Welcome To The Center On Health Disparities

As you navigate our site, we hope you gain a better understanding of health disparities and how the initiatives developed by the Center are helping to eliminate inequities in health care.

We appreciate your interest, and we urge you to take an active role alongside us in eliminating health disparities throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia. Click here to participate in our community engagement survey, and/or click here to join our MATCH volunteer program. 

 

Center News

2024 Summer Immersion Scholars Program

VCU's newly formed School of Population Health (SPH), led by Interim Dean Vanessa B. Sheppard in partnership with the VCU Center on Health Disparities (CoHD) is excited to host its 2nd Annual inaugural Summer Immersion Scholars Program Week June 24 – 28, 2024. During this week-long event the scholars will be introduced to the exciting world of population health through lectures, experiential learning and hands-on activities. The purpose of this program is to provide students interested in population health with interactions designed to develop an understanding of the role population health plays in ensuring all people have equitable capacity for health. Dr. Vanessa B. Sheppard (SPH), Dr. Marcie S. Wright (CoHD) and Ms. Alisa Brewer (CoHD) will lead the charge for the week. Please save the date and share this information with any undergraduate scholars who may be interested. For more information contact cohdresearch@vcuhealth.org.

 

 

"A budding scientist goes to Washington" 

VCU PREP Alumni Stanley Cheatham recently gave an excellent interview with VCU News. Cheatham is 1 of 10 graduate students nationwide to be named a 2023 Washington Fellow by the American Society of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics (ASPET). Click the link to read in full https://medschool.vcu.edu/news/stories/a-budding-scientist-goes-to-washington/ Congratulations Stanley!  

 

NIH Recognizes Award-Winning Safety Training videos developed by Virginia Commonwealth University’s Center on Health Disparities

Congratulations Dr. Rita Shiang, subject-expert Larry Mendoza and team for developing a top tier training series designed to educate and prepare future scholars in laboratory safety practices. Click the link to view the full article.

https://biobeat.nigms.nih.gov/2023/12/award-winning-safety-training-videos-showcase-inclusivity-in-the-lab/

 

Changing the Face of Science 

The future of biomedical research depends on a diverse pool of well-trained scientists. Yet there is a clear disparity in the number of underrepresented individuals who become biomedical researchers. 

Through our programs and community partnerships, the VCU Center on Health Disparities (CoHD) addresses this issue by identifying, preparing and nurturing underrepresented scholars for highly competitive doctoral programs and research careers in the biomedical sciences. Click on the link to see how we are Changing the Face of Science

 

Congratulations VCU CoHD Scholars and Alumni

As a student-athlete on a track and field scholarship, Karah Moore never had the chance as an undergraduate to study abroad, something she always wanted to do. But as she graduates from Virginia Commonwealth University, the standout runner might be on the right track.

Click Here to Read the Full Article

By day, Mychal Smith stands at the front of a Virginia Commonwealth University chemistry classroom, teaching his students about enzymology and biophysical techniques. By night, he focuses on more physical pursuits, lifting the heaviest objects he can find.

Click Here to Read the Full Article