VCU College of Health Professions

What VCU College of Health Professions does

VCU College of Health Professions is an academic college within Virginia Commonwealth University, a public research university in Richmond, Virginia. Established in 1970 (with constituent departments dating back to 1955), the college delivers undergraduate, master's, doctoral, and certificate programs across 12 academic departments and research centers: Gerontology, Health Administration, Medical Laboratory Sciences, Nurse Anesthesia, Occupational Therapy, Patient Counseling, Physical Therapy, Radiation Sciences, Rehabilitation Counseling, the Virginia Center on Aging, the Division of Interprofessional Health Education and Research, plus standalone programs in the BS in Health Services and the PhD in Health Related Sciences. Primary customers are prospective and enrolled students pursuing health professions careers, supplemented by practicing healthcare professionals seeking continuing education and federal/state agencies sponsoring research.

The college operates an array of specialized research laboratories including the SPASE Lab (sensory processing and integration), SPRE Lab (sensorimotor performance and rehabilitation engineering), NERDD Lab (non-invasive brain stimulation and motor learning), the HEARTFUL Lab (rehabilitation counseling), and clinical simulation centers. Research instrumentation spans active and inertial motion capture systems, HD-tES transcranial electrical stimulation (HD-tDCS, HD-tACS, HD-tRNS), electrophysiological measurement suites (EMG, EKG, EDA), Mindware bio-signal systems, Actigraph GT9X activity monitors, and HTC VIVE Pro 2 VR rigs used in motor adaptation research. The college also maintains one of only four U.S. dementia disease registries via the Virginia Memory Project in partnership with the Virginia Department of Health and CDC.

Revenue is generated through four primary streams: tuition and fees from degree programs, extramural research grants from federal agencies (NIH, DOE-RSA, DOJ, HHS, VA, DOD, USDA, Commonwealth of Virginia) and nonprofit foundations, continuing education and professional development courses (e.g., a $150 Design Thinking CE course for AOTA credits), and alumni donations routed through VCU's support platform. Distribution occurs via the OTCAS centralized application system, VCU Graduate School applications, on-campus and virtual information sessions, and hybrid/distance learning modalities for select programs such as the PhD in Health Related Sciences and Rehabilitation Counseling. Clinical training is delivered through a regional network of fieldwork partners including VCU Health System, Children's Hospital of Richmond at VCU, Sheltering Arms, Henrico Doctors Hospital, and multiple Virginia public school systems.

Name

VCU College of Health Professions

Legal name

Virginia Commonwealth University College of Health Professions

Website

https://chp.vcu.edu

Company type

Public

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

VCU College of Health Professions is a public academic college within Virginia Commonwealth University offering undergraduate, master's, and doctoral health professions programs across 12 departments, serving students, practicing clinicians, and federal research partners through on-campus and distance learning.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Health Professions Higher Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (61131), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (611310)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Allied Health & Rehabilitation Sciences Schools (PT/OT/SLP, etc.) (EDAHAGAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Schools of Nursing (EDAHAGAC), Schools of Medical Laboratory Science & Clinical Diagnostics (EDAHAGAO), Online Healthcare & Nursing Universities (Allied Health, RN-to-BSN, etc.) (EDAHALAF), Healthcare & Clinical Professional Certifications (EDAAANAI)

Keywords

• Health professions education
• Graduate health programs
• Occupational therapy education
• Physical therapy programs
• Health sciences research

Headquarters

HQ city

Richmond

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Educational Services: As a public university college, VCU CHP generates revenue primarily through tuition and fees from undergraduate and graduate health professions programs. Students pay tuition for degree programs including BS in Health Services, MS in Occupational Therapy, DPT, and various doctoral programs.
2. Research Grants and Funding: The college receives significant extramural research funding from government agencies and nonprofit foundations including National Institutes of Health, Department of Justice, Department of Health and Human Services, Department of Veterans Affairs, Department of Defense, Department of Agriculture, and the State of Virginia, as well as organizations like American Society for Clinical Pathology and Commonwealth Transfusion Foundation.
3. Continuing Education and Professional Development: The college offers continuing education courses for healthcare professionals, such as the Design Thinking course for AOTA CEUs at $150, generating revenue from professional development offerings.
4. Alumni Giving and Donations: The college solicits donations through VCU's support platform for student scholarships, building support, and departmental missions.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

VCU College of Health Professions delivers degree programs (undergraduate, master's, doctoral) and certificate programs in health professions disciplines including Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, Nurse Anesthesia, Rehabilitation Counseling, Medical Laboratory Sciences, Radiation Sciences, Gerontology, Health Administration, and Patient Counseling. The college also conducts research through specialized labs and centers, and offers continuing education courses for licensed healthcare professionals seeking CEU credits.

