Faculty and Staff Features for December 2016

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Pamela Parsons, Ph.D.
Pamela Parsons, Ph.D.

Pamela Parsons, Ph.D., clinical associate professor, Department of Family and Community Health Nursing, School of Nursing

Parsons was selected to participate in the Richmond Memorial Health Foundation’s Equity and Health Fellowship. She is one of 18 inaugural fellows from across the Greater Richmond region who will work together to confront the difficult questions that surround the philosophy, practice and policy of health equity. Parsons will help RMHF develop an equity and health agenda, and will serve as an advocate in the region for that vision. The nine-month fellowship brings together individuals from local government and nonprofit organizations who will actively work to foster equity and health in Richmond, Chesterfield, Goochland, Hanover, Henrico and Powhatan. They will meet for five day-long sessions and a half-day closing session.  

 

 

Kenneth A. Ellenbogen, M.D.
Kenneth A. Ellenbogen, M.D.

Kenneth A. Ellenbogen, M.D., chairman, Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine

Ellenbogen was recently published in the New England Journal of Medicine for a clinical decision opinion on a case vignette involving an implantable cardioverter defibrillator. In the article, he offers advice to a fictitious physician who treats patients with cardiomyopathy in the physician’s decision on whether the specific patient they are treating should have a defibrillator implanted. “I want to help people understand the factors that are important when making a decision about whether a patient would benefit from an ICD,” Ellenbogen said. 

 

 

 

 

Fatima Smith.
Fatima Smith.

Fatima Smith, assistant director for sexual and intimate partner violence, stalking and advocacy services, Wellness Resource Center

Smith has been named a 2016 person of the year by the Richmond Times-Dispatch and was recognized at a luncheon Dec. 8 along with 20 other leaders in the local community.

“I’m still shocked and in disbelief,” said Smith, who found out about the honor in early fall but had to keep it a secret until the Times-Dispatch announced the recipients just before Thanksgiving. 

“I was like, ‘Is this for real? Do you have the right Fatima Smith?’ It’s humbling and an honor to be on in this list.”

Created in 2015, the Richmond Times-Dispatch Person of the Year recognizes people whose achievements, talents and commitment have nurtured the local community. The 2016 honorees include U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine, Virginia War Memorial Executive Director Jon Hatfield, Richmond Restaurant Week founder Aline Reitzer and Mayor-elect Levar Stoney. Longtime VCU administrator Grace E. Harris also was honored at the luncheon as a Person of the Year Hall of Fame inductee.

An alumna of the School of Social Work, Smith coordinates advocacy services for survivors of sexual assault, relationship violence or stalking and serves as lead advocate at the VCU Wellness Resource Center. She also is an adjunct professor in the College of Humanities and Sciences, where she teaches a violence against women course. 

She discloses in her Person of the Year profile that she is a survivor of a sexual assault.

“For me, this is a platform for survivors who have experienced sexual violence, or dating violence, or trauma,” Smith said. “I hope they see me and see life after sexual assault, and realize they can thrive.”

 

Diane Reynolds, assistant vice president for business services

Diane Reynolds.
Diane Reynolds.

The National Association of College Auxiliary Services, the largest auxiliary and ancillary services support organization serving higher education, installed Reynolds as president at the 2017 NACAS Annual Conference in Indianapolis. Reynolds oversees Dining Services, Retail Services, Mail Services and Trademarks & Licensing at VCU.

“It is an honor for me to represent VCU and serve as the president of NACAS for the coming year,” Reynolds said.

Founded in 1969, NACAS provides opportunities for members to share ideas, develop business solutions, enhance programs and revenues and develop meaningful professional relationships. As NACAS president, Reynolds will provide direction and leadership for the organization. She is the 48th president and eighth female president in the organization’s history.

“NACAS is the place where auxiliaries professionals come together, where we share ideas and experiences, identify best practices, and collaborate with business partners,” Reynolds said. “It’s where we can be mindful of finding ways to bring the products and services that will enhance or improve student life back to our respective campuses.”

Reynolds is a two-time VCU graduate. She completed her bachelor’s degree in marketing, then later returned for the Executive M.B.A. Program while working as a VCU staff member. Prior to VCU, Reynolds spent eight years as a senior buyer at then-catalog retail giant Best Products.

-Contributed by Sarah Murphy, communications specialist, VCU Business Services 

 

Paul B. Fisher, Ph.D., chair, and Xiang-Yang Wang, Ph.D., professor, Department of Human and Molecular GeneticsVCU Health

Xiang-Yang Wang, Ph.D.
Xiang-Yang Wang, Ph.D.
Paul B. Fisher, Ph.D.
Paul B. Fisher, Ph.D.

The Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs website recently highlighted Fisher and Wang’s research on curative treatments for advanced, metastatic prostate cancer. The research that is funded by the U.S. Department of Defense Prostate Cancer Research Program brings together experts in molecular, cellular and immune biology to develop methods to attack metastatic prostate cancer on multiple fronts by combining immunotherapy with other treatment modalities such as radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and targeted molecular therapy.