[{"id":327,"date":"2026-04-15T16:02:52","date_gmt":"2026-04-15T20:02:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/sph\/?p=327"},"modified":"2026-04-15T16:02:54","modified_gmt":"2026-04-15T20:02:54","slug":"vcu-public-health-launches-new-minors-fall-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/sph\/2026\/04\/15\/vcu-public-health-launches-new-minors-fall-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"VCU School of Public Health launches new minors for fall 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

VCU students will have the opportunity to expand their public health knowledge with two new minors offered this fall.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

As the VCU School of Public Health<\/a> enters its third year, it is partnering with VCUArts<\/a> to expand its course offerings for undergraduate students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Public Health<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This minor is ideal for students studying clinical radiation science, dental hygiene, pharmaceutical science, psychology, sociology, urban and regional studies or are simply curious about how public health impacts the world around them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After completing the 19 required credits, students will have a greater understanding of what influences and improves public health. Courses like \u201cHow Health Policy and Health Systems Work\u201d and \u201cHealth In the Global World\u201d will teach foundational principles essential to improving and protecting public health for all. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe are growing and looking to be innovative in how we present public health through curriculum, experiential learning, and collaboration across the university,\u201d said Krista Mincey, Dr.P.H., M.P.H., M.C.H.E.S.,<\/a> director of undergraduate public health education and training at the School of Public Health. \u201cThese minors signify a shift in exposing more students to public health early in their collegiate career and showing them all of the possibilities that exist to enhance and improve the health of communities.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Public Health and the Arts<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Originally written by <\/em>Kim Catley, for VCUArts<\/em><\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Offered by the School of Public Health in collaboration with VCUarts, the minor in Public Health and the Arts is designed for students with an interest in careers at the intersection of health, nonprofits, public agencies and creative organizations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The minor takes a creative approach to confront and address real-world challenges in community health. Students will build a foundation in the principles that shape community well-being, from history and policy to public health and health promotion. They will also explore how visual art, performance, sound, moving image and design can community health information in ways that data and policy alone cannot. The minor also includes hands-on experience working directly in the Richmond community through internships and applied projects with real-world outcomes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe minor in Public Health and the Arts is an outcome of growing research in public health and the arts led by faculty from both VCU Health and the School of the Arts,\u201d says James Wiznerowicz, associate dean for academic affairs. \u201cCoursework reveals the complex nature of services and policies around health. Students will also have an opportunity to connect their creative practices and develop work related to advocacy, visual elements of health communication, design principles, and other means of connection and messaging around wellness and well-being.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Explore more new minors offered by VCUArts here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s not too late to apply for our Master in Public Health program<\/a> for the fall. Visit our website for details and to apply by June 1, 2026<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

VCU students will have the opportunity to expand their public health knowledge with two new minors offered this fall. As the VCU School of Public Health enters its third year, it is partnering with VCUArts to expand its course offerings for undergraduate students. Public Health This minor is ideal for students studying clinical radiation science, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2040,"featured_media":328,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[80,3,82,81],"class_list":["post-327","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-new-programs","tag-public-health","tag-public-health-minor","tag-vcuarts"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/327","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2040"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=327"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/327\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/328"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=327"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=327"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=327"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":321,"date":"2026-03-13T10:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-03-13T14:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/sph\/?p=321"},"modified":"2026-03-11T15:16:11","modified_gmt":"2026-03-11T19:16:11","slug":"cameron-webb-public-health-commencement","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/sph\/2026\/03\/13\/cameron-webb-public-health-commencement\/","title":{"rendered":"Newly appointed State Health Commissioner to speak at School of Public Health graduation ceremony"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

