Roberson appointed new director to University Student Health Services

With Dr. Margaret Roberson as its newly appointed director, University Student Health Services plans to incorporate VCU’s Strategic 2020 Plan into its major goals. Roberson served a year as the interim director before becoming the permanent director earlier this semester.

Henry G. Rhone, vice provost for student affairs and enrollment services, and other administrators interviewed Roberson, who was recommended by Dr. Betty Johnson, the former director.

“After doing a search and conducting interviews, she emerged as the best person for the job,” Rhone said. “In the interview process you want to make sure the person has some vision about quality, about who their patients are and ideas for the future. She passed all the tests.”

As one of the major players in helping to develop the strategic plan, Rhone said he understands what is necessary to provide a world-class experience for VCU students.

“The 2020 Plan talks about experiencing the success of the students,” Rhone said, adding that he saw the potential in Roberson and her vision for quality and serving patients.

Roberson, now in her permanent role as director, said she is excited about her position and the future of health services.

“I was a little nervous. Until you start doing a job, you don’t realize how much everything entails,” she said. “I have loved it and I have a wonderful staff. I already thought that student health was a great place, but how do you make a great place better?”

As for the feedback she receives from VCU students, Roberson said she and others can directly gain input from them through the student health advisory committee, which allows students to address their personal concerns and comments on behalf of other VCU students.

“I think I’m fairly approachable and students don’t hesitate to contact me about issues or concerns,” she said.

Joyvan Malbon, vice president of the Monroe Park Campus Student Government Association, works with the advisory committee.

“As SGA vice president, I deal with the Student Advisory Committee. I bring the student concerns back to SGA to be addressed and discussed among the students,” Malbon said.

“Due to the fact that we are so close to MCV, we have the professionals working for student health that are trained by one of the top schools in the state. So far, everything has been great.”

Students’ patient satisfactory surveys reveal how more can be done in treating patients.

The Office of Health Promotion and the National College Health Assessment survey it conducts provide insight into student health issues.

“One of our missions is educating. Whenever we provide medical care we make sure to provide students with informative brochures,” Roberson said. “If someone is healthy, they will do so much better academically.”

Roberson also works at VCU Medical Center.

“I have a joint appointment between VCU Health System and University Student Health Services,” she said.

Her long-term goal involves bridging the two together.

“I’m big on building bridges,” Roberson said.

Rhone said University Student Health Services has always scored high on the university’s accreditation scale with the Southern Association of Colleges and Universities, the accreditation body for higher-education institutions including VCU.