Achieving a just and equitable society
VCU’s School of Education teacher residency program better prepares new teachers for the classroom
RTR is a school-based teacher preparation program that integrates research and practice to equip residents with the knowledge, skills and experience to be effective in high-needs and hard-to-staff classrooms. Despite overwhelming research that teacher quality is the most important school-based factor in student achievement — and that teacher impact on student learning is cumulative and long-lasting — some students are taught by the least prepared, least experienced and least effective teachers. RTR addresses this issue by preparing and retaining high-quality teachers to ensure that every student gets a quality education. Hear from the executive director of RTR program, Kim McKnight, Ph.D., to learn more about the program and what it offers future teachers.
We did not get to a national teacher shortage overnight and we can’t change it overnight. As long as we stay very reflective, meticulous and thoughtful, not only will we recruit the best talent, we will also retain them.
Unequal distribution of pharmacies in Virginia leaves vulnerable populations at risk, study shows
Xueming "Jimmy" Chen and I-Shian "Ivan" Suen from VCU's L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs conducted a study on pharmacy accessibility in Virginia which unveiled there are pharmacy deserts in rural areas, highlighting the need for policy changes to improve access to medications. This new study, “An Analysis of Spatial Disparity of Pharmacies, in Virginia, USA,” identified financial incentives, telehealth options and increased transportation services as changes that could rectify healthcare access in rural areas, leading to potential future research on accessibility and equity of urban amenities.
With nearly $1M federal grant, VCU School of Dentistry researcher examines the impact of Virginia’s new Medicaid dental policies
Shillpa Naavaal, an associate professor in the Department of Dental Public Health and Policy, is studying the impact of Virginia’s new Medicaid dental coverage for adults. She aims to understand how this policy change affects access, utilization and disparities in oral health care among Medicaid beneficiaries, which will provide data to improve dental care policies and services for Medicaid recipients in Virginia, significantly improving these patients’ oral health outcomes.
VCU-led dementia registry project becomes established in Virginia law
The Virginia Memory Project, a partnership between VCU and the Virginia Department of Health, aims to improve understanding of dementia in the state. The project collects data through a registry and provides resources to individuals and caregivers affected by memory loss. Now an official state law, this project allows for better data collection and resource allocation for dementia patients and caregivers, improving the quality of life for individuals with dementia and their caregivers, while advancing the overall understanding and treatment of this condition.
Women have a higher genetic risk for PTSD, according to study by VCU and Swedish researchers
Ananda B. Amstadter, Ph.D., a professor at VCU's School of Medicine, led a study on genetic risk for PTSD and found that women have a higher genetic risk for PTSD than men. The research team analyzed data from twins and siblings to determine the role of genetics in PTSD development; their findings suggest sex hormones may play a role in sex-specific pathways of risk. These findings could inform strategies for PTSD prevention and intervention following a traumatic event, as well as help address stigmas related to women’s mental health.
Answer to untrustworthy academic research findings? VCU professor outlines steps to address 'crisis of confidence.'
In light of recent cases of plagiarism and academic fraud at institutions across the country, Sven Kepes, professor of management in VCU's School of Business, is seeking to solve the answer to untrustworthy academic research findings. Factors like personal characteristics, insufficient training and a reward system focused on quantity over quality contribute to questionable research practices, which Kepes hopes to address. In Kepes’s article, he proposes that better training, a revised reward system, improved peer review and open science practices could reduce the frequency and impact of misconduct, questionable research practices and errors.
Substance use disorders are underdiagnosed and undertreated among formerly incarcerated Virginians, new VCU-led study finds
Peter Cunningham, Ph.D., from VCU's School of Population Health found that while many formerly incarcerated individuals in Virginia qualify for Medicaid, a small percentage receive substance use disorder diagnoses or treatment. Cunningham and research team found there were a number of barriers that might contribute to these gaps in addiction treatment, such as the instability many formerly incarcerated adults experience after their release, as well as limitations in access to Medicaid services set by federal policies. This research provides a foundation for improving this vulnerable population's access to essential healthcare services.