B. Cameron Webb, M.D., J.D., will deliver the keynote commencement address for the class of 2026.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Virginia Commonwealth University\u2019s School of Public Health<\/a> is proud to announce B. Cameron Webb, M.D., J.D., will speak at the spring commencement on May 8, 2026. Webb is the newly appointed commissioner of the Virginia Department of Health<\/a> (VDH).\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Webb is a board-certified medical physician, attorney, and public health expert. He was appointed State Health Commissioner by Governor Abigail Spanberger earlier this year. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Before he was named Health Commissioner, Web was an assistant professor of medicine and public health science at the University of Virginia School of Medicine and in the Frank Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy. Webb also served as a White House Fellow during both the Obama and Trump administrations. He later served as a Senior Advisor in the White House Office of COVID-19 Response during the Biden administration. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe are honored to have Dr. Webb, a public health leader of the commonwealth, address our students as they receive their degrees this spring,\u201d said Monica Swahn, Ph.D., M.P.H.<\/a>, dean of the VCU School of Public Health. \u201cHe has served in a variety of ways and is an example of the impactful and varied career of public health experts.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The VCU School of Public Health will hold its commencement on May 8, 2026, at the Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Virginia Commonwealth University hosts commencement<\/a> on May 9, 2026, at 10 a.m. at the Greater Richmond Convention Center.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Learn more about Dr. Webb and the VDH here<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Virginia Commonwealth University\u2019s School of Public Health is proud to announce B. Cameron Webb, M.D., J.D., will speak at the spring commencement on May 8, 2026. Webb is the newly appointed commissioner of the Virginia Department of Health (VDH).\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2040,"featured_media":177,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[36,40,3,79],"class_list":["post-321","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-events","tag-graduation","tag-public-health","tag-vdh"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/321","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2040"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=321"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/321\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/177"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=321"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=321"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=321"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":317,"date":"2026-03-05T13:31:10","date_gmt":"2026-03-05T18:31:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/sph\/?p=317"},"modified":"2026-03-13T14:44:16","modified_gmt":"2026-03-13T18:44:16","slug":"honoring-academic-excellence-and-black-history-month","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/sph\/2026\/03\/05\/honoring-academic-excellence-and-black-history-month\/","title":{"rendered":"Honoring academic excellence and Black History Month"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Three School of Public Health students were recognized with the 2026 Carter G Woodson Award, presented by the Department of African American Studies<\/a> on February 25.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Esse Foka Nzaha, B.S., M.P.H., is a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Epidemiology<\/a>. She will defend her dissertation and graduate this May. After graduation, she plans to continue her research of West African immigrants and improve health outcomes for her community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis award is a form of motivation. A motivation to continue to work for my community with the means given to me,\u201d said Foka Nzaha. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cEsse has strong analytical skills and a dedication to advancing the public health field. She has served as both a teaching assistant and a research assistant mentoring first year Ph.D. students,\u201d said Chrisa Arcan, Ph.D., who nominated Foka Nzaha for this award. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Last fall, Foka Nzaha was awarded the competitive Graduate Student Dissertation Assistantship<\/a>. She has also presented a poster at the Society of Behavioral Medicine<\/a> and her research will be included in an oral presentation at the ISBNPA 2026 Annual Meeting<\/a> in May.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Brianna Marshall, M.P.H., is a first-year epidemiology Ph.D. student who wants to pursue a faculty career combining her passion for health equity and community engagement. <\/p>\n\n\n

\n
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Last fall, Marshall received the Southern Regional Education Board Doctoral Scholars Program Award<\/a>, which aims to provide financial support, leadership opportunities, networking events, and intensive professional development to students who choose to become faculty at colleges and universities.\u2060 She has presented at the 2025 American Public Health Association<\/a>\u2019s Annual Conference and the APHA Women\u2019s Caucus<\/a>. Her abstract, \u201cRacial Disparities in Cervical Cancer Prevalence in the South Atlantic Region: A Cross-Sectional Analysis,\u201d won the highest-scoring abstract award from the APHA Women\u2019s Caucus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cCarter G. Woodson left a long legacy of highlighting Black history and uplifting the achievements of Black Americans. It is an incredible honor to receive this recognition in his name during Black History Month and the first year of my doctoral program,\u201d Marshall said. \u201cIt fuels my commitment to contributing to public health, engaging with my community, and promoting health equity. I really appreciate my advisor, Dr. Emily Zimmerman, and the Department of Epidemiology for helping me grow as a student and a researcher.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