Product overview

VCU College of Health Professions is a comprehensive academic institution offering a portfolio of health profession programs across 12 academic departments and centers. The core educational offerings include undergraduate programs (BS in Health Services), doctoral programs (PhD in Health Related Sciences, DPT, entry-level OTD, multiple PT/OT specialty residencies), and master's programs (Rehabilitation Counseling, Nurse Anesthesia, and more). The institution also houses specialized research centers including the Virginia Center on Aging and operates interprofessional education initiatives. Research labs across departments focus on areas including sensory processing, motor development, rehabilitation engineering, and aging-related conditions. The portfolio is delivered through a combination of on-campus, hybrid, and distance-based learning modalities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• BS in Health Services Prepares students to work as medical and health services providers, charged with planning, directing and coordinating medical and health services in diverse healthcare settings such as hospitals, clinics, health management organizations, and medical practice groups.
• PhD in Health Related Sciences A hybrid program that blends distance-based and traditional classroom experiences for healthcare providers interested in assuming leadership positions in teaching, research, and administration. Prepares students to develop solutions to complex health problems through rigorous research and data analysis.
• Gerontology Department Programs Department focused on the study of aging and older adults, including research, education, and training related to geriatric workforce enhancement and health issues affecting older populations.
• Health Administration Department Programs Department offering education in healthcare management, administration, and policy to prepare students for leadership roles in health services delivery systems.
• Medical Laboratory Sciences Department Programs Department focused on clinical laboratory science education, preparing students to perform diagnostic tests and analyses that inform patient care decisions.
• Nurse Anesthesia Department Programs Department offering graduate-level education for nurse anesthetists, ranked among the best programs by U.S. News & World Report for Healthcare Management.
• Occupational Therapy Department Programs Entry-level and post-professional occupational therapy education including OTD programs, dual-degree OTD/PhD programs, and certificate programs. Features research labs focused on sensory processing, motor control, and assistive technology.
• Patient Counseling Department Programs Department focused on training healthcare chaplains and pastoral counselors in spiritual care, poetry therapy, and integrating spirituality with medical humanities.
• Physical Therapy Department Programs Doctor of Physical Therapy program with multiple specialty residencies (Neurological, Sports, Pediatric) and PhD programs in Rehabilitation and Movement Science. Includes research labs focusing on motor development, control, and biomechanics.
• Radiation Sciences Department Programs Department offering education in diagnostic medical sonography, radiation therapy, and radiologic sciences for careers in medical imaging.
• Rehabilitation Counseling Department Programs CACREP-accredited master's and PhD program in rehabilitation and mental health counseling, ranked 3rd nationally. Includes research labs focused on trauma, autism, gambling addiction, and experiential writing programs.
• Virginia Center on Aging Statewide resource hub focused on aging issues including Alzheimer's research, elder justice initiatives, abuse prevention, and workforce development. Manages grants including ARDRAF and Geriatric Training and Education initiatives.
• Division of Interprofessional Health Education and Research Division housing interprofessional education programs and research activities including the Center for Interprofessional Education and Collaborative Care, promoting collaborative practice across health disciplines.
• Continuing Education Courses (e.g., Design Thinking CE Course) Self-paced online continuing education courses for licensed healthcare professionals offering AOTA CEUs and contact hours, priced at $150 per course (e.g., Design Thinking course providing 0.65 AOTA CEUs and 6.5 contact hours).

