[{"id":394,"date":"2026-08-10T10:30:50","date_gmt":"2026-08-10T14:30:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/sph\/?p=394"},"modified":"2026-08-10T10:30:53","modified_gmt":"2026-08-10T14:30:53","slug":"building-future-public-health-vcu","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/sph\/2026\/08\/10\/building-future-public-health-vcu\/","title":{"rendered":"One year in: Building the future of public health at VCU"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Dean Monica Swahn reflects on the School of Public Health\u2019s growing momentum, VCU\u2019s collaborative strengths and a vision for public health that is local, global and ready for the future.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

On July 1, the VCU School of Public Health marked its third anniversary and Monica Swahn, Ph.D., M.P.H., completed her first full year as dean. We spoke with Swahn about the School\u2019s progress, what she has learned about VCU and the opportunities ahead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What are you most proud of from your first year at VCU?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I am most proud of the momentum we have created together and the foundation we have established for the School\u2019s next phase of growth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of our most significant accomplishments was completing a new strategic plan, shaped by the ideas and aspirations of our faculty, staff, students and partners. It gives us a shared direction and clear priorities around student success, research excellence, workforce development, community impact and global engagement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Together, these priorities reflect what I think of as Public Health 2.0, which I frame as a more interdisciplinary, innovative, technologically informed and globally connected approach to improving health. The complex challenges facing our communities cannot be solved by public health working alone. We need to connect expertise, perspectives and resources across disciplines and sectors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

During the past year, we also advanced our accreditation process, expanded our academic programs, strengthened our research enterprise, and deepened our partnerships across VCU, Richmond and Virginia. I am incredibly proud of what our relatively young School has accomplished while continuing to define who we are and what we want to become.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What was an unexpected challenge, and how did you approach it?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The greatest challenge was not any single issue. It was the complexity of building a School while also operating it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We are developing programs, systems, leadership structures, partnerships and traditions while meeting the daily needs of our students, faculty and staff. There is no pause button while the foundation is being built.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That has required us to establish clear priorities, make decisions with the future in mind, and remain flexible when circumstances change. I have been fortunate to work with fantastic colleagues who care deeply about the School and are willing to create something new together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

VCU is deeply rooted in Richmond. How has the School strengthened its connection to the city and the Commonwealth?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Richmond is central to who we are. It is an urban community with tremendous strengths, but also persistent inequities in health, opportunity and life expectancy. Our responsibility is not simply to document those inequities. We must work alongside communities, policymakers and public agencies to address them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Over the past year, we launched the Office for Medicaid Evaluation<\/a> and appointed new leadership<\/a> for the Center on Society and Health<\/a>. These initiatives strengthen our ability to evaluate programs, inform public policy, and support state and local decision-makers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We also became an institutional member of the Virginia Public Health Association and sponsored its annual meeting. In February, our Public Health Student Association partnered with the association to host a Legislative Advocacy Day<\/a>. Students helped advocate for an amendment providing nearly $32 million in additional funding for Virginia\u2019s core public health systems and services.<\/p>\n\n\n

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

That experience was especially meaningful because it showed our students that public health leadership is not abstract. Their knowledge and voices can influence policy and strengthen the systems on which communities depend.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Building a strong research enterprise is crucial for a new school. What progress have you made?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of our most important steps was appointing Nicholas Thomson, Ph.D.<\/a>, as the School\u2019s first permanent associate dean for research. He will help shape our research strategy, strengthen the infrastructure supporting investigators and research teams, expand interdisciplinary partnerships and create new opportunities for faculty, staff and students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We are building from a strong foundation. The School ranked 47th nationally in the 2025 Blue Ridge Institute for Medical Research rankings<\/a> of schools of public health and 36th among public universities. Our annual research expenditures also increased by 4.6%, from $9.74 million to $10.19 million.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our next step is to create an environment in which more strong ideas can succeed. That means supporting investigators at every career stage, strengthening grant-development resources, building interdisciplinary teams and connecting our faculty more intentionally with expertise across VCU and VCU Health.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Research excellence is not measured only by awards, expenditures or rankings. It is also reflected in the people we develop, the knowledge we produce and whether that work ultimately improves lives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How are you preparing students for a changing public health workforce?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Workforce readiness must be embedded in everything we do. Our graduates need strong scientific and analytical skills, but they must also be able to communicate effectively, work across disciplines, use emerging technologies responsibly, and translate evidence into action.<\/p>\n\n\n

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

I am especially proud of the progress we have made toward creating our Bachelor of Science in Public Health. The proposed program has received university approval and is now moving through the remaining external approval processes. Pending those approvals, our goal is to welcome the first class in fall 2027.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

