Celebrating Anniversary, Faculty Scholars: K.C. Ogbonna

In celebration of its 10th anniversary in 2016, a series of faculty spotlights were written for the Virginia Commonwealth University Division of Community Engagement (DCE). In collaboration with VCU’s University Relations office, the feature stories were used to convey a key message that the DCE can help elevate faculty members’ teaching and scholarship by providing the training, funding and connections to engage with the greater community.

The features became part of the university’s overall Make it Real campaign and were used on the DCE’s anniversary splash page, in print and in the division’s e-newsletter. 

View the series on VCU’s website

Groundbreaking health care model impacts health care education, supports research and provides quality care

It’s 8:30 a.m. when an interdisciplinary team of pharmacy, nursing, social work, medical and psychology service-learning students arrives at Dominion Place, a home for older adults near VCU’s Monroe Park campus.

Led by Kelechi “K.C.” Ogbonna, Pharm.D., CGP, in partnership with Pamela Parsons, clinical associate professor in the School of Nursing, the students and their professors will spend the day providing care coordination services to residents in a specially built clinic room on the first floor of the building.

“We’re really challenging how traditional health care is delivered. Instead of asking people to come to us, we’re bringing care to them. Members of the community are receiving access to quality care, we’re gaining valuable insight and data about whether enhanced care coordination decreases ER visitation and improves chronic conditions, and in the midst of all of it, we’re teaching.”

Started with a community engagement grant, the Richmond Health and Wellness Program was awarded a $1.5 million grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration. Three years in, the program operates in five residential buildings in Richmond and has served more than 450 community members. Approximately 550 students have taken part in the program, gaining insight into the social determinants of health within the context of where their patients live.

“When you can leverage your expertise to assist another human being, that’s true impact — that’s why I’m here at VCU.”

Photo credit: Virginia Commonwealth University