College of Health Professions

The M.S. in gerontology with the assisted living administration speciality area is the only National Association of Long Term Care Administrator Boards-accredited program in Virginia, and one of just 12 NAB-accredited programs in the nation.

With a mission of promoting optimal aging for individuals and communities, Gerontology graduates further the person-centered mission of the department, mainly in the areas of administration, education, advocacy, and entrepreneurship. Gerontology also oversees the Virginia Center on Aging (VCoA), a statewide agency that advances health, well-being, and equity for the elders of today and tomorrow. VCoA’s innovative research, critical education, and impactful service strive to make Virginia a place where its people can thrive at every age.

One hundred percent of gerontology students are employed following graduation. Our grads work across the network of aging services in areas such as:

• Administration, including assisted living and long-term care, government, business and nonprofit organizations.
• Policy and advocacy, where they challenge the biases that many people hold about the aging process and creating national initiatives like the viral #DisruptAgeism campaign.
• Social services and geriatric care management, providing assistance with service integration and management.
• Entrepreneurship, launching community programs like Richmond's East End Initiative to improve community wellness options for seniors.

No. 7 in the nation among all health administration programs, as ranked by U.S. News & World Report.

A premiere research department geared toward creating the most innovative, compassionate, and business-savvy leaders to reimagine health care. We have access to the amenities of a large institution with a small and student-centric atmosphere. We teach our students both the executive and technical skills needed to be well rounded leaders.

Our graduates become leaders of organizations across the entire health care industry, from providers and suppliers to nonprofits and insurers, in positions like:

• Hospital and clinic managers, directing both financial and health care operations.
• Executive officers at both Fortune 500 corporations and small, community businesses.
• Health care consultants, guiding individuals and companies through the turbulent health care market.
• Operations officers at mental health nonprofits, rehabilitation centers and technology companies.

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98% of VCU clinical lab sciences students are employed as medical laboratory scientists or pursuing an advanced degree within three months of graduation

Due to emerging technologies and knowledge of the human condition, the profession of medical laboratory sciences is forever challenging and rewarding. The shortage of medical laboratory scientists in the workforce has ensured job opportunities for our graduates and plentiful student scholarship offerings.

Seventy percent of all health care decisions require a testing component and VCU’s Medical Laboratory Sciences grads are the experts who make those tests happen at places like:

• Microbiology research centers, where they identify new strains of bacteria and help develop new antibiotics to treat them.
  Hematology labs, where they match blood donors with patients, treat blood disorders and analyze abnormal chemical elements found in patients.
• Hospital labs, where they perform specialized testing like PCR, cytogenics, electrophoresis, paternity testing, flow cytometry, mass spectrometry and cell marker technology.
• Immunology clinics, where they study and test immune system responses to foreign infections.

All VCU clinical laboratory sciences degrees are fully accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences.

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No. 6 in the nation among all nurse anesthesia programs, as ranked by U.S. News & World Report

VCU Nurse Anesthesia prepares Registered Nurses for the evolving demands of CRNA practice through rigorous academics, clinical training, and advanced simulation. Utilizing a hybrid didactic and clinical model, students learn from expert faculty and gain experience in diverse health care environments.

One hundred percent of VCU Nurse Anesthesia graduates are employed within six months of graduation. They work in every health care setting with patients who require pain management, sedation or general anesthesia, including:

• Obstetrics, placing epidurals, providing care for caesarean sections, and caring for patients in labor.
• Operating rooms, preparing and caring for patients undergoing a wide range of surgeries, from cardiac surgery to organ transplants.
• Emergency clinics, providing lifesaving airway management to victims who need immediate care.
• Specialist offices, performing many services related to pain management, as well as sedation for procedures like colonoscopies, cosmetic surgeries and GYN procedures.

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Ranked No. 9 in the nation among occupational therapy programs by U.S. News and World Report and the only national top 20 occupational therapy program in Virginia

VCU Occupational Therapy gives students a foundation to become life-long learners, use evidence-based practice, explore their interests in research, and prepare them for changes in science and technology that will impact the OT profession.

Occupational therapists help people of all ages to enjoy and participate in everyday activities at home, school, work and in the community. You'll find our OT grads in places like:

• Rehabilitation clinics, ensuring that injured veterans and people with stroke and brain injuries regain their daily function.
• Skilled nursing centers, improving the quality of life of older people.
• Schools, helping students remain actively engaged in education.
• Home and community, increasing opportunities to age in place, adjust to disability and participate in meaningful activities.

