Dr. Angelica Witcher Walker
Dr. Angelica Witcher Walker is the Assistant Dean for Student Vitality & Director of Student Affairs at the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine. She is also an assistant professor in the department of health systems and implementation science. She received her bachelor’s degree in nursing from the University of Virginia and began working at Carilion Clinic in Roanoke, VA. In 2010, she began working at the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine, later earning a master’s degree in business administration from Averett University and a doctor of philosophy in educational leadership and policy studies from Virginia Tech. Her dissertation addresses college access for historically underrepresented populations, pre-college programs, and first-generation students. She is serves on various national board of directors including the National Association of Medical Minority Educators (NAMME), Faculty Women of Color in the Academy (FWCA), and the Southwest Virginia Area Health Education Center (AHEC). Her teaching contributions include topics such as microaggressions, cultural humility, and health systems science. Her research interests include access to education, collaborative peer group mentoring, equity and social determinants of health, and social learning theory of career development and exploration. She has published work and has presented at several professional conferences. Angelica is married with three sons and also a USA Track & Field Level 1 certified track and field coach. Her passions include education, experiencing new things, and creating memories with family and friends.
Why CHIP? The reason I chose to serve CHIP of the Roanoke Valley stems from my previous volunteer experience with CHIP during nursing school. As a child, I developed a love for healthcare when my father had a car accident and became paralyzed. I was young but realized the work put in by healthcare providers made a difference in the lives of my family and I. Ever since, it has been a lifelong goal to make a difference. While in nursing school, I decided CHIP would be a great place to learn during my clinical rotations, as the mission matched that of mine. The experiences I had making house visits were those that I will never forget. Having children of my own, I know how important it is to ensure that they wake up every day healthy, receive an education, and feel supported. The opportunity to serve CHIP of the Roanoke Valley allows me to make a difference in my community, while working with an organization that shares the same values.