Profiles

Julie D. Sill, Ph.D., M.DEHS

Julie Sill is an enthusiastic educator and clinical investigator who perceives research as a catalyst for positive change. Upon graduating from Old Dominion University (ODU), she assumed the role of researcher manager for the Department of Internal Medicine at Eastern Virginia Medical School to deepen her involvement in clinical research. At EVMS, Julie has seized the opportunity to contribute to the protocol development of various internal medicine-related research projects. She has played a pivotal role in connecting medical students, post-graduate level trainees, and junior faculty members to a diverse range of projects within the Department.

Moreover, Julie has taken the lead in organizing a monthly research workshop, facilitating regular IM research journal clubs/workshops, and participating in other collaborative research team meetings. She has also coordinated the details of numerous clinical research projects, fostering connections among faculty members with similar interests and supporting them in the writing and submission of grant applications, clinical research proposals, and IRB paperwork. Currently, Julie is actively involved in 20 projects at EVMS, spanning internal medicine and pediatrics. She also serves as a member on various educational or curriculum-related committees within the department, with her overarching goal being to ignite enthusiasm for research among students, trainees, and faculty members.

In her role as principal investigator, Julie is currently planning an equity-focused project inspired by EVMS patients. This innovative project employs a participatory action approach and involves individuals from various departments at EVMS, community members from the Hampton Roads Community Collaborative, a faculty member from the Community Inclusion and Health Equity Committee, and a member from the EVMS Department of Diversity and Inclusion. Her current goal is to pursue studies that uncover healthcare disparities influenced by social determinants of health, with the aim of increasing equitable opportunities for healthcare education, research, and continuity of care for all patients in the Hampton Roads community. Throughout this process, Julie seeks to highlight the perspectives and voices of community members and EVMS patients who have faced barriers to healthcare and are currently absent from the medical literature.

Beyond her work at EVMS, Julie wears the hat of an Adjunct Assistant Professor for the Darden College of Education & Professional Studies at Old Dominion University (ODU). In this role, she mentors a variety of students in the local community, including graduate-level students, undergraduate students, and preservice teachers, in research and education. Her role as a facilitator also involves organizing and preparing educational curriculum and teaching various education courses in the undergraduate setting, covering topics such as social studies, literacy, STEM, early childhood, and family engagement. These experiences, coupled with her 25-year career in public education, have fueled Julie's passion for research and challenged her to create opportunities for others to do the same. In her spare time, she enjoys photography, traveling with her family, and watching her two favorite athletes play water polo at the collegiate level.