Mobile Health and Wellness Program

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Our History

A legacy of community care

The Mobile Health and Wellness Program (MHWP) has been a vital resource in the Central Virginia community since its inception in 2012, transforming access to health and wellness resources for medically vulnerable individuals. Originally focused on supporting older adults, the program has expanded its services over the years to address the diverse needs of all populations across the lifespan, focusing on the unique circumstances of each person and making sure everyone can access the support they need to live well.

With a commitment to interprofessional collaboration and community engagement, MHWP not only provides essential services and resources but also educates the next generation of healthcare providers to deliver culturally competent care. As the program continues to evolve and reach new communities, it remains dedicated to making health and wellness services accessible to all.

Launching a Lifeline

founding members of the richmond health and wellness program pose for a group photo at dominion place

The Mobile Health and Wellness Program (MHWP), first known as the Richmond Health and Wellness Program, was established in 2012 by faculty at Virginia Commonwealth University’s (VCU) health sciences campus. Pam Parsons, Ph.D., then an affiliate faculty member of the School of Medicine, and Patty Slattum, Pharm.D., Ph.D., a professor in the School of Pharmacy, launched the program with pilot funding from the university to bring weekly healthcare services to low-income residents at Dominion Place near VCU’s Monroe Park campus.

Originally focused on serving older adults, MHWP aimed to meet their health needs proactively so they could maintain independence in the community. The program used a team-based, interprofessional approach to provide health assessments, chronic disease management, wellness coaching, and care coordination. By making healthcare more accessible, the program not only improved health outcomes but also reduced emergency room visits for participants, highlighting the effectiveness of its collaborative care model.

Building a Community Health Resource

lana sargent, pam parsons and ethlyn gibson

Building on the program’s early success, Parsons secured $1.5 million in funding from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) in 2013 to expand its reach and further assess the impact of its interprofessional care coordination model. After joining the VCU School of Nursing faculty in 2014, Parsons continued to build the program as the cornerstone of the school’s growing community engagement efforts.

From 2014 to 2019, MHWP significantly increased its capacity. With more partners and greater involvement from VCU students and faculty, the program extended its services to four additional sites in low-income senior housing across Richmond. MHWP also became an anchor partner at the VCU Health Hub at 25th, a community-centered initiative in Richmond’s East End operated by VCU and the VCU Health System.

During this period, MHWP began providing a wider range of holistic services through a strong network of community partners. Services included health consultations and exams, medication and care management, access to health resources and referrals, and support in obtaining community resources like food and nutrition benefits.

Reaching Rural Communities

members of the mobile health and wellness program team pose with staff of the capital area health network

By 2022, MHWP had built a strong foundation to serve older, medically underserved communities. With renewed funding from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), the program again expanded its services, this time to reach medically vulnerable rural communities and individuals of all ages. The four-year, nearly $4 million federal grant enabled MHWP to extend operations to Lawrenceville, Essex County, Southside Richmond, and Petersburg, with plans to add a mobile health van by 2026.

Reflecting its broader reach beyond Richmond, the program rebranded from the Richmond Health and Wellness Program to the Mobile Health and Wellness Program in 2023. The new name honors the program’s expanding mission and commitment to providing accessible wellness resources across a wider geographic footprint.

Innovating Community Health

a dominion place resident gets a blood pressure check from a v.c.u. nursing student

The Mobile Health and Wellness Program (MHWP) remains dedicated to its mission of meeting community needs through accessible, community-based care and wellness resources. By strengthening partnerships across VCU disciplines—including Nursing, Pharmacy, and Social Work, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, Kinesiology and Health Sciences, and Psychology—as well as a broad network of community partners, the program aims to tackle health disparities while educating future healthcare practitioners in culturally competent care.

As MHWP expands its reach and services, it continues to grow as a national model of collaborative, innovative healthcare, focused on improving access to resources that promote holistic health and well-being. With sustained efforts and strategic partnerships, the program is well-positioned to adapt to the evolving needs of the communities it serves, advancing health equity and access to quality care for all.

Key Milestones

 

 

  • Pam Parsons, Ph.D., and Patty Slattum, Pharm.D., Ph.D., faculty from the VCU health sciences campus, establish the Richmond Health and Wellness Program at Dominion Place with pilot funding from the university.
  • $1.5 million in funding from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) helps the program expand its reach and assess impact of its interprofessional care coordination model.
  • Parsons joined the faculty at the VCU School of Nursing, bringing the Mobile Health and Wellness Program with her to serve as the cornerstone of the school’s expanding community engagement efforts.
  • MHWP begins offering services to residents of Highland Park Senior Apartments and The Rosa. The program trains its 500th student since its founding.
  • VCU launches the Institute for Inclusion, Inquiry, and Innovation (iCubed), bringing together university experts and resources to address pressing community needs through research. The Mobile Health and Wellness Program (MHWP) is named as the focus of the institute's Health and Wellness Across the Lifespan initiative, combining evidence-based research and outreach to improve wellness and healthcare access and resources for the community.
  • MHWP begins operations at Church Hill House. The program serves over 500 community members since its founding.
  • The VCU Health Hub at 25th opens and MHWP joins as an anchor partner in providing health and wellness services to the East End Richmond community.
  • MHWP serves its 1,000th participant since its founding.
  • Nearly $4M in renewed funding from HRSA enables MHWP to extend operations to rural communities in Lawrenceville, Essex County, Southside Richmond, and Petersburg.
  • The program rebrands from the Richmond Health and Wellness Program to the Mobile Health and Wellness Program, honoring its expanding mission to provide wellness resources to a wider geographic footprint.
  • Lana Sargent, Ph.D., is named the associate dean for practice and community engagement for the VCU School of Nursing, assuming the position following the passing of MHWP co-founder Pam Parsons, Ph.D. Sargent leads the school’s community engagement initiatives, including the Mobile Health and Wellness Program.