CHP Conversations: Recent Episodes
The VCU College of Health Professions
Welcome to CHP Conversations, a podcast series produced by the VCU College of Health Professions. The College's mission is to create influential leaders in health care who embrace equity and model excellence through inclusive teaching and learning, thoughtful advancement of cross-cultural knowledge, meaningful service to others, innovative technologies, and scientific discoveries that promote health and health equity and eliminate health disparities. This series includes conversations with faculty, students and alumni who exemplify our mission.
In this episode Dr. Schultz from the Department of Rehabilitation Counseling discusses how to maintain wellness and balance as a student in the College of Health Professions. The conversation is with three graduate students who are currently in the MS in Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling program. Ashley Cherry, Sally Johnson, and Shruti Sampath share their experiences in adjusting to graduate school, challenges they have faced, and strategies they have used to get through the difficult times. They also discuss the challenging but rewarding process of personal growth, and the importance of support networks and community in growing as a professional.
In this episode we interview Lauren Mortensen, Senior Program Specialist for the Ph.D. in Health Related Sciences program at VCU and a Ph.D. student herself. Lauren shares her insights into pursuing an academic degree while already engaged in a career as well as how to strike a balance between each of these major obligations.
In this episode we talk to Dr. Ann Dunbar, alumni of the physical therapy program and founder of the 'Honoring Our Mentors Physical Therapy Scholarship'. Dr. Dunbar shares her experience with the College of Health Professions and what motivated her to establish this fund to support the students of today while remembering the contributions of those helping students reach their professional goals.
Whether you're a student, a faculty member, an administrator, or simply someone who's passionate about health sciences, this episode is here to highlight exactly how one of our graduate students connect, collaborate, and create lasting change right here on campus and within her community.
So whether you are affiliated with the College of Health Professions, VCU or another institution, we hope this serves as encouragement for our listeners to explore engagement opportunities and see the value in connecting.
The college experience is what you make of it. This saying could not be more true for Cam Mattox, a student in the College of Health Professions' Bachelor's in Health Services program. In this episode, Chelsea Gary sits down with Cam to learn about her undergraduate experience as an actively engaged student and how her involvement with different organizations has helped her grow personally, professionally, and academically.
In this special guest episode, Danielle Duffy, graduate student in the College of Health Professions Department of Nurse Anesthesia, shares reflections on her doctoral project. Danielle explores the concept of psychological safety, what it is, how it presents itself in the clinical setting, and how it can influence actions taken by student clinicians. She also looks at the impact of these decisions and psychological safety in general on patients and patient safety.
Research references
For more information on the DNAP program at VCU visit the Department of Nurse Anesthesia website.
Dr. Meena Verma did not arrive in the United States from India with a background in medical education. However, equipped with the inspiration of her grandfather and a calling to improve the lives of others she took on the challenges that lead to becoming a nurse anesthetist and proud alumna of the VCU Nurse Anesthesia department. In this episode, she shares her story as a learner and how mentorship of new students plays an important role in her professional practice.
Featured Guests:Meena Verma - DNAP, CRNA
VCU’s U:CREATE internship provides collaboration and clinical research opportunities for undergraduate students. Featured Guests:Nada Youssef - VCU Physical Therapy Student
Deema Ballout - VCU Physical Therapy Student
Sportable has created opportunities and transformed the lives of individuals with physical disabilities and visual impairments through sport since 2005. Take a listen to how Natalie Slemp, a 3rd year student in the Occupational Therapy Doctoral program, embarked on her capstone journey and plans to leave an impact along the way.
Featured guest
Natalie Slemp - VCU Occupational Therapy Student
In this episode Dr. Waganesh Zeleke discusses the focus of her Fullbright Scholarship, which is addressing trauma with individuals living in Ethiopia. She discusses the impact of war trauma, in all of its forms, on the people of Ethiopia, and the need for intervention. Dr. Zeleke also introduces the concept of a community approach to treating trauma. She discusses this approach in the context of the cultural values of the communities in Ethiopia, and how communities there provide support and healing.