The third awardee is Akpene Tetteh, M.S., a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Health Policy<\/a>. Tragically, Tetteh passed away a few weeks before the ceremony. Members of her family accepted the award on her behalf. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Learn more about Tetteh\u2019s incredible accomplishments and life here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Three School of Public Health students were recognized with the 2026 Carter G Woodson Award, presented by the Department of African American Studies on February 25.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2040,"featured_media":320,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[41,43,10],"tags":[14,7,5,25,3],"class_list":["post-317","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-awards","category-department-news","category-news","tag-awards","tag-community-engagement","tag-epidemiology","tag-health-policy","tag-public-health"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/317","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2040"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=317"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/317\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/320"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=317"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=317"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=317"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":309,"date":"2026-03-04T15:58:08","date_gmt":"2026-03-04T20:58:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/sph\/?p=309"},"modified":"2026-03-04T15:58:10","modified_gmt":"2026-03-04T20:58:10","slug":"akpene-tetteh","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/sph\/2026\/03\/04\/akpene-tetteh\/","title":{"rendered":"The School of Public Health mourns Ph.D. candidate Akpene Tetteh, M.S."},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Healthcare Policy and Research Ph.D. student, Akpene Tetteh, M.S., passed away unexpectedly on February 12, 2026. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

A native of Ghana and a truly exceptional student, Akpene Tetteh, M.S., was on track to complete her Ph.D. this summer, in an unprecedented three years. The School and her home Department of Health Policy<\/a> are heartbroken by the sudden loss of Akpene who was an especially studious and valued member of our community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Akpene was working on her dissertation at the time of her passing. It  aimed to improve health outcomes among diabetic adults in the United States by targeting barriers to treatment and prevention along the diabetes continuum of care. Her research examined opportunities to improve screening rates for diabetic retinopathy, especially among high-risk groups, and aimed to improve health outcomes among diabetic adults in the United States by targeting barriers to treatment and prevention along the diabetes continuum of care. But what really stood out for those who worked with her every day was her commitment to her work. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

“She was often the first to arrive and the last to leave, reflecting a work ethic and determination that many of us witnessed every day,” said her advisor, Bassam Dahman, Ph.D., a professor of health policy.  “She will be well remembered by the faculty and collaborators who worked alongside her for her dedication to research, her commitment to improving diabetes care among underserved communities, and the perseverance with which she pursued her goals. She was developing into a strong and thoughtful researcher, and it was a privilege to serve as her advisor and witness her growth.” <\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Akpene’s research combined her 10-plus years of professional experience in the pharmaceutical industry contributing to global projects, and her academic training in Pharmaceutical Economics and Policy at the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Science and Industrial Chemistry at the University of Cape Coast in her native Ghana. <\/p>\n\n\n