An undergraduate program will be transformative for our School. It will allow us to reach students earlier, introduce them to the breadth of public health careers, and create stronger pathways from undergraduate education to graduate and professional study.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We are also launching two undergraduate minors<\/a> in fall 2026, including the new Public Health and the Arts minor<\/a> developed in partnership with the VCU School of the Arts<\/a>. This is exactly the kind of collaboration that drew me to VCU. We are combining public health with one of the university\u2019s greatest areas of distinction and exploring how creativity, communication and artistic expression can help communities understand health information and imagine healthier futures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We have also expanded our Master of Public Health program with two new concentrations and an online option, making the degree more accessible to working professionals and students beyond Richmond. In addition, we launched five workforce-focused digital badges<\/a> drawn from our successful M.P.H. curriculum, allowing learners to build targeted skills aligned with evolving workforce needs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What have you learned about the opportunities for collaboration across VCU?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of the most exciting discoveries of my first year has been the extraordinary breadth of expertise that already exists here.<\/p>\n\n\n

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

VCU brings together medicine, nursing, dentistry, pharmacy, health professions and public health within a major research university and academic health system. That creates tremendous opportunities to leverage existing infrastructure, share resources and expertise, and prepare students to work effectively across disciplines. We are one of about a dozen institutions in the U.S. to offer this breadth of health sciences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And, public health can help connect those strengths. We bring a population-level perspective, expertise in prevention and equity, and the methods needed to understand which interventions work, for whom and under what conditions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Public Health and the Arts minor<\/a> is another example of what becomes possible when we reach across the university and partner with some of the very best that VCU has to offer. There are similar opportunities to collaborate with engineering, business, social work, education, government and public affairs, the humanities and many other areas in which VCU excels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We do not need to build every resource ourselves. We need to become exceptionally good at connecting people, ideas and infrastructure around consequential public health challenges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What have you learned about VCU\u2019s potential for global impact?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of the most inspiring parts of my first year has been learning about the extraordinary global work already underway across VCU.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Medicines for All Institute<\/a> is a remarkable example of how innovation developed here in Richmond can improve health around the world. VCU reports that manufacturing innovations developed by the institute contributes to treatments used by 90% of people receiving HIV\/AIDS care. That is an extraordinary illustration of scientific excellence translated into global impact.<\/p>\n\n\n

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

Also, the VCU\u2013Bolashak International Scholarship Program<\/a> is another example of this global reach, bringing health professionals from Kazakhstan to VCU for advanced clinical, public health and research training that strengthens capacity in their home country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Collectively, these initiatives and others, reinforced my view that global engagement should be integral to our School\u2019s mission. Public health is uniquely positioned to connect expertise across VCU and build equitable partnerships with institutions and communities around the world to address shared challenges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our strategic plan creates a pathway for expanding reciprocal global partnerships, bidirectional innovation, developing meaningful international research and learning opportunities, and bringing lessons from other settings back to Richmond and Virginia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is the School\u2019s highest priority in the coming year?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our immediate priority is completing the Council on Education for Public Health accreditation process. The site visit this fall will be a major milestone for our School.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Accreditation is more than a designation. It affirms the quality and coherence of our academic programs, research, governance, community engagement and student support. It also creates a strong foundation for the next stage of our development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Success will mean emerging from the process as a stronger and more unified School, one that is ready to launch undergraduate education, expand its research portfolio, attract outstanding faculty and students, and increase its impact in Virginia and beyond.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What excites you most about the future?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

We now have a strategic plan that defines where we are going. The next phase is about bringing that shared vision to life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We have an opportunity to create a distinctive model for public health education, research and engagement, one that is deeply rooted in Richmond, connected to communities across Virginia, embedded within an exceptional academic health system and increasingly engaged with partners around the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Public Health 2.0 means preparing students for a rapidly changing workforce, bringing disciplines together to solve complex problems, embracing innovation responsibly and ensuring that research leads to meaningful improvements in people\u2019s lives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We have accomplished a great deal in three years, but we are still at the beginning of what this School can become. That is what makes this moment so exciting.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Dean Monica Swahn reflects on the School of Public Health\u2019s growing momentum, VCU\u2019s collaborative strengths and a vision for public health that is local, global and ready for the future.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2040,"featured_media":395,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[90,8],"tags":[7,94,3],"class_list":["post-394","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-global-health","category-public-health-research","tag-community-engagement","tag-dean-swahn","tag-public-health"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/394","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=394"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/394\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":397,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/394\/revisions\/397"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/395"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=394"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=394"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=394"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":385,"date":"2026-08-05T14:21:27","date_gmt":"2026-08-05T18:21:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/sph\/?p=385"},"modified":"2026-08-06T08:20:24","modified_gmt":"2026-08-06T12:20:24","slug":"thomson-named-associate-dean-research-vcu-public-health","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/sph\/2026\/08\/05\/thomson-named-associate-dean-research-vcu-public-health\/","title":{"rendered":"Nicholas Thomson, Ph.D., named Associate Dean for Research for VCU School of Public Health"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Established research leader will guide the School\u2019s growing research enterprise, strengthen support for investigators and expand collaboration across VCU and Virginia.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The VCU School of Public Health<\/a> (SOPH) has named Nicholas Thomson, Ph.D., as its first permanent associate dean for research, effective September 1, 2026.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The appointment comes as the School enters an important phase of growth and invests in the leadership, infrastructure and partnerships needed to expand the reach and impact of its research enterprise.<\/p>\n\n\n

