Wellness Ambassador - Department of Health Behavior and Policy

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, affirmative action university providing access to education and employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, political affiliation, veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or disability .

The WE Project 2.0: Grassroots wellness coaching is an NIH-funded research study aimed at using grassroots wellness coaching to enhance the reach and sustainability of behavioral weight management. The project is led by Drs. Mosavel and LaRose, who are the study principal investigators from the Department of Health Behavior and Policy in the School of Medicine at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU). The study is based in Petersburg, VA.

Position Summary:

The Wellness Ambassador will play a key role in facilitating the 12-week healthy lifestyle program by inviting and engaging members of their social circle to participate in house chats. They will receive training and support from the research team led by Drs. Mosavel and LaRose to effectively lead these group sessions and promote healthy lifestyle behaviors.

Position Responsibilities:

• Attend 25 hours of in-person training provided by the research team led by Drs. Mosavel and LaRose
• Identify and approach members of your family, friends, neighbors, or anyone in your social circle to invite them to the 12-week healthy lifestyle program
• Host weekly house chat sessions, lasting approximately 1 hour each, in your home or another convenient community location in Petersburg, VA
• Facilitate informal discussions about healthy lifestyle topics and behaviors during the house chat sessions
• Commit to making small changes towards a healthy lifestyle and engage in physical activity each week as an example to the participants
• Complete debriefing reports and survey evaluations after each session to provide feedback on your experience and the effectiveness of the program
• Participate in surveys and data collection activities to contribute to the research study led by Drs. Mosavel and LaRose and help improve future interventions
• Maintain open communication with the research team and attend regular check-ins or meetings as required

Required Qualifications:

• Must be a motivated community resident from Wards 1 and 6 in Petersburg, VA
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills to engage and motivate participants in the house chat sessions
• Ability to facilitate group discussions in an informal and supportive manner
• Willingness to learn and follow the house chat method provided by the research team led by Drs. Mosavel and LaRose
• Commitment to attending the 12-week program sessions and fulfilling the associated responsibilities
• Availability to attend the required in-person training sessions provided by the research team
• Willingness to contribute to the research study led by Drs. Mosavel and LaRose by providing feedback and participating in data collection activities
• Must have a demonstrated commitment to fostering diversity and inclusion in past experiences or a commitment to do so as an hourly employee at VCU

Interested individuals should contact the study team by phone at 804-396-4556 or email at WEProject2.0@vcuhealth.org to express their interest and attend an informational meeting prior to applying for the position. For more information, visit the project website at www.WellnessEngagementPetersburg.com

Your personal information shared during the application process will be kept confidential and will not be used in any reports or research information shared externally. The WE Project 2.0 is an NIH-funded study led by Drs. Mosavel and LaRose from the Department of Health Behavior and Policy in the School of Medicine at VCU.

The School of Medicine continuously strives for our workplace and learning environment
to reflect the demographic and social milieu of the communities we serve. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply.