Community Engagement

Transforming care, driving change

Our commitment to improving health and well-being extends beyond the classroom and clinic into the communities we serve. The school’s community engagement initiatives show our dedication to advancing health equity, innovating nursing practices to support public health, and building trust through compassionate, high-quality care. Through partnerships, outreach and research, we bring together faculty, students, and community members to address important health needs and prepare the next generation of nurses in community-centered care.

Key Initiatives

Mobile Health and Wellness Program

The Mobile Health and Wellness Program (MHWP) is the cornerstone of our community engagement, delivering access to health and wellness resources for medically vulnerable communities across Central Virginia. The program uses a nurse-led, interprofessional model—bringing together experts from nursing, medicine, pharmacy, social work and more—to provide culturally competent care tailored to each person’s unique needs. Serving both urban neighborhoods and rural areas, our mobile unit reaches communities that might otherwise lack regular healthcare access, breaking down barriers and empowering individuals to take charge of their health.

Services Offered

• Health consultations and exams
• Medication and care management
• Health resources and referrals
• Accessing community resources

Community-Engaged Research

We are deeply committed to community-engaged research, working closely with communities to address health disparities and develop meaningful, evidence-based solutions. Guided by inclusion and responsiveness, our research begins with listening to the communities we serve. This collaborative approach ensures that participant insights and perspectives shape the direction, implementation, and impact of our work, resulting in findings that are both relevant and actionable for real-world needs.

Our research priorities include co-creating studies with community input, addressing social determinants of health, developing culturally aware or aligned interventions, and applying findings in everyday settings. Our evidence-based approach advances nursing knowledge, bridges healthcare gaps and strengthens community well-being. By integrating these insights into our academic programs, we equip students with a deep understanding of social and cultural contexts, preparing them to make a meaningful impact from day one.