What do brain-eating amoeba, blood transfusions and COVID-19 tests have in common? Medical Laboratory Scientists, that’s what. In this 3-part series, hear from faculty and students in the Medical Laboratory Sciences program at VCU as they explain their unlikely journeys in this field. Historically a “behind the scenes” role, Medical Laboratory Science is one of the most under-recognized healthcare careers; however, MLS professionals provide answers to life-saving decisions every day. They do everything from providing cancer testing results, to predicting the correct antibiotic to prescribe, to typing the correct blood for surgery.
Features guest
Stephen Friedrichs - VCU MLS Student
Program links
Explore more about the Medical Laboratory Sciences program at VCU
To learn more about the profession
Application information
What to hear from us? Sign up here!
What do brain-eating amoeba, blood transfusions and COVID-19 tests have in common? Medical Laboratory Scientists, that’s what. In this 3-part series, hear from faculty and students in the Medical Laboratory Sciences program at VCU as they explain their unlikely journeys in this field. Historically a “behind the scenes” role, Medical Laboratory Science is one of the most under-recognized healthcare careers; however, MLS professionals provide answers to life-saving decisions every day. They do everything from providing cancer testing results, to predicting the correct antibiotic to prescribe, to typing the correct blood for surgery.
Features guest
Celestina Klaye - VCU MLS Student
Program links
Explore more about the Medical Laboratory Sciences program at VCU
To learn more about the profession
Application information
What to hear from us? Sign up here!
What do brain-eating amoeba, blood transfusions and COVID-19 tests have in common? Medical Laboratory Scientists, that’s what. In this 3-part series, hear from faculty and students in the Medical Laboratory Sciences program at VCU as they explain their unlikely journeys in this field. Historically a “behind the scenes” role, Medical Laboratory Science is one of the most under-recognized healthcare careers; however, MLS professionals provide answers to life-saving decisions every day. They do everything from providing cancer testing results, to predicting the correct antibiotic to prescribe, to typing the correct blood for surgery.
Featured guest
Dr. Melissa Jamerson - Faculty in the VCU Medical Laboratory Sciences program
Program links
Explore more about the Medical Laboratory Sciences program at VCU
To learn more about the profession
Application information
What to hear from us? Sign up here!
Dr. Jared Schultz hosts this episode in which, Dr. Christine Reid and her graduate students Sonia Meyer and Fran Singson discuss a model of marginal identity development they have developed. They have been exploring the ramifications of when individuals belong to more than one identity group, but are not fully developed in any one group.
In this episode Malorie Burkett sits down with Dr. Tracy Kemp Stallings. Tracy is a graduate of CHP’s Dept. of Health Administration. She also spent over 30 years in healthcare leadership, and during the last 11 years of her career, she served as COO of Johnston-Willis Hospital. Hear from Tracy about what drove her interest in healthcare leadership. How did she get her start, and who/what inspired her the most? Also - how does she feel VCU Helped prepare her to become a decision-maker at a major health system.
Research has shown that many individuals with intellectual disabilities have a strong desire to work in competitive integrated employment. At the same time, many of them are also recipients of benefits from disability supports such as Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), Supplemental Security Income (SSI), state or federal workers compensation, and public healthcare programs such as Medicare and Medicaid. Understanding the impact that paid employment will have on a person’s disability benefits is an important factor in the success of the individual.
Dr. Gendron, author of Ageism Unmasked, explains the concept of ageism, and discusses the impact that ageism has on our communities and families. She then outlines her thoughts on a healthy approach to aging
Guest: Dr. Carolyn Hawley Ph.D., CRC - Associate Professor, Virginia Commonwealth University Department of Rehabilitation Counseling
Dr. Hawley recently was awarded a contract with the state to coordinate the treatment programming for gambling addiction. She is an expert in this topical area, and serves a critical role in developing and ensuring the provision of treatment for those who experience gambling addiction. This is a growing concern as the prevalence of gambling options is rapidly increasing in Virginia and online.
If you would like to contact the Gambling Addiction Hotline that Dr. Hawley mentioned, please call (888) 532-3500.Music by Gvidon from Pixabay