EVMS-Sentara Healthcare Analytics and Delivery Science Institute’s (HADSI) Community Engagement and Research initiatives provides consultation to faculty, students, affiliated health care partners and community organizations on designing and conducting health-focused studies and outreach in community settings. The goal is to promote community partnerships and collaborative relationships between community members, academics and healthcare providers to address the health and well-being of communities in Hampton Roads and beyond ( see HADSI services).
Some of our ongoing community outreach and research collaborative initiatives include:
Hypertension Research Advisory Group
The Hypertension Research Advisory Group (H-RAG) is primarily focused on bringing all research and medical experts to the table to embark on a population health initiative of improving hypertension within the region through research, teaching and services. H-RAG is charged with improving hypertension health outcomes and creating opportunities to address the uncontrolled hypertension pandemic in the Hampton Roads area.
Hypertension Research Advisory Group Members
- Bruce Britton, MD, EVMS Family Medicine
- Kayla Craddock, Virginia Department of Health
- Jenny Fertig, Healthy Chesapeake
- Mekbib Gemeda, EVMS Diversity and Inclusion
- Meshall Hills, American Heart Association/American Stroke Association
- Akia Kelly, Ghent Family Medicine
- Demtria Lindsay, MD, District Health Director of Virginia
- Brian Martin, Ph.D., MBA, EVMS Masters of Public Health
- Christine Matson, MD, EVMS Family and Community Medicine
- James Newby, MD, Portsmouth Family Medicine, Sentara Quality Care Network
- Amy Paulson, MPH, Consortium for Infant and Child Health, EVMS Pediatrics
- Drucilla Papafil, EVMS Continuing Medical Education
- Luciano Ramos, United Way of South Hampton Roads
- Kathleen Rocco, Virginia Department of Health
- Sami Tahhan, MD, EVMS Internal Medicine
- Bill Wasilenko, PhD, EVMS Department of Research
- Nancy Welch, MD, Chesapeake Department of Health
- Joshua Edwards, MPH, HADSI Research Associate (H-RAG Coordinator)
- Cynthia Romero, MD, EVMS – Brock Institute for Community and Global Health (Co-Chair, H-RAG)
- Sunita Dodani, MD, MSc, PhD, HADSI Founding Director (Co-Chair-H-RAG)
Community Advisory Board (CAB)
The Community Advisory Board (CAB) advises HADSI on specific research projects and translational research goals and is tasked with achieving health outcomes in the community. The program collaborates with more than 30 community partners across Southeast and Northern Virginia who represent ethnic minority organizations, public/government organizations, churches, and affiliates serving low-income minority populations. HADSI associates serve as the liaison for community organizations as well as specific HADSI programs including Healthy Eating and Living Spiritually (HEALS) and Fit Body & Soul. The program also develops and offers training for community health workers, students and volunteers to develop a cadre of professionals committed to building trust with the community and engaging stakeholders in all phases of community outreach research. The CAB’s primary focus is to bring all related experts on the table and embark on a population health initiative to improve minority health disparities within the region through research, teaching, and service.
Community Advisory Board Members
- Avanti Benson, National Council of Negro Women
- Derby Brackett, LIFT Fitness Foundation
- Diane Brock-Gerald, National Council of Negro Women
- Belinda Bruster, PhD, Norfolk State University
- Amanda Clarke, First Baptist Church Norfolk
- Veronica Cosby, Virginia Department of Health
- Sarah Crouch, YMCA of South Hampton Roads
- Blair Durham, BLACK Brand
- Jenny Fertig, Health Chesapeake
- Wanda Green, Norfolk Development Housing Authority
- MeShall Hills, American Heart Association
- Jan House, National Council of Negro Women
- Deborah Hunt, Urban League of Hampton Roads
- Tenisha Jones, MPA, Norfolk Development Housing Authority
- Michele Kekeh, PhD, Old Dominion University
- Reverend Evelyn Lee, First Baptist Church Norfolk
- Vishrut Patel, Hague Pharmacy
- Amy Paulson, MPH, Consortium for Infant and Child Health Instructor, EVMS Pediatrics
- Luciano Ramos, United Way of South Hampton Roads
- Jamie Rhoades, LIFT Fitness Foundation
- Kimberly Thomas, Norfolk Development Housing Authority
- Ivory Warren, PhD, Tidewater Community College
- Nancy Welch, MD, Chesapeake Department of Health
- Tom Weiglein, Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and Eastern Shore
