Advertising Summary: Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) School of Medicine is a premier academic medical center
located in the heart of Richmond. Accounting for almost half of VCU’s sponsored research, the School of Medicine is internationally
recognized for patient care and education. Virginia Commonwealth University is an equal opportunity employer.
https://vcujobs.com/why-richmond
Unit: School Of
Medicine MBU
Department: Neurology
Department Summary: The Department of Neurology has a
talented, robust team of faculty members and staff members spanning nine divisions which includes representatives from every neurology
subspecialty in adult and child neurology, plus award-winning educators, clinical and translational neuroscientists and master clinicians.
The Department of Neurology’s vision is to provide the best patient-centered neurological care while fostering the career
development, education and training of our team members. We endeavor to realize this vision by fulfilling the following three missions:
1. Improve the lives of children and adults with neurological disorders through compassionate, high-quality medical care and patient
education.
2. Provide exceptional education to our students, residents, fellows and the wider community of medical professionals.
3.
Advance the knowledge of neurological diseases by actively developing innovative treatments through basic, translational and clinical
research.
Position Summary:
The Health Educator supports patient and caregiver wellness within the
Parkinson’s and Movement Disorders Center by developing, coordinating, and facilitating disease-specific support group programming for
individuals and families affected by Lewy body dementia (LBD), progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), and related neurodegenerative disorders
including corticobasal syndrome.
This role focuses on providing structured education, peer support, and caregiver engagement through
regularly scheduled support groups conducted in both in-person and hybrid formats. The Health Educator creates a supportive forum for
caregivers and patients to share experiences, discuss challenges, and receive guidance on disease-related topics, with the goal of improving
quality of life and caregiver capacity.
Key responsibilities include organizing and facilitating monthly or bimonthly support group
meetings; coordinating guest speakers and educational content relevant to neurodegenerative disease care; and ensuring effective
communication and engagement with participants. The Health Educator manages all logistical aspects of the program, including scheduling,
room reservations, hybrid platform setup, and distribution of meeting reminders and materials.
The Health Educator works
collaboratively with clinical faculty and staff to align programming with patient and caregiver needs and may incorporate feedback from
participants to refine and enhance support group offerings. This role operates with a high degree of independence in planning and execution
while maintaining alignment with the clinical mission of the center.
Core Responsibilities:
- Facilitate
monthly or bimonthly support groups for patients and caregivers affected by LBD, PSP, and related disorders - Create a structured,
supportive environment that encourages caregiver interaction, discussion, and shared problem-solving - Coordinate and host guest
speakers to provide education on disease management, caregiving strategies, and available resources - Organize and manage all meeting
logistics, including scheduling, room reservations, and hybrid (in-person/virtual) setup - Communicate with participants through
reminders, updates, and distribution of relevant educational materials - Maintain consistent programming and ensure continuity of
support group operations - Collaborate with clinical team members to align content with patient and caregiver needs
- Incorporate participant feedback to improve program relevance and effectiveness
Minimum
Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree in a health sciences field (e.g., nursing, social work, public health, psychology,
or related discipline) or equivalent combination of education and relevant experience - Minimum of two (2) years of patient- or
caregiver-facing experience, which may include clinical, community, or training experiences obtained during a health sciences degree
program - Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to engage patients and caregivers coping with chronic and
neurodegenerative conditions - Ability to independently organize and manage recurring programming, including scheduling, coordination
of speakers, and communication with participants - Basic proficiency with virtual meeting platforms (e.g., Zoom) and standard office
software. - Evidence of ability to provide leadership and problem-solving skills in analyzing health promotion needs of a university
community - Demonstrated ability to work in and foster an environment of respect, professionalism and civility with a population of
faculty, staff, and students from various backgrounds and experiences, or a commitment to do so as a staff member at VCU.
Preferred Qualifications
- Demonstrated experience in group facilitation, patient education, or caregiver
support, with the ability to foster engagement and discussion in a structured setting - Demonstrated knowledge of evidence informed
health promotion programs/initiatives - Demonstrated knowledge of environmental management strategies/socio ecological model
This position is open until filled.
Please note that if you are employed as a university employee working in any of the
health system’s facilities, you will need to follow VCU Health System policies, which will include but will not be limited to, vaccination
requirements.
Salary Range: $25.00 – $30.00
FLSA Exemption Status: Non-Exempt
Hours per Week: Up to 29 hours/week
Flexible Work Arrangement: Hybrid
Contact
Information:
Contact Name: Kelly Barnes
Contact Email: Kelly.Barnes@vcuhealth.org
