what it views as public health system overreach that limited individualized care and voluntary informed consent. VAMFA notes that more than 22,000 people in Virginia died from COVID-19 in circumstances it attributes in part to restricted early treatments and standardized hospital protocols. The organization engages in education, advocacy, and public commentary on issues including vaccines, medical freedom, wireless radiation, and related policy matters. Dr. Sheila M. Furey, a practicing psychiatrist in the Richmond area, serves as president and co-founder. She has spoken publicly on medical autonomy topics and appears in media discussions related to the group’s work.
Focus of the Summit
The summit’s promotional materials frame health choice as a practical, everyday concern involving freedom from mandates and predetermined protocols that, in the organizers’ view, can reduce patients to data points rather than individuals. Speakers are expected to address topics such as nutrition and regenerative practices, vaccine-related issues, long COVID and vaccine injury, policy and institutional perspectives, constitutional considerations, and alternatives in care across life stages. The event emphasizes connection among attendees seeking options beyond standard vaccines and prescription medications, with a focus on restoring or preserving health of mind, body, and spirit. Organizers highlight the dignity of human life from in utero development through end of life and the importance of recognizing red flags in care to advocate for oneself or others.
Broader Context in Virginia
In the broader context of Virginia politics and public health discussions in 2026, medical freedom topics have intersected with electoral and legislative debates. VAMFA has participated in public discourse and legal efforts related to ballot measures and policy, positioning itself as an advocate for doctor-patient relationships and against what it sees as institutional constraints. The summit occurs against the backdrop of ongoing national conversations about pandemic responses, vaccine policies, regulatory frameworks, and individual rights in healthcare. Mainstream public health authorities and medical organizations generally maintain that established vaccine schedules, evidence-based protocols, and public health measures have contributed to reductions in disease burden and improved outcomes, while emphasizing informed consent within regulated frameworks. Differences in interpretation of data, risk-benefit analyses, and the appropriate balance between collective and individual interests continue to generate debate.
Venue and Practical Details
The Founders Inn Conference Center, located at 5641 Indian River Road in Virginia Beach, provides the physical setting for both the daytime sessions and evening gala. Organizers encourage early ticket purchases and hotel bookings, noting that full speaker details and any updates will be provided closer to the date. Donations to VAMFA are accepted, though as a 501(c)(4) entity they are not tax-deductible. The organization’s website includes a disclaimer that content is for educational purposes and not a substitute for professional medical or legal advice.
Looking Ahead
As September approaches, the Health Choice Summit represents one organized effort by VAMFA and its partners to convene stakeholders around questions of medical autonomy, alternative approaches, and policy implications. Attendance will include healthcare practitioners, advocates, and interested members of the public. The event’s structure—combining educational sessions with networking and a formal evening program—reflects the group’s dual emphasis on information-sharing and community-building. Outcomes and any specific policy recommendations emerging from the gathering will depend on the presentations and discussions that take place. Interested individuals can find registration, sponsorship, and further information through VAMFA’s official channels at vamfa.org.
