Summary: The top primary care doctors in Virginia with strong ratings include William K. Harris, MD, at Carilion Clinic Family Medicine in North Roanoke, known for a high score supported by substantial feedback; Jeffrey T. Kushinka, MD, at VCU Health in Richmond, noted for long-term adult care; and Shawn Hayes, MD, at Centra Medical Group Amherst, recognized for communication and preventive care.
A statewide directory lists 5,475 primary care doctors in Virginia, while the average family medicine rating is 4.2 stars, making a short list more useful than a random search. Healthgrades reports the Virginia directory size and average rating. The difficulty is not finding a physician with a high number. It is separating a strong score backed by many patient responses from a perfect-looking result based on only a handful of reviews, then checking whether the office accepts your insurance and new patients.
The doctors below are not a universal ranking. They are practical starting points drawn from current health-system profiles, patient ratings, review counts, and published descriptions of primary or family medicine. Ratings change, appointment availability changes, and a doctor who suits a patient with diabetes or several chronic conditions may not suit a healthy adult seeking annual preventive care. Use the list to narrow your calls, then confirm the details directly with each office.
Clinic Reviews is a search platform that lets people browse verified patient reviews and ratings for U.S. clinics, filtering by city and medical specialty. You can compare review patterns rather than treating one star score as a final verdict. Read how a three-star doctor rating should be interpreted before booking.
1. William K. Harris, MD: best for a large review sample
William K. Harris, MD, is the strongest first call for patients who want a high score supported by substantial feedback. Carilion Clinic lists Dr. Harris at 4.9 out of 5 from 1,244 total ratings, with 125 total reviews shown on his profile. Carilion's provider profile lists his rating and review measures. That combination gives the score more context than a five-star result based on a very small number of responses.
Dr. Harris practices family medicine and primary care at Carilion Clinic Family Medicine in North Roanoke. His profile says he offers virtual visits and describes primary care as preventive, routine, and ongoing care, which makes him a sensible option for a patient looking for a continuing relationship rather than a one-time urgent visit. Carilion describes his specialty, location, virtual visits, and primary-care role. Patients who value clear explanations should also examine the profile's sub-scores, including 4.9 for explained clearly, 5.0 for listened carefully, and 4.9 for spending enough time.
The trade-off is geography and system fit. A high rating does not make a distant office practical if travel turns routine follow-up into a burden, and virtual visits do not replace every examination. Before choosing Dr. Harris, ask whether the practice is accepting new patients, which conditions can be handled virtually, and whether the office participates in your plan.
2. Jeffrey T. Kushinka, MD: best for long-term adult primary care
Jeffrey T. Kushinka, MD, stands out for an unusually large VCU Health rating record tied directly to primary care. VCU lists him at 4.9 out of 5 based on 220 ratings and 25 comments, and identifies his specialty as primary care within internal medicine. VCU Health publishes Dr. Kushinka's specialty, score, and comments. Internal medicine makes this profile especially relevant to adults seeking ongoing care rather than pediatric or all-ages family medicine.
The patient comments on VCU's page repeatedly describe familiarity with medical history, thoroughness, thoughtfulness, and long-term continuity. One comment says the patient had used Dr. Kushinka as a primary care doctor for at least 15 years, while other comments were dated in 2026. The VCU profile includes recent comments and continuity-related feedback. Those comments do not prove that every patient receives the same experience, but they do show the kind of evidence worth reading beneath the star number.
Dr. Kushinka's profile places him at VCU's Ambulatory Care Center in Richmond. The practical question is whether that location, health system, and appointment pathway work with your coverage. Ask how the office handles prescription renewals, lab-result questions, and follow-up after a new diagnosis, because those tasks reveal more about a primary-care relationship than a single annual physical.
3. Shawn Hayes, MD: best for communication and preventive care
Shawn Hayes, MD, is a strong choice for patients who want a high score paired with detailed patient-experience measures. Centra lists Dr. Hayes at 4.9 out of 5 from 513 ratings and 123 reviews. The same profile says he focuses on primary care, inpatient hospital care, and preventive medicine. [Centra publishes Dr. Hayes's rating volume and care focus](https://providers.centrahealth.com/provider/shawn-hayes/3214972?
from=search-list&page=1). The profile's individual measures remain at 4.9 for explaining things clearly, showing concern, including patients in decisions, recommending the provider, and discussing treatment options. Patient comments also describe time spent answering questions and straightforward explanations. Centra's review section shows the component scores and written feedback. A patient managing several medications could reasonably place communication higher than a marginal difference between two otherwise similar star scores.
