MCV Campus

Lab professionals play an important and often overlooked role in public health. COVID-19 and a recent increase in giving to the College of Health Professions are building awareness and support for the critical work these scientists carry out.

COVID-19 upended and refocused research at VCU Health. And the great pivot led to valuable collaboration on new projects that have helped respond to the pandemic.

Faculty play a leading role on the MCV Campus in studying and addressing health disparities, and the effort often bridges research and practice, with an eye for training future professionals to center equity in their work.

The challenges and adaptations of 2020 have reminded us constantly to be grateful for the incredible efforts of our health care workers and the generosity fueling advances in research and patient care.

MLP-Richmond at VCU Health, is a medical-legal partnership (MLP) that works to ensure legal and social issues no longer challenge patients and their families, enabling those patients to focus instead on treatment and healing.

“We came home from vacation on a Saturday, and a week later he was on a ventilator,” Carol Fox said.

On March 8, Carol and Carter Fox returned to their home at Westminster Canterbury Richmond, a retirement center, from a trip to Florida.

Gurpal Bhuller, M.D., has treated patients for more than 30 years at both VCU Health and his own practice in Colonial Heights.

Smell loss, a key symptom of many COVID-19 patients, is being studied by a national project based at VCU. Recent support from the MEDARVA Foundation has enabled this important research to continue.

While VCU Health is one of the top health systems in Virginia, where many of the most advanced surgeries, therapies and other treatments are available, it also is the state’s leader in caring for vulnerable populations. The health system sees more patients who are uninsured or covered through Medicaid than any other entity in the commonwealth.

This year, unlike any other in memory, has reminded us of the importance of gratitude, both as an act of hope and an acknowledgement of abundance during hardship.

Kathy and Wayne Funk have given generously to support VCU Massey Cancer Center. Their giving springs from a deep gratitude for the care Kathy received that saved her life and allowed her to enjoy time with a growing family of children and grandkids.

One inspiring thing during the pandemic has been experiencing the generosity of neighbors, alumni, staff, friends and family of the MCV Campus at VCU Health who wanted to help the frontline healthcare workers and researchers in meeting the unique and evolving challenges of the time.