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

Thomson is a professor and research psychologist at VCU and currently serves as director of research for the Injury and Violence Prevention Program<\/a> at VCU Health.  A federally funded investigator, his work focuses on the biopsychosocial factors that contribute to violence and behavioral health challenges and on the development, evaluation and implementation of scalable prevention strategies for young people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDr. Thomson brings the combination of scientific accomplishment, collaborative leadership and innovative thinking that our School needs at this stage of its development,\u201d said Monica Swahn, Ph.D., M.P.H.<\/a>, dean of the VCU School of Public Health. \u201cHe understands how to bring people and disciplines together, support investigators at every stage of their careers and move strong ideas toward meaningful impact. His leadership will be central to building the research culture and infrastructure that will propel our School forward.\u201d                                               <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Throughout his career, Thomson has worked across academic, healthcare, forensic and community settings to translate research into practice. His work spans youth violence prevention, behavioral health and technology-enabled interventions. He has authored more than 100 peer-reviewed publications and has led federally funded research totaling more than $22 million.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thomson is also the founder and CEO of Arche XR<\/a>, a Virginia-based technology company that develops evidence-based virtual reality interventions designed to strengthen youth mental health and expand access to behavioral health support. His experience building partnerships across research, healthcare, community and entrepreneurial settings reflects the collaborative and translational approach he will bring to the new role.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As associate dean, Thomson will provide strategic leadership for the School\u2019s research portfolio and help create an environment in which faculty, staff and students can develop ambitious ideas and successfully move them forward. His priorities will include strengthening research development and grant support, supporting investigators and interdisciplinary teams, expanding community-engaged and cross-university partnerships, and creating additional opportunities for students to participate in consequential public health research.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI am honored to serve as associate dean for research and to lead the next phase in the growth of the School\u2019s research enterprise,\u201d Thomson said. \u201cVCU\u2019s strength lies in combining the capabilities of a major research university and an academic health system with the knowledge and priorities of communities throughout the Commonwealth. By investing in people, strengthening the infrastructure that supports investigators and expanding strategic partnerships, we can create the conditions for innovation, attract new research investment and translate high-impact research into action that produces measurable improvements in health across Virginia and beyond.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thomson earned his Ph.D. in developmental psychopathology from Durham University in the United Kingdom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Learn more about SOPH\u2019s research efforts and achievements here.<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Established research leader will guide the School\u2019s growing research enterprise, strengthen support for investigators and expand collaboration across VCU and Virginia.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2040,"featured_media":118,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[3,2,9],"class_list":["post-385","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-public-health","tag-research","tag-vcu-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/385","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=385"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/385\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":393,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/385\/revisions\/393"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/118"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=385"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=385"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=385"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":376,"date":"2026-07-31T14:52:36","date_gmt":"2026-07-31T18:52:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/sph\/?p=376"},"modified":"2026-07-31T14:52:38","modified_gmt":"2026-07-31T18:52:38","slug":"mph-alum-award-winning-capstone","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/sph\/2026\/07\/31\/mph-alum-award-winning-capstone\/","title":{"rendered":"M.P.H. alum dives into swim safety for award-winning capstone"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Rose McMullen graduated with her Master of Public Health from VCU\u2019s School of Public Health<\/a> in May 2026. Earlier that spring, she presented her capstone project on a topic she\u2019s actively invested in: teaching kids to swim.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This capstone project, titled \u201cThe Effectiveness of Second Grade Learn to Swim Programs in Virginia Public Schools\u201d earned her the Non-traditional Thesis\/Capstone Project Award<\/a> from VCU Graduate School<\/a>, part of an annual award series for recent graduates. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her project was inspired by her current role as a swim instructor and her history as a competitive swimmer. McMullen grew up swimming and swam competitively at the University of Mary Washington all four years of her undergraduate studies. Swim lessons and drowning prevention are not always considered a public health measure, so McMullen aimed to dive deeper and consider its efficacy through that framework.<\/p>\n\n\n