\n
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On Wednesday, February 25, Akpene was posthumously awarded the Carter G. Woodson Award for Academic Excellence by the VCU Department of African American Studies<\/a>. Peter Cunningham, Ph.D., professor and interim department chair presented the award to members of Akpene\u2019s family, who accepted it on her behalf.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Akpene will be deeply missed by her fellow students, faculty and staff here at VCU. Not only will her memory live on through them, but so will her contributions to the field of health policy and her thoughtful and earnest approach to her research.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Drew Necci contributed significantly to this article.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Healthcare Policy and Research Ph.D. student, Akpene Tetteh, M.S., passed away unexpectedly on February 12, 2026.  A native of Ghana and a truly exceptional student, Akpene Tetteh, M.S., was on track to complete her Ph.D. this summer, in an unprecedented three years. The School and her home Department of Health Policy are heartbroken by the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2040,"featured_media":311,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[14,25,3,2],"class_list":["post-309","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-awards","tag-health-policy","tag-public-health","tag-research"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/309","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2040"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=309"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/309\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/311"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=309"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=309"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=309"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":303,"date":"2026-02-18T14:58:06","date_gmt":"2026-02-18T19:58:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/sph\/?p=303"},"modified":"2026-02-18T14:58:07","modified_gmt":"2026-02-18T19:58:07","slug":"phsa-vpha-legislative-advocacy-day","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/sph\/2026\/02\/18\/phsa-vpha-legislative-advocacy-day\/","title":{"rendered":"Public health students team up with VPHA for Legislative Advocacy Day"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Health Policy students in the VCU Public Health Student Association partnered with Virginia Public Health Association to support public health legislation. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The VCU School of Public Health<\/a> (SOPH) leveraged its proximity to the Virginia State Capitol this winter when Healthcare Policy and Research<\/a> Ph.D. students and members of the VCU Public Health Student Association<\/a> (PHSA) organized a joint Legislative Day with the Virginia Public Health Association<\/a> (VPHA).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The collaboration began last fall when Grant Frazier, M.P.H., PHSA\u2019s Health Policy Liaison, connected with VPHA\u2019s Ben Barber<\/a> to explore ways students could engage in current policy efforts. VPHA provided the technical support and structure students needed to move from interest to action. As Barber put it, \u201cThey wanted to speak up in support of health policy and learn how to do so effectively in their capacity as students. VPHA was able to provide technical assistance and the opportunity to make it happen.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Preparation for the day included a virtual briefing hosted by VPHA. Barber guided participants through the advocacy process, offering talking points, addressing common concerns about advocacy, and explaining the basics of how Virginia\u2019s government works. That orientation gave students a clear framework for the meetings they would hold with legislators and staff.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On Thursday, February 5, despite icy conditions and weather delays, the group gathered at One Capitol Square for breakfast and a final review of the day\u2019s agenda before walking to the General Assembly Building. There, students met with representatives and legislative staff to discuss budget amendments aimed at strengthening core public health services and infrastructure across the state. The proposed measures focused on communicable disease prevention and control, local community health services, and public health information technology\u2014areas affected by federal funding cuts the previous summer that reduced Virginia\u2019s public health capacity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThese initiatives are essential for supporting disease prevention, improving data systems, and ensuring timely responses to public health threats across the state,\u201d said Zhanna Alexeyeva, M.P.H., a Ph.D. student in health policy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
From left, Grant Frazier, M.P.H., Michael Muhoozi, M.H.S.R., Sonia Riaz, M.D., M.P.H., Holly Hazard, Legislative Assistant to Senator Barbara Favola, and Zhanna Alexeyeva, M.P.H.<\/em><\/sub><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Meetings followed a coordinated format. Frazier introduced the team and outlined the proposed budget amendment, and students added depth through personal experience and subject expertise. Alexeyeva, along with classmates Sonia Riaz, M.D., M.P.H., and Michael Muhoozi, M.H.S.R., each contributed perspectives that personalized the policy discussion and underscored the real\u2011world implications of the proposed funding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSpeaking directly with legislators showed me that time is limited, so it is essential to explain the problem, its significance, and the potential impact of proposed policies clearly and concisely,\u201d Alexeyeva explained. \u201cAt the same time, working with my team highlighted the value of preparation and coordination, allowing us to present our points confidently and reinforce each other\u2019s messages.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The event also reinforced an ongoing partnership between VCU and VPHA. Barber, the immediate past president of VPHA, has long supported VCU Public Health and its students. He previously participated in the DMV Alumni Chapter<\/a>\u2019s Careers in Public Health Panel<\/a> and continues to contribute time and expertise to student development. SOPH is a sustaining organizational member of VPHA, a relationship that provides faculty, students, and staff with opportunities to participate in the Annual Conference and other VPHA events throughout the year. That institutional connection exemplifies the collaboration and community engagement central to public health practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Students praised the \u201cstructured and supportive environment\u201d VPHA provided. Riaz, who serves as PHSA Communications Chair, reflected on the experience: \u201cThis experience illustrated that advocacy requires not only \u2018speaking up\u2019 but also deliberate, strategic communication rooted in teamwork and consistency. It also reinforced the idea that students can make significant contributions when they receive adequate preparation and support.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
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Frazier echoed that sentiment, thanking VPHA for its leadership and practical support. \u201cVPHA was an incredible partner,\u201d he said. \u201cTheir leadership in public health is unmatched, and I have to give a shoutout to Ben and his team for making this event go above and beyond what I thought it would be. VCU PHSA is looking forward to building off this experience for future educational opportunities and advocacy days.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Barber described the day as a success on two levels. \u201cIt was a big success,\u201d he said. \u201cIn my eyes, our goals were two\u2011fold. Our short term goal was to advocate for support for a central public health infrastructure in Virginia.\u201d He added that the longer\u2011term aim\u2014empowering the next generation of public health leaders to translate science into effective advocacy\u2014was also advanced as students gained confidence and practical skills.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For many participants, the experience was transformative. Some had never been inside the General Assembly Building or spoken directly with a policymaker. Riaz said the day deepened her commitment to sustained involvement in health policy, noting that clinicians and public health professionals must help shape the upstream policies that determine health outcomes. Muhoozi encouraged peers to get involved early: \u201cDon’t wait until you feel like an \u2018expert\u2019 to get involved. Policy isn’t just about knowing every statistic; it’s about showing up. Participating in days like this with organizations like VPHA provides a safety net where you can learn the ropes of advocacy in a supported environment.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Frazier summed up the practical value of the experience: \u201cThis experience has provided a valuable framework for advocating for health policy, not only during the General Assembly, but at any time. It reinforced that we can choose to be advocates no matter the occasion.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Health Policy students in the VCU Public Health Student Association partnered with Virginia Public Health Association to support public health legislation.\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2040,"featured_media":307,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[10,64],"tags":[7,25,3,78,77],"class_list":["post-303","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","category-student-success","tag-community-engagement","tag-health-policy","tag-public-health","tag-virginia-state-capitol","tag-vpha"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/303","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2040"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=303"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/303\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/307"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=303"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=303"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=303"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":295,"date":"2026-01-28T13:43:35","date_gmt":"2026-01-28T18:43:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/sph\/?p=295"},"modified":"2026-01-28T13:43:37","modified_gmt":"2026-01-28T18:43:37","slug":"chats-with-the-chairs-el-khoudary-epidemiology","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/sph\/2026\/01\/28\/chats-with-the-chairs-el-khoudary-epidemiology\/","title":{"rendered":"Chats with the Chairs: Samar R. El Khoudary, Department of Epidemiology"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The School of Public Health department chairs share their perspectives about the mission, focus and future of each department.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

