An illustration of more than 50 human faces, depicting a variety of genders, races and religions

Community Inclusion and Health Equity

Working to improve health equity across Hampton Roads by facilitating community engagement and feedback at EVMS.

Our History

Launched in 2020 as part of EVMS’ Advancing Health Equity and Inclusion for Community and Academic Impact Strategic Plan, CIHE works collaboratively across EVMS departments and with local community members.

We aim to expand institution-wide community engagement efforts; develop and expand infrastructure; develop and provide training and technical assistance to EVMS faculty, staff and students; and develop and research new methods to engage and serve under-resourced communities in Southeastern Virginia.

Read the Strategic Plan

Hand of many races and ethnicities in a group, held palms up

Our Mission

To engage and amplify community voices in research, clinical care, education and administration at EVMS with the goal of improving health equity in Hampton Roads.

Complete our DRIVE study

In a new mixed-methods study, "Peeling Back the Layers of HealthCare Disparities: How Social Determinants of Health DRIVE Continuity of Care in Hampton Roads, A Community Action/Collaborative Research Project," Julie Sill, MD and Robert Bernstein, MD (Department of Medicine) in collaboration with Dr. Mekbib Gemeda, Newzaira Khan, MJ Riddle (Department of Diversity & Inclusion) and individuals from the Hampton Roads Community Collaborative (HRCC) will highlight the voices of Hampton Roads community members on the issue of Transportation Equity.

This participatory action, community-based research project focuses on improving patient access to care & uncovering any related healthcare disparities in the regions related to transportation. The team is utilizing research to inform future policy in the region & ultimately, to improve the long-term health outcomes for all patients in Hampton Roads.

Help us with your participation by filling out the DRIVE questionnaire.

Meet our external advisory board

Malika Fair, MD, MPH, FACEP

Senior Director, Equity and Social Accountability, Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC); Associate Clinical Professor, Emergency Medicine, The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences

Sarah Gehlert, PhD, MA, MSW

Dean, Chair and Ernest P. Larson Professor of Health, Ethnicity, and Poverty, Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work, University of Southern California

Darrell Hudson, PhD, MPH

Associate Professor and Faculty Chair of the MSW/MPH Program, Brown School, Washington University in St. Louis; Affiliate Faculty, Departments of Psychiatry, Medical Education and Sociology, Washington University in St. Louis

Deborah Parra-Medina, PhD, MPH

Director, Latino Research Institute; Professor, Mexican American & Latina/o Studies, The University of Texas at Austin

Lainie Ross, MD, PhD

Carolyn and Matthew Bucksbaum Professor of Clinical Medical Ethics; Professor, Departments of Pediatrics, Medicine, Surgery, and The College; Associate Director, MacLean Center for Clinical Medical Ethics; Co-Director, Institute for Translational Medicine; University of Chicago

Robert Winn, MD

Director, Massey Cancer Center; Senior Associate Dean for Cancer Innovation, Professor, Pulmonary Disease and Critical Care Medicine, School of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University

Read our 2023 impact report

Download the report