VCU Health Hub partnerships expand the definition of community health
How a community center is improving health outcomes beyond the clinical settings through supportive health programs influenced by Richmond’s East End residents.
November 12, 2025
The VCU Health Hub at 25th is located at the corner of Nine Mile Road and North 25th Street in Richmond, Virginia. (Kevin Morley, Enterprise Marketing and Communications)
By Mia Stephens
Consider these two scenarios: A Richmond mother living in subsidized housing was up to date on her rent, but her landlord was pursuing eviction. Separately, another woman was told she owed thousands to reimburse unemployment benefits she received during the pandemic.
For the two women, their visits to the VCU Health Hub at 25th, a center that aims to improve access to care and health outcomes in the city’s East End, added a surprising member to their support system.
Several times a month, members of VCU Health’s Medical-Legal Partnership (MLP) with the Central Virginia Legal Aid Society (CVLAS) are available for those visiting the Health Hub. After having meetings with the MLP, the mother was assigned to a lawyer who argued her eviction case twice and got it dismissed. For the other woman, the CVLAS attorney at the Health Hub connected her with a lawyer who specialized in unemployment benefits, and her case was dismissed, too.
“There are many circumstances outside of the clinic that can have a profound effect on patient health,” said Allison Held, associate general counsel and director of VCU Health’s MLP program. “Through the MLP program, we complement medical care with legal services as part of the comprehensive care we deliver at VCU Health.”
Olivia Seksinsky is one of the pro bono attorneys with VCU Health’s MLP. She says her work at the Health Hub and VCU Health helps to address underlying social issues that can impact one’s health and well-being.
“Someone can visit us with an asthma problem and are prescribed an inhaler from a doctor but still experience symptoms due to an underlying housing condition that needs to be addressed for them to get better,” said Seksinsky, who is also the managing director of the Health Public Benefits and Elder Law team at the Central Virginia Legal Aid Society. “Underlying social issues can include poverty, not having enough money, having your Medicaid or food stamps terminated. It can become infeasible for a family to afford or obtain the care they need, which is why it's so important to have a legal presence in the community to give residents an opportunity for a better health outcome.”
Having a legal presence in the East End, Seksinsky adds, allows them to directly ask residents what kind of help they need to make it easier to get access to care.
One of the goals of the Health Hub, which is a partnership between VCU Health and Virginia Commonwealth University’s Division of Community Engagement, is to make connections to resources for those in need.
“What sets the Health Hub apart is its community-centered approach to partnership – aiming to bring together grassroots organizations, local nonprofits, VCU Health and VCU programs under one shared vision,” said Sarah McCall, the Health Hub’s operations manager. “Unlike more traditional health institutions that may focus on medical delivery, the Health Hub integrates social support, advocacy and culturally responsive health education and wellness programs – ensuring services are relevant and trusted by the community.”
Support that builds trust
The MLP is a collaboration between legal and health care professionals that provides patients with support in resolving social and environmental factors that affect their health outcomes and can be addressed through civil law.
In 2024, the program assisted approximately 600 patients and their families at VCU Health and in community settings, providing nearly $1.3 million in legal services at no cost, and around 3,000 hours of logged time from their attorneys.
Integrating this partnership into the Health Hub is valuable to community members, Held says, since the legal services help residents navigate the justice system while protecting their health, stability and financial security.
“We’ve expanded these services at the Health Hub, so you don’t have to be a VCU Health patient to receive free legal advice on a range of issues. That’s why we’re here, because we recognize that there are a lot of unmet needs in the East End community that we can address by having a lawyer available on-site,” Held said.
The MLP is among several Health Hub initiatives that complement residents' well-being beyond clinical care. Some of the other initiatives include the VCU School of Nursing’s Mobile Health and Wellness program, the monthly Hub Club which connects residents to health and social services, and the Legal Education Program. These activities are typically offered at little to no cost for participants and often include transportation.
Seksinsky says that having multiple programs available in one place has been essential in connecting residents to several resources in one sitting.
“The [faculty] nurse practitioners at MHWP and I have built a really good relationship based on informing them what I am able to do. We’ve been able to do a warm handoff with residents where they will see the MHWP team and then come talk to me,” Seksinsky said.
How the Health Hub at 25th develops programs for residents with their input
Residents aren’t just recipients of these services – they help influence programming decisions. Through surveys, listening sessions, community advisory boards and open forums, East End residents provide ideas on what services are needed the most.
Recent suggestions include mental health support, culturally relevant dietary education, and family-centered wellness resources.
The Health Hub’s program partners also shape how they can best serve the community.
“Each of our partners is involved in the strategic planning and program evaluation, which helps maintain alignment and transparency,” McCall said. “Regular check-ins, joint events and co-developed initiatives help reinforce the commitment to working together long-term. Perhaps most importantly, there is a mutual respect for the lived experiences of residents and expertise each organization brings to the table.”
Held recalls how the MLP was introduced to the Health Hub, through the efforts of Sheryl Garland, chief of health impact for VCU Health and executive director of the VCU Office of Health Initiatives.
“We wanted to serve the East End community, to meet residents at a location that is easily accessible and where other programs provide supportive services. This allows us to provide holistic care to the community,” Held said.
McCall envisions that the Health Hub will grow and develop alongside the East End, with partnerships that bring impactful services to the community.
“It’s more than a service provider – it’s a community anchor. Its strength lies in its ability to evolve with the needs of the people it serves, and that only happens through intentional listening, authentic partnerships and a deep commitment to health and well-being,” McCall said. “As community needs continue to shift, the Health Hub will remain agile and responsive, always centering the voices of those we serve.”
