Finding community and resources in the workplace
Inaugural Team Member Resource Fair at VCU Health connects employees with support services and on-the-job resources.
October 31, 2024
VCU Health’s first Team Member Resource Fair showcased 20 different resource groups that hospital employees can join at the health system. (Enterprise Marketing and Communications)
By Adam Austin
The second floor of the VCU Medical Center cafeteria was filled with energy, as hundreds of VCU Health team members gathered for the Team Member Resource Fair.
The event, held on Friday, October 18, connected more than 400 VCU Health employees with nearly 20 resource groups available to them at the health system.
Some of these resources are more well-known, like human resources, Spiritual Care, and VCU Gold, a program that facilitates timely access to VCU Health specialty care for team members and their families. Others may be new to hospital staff, like the Industrial Athletic Training program, which is a free resource for team members. The program specializes in preventing, assessing, and treating occupational-related injuries, such as plantar fasciitis and muscle strains.
In addition, affinity groups like PRIDE, for LGBTQIA+ team members, and Brave, for military-affiliated employees, were also present, offering a supportive environment for the diverse communities within VCU Health.
"This was a great opportunity to discover all the resources our organization has to offer. I learned about groups I didn’t even know existed, which could provide valuable support to different employee demographics," said Karis Cha, an operations analyst who attended the fair.
Resources at the fair include employee benefit services as well as affinity organizations that foster a supportive environment for the diverse communities at VCU Health. (Arts in Healthcare)
Joanne Harris, manager of the VCU Health Office of Inclusive Excellence and one of the event organizers, notes the importance of these types of events to strengthen bonds and foster workforce wellness across the health system.
“Team members shared that they gained a wealth of knowledge about our available resources,” Harris said. “We know that connecting team members to resources like our affinity groups and spiritual care creates a sense of belonging the leads to a more welcoming and supportive environment for both team members and patients.”
Organizers worked with Employee Health Services to offer an on-site flu shot clinic, ensuring team members could easily get their annual influenza vaccinations as well. The event was sponsored by the VCU Health Office of Inclusive Excellence and the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine.
