Jessica G. LaRose, Ph.D., appointed chair of the Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences
Jessica G. LaRose, Ph.D., F.S.B.M., has been named chair of the Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences as of August 1, 2025. LaRose served as interim chair since 2022.
VCU School of Public Health launches online M.P.H. program
In the spring 2026, the VCU School of Public Health will offer an accredited, fully online Master of Public Health program. The asynchronous, online program offers maximum flexibility for students while experiencing the same curriculum to help them develop the analytic and critical reasoning skills to improve public health.
One month in: Reflections on leadership, learning, and the future of public health
Monica Swahn, Ph.D. shares her reflections from her first month as Dean of the School of Public Health, including lessons learned from the ASPPH Leadership Retreat in July.
Primary care shortage affects 44% of Virginia’s neighborhoods and almost 3.8 million residents, new VCU study finds
By Olivia Trani Rural communities are particularly hard-hit, and the research could point to workforce initiatives. Nearly half of Virginia’s neighborhoods don’t have enough nearby primary care physicians for their residents, with rural communities being hit hardest by workforce shortages, according to a new study led by researchers at Virginia Commonwealth University. Using anonymized health […]
The 2025 SoCOE Conference deemed ‘a tremendous success’
In May, the Science of Community Outreach and Engagement Alliance held its second annual conference in Oakland, California, to share best practices, increase community capacity, and train future leaders.
Groundbreaking TACIT algorithm offers new promise in diagnosing, treating cancer
Scientists at VCU have created a new tool called TACIT that could help doctors better understand what is happening inside the body by using advanced computer models to identify different kinds of cells in tissues faster and more accurately than ever before, helping to guide better treatment decisions.
Four SOPH faculty members receive promotions
The VCU School of Public Health is pleased to announce the promotion and/or tenure of four faculty members. New appointments will take effect on July 1, 2025. As we strive for excellence as a School, we aim to hire, promote and retain outstanding faculty. On a regular basis, we evaluate individuals according to our mission […]
Robert Perera, Ph.D., joins the Biopharmaceutical Applied Statistics Symposium (BASS) Board of Directors
Robert Perera, Ph.D., interim chair of the Department of Biostatistics in the VCU School of Public Health, has been appointed to the board of the Biopharmaceutical Applied Statistics Symposium (BASS). Perera was nominated for this role by current members of the BASS board after serving on the organization's program committee.
Graduate Spotlight: Stacie Lefeavers
It's Spring Graduation season and we're celebrating our most recent graduates from the School of Public Health. Stacie Lefeavers, Ph.D., M.P.H., R.N., recently defended her dissertation, earning her Ph.D. in social and behavioral sciences.
Graduate Spotlight: Julie Russo, Ph.D., M.P.H.
It's Spring Graduation season and we're celebrating our most recent graduates from the School of Public Health. Among them is Julie Russo, Ph.D.'25, M.P.H.'21.