Quantifiable outcome

• Top 3 nationally ranked Rehabilitation Counseling master's program
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Association of Public Health Laboratories (APHL)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026APHL funded the Public Health Summer Program hosted by the Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, providing students opportunity to learn about public health and medical laboratory sciences. Dana Baker, senior manager of academic partnerships, participated in the program alongside MLS faculty.
• Division of Consolidated Laboratory Services (DCLS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVirginia state public health laboratory provided lectures for the APHL-funded Public Health Summer Program, exposing students to real-world public health laboratory operations and outbreak investigation.
• Norfolk State UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner institution whose students participated in the Public Health Summer Program alongside students from other Virginia colleges and one out-of-state university.
• University of VirginiaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner institution whose students participated in the Public Health Summer Program.
• Virginia TechminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner institution whose students participated in the Public Health Summer Program.
• William and MaryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner institution whose students participated in the Public Health Summer Program.
• University of North Carolina at Chapel HillminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOut-of-state partner institution whose student participated in the Public Health Summer Program.
• The Good Listening ProjectcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNonprofit organization that trains listening poets to conduct deep listening sessions in healthcare settings. Leigh Finnegan-Hosey is a Certified Listener Poet through this project, which was initially designed to help reduce burnout among medical residents, physicians, and staff and has expanded to include patients and caregivers.
• National Association for Poetry TherapyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessional organization hosting annual conferences where VCU Patient Counseling faculty present on poetry therapy applications in healthcare. Finnegan-Hosey presented at the 2026 conference in Chicago.
• Center for Interprofessional Education and Collaborative CarecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVCU-wide center housed within CHP that supports interprofessional education across health sciences disciplines, preparing students for collaborative healthcare delivery.
• Virginia Department of HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState health department partnering with VCU on the Virginia Memory Project, one of only four U.S. dementia disease registries, launched June 2022 with CDC and VCU.
• Barth Syndrome FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFoundation providing research funding for SPASE Lab studies on fatigue and sensory processing in Barth syndrome, a rare genetic disorder.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• University of Florida College of Public Health and Health Professions: Public university college with ranked programs across OT, PT, rehabilitation counseling, and health administration. Operates dedicated research labs and clinical partnerships comparable to VCU CHP's structure and scope.
• Indiana University School of Health & Human Sciences: Public university school delivering programs in occupational therapy, physical therapy, and health sciences with embedded research centers. Closely comparable to VCU CHP in organizational structure and program focus.
• University of Illinois Chicago College of Applied Health Sciences: Public university college offering ranked programs across OT, PT, rehabilitation, and health information. Comparable in mission, multi-department structure, and breadth of allied health programming.
• Rutgers School of Health Professions: Public university school offering programs across allied health disciplines including medical laboratory sciences, health administration, and rehabilitation. Operates as a comparable multi-department health-professions college at a major public research university.
• Medical University of South Carolina College of Health Professions: Public academic health center college offering ranked programs in OT, PT, rehabilitation counseling, and medical laboratory sciences. Directly comparable to VCU CHP in scope, ranking tier, and research activity.
• Ohio State University College of Medicine (Health and Rehabilitation Sciences): Public university division delivering ranked programs in occupational therapy, physical therapy, and medical laboratory sciences with significant federal research funding. Directly aligned with VCU CHP in scale and program portfolio.
• University of Pittsburgh School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences: Public university school offering ranked programs in occupational therapy, physical therapy, rehabilitation counseling, and health information management. Directly comparable to VCU CHP in mission, program mix, and U.S. News ranking tier.
• Boston University College of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences: Sargent College: Private university college offering nationally ranked OT, PT, and rehabilitation counseling programs alongside speech-language pathology. Comparable in program breadth, research intensity, and competitive positioning.

Regional players

• Shenandoah University School of Health Professions: Virginia-based private university school offering OT, PT, and pharmacy programs. Comparable in regional positioning and program mix, though smaller in research scale than VCU CHP.
• Virginia Tech (Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine and Health Sciences): In-state Virginia public university health-sciences school focused on medical and health-professions training. Comparable in mission and geography, though narrower in allied health program breadth than VCU CHP.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@vcuchp
• Facebookfacebook.com/vcuchp
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/vcu-college-of-health-professions
• Instagraminstagram.com/vcuchp

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about VCU College of Health Professions