Health Educator - School of Medicine, Neurology

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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.

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:

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 supra nuclear 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.

• 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.

• 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,…