Our Vision

To serve as a central hub in Richmond’s East End for innovation in community-engaged partnerships, impactful community-based research, health and wellness services, interdisciplinary science, and high-impact experiential learning.

Our Mission

To collaborate with various partners to offer programs, services, research initiatives, and student experiential learning opportunities that address community needs.

Social Determinants of Health

“When we think of someone who has heart disease, our first instinct may be to assume they are ill because they do not exercise or choose to eat unhealthy foods. However, the behaviors people engage in, the choices they make, and the states of health that they experience do not exist in a vacuum. These all have underlying social causes. Aspects of our social environment that impact people’s well-being are referred to as the social determinants of health, and they include all of the social factors external to an individual that influence their health both directly and indirectly.”

– Gheli Incubator

VCU Health Hub

The VCU Health Hub is a place-based initiative operated in Richmond’s East End by VCU's Division of Community Engagement in partnership with the VCU Health System. The Health Hub opened in May 2019 and is located at the corner of Nine Mile Road and North 25th Street.

The Health Hub uses an innovative health promotion approach that values the importance of community engagement in improving the health outcomes of the residents of the East End. Programs are delivered by a wide range of VCU faculty, staff, students; VCU Health System health care providers; Community Health Workers; and many other partner organizations.

The Health Hub is a catalyst for the community and collaborates in partnership with others to improve social determinants affecting health outcomes by supporting the following services, programs and activities:

Benefits Enrollment & Navigation

Enrollment, navigation and coordination in health care and social service benefits.

Essential Support Services

Legal, housing, food, and transportation assistance.

Health & Wellness Programs

Health promotion, disease prevention, self-care and wellness programs.

Community Events & Activities

Community health events and activities.

Outreach & Partnerships

Neighborhood outreach, engagement and partnerships.

The Health Hub Team

The Health Hub is a VCU-led partnership initiative that is supported by a VCU staffing model designed to support a wide range of partners to successfully operate their initiatives from and with the Health Hub.