Dr. Hayes practices at Centra Medical Group Amherst. His profile identifies Amherst as the office location and lists a phone number, but the page does not establish that every insurance plan is accepted or that new-patient appointments are open today. Call before transferring records. Ask whether the first appointment is a general physical, a problem-focused visit, or a longer medication-review visit, because the answer affects how quickly your main concern can be addressed.
4. Heather Condon, MD: best for chronic-condition continuity
Heather Condon, MD, is particularly relevant to patients who want family medicine with ongoing chronic-condition management. Riverside identifies her as a family medicine and primary care physician with a 4.9 rating based on 169 ratings. Her profile names diabetes, hypertension, mental illness, and arthritis among the conditions she manages, and it emphasizes long-term relationships with patients. Riverside describes Dr. Condon's rating, specialty, and chronic-care focus. Riverside says its physician ratings and comments come from patient survey data collected and verified by Press Ganey, and that displayed ratings require at least 30 survey responses. That methodology gives the 4.9 score a defined minimum response threshold, although the rating still measures patient experience rather than every aspect of clinical quality. Riverside explains the source and minimum-response rule for displayed ratings. Recent comments praise listening, answers, communication, and involvement in treatment choices.
Dr. Condon's listed office is Riverside Fishing Bay Family Practice in Deltaville. Patients with chronic conditions should ask how the practice tracks lab work, whether medication changes are reviewed between visits, and who handles questions when Dr. Condon is unavailable. A doctor can be highly rated while the surrounding refill or portal process fails to match your needs, so evaluate the full practice rather than the physician score alone.
5. Sarah N. Dalrymple, MD: best for family medicine with teaching expertise
Sarah N. Dalrymple, MD, pairs a strong patient rating with an academic family-medicine post. UVA lists her at 4.9, drawn from 225 patient-satisfaction ratings and 66 patient comments. The profile identifies her as an associate professor in the Department of Family Medicine and associate program director for the UVA Family Medicine residency. UVA publishes Dr. Dalrymple's rating, comments, and academic roles. UVA says its satisfaction score comes from survey replies over the previous two years, with measures for concern, clear explanations, patient input in decisions, treatment choices, and whether people would recommend the doctor. UVA explains the survey period and measures on Dr. Dalrymple's profile. The 225-response figure gives more context than a lone five-star profile, and the comments add detail about follow-up and communication.
Dr. Dalrymple's main office is UVA Family Medicine Stoney Creek in Nellysford. The profile includes a patient note about a possible move to another UVA site, so check the current office before you book. Academic ties can matter to patients who want teaching and system access, though they do not promise short waits or a certain appointment style. Ask how long new-patient visits last and whether a resident or another clinician may sit in.
6. Dieu-Thi Nguyen, MD: best for eligible Kaiser Permanente members
Dieu-Thi Nguyen, MD, is a well-rated adult-primary-care choice for patients who use Kaiser Permanente's Mid-Atlantic system. Kaiser lists Dr. Nguyen at 4.9 out of 5 from 199 ratings and says she is an adult primary care physician. The profile also notes Top Doctor recognition from Northern Virginia Magazine in 2025 and 2026. Kaiser's physician profile provides the rating, specialty, and recognition. Dr. Nguyen's listed location is Caton Hill, and the profile says she speaks English and Vietnamese. The rating period shown runs from March 21, 2024, through March 30, 2026, while the page also says she is not accepting new patients right now. Kaiser gives the rating dates, language information, location, and availability status. That detail matters more than the score, because a doctor can rate well and still have no openings.
The named exception is patients who are not Kaiser Permanente members or who need a physician outside its care network. Kaiser says its recognized physicians provide care only to Kaiser Permanente members in Virginia, Maryland, and Washington, D.C. Kaiser explains the membership limit for its Mid-Atlantic physicians. Other patients should use the first five profiles as comparison points and check network status directly.
How to turn a rating into a safe appointment choice
Start with insurance, then inspect the rating evidence, then call the office. That order prevents a high-rated doctor from consuming time when the practice is out of network or closed to new patients.
- Confirm network status with your insurer and the office. Provider directories can lag behind changes, so ask the office to verify your specific plan, not just the insurance company's name.
- Compare the score with response volume. A 4.9 from 1,244 ratings, as shown for William Harris, carries a different level of evidence from a perfect score based on a small number of reviews. Healthgrades reports that its Virginia directory includes more than 65,000 verified patient survey responses overall, but that statewide figure does not validate any individual doctor. Healthgrades describes its Virginia directory and survey base.
- Read comments for repeated behaviors. Look for specific patterns such as explaining treatment options, listening, handling follow-up, or not rushing appointments. A single complaint or compliment should not outweigh a repeated pattern across many comments.