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

To do so, McMullen worked with Henrico County\u2019s Learn2Swim program<\/a> to examine the impact of its swim lessons. This county-wide program launched in 2021 in the local public schools to teach second graders to swim. It is free for all students, regardless of economic status. During her two-year study, McMullen found that while there were promising improvements in the acquisition of swim skills on average across all participants, these gains were not consistent by program location. As part of her agreement with the county when she started the study, she shared her report and outlined the inconsistencies between facilities to help the organization address the issues. The county may use this to improve its programming and to access additional grant funding in the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dip into personal experience for public health improvement<\/h2>\n\n\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

McMullen always saw herself as a problem-solver. Her mom works with public health professionals and this sparked a desire to build a similar career where she could help people. That\u2019s what led her to pursue an M.P.H. at VCU with a concentration in epidemiology. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It seems VCU was the right call, since McMullen is now the fourth M.P.H. student to win this award in as many years. She credits the program structure with playing a role in her success.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She explained the format of the capstone at VCU allows a student to work with their teacher or advisor on any topic they find interesting. It\u2019s open-ended and can be adjusted to fit the student\u2019s experiences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI got to pick something I specifically liked,\u201d McMullen explains. \u201cI could take my personal experience and put a public health lens on it.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her advisor Elizabeth Prom-Wormley, Ph.D., M.P.H.<\/a> \u2014 also a graduate of the M.P.H. program \u2014 nominated her for this award.<\/p>\n\n\n

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

\u201cRose is very passionate about translating her MPH skills to support public wellness through aquatics activities,\u201d said Prom-Wormley. \u201cThis passion was exemplified through her relentless pursuit and enthusiasm to complete this project, even when some aspects of her work were uniquely challenging.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

McMullen agrees it was a challenge, and she has advice for students starting their projects this fall. \u201cTake what you do as an individual and try to find out how you can improve people\u2019s livelihood. I\u2019m a swim instructor and that has been a growing concern in the Richmond community. So take your experiences and take that to public health.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAs an M.P.H. graduate of VCU, it is a delight to see our students evolving and to be able to support their development towards unique projects like this,\u201d Prom-Wormley added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Special thanks to Epidemiology Ph.D. candidate Kevin Ball, M.P.H. (2018), and Medhin Haile, Ph.D. (2024). These team members graciously shared their time to review and comment on McMullen\u2019s drafts and offer suggestions related to data analysis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Rose McMullen graduated with her Master of Public Health from VCU\u2019s School of Public Health in May 2026. Earlier that spring, she presented her capstone project on a topic she\u2019s actively invested in: teaching kids to swim.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2040,"featured_media":379,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[41,46,8,64],"tags":[14,93,7,12,3,2],"class_list":["post-376","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-awards","category-mph","category-public-health-research","category-student-success","tag-awards","tag-capstone","tag-community-engagement","tag-mph","tag-public-health","tag-research"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/376","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=376"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/376\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":384,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/376\/revisions\/384"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/379"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=376"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=376"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=376"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":361,"date":"2026-07-17T10:13:43","date_gmt":"2026-07-17T14:13:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/sph\/?p=361"},"modified":"2026-07-17T10:14:08","modified_gmt":"2026-07-17T14:14:08","slug":"vcu-delegation-visits-kazakhstan","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/sph\/2026\/07\/17\/vcu-delegation-visits-kazakhstan\/","title":{"rendered":"Strengthening relationships across borders: VCU delegation visits Kazakhstan"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

By Drew Necci<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In May, Monica Swahn, Ph.D., M.P.H., dean of the VCU School of Public Health<\/a>; Askar Chukmaitov, Ph.D., associate professor of health policy and director of the VCU Bolashak International Scholarship Program<\/a>; and Jose G. Trevino, M.D., FACS, professor of surgical oncology<\/a> led a delegation from VCU to visit Kazakhstan. The main goal of the visit was to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with Kazakh National Medical University (KazNMU) and strengthen relationships between VCU and the leading institutions of higher learning in Kazakhstan. The visit included meetings with leadership at KazNMU and the Kazakh Institute of Oncology and Radiology (KazIOR) in Almaty, Kazakhstan, as well as visits to the Bolashak Center under the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of Kazakhstan, Nazarbayev University, and the US Embassy in Astana, Kazakhstan\u2019s capital.

