VCU Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences

06/17/2026

Next Wednesday, June 24th, associate professor Dr. Maria Thomson joins Dr. Emily Zimmerman of the Department of Epidemiology to speak at the VCU C. Kenneth and Dianne Wright Center for Clinical and Translational Research's Research Impact Series. The topic of the session is "Evaluating Your Research Impact." Don't miss it!

Register here:

Welcome! You are invited to join a meeting: Evaluating Your Research Impact with Drs. Emily Zimmerman and Maria Thomson. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the meeting.

06/10/2026

Last week SBS showed up for the Virginia Public Health Summit on Cancer organized by VCU Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center, UVA Comprehensive Cancer Center, and Genentech. Read more and see photos on our blog!
https://blogs.vcu.edu/sbs/2026/06/10/virginia-public-health-summit-on-cancer/

06/05/2026

Yesterday we celebrated a successful dissertation defense by Savannah Reitzel, MPH! Amazing work and congratulations, Dr. Reitzel! 🥳

Savannah's dissertation committee (pictured below) included: Dr. Larkin Francis, Dr. Jessica LaRose, Dr. Shawn Jones, and Dr. Richard Brown.

06/03/2026

Join us for an afternoon of community, conversation, movement, food, and fun at the WE Community Health Block Party!
Join the OPT for Health Lab THIS SATURDAY to learn about the WE Project, a recent research study in Petersburg focused on improving health through the support of friends, family, and social networks. Explore local health resources already available in the community and hear how small, realistic lifestyle changes can lead to big health impacts over time.

This event is all about helping people realize that wellness does not have to mean changing your whole life overnight. Small steps matter—and you can be a leader for change in your own family, friend group, and community.

Enter your info here to receive a reminder: https://redcap.vcu.edu/surveys/?s=XMKMDJ34CWCNCPCJ

06/01/2026

Happy hashtag ! This month we celebrate love, diversity, and the ongoing fight for equal rights within the LGBTQ+ community.

05/27/2026

On Friday, June 5th Dr. Vanessa B. Sheppard will host For Her With Love, an event focused on breast cancer survivorship and research. The event is presented in partnership with the VCU Wright Center for Clinical and Translational Research, VCU Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center, and Old Dominion University's Macon and Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences, to be held at ODU's Waitzer Hall in Norfolk, Va.

Watch Dr. Sheppard's event preview below, and register here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeo9qqjfREFyaoHck2v08GbtGS1wtQ-0-ubnSvNOc7yg8O8JA/viewform

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xIDAEWW9s9I

Following a successful inaugural event last fall at Richmond's Vale...

05/21/2026

Last week, Dr. Katherine Tossas was honored with an award for Excellence in Community Engaged Research by VCU's Division of Community Engagement. Read more about her work here:

VCU’s Division of Community Engagement held a ceremony honoring nominees for outstanding work in community engagement on Thursday, May 14th. Award categories included faculty, students, and community partners. SBS assistant professor Katherine Y. Tossas, PhD, MS was honored with the Excellence in ...

05/18/2026

Last week our PhD scholars enjoyed some quality time with SBS chair Dr. Jessica LaRose. As the spring semester comes to an end, the group took a lunch break to discuss the PhD program, scholar experiences, and ideas for next year. We're already looking forward to the fall!

05/13/2026

Newly published: Dr. Kristina Tatum led a study on GLP-1 usage among breast cancer patients, finding a possible link between use of the drug and improved outcomes.

Read more here:

New research published today in JAMA Network Open offers illuminating evidence suggesting there is a positive association between GLP-1 agonists—drugs commonly used to treat obesity and diabetes—and better outcomes among breast cancer patients.

05/08/2026

🎉 Congratulations to Dr. Fariha Tariq who received her PhD in Social and Behavioral Sciences at today's commencement ceremony! Dr. Tariq is pictured here with dissertation committee members Drs. Robert Perera and Jessica LaRose, and doctoral program colleagues, Malik Phillips, Farnese Motto, and Tolu Kolawole. Way to go Dr. Tariq! 👏