Several children run together in the park.

Community Health and Research

Discovering and implementing evidence-based community interventions to improve the health and safety of children and their families.

Community Health and Research

Our impact

Investigators with the Community Health and Research division use community-engaged research methods to ensure the health and safety of kids and teens. These efforts inform their development and application of initiatives that aim to promote community health and influence positive change.

Since 2010, our division has secured over $21.6 million in funding from external sources, with 113 grants and contracts awarded for work in Hampton Roads communities.

From substance abuse to childhood obesity, our faculty are searching for solutions to the broad range of health and safety issues that affect kids today.

Explore our emphasis areas

Increasing awareness

Kelli England, PhD, Professor of Pediatrics, has designed several large-scale behavior-change programs that have had a national impact, including the “Boost ‘em in the Back Seat” awareness campaign, which encourages the use of booster seats in vehicles.

Dr. England received two Governor's Awards for her work in 2018, and was named a global leader in road safety by the United Nations in 2019. Her video was viewed over 23 million times.

Watch the video

Contact Us

Macon and Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences at Old Dominion University
Community Health and Research
E.V. Williams Hall
855 W. Brambleton Avenue
Norfolk, Virginia 23510

Phone: 757.446.6007

Fax: 757.446.8408

Get Directions

This website reflects current program information, including admission criteria and curricula. Information is subject to change.