During their time in Kazakhstan, the delegation participated in educational programs, a scientific conference, clinical collaborations, and high-level strategic meetings aimed at expanding bilateral cooperation in public health, medicine, surgery, research, and faculty and trainee exchanges. Swahn introduced VCU, VCU Health, and the School of Public Health by giving a presentation about the university and its programs to the leadership and faculty of KazNMU. She then met with KazNMU Rector Marat Shoranov, as well as deans, department chairs, faculty and administrators from the university, discussing faculty exchanges, student mobility, research collaborations, development of short-term and dual-degree training programs, and more.<\/p>\n\n\n

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

\u201cWe were impressed by KazNMU\u2019s extensive use of technology and social media to support education, research, and institutional communication,\u201d said Chukmaitov in a statement. \u201cOur meetings, presentations, and activities were widely promoted through social media platforms and large LED screens across campus in real time. KazNMU has also developed and implemented a local AI platform that is being integrated into teaching and operational workflows. For example, students use AI-assisted simulation programs in laboratory training before utilizing more costly lab resources.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Trevino conducted surgical oncology master classes and held meetings with leadership, clinical faculty, and researchers at KazIOR. He worked with Kazakh surgical oncologists and multidisciplinary teams to facilitate knowledge exchange, develop collaborative ideas with KazIOR for cancer-focused research projects, and explore future trainee and faculty exchanges in surgery and oncology for VCU and Kazakh scholars.<\/p>\n\n\n

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

Chukmaitov served as a visiting professor at the KazNMU\u2019s School of Public Health, delivering lectures, seminars, journal clubs, and faculty discussions focused on the US healthcare delivery system, health policy and health care reform, value-based payment models, and health services research methods. He also represented VCU as an invited international speaker at the ANaMed Forum \u2013 New Generation 2026, which was a major Kazakh national conference focused on AI, medicine, and healthcare innovation. The conference drew representatives from the USA, the UK, Spain, South Korea, and 20 other countries. At the conference, Chukmaitov delivered a plenary presentation on Accountable Care Organizations as an example of US Health Care Reform.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There was significant enthusiasm for Scientific Internship opportunities for researchers from Kazakhstan, and VCU are now taking steps to achieve this goal. Swahn and Chukmaitov met with leadership of the Bolashak Center (Kazakhstan\u2019s Ministry of Science and Higher Education) in Astana City to advance opportunities for Kazakh physicians, researchers, and public health professionals to receive training at VCU through a Scientific Internship Program in addition to existing Clinical Internship Program at VCU. Swahn and Chukmaitov also met with officials at Nazarbayev University School of Medicine to discuss collaborative education and research opportunities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The representatives from VCU were very thankful for the VCU-Bolashak alumni they met and interacted with while in Kazakhstan as well. Alumni provided valuable assistance to the VCU delegation throughout their visit, and acted as ambassadors for VCU in Kazakhstan, helping to facilitate the interactions and collaborations that took place between the VCU delegation and Kazakh institutes of higher learning during the visit.<\/p>\n\n\n

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

\u201cWe are deeply grateful for their hospitality, generosity, and support,\u201d Chukmaitov said. \u201cIt demonstrates the impact of the VCU\u2013Bolashak partnership and the important role alumni play in advancing collaboration between VCU and Kazakhstan.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The VCU delegation also discovered an interesting fact about the relationship between VCU and KazNMU, which dates back nearly 30 years. \u201cThe partnership began in 1996 when VCU helped establish Kazakhstan\u2019s first School of Public Health through a USAID-funded project,\u201d Chukmaitov explained. \u201cSeveral current KazNMU leaders, including Rector Marat Shoranov and Dean Zhanat Kozhekenova, participated in training programs developed through these early collaborations.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

By the end of the visit, the VCU delegation had decided to designate Kazakhstan as one of the priority countries for expanding and strengthening VCU Global Health Partnerships. All in attendance were delighted with the outcome of the visit, and the many collaborative opportunities that VCU will explore with Kazakh institutions of higher learning in the future.<\/p>\n\n\n

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

\u201cIt is difficult to fully convey how inspiring this visit was,\u201d Chukmaitov said. \u201cWe returned energized by the relationships, opportunities, and ideas that emerged.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This story originally appeared on the blog of the Department of Health Policy.<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

A delegation from VCU Public Health visited Kazakhstan to expand and strengthen VCU Global Health Partnerships and build on the 30-year Bolashak program.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2040,"featured_media":363,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[90,10],"tags":[91,44,25,92],"class_list":["post-361","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-global-health","category-news","tag-bolashak-program","tag-global-health","tag-health-policy","tag-kazakhstan"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/361","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=361"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/361\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":373,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/361\/revisions\/373"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/363"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=361"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=361"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=361"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":350,"date":"2026-06-30T10:27:57","date_gmt":"2026-06-30T14:27:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/sph\/?p=350"},"modified":"2026-06-30T10:27:59","modified_gmt":"2026-06-30T14:27:59","slug":"two-soph-faculty-members-receive-promotions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/sph\/2026\/06\/30\/two-soph-faculty-members-receive-promotions\/","title":{"rendered":"Two SOPH faculty members receive promotions"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The VCU School of Public Health has announced the promotion and\/or tenure of two current faculty members to take effect on July 1, 2026.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a growing school, it is vital we continue to hire, promote and retain outstanding faculty. On a regular basis, we evaluate individuals according to our mission, the needs of the School, and how they are leading in research, teaching and service. All promotions and tenure are based on merit and comparable achievement in the faculty member\u2019s particular field. Applications for promotion and tenure are reviewed by peers in the department and School and then approved by the VCU Board of Visitors.<\/p>\n\n\n