- Check access before committing. Ask about new-patient availability, routine appointment lead time, sick visits, portal messages, prescription renewals, and after-hours coverage. PartnerMD's 2026 report highlighted that many surveyed respondents experienced delays in seeing their doctor and felt rushed during appointments, based on responses from more than 500 people who completed its assessment in 2025. PartnerMD reports its 2026 primary-care findings.
- Match the physician type to the patient. Family medicine commonly suits patients seeking care across ages, while internal medicine is directed toward adults. Ask whether the office manages your main condition or coordinates referrals through the same health system.
Clinic Reviews can help with the comparison stage because its listings show overall star ratings, review counts from multiple platforms, and short summaries of what patients praise or criticize. Learn how Clinic Reviews presents patient ratings. Provo Family Dentistry is also available at Provo Family Dentistry, although it is a dental practice rather than a Virginia primary-care option.
The advice stops at selecting a shortlist. Ratings cannot establish that a physician is clinically right for a complex diagnosis, replace insurance confirmation, or predict whether an urgent appointment will be available tomorrow. Bring those questions to the office and, for serious symptoms, use emergency or urgent medical services rather than waiting for a primary-care opening.
When to seek urgent care instead of waiting
A shortlist of highly rated primary care doctors is meant for routine and ongoing care. For serious or sudden symptoms, use emergency or urgent medical services rather than waiting for a new-patient appointment with any doctor on this list, and ask your insurer which urgent-care options are in network.
Conclusion
Begin with the physician whose rating has enough responses to mean something for your decision, then make two calls: one to your insurer and one to the office. Ask about network status, new-patient availability, appointment length, follow-up communication, and who covers the practice after hours. Take recent medication lists and prior records to the first visit so the doctor can assess your actual needs rather than a thin online profile. Strong ratings are useful for narrowing Virginia's large primary-care field, but the final choice requires a workable location, an available appointment, and a care process you can use between visits.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who are the top primary care doctors in Virginia with strong ratings?
The top primary care doctors in Virginia with strong ratings include William K. Harris, MD, at Carilion Clinic Family Medicine in North Roanoke; Jeffrey T. Kushinka, MD, at VCU Health in Richmond; and Shawn Hayes, MD, at Centra Medical Group Amherst. Each is recognized for different strengths such as substantial feedback, long-term adult care, and communication and preventive care.
What makes William K. Harris, MD, a strong choice for primary care?
William K. Harris, MD, is a strong choice for patients who want a high score supported by substantial feedback. He has a 4.9 out of 5 rating from 1,244 total ratings and 125 reviews. His practice focuses on preventive, routine, and ongoing care, making him suitable for patients seeking a continuing relationship rather than a one-time urgent visit.
Why is Jeffrey T. Kushinka, MD, noted for long-term adult primary care?
Jeffrey T. Kushinka, MD, is noted for long-term adult primary care due to his large VCU Health rating record and focus on internal medicine. His 4.9 out of 5 rating is based on 220 ratings and 25 comments, with patient feedback highlighting his familiarity with medical history, thoroughness, and continuity over many years.
What distinguishes Shawn Hayes, MD, in terms of patient care?
Shawn Hayes, MD, is distinguished by his focus on communication and preventive care. He holds a 4.9 out of 5 rating from 513 ratings and 123 reviews. His profile emphasizes clear explanations, patient involvement in decisions, and comprehensive treatment discussions, making him a strong choice for patients managing several medications.
How does Sarah N. Dalrymple, MD, combine family medicine with teaching expertise?
Sarah N. Dalrymple, MD, combines family medicine with teaching expertise as an associate professor and associate program director at UVA. She has a 4.9 rating from 225 patient-satisfaction ratings and 66 comments. Her academic role adds value for patients interested in teaching and system access, although it does not guarantee short waits or specific appointment styles.
Which highly rated Virginia doctor suits patients with chronic conditions?
Heather Condon, MD, at Riverside Fishing Bay Family Practice in Deltaville, is the closest fit on this list. Riverside's profile names diabetes, hypertension, mental illness, and arthritis among the conditions she manages and emphasizes long-term relationships with patients.
Can anyone book with Dieu-Thi Nguyen, MD?
No. Kaiser Permanente says its Mid-Atlantic physicians care only for Kaiser Permanente members, and Dr. Nguyen's profile says she is not accepting new patients right now. Non-members should compare the other five profiles instead.
How should I judge a doctor's star rating?
Read the star score together with the number of ratings behind it, then read comments for repeated patterns such as listening, clear explanations, and follow-up. A strong score backed by many responses tells you more than a perfect score from a handful of reviews.
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