The Virginia Department of Health-Office of  Health Equitys' mission is to identify health inequities and their root causes and promote equitable opportunities to be healthy. As our framework for action demonstrates, our mission and vision guide our programmatic work. At the core of this work are data analysis and research to define the distribution of health, disease, and social determinants of health; and to identify local high priority target areas. Our programmatic areas focus on health care, policies that promote health, and empowerment of disadvantaged communities. These priorities advance health equity by promoting access to quality health care, healthy public policy, and healthy and engaged communities. We hope that you too will join us in our efforts to advance health equity for all Virginians.

Key Points

• Fostering collaboration across and within various levels of government, communities, and non-profit organizations;
• Identifying communities with the greatest unmet health care needs, disparities, and health workforce shortages; identifying the key barriers to access to health care for these communities; and working toward solutions;
• Supporting the Virginia Community Healthcare Association [Virginia's Primary Care Association (PCA)] by providing information to assist in their development of a plan to manage the growth of health centers in Virginia; and
• Supporting and enhancing the primary care workforce in the State through shortage designations, recruitment and retention activities, and administration of scholarships and loan repayment programs (see Resources Tab for links).

Specialties Sought

Medical Professions such as the following:  MD Doctors of Allopathic Medicine, DO Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine,  DD General Practice Dentists (D.D.S. or D.M.D.),  PD Pediatric Dentists, NP Primary Care Certified Nurse Practitioners, NM Certified Nurse-Midwives, PA Primary Care Physician Assistants, DH Registered Clinical Dental Hygienists, PNS Psychiatric Nurse Specialists, MHC Mental Health Counselors, HSP Health Service Psychologist (formerly Clinical or Counseling Psychologists (Ph.D. or equivalent), CSW Licensed Clinical Social Workers (master’s or doctoral degree in social work), LPC  Licensed Professional Counselors (master’s or doctoral degree with a major study in counseling), MFT Marriage and Family Therapists (master’s or doctoral degree with a major study in marriage and family therapy), RN Registered Nurses, and Pharm D  Pharmacists.