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

Mikhail Dozmorov, Ph.D.<\/a>, was promoted to professor of biostatistics. Dozmorov joined the Department of Biostatistics in 2014 as an assistant professor and was promoted to associate professor in 2020. In 2019, Dr. Dozmorov was named as one of four VCU Blick Scholars<\/a>, a prestigious, competitively funded position selected every four years from MCV faculty. His research aims to develop methodologies that enhance diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic decision-making in cancer and other diseases. He also develops AI\/ML methods and software for 3D genomics and multiomics analysis.<\/p>\n\n\n

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

Dina Garc\u00eda, Ph.D., M.P.H., M.Ed.<\/a>, was promoted to associate professor with tenure in the Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences. She joined the department in 2018 as an assistant professor and serves as the graduate program director for the Social and Behavioral Sciences doctoral program. Garc\u00eda\u2019s research examines the structural drivers of health inequities through community-engaged and participatory approaches, with a focus on advancing oral health equity in immigrant, refugee, and rural communities. Her scholarship integrates community health, social epidemiology, and transdisciplinary collaboration to advance community-driven solutions to health inequities. She has received numerous awards recognizing her contributions to research, teaching, and mentorship, most recently the VCU Graduate Faculty Mentoring Award<\/a> in April 2026.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The VCU School of Public Health has announced the promotion and\/or tenure of two current faculty members to take effect on July 1, 2026.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2040,"featured_media":177,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[43,10],"tags":[37,89,88,55,3,49],"class_list":["post-350","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-department-news","category-news","tag-biostatistics","tag-faculty-news","tag-pt","tag-promotions","tag-public-health","tag-social-and-behavioral-sciences"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/350","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=350"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/350\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":359,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/350\/revisions\/359"}],"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=350"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=350"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=350"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":348,"date":"2026-06-18T16:20:53","date_gmt":"2026-06-18T20:20:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/sph\/?p=348"},"modified":"2026-06-18T16:23:59","modified_gmt":"2026-06-18T20:23:59","slug":"public-health-digital-badge","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/sph\/2026\/06\/18\/public-health-digital-badge\/","title":{"rendered":"Enhance your education with a public health digital badge"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Virginia Commonwealth University School of Public Health<\/a> debuts five microcredential badges <\/a>in public health. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Students can now expand on their education and career potential by adding a badge in Applied Public Health, Cancer Prevention and Control Science, Epidemiology, Health Policy, and Public Health Communication.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThese new microcredentials offer a flexible way for students and working professionals to gain specialized expertise, sharpen their practice, and showcase competencies in high-demand areas,\u201d said Kellie Carlyle, Ph.D., M.P.H., M.Ed.<\/a>, interim associate dean for academic affairs at VCU\u2019s School of Public Health. \u201cBuilt from our M.P.H. concentrations<\/a>, these credentials provide targeted training in high demand areas such as health policy and public health communication, helping learners stay competitive while advancing healthier communities.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Microcredentials, also known as badges, require three courses each and offered online and in-person, making it easy to add on to a current program or take on its own. They are an effective way to expand a student\u2019s knowledge base and highlight skills in a focused area. Learners can choose an area based on current job needs or long-term career goals. Once completed, the digital badge can be displayed on social profiles, within resumes or CVs, and in email signatures as a visual display of the credential. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Visit our website for current badge offerings<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2014<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Looking for more? Explore our existing programs<\/a>. Earn a Master of Public Health or an M.S. in Biostatistics; both are available online and in person. We also offer a Ph.D. in Biostatistics, Epidemiology, Healthcare Policy and Research, and Social and Behavioral Sciences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Beginning this fall, undergraduate students can add one of two new minors<\/a>: public health and public health and the arts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Virginia Commonwealth University\u2019s School of Public Health debuts five microcredential badges in public health. Students can now expand on their education and career potential by adding a badge in Applied Public Health, Cancer Prevention and Control Science, Epidemiology, Health Policy, and Public Health Communication.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2040,"featured_media":349,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[10,64],"tags":[85,84,25,86,3],"class_list":["post-348","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","category-student-success","tag-digital-badges","tag-education","tag-health-policy","tag-microcredentials","tag-public-health"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/348","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=348"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/348\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/349"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=348"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=348"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=348"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":341,"date":"2026-04-30T10:33:55","date_gmt":"2026-04-30T14:33:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/sph\/?p=341"},"modified":"2026-04-30T11:37:05","modified_gmt":"2026-04-30T15:37:05","slug":"andrew-barnes-vcu-aria","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/sph\/2026\/04\/30\/andrew-barnes-vcu-aria\/","title":{"rendered":"Andrew Barnes, Ph.D., recognized for Advancing Societal Well-being"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Andrew Barnes, Ph.D., professor of health policy, is the inaugural recipient of the VCU ARIA – Excellence in Research for Advancing Societal Well-being.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

