How one Virginia community center is connecting residents with the health care resources they need
The VCU Health Hub at 25th revitalizes connections with a Richmond neighborhood to make a lasting impact on residents’ health.
August 11, 2025
The Health Hub at 25th is located on 25th Street in Richmond, Virginia’s East End neighborhood. (Contributed photo)
By Mia Stephens
What started as a catalyst to engage and educate residents has blossomed into a vibrant community center in the City of Richmond’s East End.
Established in 2019, the VCU Health Hub at 25th is strategically placed in a neighborhood where residents often face challenges accessing services that can help them live healthier and better manage chronic health problems.
“One of our goals was to figure out what resources residents needed and how to get access to those resources in their community,” said Sheryl Garland, chief of health impact for VCU Health and executive director of the VCU Office of Health Initiatives.
From prevention screenings, counseling, community events, fitness activities, educational and financial literacy programs, Health Hub operations manager Sarah McCall says each initiative is grounded in listening to residents and addressing the priorities they identify. This is how trusted bonds grow between community partners and residents.
“Our partners are really the heart and soul of this place,” McCall said. “The work that we do here is grounded by listening, learning and collaboration. I’m excited for what we can continue to build together.”
Addressing barriers to care by meeting people where they are
The Health Hub serves on average about 85 to 100 residents from Richmond’s East End neighborhood per week, many of whom also seek care at VCU Medical Center.
About 6% of VCU Medical Center’s patients reside in the “23223” zip code, which includes Richmond’s East End and Eastern Henrico. Garland says this area is home to the single largest percentage of patients served by the medical center in any one zip code.
Maghboeba Mosavel, Ph.D., Sarah McCall, and Sheryl Garland. (Enterprise Marketing and Communications)
Based on several community need assessments and surveys, this area has historically faced challenges to accessing health care compared to other areas of the city, including lack of transportation, financial limitations, limited options for affordable and healthy food as well as difficulty connecting with social resources. All of these impact the health and well-being of many people who live in the neighborhood.
Working alongside community partners and residents, the Health Hub creates initiatives that reflect the priorities of the East End. By combining local knowledge with academic and clinical resources from Virginia Commonwealth University and VCU Health, these partnerships support residents through local resources and educational programs.
“So often, we connect people with other resources, such as transportation to get to doctor’s appointments or help them figure out their health insurance benefits,” Garland said. “Sometimes, people just need help navigating those systems since they’re accessed through computers, which can be a challenge or overwhelming, particularly for older adults we serve. We are here to provide support and help out as much as we can.”
Our ability to do good work isn’t solely limited to the academic programs and clinical services provided on our campuses. We continue to work with community members to identify issues, bring resources into a site that is easily accessible and support initiatives that address those needs.
Sheryl Garland, chief of health impact for VCU Health and executive director of the VCU Office of Health Initiatives
Garland recalls a time when a resident was having trouble correcting a problem with Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits.
“With a visit to the Health Hub, they were able to connect with a Central Virginia Legal Aid Society (CVLAS) attorney through their partnership with the VCU Health Medical-Legal Partnership,” Garland said. “As a result, the resident was able to receive an increase in benefits and become a qualified Medicare beneficiary due to an error in the system leading them to save almost $200 a month in premiums for care.”
Being in close proximity, Garland says, removes some of these barriers for residents.
“Our ability to do good work isn’t solely limited to the academic programs and clinical services provided on our campuses,” Garland said. “We continue to work with community members to identify issues, bring resources into a site that is easily accessible and support initiatives that address those needs.”
Programs for the community, chosen by the community
As part of VCU’s Division of Community Engagement, the Health Hub connects people in a variety of different ways – trying to meet them where they are. That happens within the Health Hub through programs and services as well as outside the center with grassroots outreach and sustained partnerships with community-based organizations.
The Health Hub also regularly holds monthly events, such as the Memory Cafe which offers people living with early-stage memory loss a chance to build companionship. There are also guided wellness groups as well as free safety checks and repairs for wheeled walkers.
“Even if someone might not visit the Health Hub, we hope that they still benefit from attending events, activities and educational programming,” McCall said. “However, we want to meet our community residents where they are literally and figuratively, so we are committed to outreach and accessibility to drive engagement into and across the Health Hub.”
The VCU School of Nursing’s Mobile Health and Wellness program brings care coordination to the Health Hub at 25th and other areas of the commonwealth. (VCU School of Nursing)
Priority initiatives are developed from direct input from residents, publicly available health data and ongoing partnerships with the university, health system and community groups. The programs are also regularly evaluated to ensure they meet residents’ needs.
Bringing the VCU School of Nursing’s Mobile Health and Wellness Program to the Health Hub is an example of how these collaborations help address residents’ concerns about chronic health conditions and mental health. Students and faculty involved with the program sit down with participants and walk them through self-management practices, screen them for different conditions, such as hypertension, and provide referrals for doctor appointments.
Our partners are really the heart and soul of this place. The work that we do here is grounded by listening, learning and collaboration.
Sarah McCall, operations manager of the VCU Health Hub at 25th
More opportunities for university partnerships, across both Monroe Park and VCU Health Sciences campuses, are also in the works – giving students the chance to work closer with the community during the academic experience.
“The Health Hub is place where students can truly integrate their academic learning with lived community experience. It gives them the chance to engage in service, develop cultural humility, and understand how to deliver care that actually meets people where they are. That is transformative learning — for them and for the communities we serve,” said Maghboeba Mosavel, Ph.D., vice provost of Community Engagement of the VCU Division of Community Engagement.
McCall hopes the Health Hub continues to serve as a supportive neighborhood space where Richmonders can thrive.
"I envision a future where community members help inform programming decisions, where partnerships are even more robust and diverse, and where the Health Hub is seen as a cornerstone for community-led health initiatives,” McCall said.
