Most of us chose healthcare careers because we care about people and the community. As such, and because we are a cornerstone of the Richmond-area community, we’re committed to community outreach and volunteerism. In addition to caring for patients who can’t afford to pay for medical services, we offer health fairs at schools and civic groups to educate citizens on health issues.
Our employees support programs with schools and at-risk youth to help guide young people in the right direction and possibly a career in health care. If you’re interested in volunteering as an employee, VCUHS is an organization rich with opportunities.
For Richmond inner-city children who live in the Jackson, Carver and Gilpin
communities, the violent loss of life and sound of ambulance sirens is all
too familiar. However, a new partnership with the VCUHS called 2004 Voyager
Summer Camp hopes to change that by giving children an opportunity learn
how to save lives through careers in health care.
Through a grant from the Capital Area Health Education Center (AHEC), VCUHS
partnered with Bethel Community Services (BCS), a nonprofit organization located
in Jackson Ward, to introduce third, fourth and fifth graders to health care
through simulation exercises.
"Training our caregivers of tomorrow while building our community is an essential part of what we do at the VCU Health System, this program is an important step toward accomplishing both.”
John Duval, MCVH, CEO.
Using the Discovery Channel's Pre+Med Emergency Room program, the nine-week summer curriculum introduced the application of language arts and math skills in the health care environment.
The summer sessions included an introduction to basic medical terminology, an overview of the importance of infection control in a health care environment and the introduction of organ systems.
VCUHS employees volunteered as speakers for each module and discussed the sacrifices and rewards associated with becoming a health care professional.