VCU Annual Research Impact Awards<\/a> (VCU-ARIA) recognize outstanding academic and scientific research achievements by faculty and postdoctoral fellows, celebrating discoveries, innovative research, and contributions to specific fields. These institutional awards are determined through a process that includes both self-nominations or nominations by others and committee selection to honor excellence in research, scholarship, and creative activity.<\/p>\n\n\n

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

Barnes\u2019 research intersects health policy and substance use, focusing on Medicaid policies to improve opioid use disorder (OUD) treatment and informing the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on tobacco regulation to achieve its public health mission. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Being the inaugural recipient for this research award is deeply meaningful to me,\u201d Barnes said. \u201cI came to VCU almost 15 years ago with a vision to partner with state agencies here to leverage evidence to inform better, fairer policies. The extent to which even a small part of that dream has been achieved is due in large part to building relationships across government agencies, universities, and communities around a common purpose, to make positive changes in society.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2016, Barnes\u2019 research team, co-led by Peter Cunningham, Ph.D., professor and interim chair of the Department of Health Policy<\/a>, established a partnership with Department of Medical Assistance Services<\/a> (DMAS), Virginia’s Medicaid program. Together, they engaged Virginia Medicaid policymakers, members and providers to identify problems and provide actionable, evidence-based policy solutions. In 2025, this partnership became the VCU Office of Medicaid Evaluation<\/a>, and Barnes was named director.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAs founding Director of the OME, Dr. Barnes has built an enduring state\u2013university partnership with DMAS that is unmatched in the Commonwealth,\u201d said Monica Swahn, Ph.D., M.P.H., professor and dean of the VCU School of Public Health<\/a>. \u201cThrough his research, Dr. Barnes has illuminated complex policy processes, strengthened VCU\u2019s research enterprise, and tangibly improved the lives of Virginians.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition to Barnes\u2019 impact on Medicaid research, he has contributed to scholarship in tobacco regulatory science, assisting state and federal policymakers predict intended and unintended consequences of tobacco-related legislation. Since tobacco products kill 480,000 U.S. adults and 10,000 Virginia adults every year, these efforts are critical to advancing public health. In all, Barnes has contributed to 50+ policy briefs and reports about Virginia, US, and international health policy priorities. He is a prolific researcher and a dedicated mentor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

\u201cThis award is well-deserved and is a testament to his many accomplishments and contributions to research at VCU,\u201d said Cunningham. \u201cDr. Barnes thoroughly integrates his research with teaching and mentorship of Ph.D. students. Under his mentorship, they learn and reinforce research skills by participating in the analysis, and often lead specific project tasks.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Office of the Vice President for Research and Innovation<\/a> hosted an award ceremony and luncheon for recipients and their families on Monday, April 27. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Andrew Barnes, Ph.D., professor of health policy, is the inaugural recipient of the VCU ARIA – Excellence in Research for Advancing Societal Well-being.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2040,"featured_media":344,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[41,43],"tags":[14,25,74,3,2],"class_list":["post-341","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-awards","category-department-news","tag-awards","tag-health-policy","tag-office-of-medicaid-evaluation","tag-public-health","tag-research"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/341","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=341"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/341\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/344"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=341"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=341"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=341"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":329,"date":"2026-04-20T10:15:41","date_gmt":"2026-04-20T14:15:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/sph\/?p=329"},"modified":"2026-07-27T15:39:12","modified_gmt":"2026-07-27T19:39:12","slug":"community-connection-nphw-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/sph\/2026\/04\/20\/community-connection-nphw-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"Community, connection at the center of National Public Health Week 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Community, mentorship, service and global health were the focus of NPHW 2026 at VCU School of Public Health, organized by the Public Health Student Association (PHSA).<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Observed each April, National Public Health Week<\/a> recognizes the field\u2019s role in improving health, preventing disease, and strengthening communities. At VCU, the PHSA organized daily events to highlight the various specialties and impact of public health and our community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ground-breaking research<\/h2>\n\n\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