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The only program in the nation to offer an MS degree for a year of ACPE Accredited Clinical Pastoral Education. Ranked in top 3% out of 450 ACPE centers for research literacy.

The VCU Patient Counseling program offers clinical education for those interested in working as spiritual care professionals in health care. The program provides essential knowledge, education, and research literacy to prepare students for professional chaplaincy in health care and other settings.

Patient Counseling graduates are highly skilled emotional and spiritual caregivers. They work in:

• Hospitals, comforting patients and their families experiencing trauma or illness.
• Private and community health care facilities, helping individuals adjust to or recover from life-changing events.
• Mental health facilities, supporting individuals in recovery from addiction.
• Hospice, providing end-of-life counseling and bereavement services.

Accredited to offer CPE (I/II) and Certified Educator CPE by ACPE: The Standard for Spiritual Care & Education

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No. 33-ranked physical therapy program in the nation, according to U.S. News & World Report

Established in 1931, VCU Physical Therapy is the first accredited physical therapy program in Virginia and one of the first in the country. It's one of the premier Doctor of Physical Therapy programs in the U.S. Located in the heart of Richmond's VCU Medical Center, the program provides students with easy access to state-of-the-art clinical and research facilities.

Physical therapists are evidence-based health care professionals who offer individuals cost-effective treatment that improves mobility, relieves pain and reduces the need for surgery and prescription drugs. They work in:

• Hospitals, aiding individuals regain mobility following illness or injury.
• Public and private schools, helping student athletes return to competitive form.
• Nursing homes, assisting the aging population in performing activities of daily living.
• Private offices, using exercises, hands-on therapy and equipment to ease clients’ pain.

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Virginia's only Bachelor of Science program concentrating on radiography, radiation therapy, and diagnostic medical sonography

As Virginia's only B.S. program with content specific to all modalities, you have the opportunity to prepare for the technical and professional demands of the 21st century. Through a combination of classroom, laboratory, and clinical education courses, graduates obtain all the knowledge, skills, and opportunities to enter their respective professions immediately upon graduation.

Radiographers, nuclear medicine technologists, radiation therapists, and diagnostic medical sonographers are a critical part of a patient's health care team. They may work in:

• Hospitals and health care facilities, producing high-quality diagnostic anatomical images.
• Women's health centers, providing mammograms to detect cancer or conducting sonographic exams.
• Cancer centers, using ionizing radiation to treat disease.

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No. 4-ranked rehabilitation counseling program in the nation, according to U.S. News & World Report

Established in 1955 as one of the first programs in the U.S., VCU's master's-level rehabilitation and mental health counseling training program now ranks among the nation's top, according to the U.S. News & World Report. It's also one of the largest CACREP-accredited rehabilitation and mental health counseling graduate programs in the country.

More than 93 percent of our graduates are employed within six months of graduation. They work in places that include:

• Public vocational rehabilitation services, such as the Virginia Department of Aging and Rehabilitative Services.
• Public community services boards and private nonprofit mental health, addiction and family agencies, providing case management, counseling and crisis intervention services.
• Private rehabilitation services, offering such services as job training and job placement.
• Veterans’ health services, helping vets transition from military to civilian life.

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The B.S. in Health Services Program is designed to prepare students to work as medical and health services providers, charged with planning, directing and coordinating medical and health services. Graduates will be prepared to work in diverse health care settings, such as hospitals, specific clinical areas or departments within those facilities, health management organizations or in medical practice groups.

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The Ph.D. in Health Related Sciences program provides a unique opportunity for health care providers interested in assuming leadership positions in teaching, research, and administration. Its hybrid design blends distance-based and traditional classroom experiences so students don't have to interrupt careers or move families to pursue doctoral education. Outstanding faculty from the school's nine departments enhance the interdisciplinary experience through excellence in teaching, research, and advising.

The Ph.D. in Health Related Sciences program prepares students to develop solutions to complex health problems by conducting rigorous research and analyzing data. This program was designed for experienced working health professionals who are passionate about a particular subject and are ready to expand their understanding of that topic through research. Through this program, students have the opportunity to gain expert-level knowledge in their area of practice while learning research skills which can ultimately improve the health and well-being of their communities.

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