VCU\u2019s School of Public Health brings together the departments of Biostatistics, Epidemiology, Health Policy and Social and Behavioral Sciences, each with its own mission, but with a unified focus on public health. Now in its third year, and with some new faces, we sat down with each of the chairs for a closer look at what\u2019s going on in each department.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The series continues with Samar El Khoudary, Ph.D., M.P.H., F.A.H.A.<\/a>, professor and chair of the Department of Epidemiology<\/a>. To read our conversations with the other chairs, click here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

How does the Department of Epidemiology fit into VCU\u2019s School of Public Health?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Epidemiology is really the backbone of any school of public health. It is foundational to achieve the mission of the School<\/a> to improve health, well-being and longevity for all populations through education, discovery, dissemination and co-learning with the communities we serve.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Epidemiology plays a critical role in research as well as training public health researchers and driving impact in our communities. We, as a department serve, as the bridge connecting research, practice and policy at the School and across the university.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is your mission for the department?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Our<\/em> mission as epidemiologists is to advance population health through rigorous, impactful research, across disciplines, across expertise, and across the university. We aim to lead innovative training that is modern, inclusive, and cross-cultural.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Collaboration is at the heart of this mission. It includes the future leaders we are training now and the partnerships we build across the university. From the day I joined the faculty, I\u2019ve asked: Who are our collaborators, how can we connect with them, and how can we ensure our work reaches the people who can use it to make an impact?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We achieve this by fostering a culture of trust, one that empowers collaboration, drives excellence, and amplifies our impact on population health.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tell us about trust and your leadership philosophy. How do you plan to develop your leadership as a new chair?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

I believe leadership is rooted in trust. When I spoke about our mission, I said \u201cour mission\u201d<\/em> because I see us as working together. I want every student, faculty, and staff member to feel supported and to take ownership of our shared goals, when they do, they are motivated to achieve them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Trust also requires transparency. I make a point of explaining my decisions to faculty, students, and staff. I don\u2019t hide things, everyone is a partner in this work, and a transparent environment is essential for collaboration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Listening is equally important. Before I speak, I want to hear people\u2019s perspectives. Only then do I share my own, informed by their insights.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I am always learning from colleagues across the university. Even before starting my role at VCU, I attended the first session for new chairs, driving all the way from Pittsburgh to Richmond, because hearing from others facing similar challenges helps me grow and strengthens our department.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ultimately, my goal is to empower our team to take ownership and thrive together, building on our past successes while shaping a collaborative and innovative future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How is the Department of Epidemiology creating a welcoming and supportive environment and why is that important?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

I care deeply about the environment I work in, and I think that\u2019s been apparent since I first joined. We spend more time at work than with our families, so it\u2019s essential that our workplace feels welcoming, supportive, and like a place we want to be.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A positive environment is critical for the success of the department. When people feel at home and supported, they are motivated to come to work, collaborate, and excel. One way I foster this environment is by being accessible. I encourage everyone to come talk to me, even if my door appears closed, because dialogue and openness build trust.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

