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The VCU Medical Center Health and Wellness Library hosts regular health and wellness presentations and programs. The goal of the health and wellness programs is to educate the public about diseases, conditions, wellness, and prevention so they can make informed decisions about their health. The programs are open to all and anyone who is interested is welcome to attend - patients, their family members, community members, VCU and VCU Health students, faculty and staff, as well as community organization representatives.
Health and Wellness Library programs are free and open to the public. Registration is required. After registering, participants will receive an event reminder and/or Zoom link via email. Please contact healthlibrary@vcuhealth.org or 804-828-2432 if you have any questions or need accommodations.
Upcoming Sessions
Rare Disease Month: Developing Treatments for Rare Diseases
Wednesday, Feb. 12
noon - 1 p.m.
Virtually via Zoom
Winston X. Yan, M.D., Ph.D., is a physician-scientist and genome engineer focused on using genetic medicines to treat patients, particularly those with rare genetic diseases for which no treatments exist. He is the Founding President of the N=1 Collaborative (N1C), and co-founder and director of clinical development at Arbor Biotechnologies. Yan works in both biotech and academic/nonprofit settings to create new treatments for patients.
Join the VCU Medical Center Health and Wellness Library on Zoom at noon on Feb. 12 to learn more about Yan’s work developing therapies for patients with rare diseases, some of the challenges in researching them, and how rare diseases can offer unique learning opportunities that scientists can leverage to advance other fields.
Rare Disease Month: Translating Rare Disease Drugs from Bench to Bedside
Wednesday, Feb. 19
noon - 1 p.m.
Virtually via Zoom
Joff Masukawa is the founder of Diligentia Strategy, a life sciences consultancy specializing in the development of commercial strategies and tactical plans for manufacturers of rare orphan and specialty drugs, cell and gene therapies, digital therapeutics and other emerging medical innovations.
Join the VCU Medical Center Health and Wellness Library on Zoom at noon on Feb. 19 to learn more about Masukawa’s work supporting the rare disease community, including the obstacles and opportunities, and how to maximize the probability of translating a medical innovation to market.
Rare Disease Month: Supporting Families Impacted by Rare Diseases
Wednesday, Feb. 26
noon - 1 p.m.
Virtually via Zoom
An estimated that 25-30 million Americans have a rare disease, and around half of them are children. Tiffany Kimbrough, M.D. is the medical director of the Mother-Infant Unit at VCU Health and provides primary care to patients in the pediatric primary care clinic.
Join the VCU Medical Center Health and Wellness Library on Zoom at noon on feb. 26 to learn more about Dr. Kimbrough’s work supporting children with rare diseases, the challenges physicians face when addressing the complex and special needs of these patients, and how physicians can work with patients’ families to ensure they receive the best care possible.
Book Reading - “Thoughts on a Bicycle” by Dr. Davy
Wednesday, March 12
noon - 2 p.m.
In-person at the Health and Wellness Library, Gateway Building
In his new collection of poems and short stories, Thoughts On a Bicycle, Mark Davy, M.D. weaves an optimistic narrative that reveals to readers why all of life’s hills and rough terrain are “worth the ride.” Dr. Davy has not only practiced medicine in Virginia for 38 years, but his writing has been featured in over 40 local and national publications.
Join the Health and Wellness Library on Wednesday, March 12 at noon to hear Dr. Davy read selections from his new book. Afterwards, he will stick around for questions and a book signing.
Prior Sessions
Rare Disease Month: Patient Stories
Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025
noon - 1 p.m.
Virtual
Register Now.
Kristi Harmon and Virginia Maxwell are rare disease patients and caregivers from South Carolina. Kristi’s family suffers from Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome, while Virginia’s suffers from a skin disorder called Pityriasis Rubra Pilaris. Both lead advocacy groups to support other families affected by their diseases, raise awareness of unmet needs in the rare disease community, and lobby legislators to support policies that can make healthcare more effective and accessible for all.
Join the VCU Medical Center Health and Wellness Library virtually via Zoom on Feb. 5 to learn more about Kristi and Virginia's journeys, how they’ve navigated obstacles faced by the rare disease community and ongoing efforts that offer hope for solutions.
For special accommodations, or to register offline, please contact Ryan Pander, event manager, rbpander@vcu.edu or 804-828-0593.