Dr. Lauretta (Laurie) Cathers serves as director of the Bachelor of Science in Health Services Program for the College of Health Professions. In this capacity, she works in collaboration with the nine departments of the school to provide interdisciplinary health science education. She has been at Virginia Commonwealth University for 20 years and has focused mostly on community based research in HIV and Addiction. She received her PhD in Health Related Sciences, concentration in Rehabilitation Counseling Leadership from VCU in 2013. She engages in a variety of research, teaching and service projects. In addition to being program director, she teaches in both the PhD and BSHS programs, the School of Dentistry behavioral science curriculum (a collaborative project between the Department of Rehabilitation Counseling and the School of Dentistry) and guest lectures across departments on topics such as patient communication, addiction and qualitative research methods. Dr. Cathers’ current research includes such topics as: addiction and end of life care, and social gaming and gambling among college students.  Her research methodology experience ranges from randomized clinical trials to qualitative inquiry. For the past several years, she has served as a VCU Humphrey Fellows advisor. Dr. Cathers resides in Richmond, Virginia with her two dogs.