To begin the week, Monica Swahn, Ph.D., M.P.H., professor and dean of the VCU School of Public Health presented her work in a kickoff session focused on “Global Health and AI.” As the opening event of the week, the session established a clear framing: innovation in public health is not defined by novelty alone but by whether it advances meaningful and equitable health improvement. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201c[Dean Swahn] brought a powerful perspective to Global Health, reminding us that innovation means nothing without equity and intention,\u201d said Arooj Abidi, M.B.B.S., M.P.H., candidate and president of the PHSA.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Matthew S. Krauchunas, Ph.D., assistant professor in the VCU College of Health Professions<\/a>, extended that conversation by examining artificial intelligence in health care, including its potential applications as well as concerns related to privacy, responsibility, and ethical implementation. Together, the presentations situated innovation within a broader public health framework that values both technological progress and institutional accountability. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Learning from the experts<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Tuesday was focused on mentorship and professional development through a PHSA-hosted speed networking event that brought together students and faculty around shared research interests.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The event created direct opportunities for students to engage with faculty mentors, exchange ideas, and identify areas of scholarly alignment. Beyond networking in a narrow sense, the session emphasized how professional trajectories in public health are often shaped by sustained relationships, intellectual community, and access to mentorship.<\/p>\n\n\n

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

\u201cFast-paced, candid, and genuinely impactful, this is what public health leadership development looks like in real time,\u201d Abidi said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

By structuring the event around conversation rather than formal presentation, PHSA highlighted a core feature of public health training: leadership is developed not only in classrooms but also through dialogue, connection, and guided opportunity. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Public health spirit & professional legacy<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

On Wednesday, the PHSA marked the day by showing their public health spirit along with faculty and students. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

PHSA hosted Karl E. Peace, Ph.D., an accomplished biostatistics alumnus, who delivered a talk titled \u201cFrom Baker County Dirt to Public Health Fame.\u201d In the talk, Peace reflected on his early life in poverty and on the arc of a career that has influenced public health through research, education, and philanthropy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHis story is a powerful reminder that where you start does not define where you can go and how one career can shape science, policy, and lives,\u201d Swahn said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The program linked personal narrative with professional legacy, underscoring that public health careers are built not only through technical expertise but also through perseverance, public commitment, and long-term contribution to the field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Community impact in action<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Thursday was another incredible day as events turned outward to community-based public health practice, where students were engaged directly with organizations across Virginia, gaining real-world insight into maternal health, cancer support, community health work, and perinatal collaboration. The conversations were practical and grounded in the realities of doing public health work on the ground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

PHSA invited representatives from the Virginia Community Health Worker Association<\/a>, CancerLINC<\/a>, CARITAS<\/a>, Doula Association of Virginia<\/a>, and the Virginia Neonatal Perinatal Collaborative<\/a> to highlight how partnerships and community-driven strategies continue to shape meaningful health outcomes.<\/p>\n\n\n

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

As the final event of the week, PHSA wrapped with the community service event at the Stockton Community Garden, translating discussion into action as students planted seedlings in support of healthier, more sustainable urban green space in Richmond. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The event also reinforced a broader principle that ran throughout the week: public health is not confined to policy or program design. It is enacted through everyday practices that strengthen the conditions in which communities live and thrive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Student spotlight: Jocelyn Espinoza<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Jocelyn Espinoza, M.P.H. student and service chair of PHSA, is one of ASPPH\u2019s This is Public Health! Ambassadors. As part of her role, she took over the Instagram page<\/a> during NPHW to highlight her community work, VCU Public Health and the power of mentorship. Learn more about Espinoza and her community-engaged work on our blog<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n

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

\u201cMy goal with the takeover was to show what public health looks like in real life – community partnerships, mentorship, and the small everyday moments where students grow into practitioners,\u201d said Espinoza. \u201cBeing able to highlight the work happening in the VCU School of Public Health, and the support systems that shaped my journey, felt really meaningful!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

National Public Health Week 2026 at VCU School of Public Health demonstrated the breadth of public health as both a field of study and a mode of practice, and all the events positioned students not as observers of public health but as emerging participants in its work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thank you to all who joined us to celebrate public health this week and all month long! We continue the focus on public health research with our Student Showcase on Wednesday, April 29 and invite everyone in our community to join. Get the details here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Arooj Abidi and Sonia Riaz contributed to this article.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Observed each April, National Public Health Week recognizes the field\u2019s role in improving health, preventing disease, and strengthening communities. At VCU, the PHSA organized daily events to highlight the various specialties and impact of public health and our community.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2040,"featured_media":331,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[10,64],"tags":[7,53,83,3],"class_list":["post-329","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","category-student-success","tag-community-engagement","tag-national-public-health-week","tag-phsa","tag-public-health"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/329","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=329"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/329\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":375,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/329\/revisions\/375"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/331"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=329"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=329"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=329"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"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":"2026-06-15T12:59:10","modified_gmt":"2026-06-15T16:59:10","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 fourth 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 fourth 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}]}}]