Business accolades and advancements for the week of April 14, 2024

Christopher Hourigan, a new professor at Virginia Tech, has been inducted into the American Society for Clinical Investigation. Hourigan, who is also the director of the Cancer Research Center at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute in Washington, D.C., was nominated for membership by prominent figures in the medical field.

In another development at Virginia Tech, Nicholas Rider has joined the Carilion School of Medicine as a professor in the department of health systems and implementation science. Rider will use computational methods to improve patient outcomes and serve as an associate chief medical information officer at Carilion Clinic.

Additionally, Danfeng “Daphne” Yao, a professor in the computer science department at Virginia Tech, has been named interim department head. Yao, known for her work in enterprise data security, has received national recognition for her research and publications.

In the financial sector, A. Randy Hostetter, owner of Randy Hostetter Excavating LLC, has been appointed to the board of directors of Bank of Botetourt. Hostetter, a long-time member of the Lexington community, has dedicated himself to his business and supporting local activities.

Lastly, HopeTree Family Services has appointed April Estrada as the director of foster care and adoptions. With nearly 30 years of experience in foster care and human services, Estrada will work to improve the foster care program and ensure it operates in accordance with best practices and regulations.