Victor McKenzie Jr. is the Chief Executive Officer of Virginia Health Catalyst, where he leads statewide efforts to advance oral health and health equity through the Healthy Virginia Blueprint. In this role, he partners with policymakers, health systems, and community organizations to address the social and structural drivers of health, expand access to care, and build stronger, healthier communities across the Commonwealth.

Victor is a respected public health and policy leader with more than a decade of experience driving change at the intersection of health, recovery, and equity. Prior to Catalyst, he served as Executive Director of the Substance Abuse and Addiction Recovery Alliance of Virginia (SAARA), where he helped secure landmark reforms, including Virginia’s first recovery high school and bipartisan legislation reducing “barrier crimes” for people in recovery. He also advanced Medicaid access and behavioral health services, positioning SAARA as a leading statewide voice for recovery and systems reform.

Appointed in 2021 by Governor Ralph Northam to the Virginia Opioid Abatement Authority, Victor served as Secretary of the Board, overseeing the stewardship of settlement funds to combat the opioid crisis. He continues to guide state policy as Chair of the Virginia Addiction and Recovery Council, shaping collaborative strategies to address addiction, prevention, and recovery.

Civically engaged, Victor serves on the Richmond City Planning Commission and has been recognized for his leadership and service, including Style Weekly’s Top 40 Under 40 (2022), the Community Foundation’s Emerging Nonprofit Leader Award, and the 2024 BRAVO Award from the Chesterfield Education Foundation.

A committed lifelong learner, Victor is a graduate of the University of Virginia’s Sorensen Institute Political Leaders Program and Leadership Metro Richmond’s Leadership Quest. He holds an Executive Certificate in Nonprofit Management from Georgetown University’s McCourt School of Public Policy, a Bachelor’s degree in Leadership from Old Dominion University, and is pursuing his MBA at Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business.

A first-generation college graduate and former Boys & Girls Club kid, Victor brings lived experience, empathy, and a solutions-driven approach to his work. As CEO of Virginia Health Catalyst, he is committed to building a healthier, more equitable Virginia where every community has the opportunity to thrive. He lives in Richmond with his wife and daughter.