From the beginning, I prioritized connecting with students individually, meeting with each of them, and creating a space where they feel comfortable sharing their ideas and concerns. Having graduate students nearby allows for daily informal conversations, which helps break down barriers and reinforces that we are here to support them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Creating a welcoming environment benefits not only the department but also the broader community. Our students are future leaders, and when they see a collaborative, engaged, and supportive culture, they learn by example. By making time to talk, share ideas, and show that we value both people and work, we model a culture of excellence, care, and inclusion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What excites you most about what the department is doing right now? <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The most exciting thing for me is the interdisciplinary nature of the research happening in Epidemiology. The projects that our faculty are leading are wide-ranging, including genetics, social epidemiology, chronic disease, women’s health, nutrition, global health, brain health, cancer epidemiology and more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We are leading research on sleep and heart rate variability, and everyone is doing a fantastic job. The collective work is what I’m excited about.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Center on Society and Health<\/a> is a great example of the strength of interdisciplinary work and community engagement which are core elements for high quality epidemiology research.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What are your hopes for the future of the department?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

The department is small in size but large in impact. You can see that through the strong interdisciplinary collaboration across the university and across the school.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We will expand faculty crosscutting epidemiology methods, infectious disease, aging, neuroepidemiology, population health, and intervention epidemiology. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

We aim to ensure the curriculum provides our students with tools and training they need to achieve impactful growth in the world of public health, and we\u2019ll serve as the hub for interdisciplinary research for the university.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why is now an important time for public health?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Public health is not something that can be addressed at a specific point. It has to stay strong and important, no matter what happens. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

But we are facing evolving challenges, emerging infectious disease, real world data, climate, and environmental changes. And advances in tech, like AI, are reshaping how we conduct research, analyze data, and understand findings. We need to embrace new methods while maintaining rigor and high standards. Now more than ever, we must train future public health leaders and epidemiologists who are equipped to navigate these complexities and respond to new challenges. We have a momentum of responsibility and opportunity for our students to strive, and they will strengthen the field and its value to society.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The School of Public Health department chairs share their perspectives about the mission, focus and future of each department. VCU\u2019s School of Public Health brings together the departments of Biostatistics, Epidemiology, Health Policy and Social and Behavioral Sciences, each with its own mission, but with a unified focus on public health. Now in its third […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2040,"featured_media":296,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[43],"tags":[76,42,75,5,3],"class_list":["post-295","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-department-news","tag-chair","tag-chats-with-the-chairs","tag-el-khoudary","tag-epidemiology","tag-public-health"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/295","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2040"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=295"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/295\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/296"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=295"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=295"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=295"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":291,"date":"2026-01-21T11:48:14","date_gmt":"2026-01-21T16:48:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/sph\/?p=291"},"modified":"2026-02-04T14:48:13","modified_gmt":"2026-02-04T19:48:13","slug":"meghan-tipre-named-massey-harrison-scholar","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/sph\/2026\/01\/21\/meghan-tipre-named-massey-harrison-scholar\/","title":{"rendered":"Meghan Tipre, Dr.P.H., named Massey Harrison Scholar"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

A three-year, $150,000 fund will support Meghan Tipre, Dr.P.H., M.S.P.H., as she expands her research on how environmental factors influence health and cancer outcomes among populations served by <\/em>Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center<\/em><\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Meghan Tipre, Dr.P.H., M.S.P.H.<\/a>, joined the School of Public Health<\/a> in fall 2025 as an assistant professor in the Department of Epidemiology<\/a>. She also serves as the assistant director of the Catchment Area Data Analytics at Massey<\/a>, where she works to better understand cancer trends and outcomes across the communities Massey serves.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Shortly after arriving at VCU, Tipre was named a Massey Harrison Scholar. The prestigious designation is awarded to promising early-career researchers and provides flexible funding to help them test new ideas and advance their cancer research. Over the next three years, Tipre will receive $50,000 annually to support her work, made possible by the generosity of the Harrison Family Foundation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tipre\u2019s research examines how where people live\u2014from air quality and traffic exposure to access to clinics and cancer screening programs\u2014affects lung cancer risk and the likelihood of benefiting from early detection. Neighborhood environments encompass physical conditions such as air and water quality; features of the built environment, including transportation, walkability, and proximity to highways or industrial emission sources; social factors such as socioeconomic status and smoking prevalence; and healthcare-related factors, including access to lung cancer screening centers of excellence and residence in medically underserved communities. These interconnected factors can directly or indirectly interact with individual behaviors and lifestyle choices, increasing cancer risk. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m truly grateful and thrilled to receive this honor,\u201d said Tipre. With this funding and support, she plans to replicate preliminary research from her prior institution and apply it to the populations Massey serves. \u201cThis funding is critical for generating the preliminary data needed to pursue extramural funding.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Building on this prior work, Tipre will study lung cancer screening across Massey\u2019s catchment area using electronic health records, all-payer claims data, cancer registries, and publicly available datasets, along with qualitative input from patients and community members, to pinpoint place-based strategies that can increase lung cancer screening and improve outcomes in underserved communities across Massey\u2019s catchment area. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis is a remarkable achievement and a testament to Dr. Tipre\u2019s hard work, dedication, and the impact of her research,\u201d said Samar El Khoudary, Ph.D.<\/a>, chair of the Department of Epidemiology. \u201cWe are proud to have her as part of our department and excited to see how this opportunity will further advance her career and contributions to the field.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

