Mar 23, 2026
Program ethics instructor Calvin Bradley earns doctorate in conflict analysis and resolution studies
Calvin Bradley Jr., Ph.D., an ethics instructor in the VCU College of Health Professions’ Ph.D. Program in Health Related Sciences, recently completed his own doctoral degree. This accomplishment further strengthens the interdisciplinary perspective he brings to the program.
Bradley earned his Ph.D. in conflict analysis and resolution studies from Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., with a focus on community-based conflict and its implications for health care systems. He completed his coursework before joining VCU in 2022 and spent the next three years working on his dissertation, ultimately graduating in December 2025.
Bradley’s doctoral research examined conflict and access to care for pediatric patients with sickle cell disease in rural communities. Because sickle cell care often involves repeated emergency visits, complex pain management decisions and limited access to specialized providers — particularly in rural areas — patients, families and clinicians frequently find themselves navigating tension and miscommunication. “Despite the conflict that can arise from high-stakes situations like that, if we meet people with respect and establish a rapport and trust with them, that helps mitigate conflict the most,” he said.
In addition to his instructional role in the Ph.D. program, Bradley serves as director of education in the VCU Department of Patient Counseling, a pediatric chaplain at Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU and president of the Pediatric Chaplains Network. His Ph.D. completion represents a valuable expansion of expertise that benefits students preparing for leadership, research and practice across health professions.
Though Bradley completed his doctorate outside VCU, his training has directly shaped his work within the College of Health Professions. “The Ph.D. worked perfectly in getting me prepared for my faculty role,” he said. “When I teach clinical ethics, I draw a lot on this conflict work.”