In an era when health systems, academic institutions and community programs alike are turning to data to inform decisions and improve outcomes, VCU’s Ph.D. Program in Health Related Sciences has carved out a national reputation for equipping professionals to use research and analysis to drive health innovation.
Lynne Hollaway, an occupational therapist and clinical instructor at the University of Central Arkansas, recently completed her doctoral degree through the VCU College of Health Professions’ Ph.D. Program in Health Related Sciences. Her research is already having a positive impact in the field of pediatric occupational therapy.
The sound of music led Megan Crawford to a career in speech pathology – and to a trailblazing route at Virginia Commonwealth University.
Shu-Fang “Ann" Shih, PhD, assistant professor in the Department of Health Administration, the Bachelor of Science in Health Services and the PhD in Health Related Sciences programs, has been awarded a collaborative grant funded by the Child Health Research Institute for their research project titled "Mapping Primary Care and Behavioral Health Resources and Social Determinants of Health in School Communities: A Geospatial and Multi-Level Analysis."
Christine McNichols, Stacey Reynolds, Carole Ivey, Kelli Gary
Utilization of Occupational Therapy Services for Patients with Cancer in an Acute Care Setting and effects on Functional Mobility.
Congratulations to Dr. Miranda Yelvington, who graduated in December from the PhD in Health Sciences program. Dr. Yelvington's dissertation research, chaired by Dr. Stacey Reynolds, resulted in three peer-reviewed publications:
Stacey Reynolds, PhD, OTR/L, a tenured professor in the VCU Department of Occupational Therapy, was selected as director of the interdisciplinary Ph.D. in Health Related Sciences program at the VCU College of Health Professions.
In June, we welcomed our new 2023 Cohort who will be embarking on this PhD journey together. Students came to Richmond from all over the US including Texas, North Carolina, Delaware, and Washington, DC. They come to us with backgrounds in dental hygiene, nursing, gerontology, health administration, chaplaincy, and anesthesia. We are so excited to see what great things they will accomplish during this program and beyond!
The American Occupational Therapy Foundation (AOTF) awards Intervention Research Grants (IRG) as part of its mission to advance the science of occupational therapy to support people's full participation in meaningful life activities. An AOTF IRG award entitled Building Resilience and Social-Emotional Skills in Under-Resourced Preschoolers with History of Trauma was awarded to Dr. Kelle DeBoth Foust, an Associate Professor at Cleveland State University and a College of Health Professions PhD in Health Related Sciences alum. Dr. Kelle DeBoth Foust graduated from the PhD in Health Related Sciences program in 2016. This project will implement a program in the preschool classrooms at the YWCA of Cleveland Early Learning Center to help children who have experienced homelessness and other adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) associated with poverty.
Award is part of the One VCU Research Strategic Priorities Plan
Arnethea Sutton, Ph.D., an assistant professor in the Department of Kinesiology and Health Sciences in the Virginia Commonwealth University College of Humanities and Sciences, has been named to the second cohort of the National Cancer Institute’s Early Investigator Advancement Program. Sutton earned her Ph.D. in health related sciences from VCU in 2017, and most recently completed a T32 postdoctoral fellowship in the Department of Health Behavior and Policy at VCU.
Suzanne Wright assumed the new role of interim dean of the School of Nursing on Jan. 25. Wright, who joined ODU in 2021 as chair of the School of Nursing, previously served as a full professor and in leadership positions at Virginia Commonwealth University for nearly 20 years. She earned her bachelor’s degree in nursing, a master’s degree in nurse anesthesia and a Ph.D. in health-related sciences from VCU.
Congratulations to Jeff Legg, Ph.D. Chair of the Department of Radiologic Sciences for being awarded the first Distinguished Alumni Award for the Ph.D. Program.