By supporting early-stage, innovative research, the Massey Harrison Scholar award helps accelerate discoveries that can lead to more effective cancer prevention and care. Tipre\u2019s work has the potential to translate complex environmental data into practical solutions, ensuring that where someone lives does not determine their chance of surviving cancer.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

A three-year, $150,000 fund will support Meghan Tipre, Dr.P.H., M.S.P.H., as she expands her research on how environmental factors influence health and cancer outcomes among populations served by Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center. Meghan Tipre, Dr.P.H., M.S.P.H., joined the School of Public Health in fall 2025 as an assistant professor in the Department of Epidemiology. She […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2040,"featured_media":293,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[41,43,8],"tags":[5,57,3,2],"class_list":["post-291","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-awards","category-department-news","category-public-health-research","tag-epidemiology","tag-massey","tag-public-health","tag-research"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/291","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2040"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=291"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/291\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/293"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=291"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=291"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=291"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":284,"date":"2025-12-10T09:30:00","date_gmt":"2025-12-10T14:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/sph\/?p=284"},"modified":"2025-12-10T13:43:51","modified_gmt":"2025-12-10T18:43:51","slug":"vcu-launches-office-of-medicaid-evaluation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/sph\/2025\/12\/10\/vcu-launches-office-of-medicaid-evaluation\/","title":{"rendered":"VCU launches the Office of Medicaid Evaluation"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Based in the School of Public Health, the center\u2019s research will help policymakers address issues related to health care access, quality and cost for members of Medicaid<\/em>.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Virginia Commonwealth University School of Public Health<\/a> has established the Office of Medicaid Evaluation<\/a> (OME) to more formally provide analysis and guidance on state and federal Medicaid programs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The OME officially launched on July 1 this year, but VCU\u2019s collaboration with the Virginia Department of Medical Assistance Services<\/a> has long been extensive. Since 2016, a team of VCU researchers has worked closely with DMAS to evaluate policy and program changes in treating substance use disorder, using managed care to provide long-term services, expanding the breadth and duration of coverage for Medicaid populations, and supporting maternal and child health initiatives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now, the team will operate as the OME to continue its objective, nonpartisan research to inform policies that impact the nearly 1.5 million children and adults covered by Medicaid in Virginia. Establishing the OME as a formal center will help elevate its partnership with DMAS and further highlight the researchers\u2019 focus on critical issues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In July, Andrew Barnes, Ph.D.<\/a>, professor of health policy at the School of Public Health, was named director of the OME. He leads a research team of health services, economics and policy experts from across VCU, other universities and state and federal agencies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

By providing rigorous and objective analysis of state and federal Medicaid programs, the team helps policymakers address questions and issues related to health care access, quality and cost for members of Medicaid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWith public financing for health insurance coverage programs receiving so much attention at the national level, such evidence is especially needed now to learn from experience and inform contemporary policy decisions,\u201d Barnes said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He added that VCU\u2019s long standing relationship with DMAS, which is Virginia\u2019s Medicaid agency, as well as federal partners makes the OME well-positioned to elevate its role.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSitting across from the Capitol, the VCU School of Public Health is the ideal place to listen and share with our legislators and state agencies to advance our common purpose to improve the health and well-being of the commonwealth,\u201d Barnes said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Peter Cunningham<\/a>, Ph.D., professor and interim chair of VCU\u2019s Department of Health Policy and principal investigator of the Addiction and Recovery Treatment Services program, said establishment of the OME reflects the value of its mission.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt is long overdue that the work we do with DMAS be given greater recognition within our school, the university as well as the state government,\u201d he said. \u201cWe believe that elevating our work with Medicaid can continue to solidify our role as one of the go-to teams in the state for analysis and evaluation of state health policies.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Virginia Commonwealth University School of Public Health has established the Office of Medicaid Evaluation to more formally provide analysis and guidance on state and federal Medicaid programs.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2040,"featured_media":288,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[43,10],"tags":[7,25,74,3,9],"class_list":["post-284","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-department-news","category-news","tag-community-engagement","tag-health-policy","tag-office-of-medicaid-evaluation","tag-public-health","tag-vcu-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/284","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2040"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=284"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/284\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/288"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=284"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=284"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=284"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":282,"date":"2025-12-08T11:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-12-08T16:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/sph\/?p=282"},"modified":"2025-12-08T14:17:55","modified_gmt":"2025-12-08T19:17:55","slug":"vcu-center-on-society-and-health-partners-on-rwjf-funded-national-initiative","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/sph\/2025\/12\/08\/vcu-center-on-society-and-health-partners-on-rwjf-funded-national-initiative\/","title":{"rendered":"VCU Center on Society and Health partners on RWJF-funded national initiative to help U.S. cities close life expectancy gaps"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Virginia Commonwealth University\u2019s Center on Society and Health<\/a> (CSH), Big Cities Health Coalition<\/a> (BCHC), and Boston Public Health Commission<\/a> (BPHC) announced an award of $1.5 million from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) to create a national network that helps BCHC member cities ensure they can not only access appropriate life expectancy data, but also transform those data into action, making more equitable health outcomes available to all residents. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In some U.S. cities, lifespan can vary by more than 30 years between neighborhoods, a disparity driven by structural racism, residential segregation, disinvestment, and inequities in economic opportunity, housing, employment, and community assets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe length of your life shouldn\u2019t depend on your ZIP code or the color of your skin,\u201d said <\/strong>Derek Chapman, Ph.D.<\/a>, director of the VCU Center on Society and Health and lead investigator for CSH\u2019s work on the project. \u201cCitiesLEAD will provide cities the tools and partnerships they need to take measurable action on health inequities.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cities that participate in the CitiesLEAD: Increasing Life Expectancy through Collective Action and Data<\/strong> project will receive technical assistance, data analysis, and peer-learning opportunities to translate life expectancy data into action. Working together, CSH, BCHC and BPHC will design a new \u201cHealth Equity Barometer\u201d that cities can use to track progress and share insights.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis project is a great example of how an initiative in one place can seed work in cities across the country,\u201d said Chrissie Juliano, MPP, BCHC\u2019s Executive Director. \u201cFollowing the data can lead us to healthier outcomes for all \u2013 and that means safer, more prosperous communities, something we can all get behind. We are very grateful to the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation for sharing that vision and supporting this work.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Through a subaward from BCHC, CSH will serve as the data and analytics backbone for the initiative. The Center will compute life expectancy and premature mortality rates by race, ethnicity, and neighborhood; identify leading contributors to early death; and create tools to help cities visualize and track progress.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The project builds on nearly two decades of work by CSH to map and analyze life expectancy across U.S. neighborhoods. CSH researchers, including Chapman and Steven Woolf, M.D., M.P.H.<\/a>, director emeritus and senior advisor of CSH, have long documented the social and economic factors driving differences in health outcomes and have helped cities nationwide translate data into meaningful policy and practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Boston Public Health Commission \u2013 whose Live Long and Well population health equity agenda is the national model for CitiesLEAD and other initiatives to address life expectancy gaps \u2013 will serve as the founding health department and implementation partner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIn Boston, life expectancy differs by as much as 23 years between neighborhoods due to long-standing inequities in social determinants of health and access to care. Our city is committed to closing these gaps and advancing health equity for all residents,\u201d said Bisola Ojikutu, MD, MPH, FIDSA, Commissioner of Public Health for the City of Boston. \u201cAs the founding health department for CitiesLEAD, we look forward to working with other cities across the nation as they launch their own initiatives. Thank you to the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation for investing in this critical effort.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI am honored to partner with the Big Cities Health Coalition, the Boston Public Health Commission, and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation on this important initiative,\u201d Chapman added. \u201cCitiesLEAD represents the next step in turning data into action for healthier, more equitable communities.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

CitiesLEAD\u2019s strategy rests on three interconnected pillars:<\/p>\n\n\n\n