If you've visited Commonwealth Senior Living in the West End, you've probably seen Reuben Canty on his computer in the private dining room. After seeing you, not only would he stop what he was doing to smile and wave, but also ask "How is your day?" and "Is there anything we can do to make it better?" If you had any feedback, he would make sure it was taken care of and kept in mind for the future.
This mindset of stopping what he's doing to check in on our residents, their families, and our associates, has driven Reuben to partner with and sit on the Advisory Board for the Henrico County School of Practical Nursing, partner with and sit on the Multidisciplinary Panel for Jewish Family Services, and led him to his latest achievement, sitting on the Board of VCU's Department of Gerontology Assisted Living Administration Advisory Board. Reuben says, "I am excited, as this has been a dream partnership of mine for some time now."
So, what exactly does the Advisory Board do and what is its function within the VCU Gerontology community? The board provides guidance and expertise on best practices to faculty of the VCU Gerontology Master of Gerontology Program specialty area in Assisted Living Administration regarding assisted living, memory care, skilled nursing, and home/community-based services. They provide support for student recruitment in order to grow this program, increase opportunities for students to become preceptors, and eventually secure Administrator in Training programs. The board contributes to the education of VCU students by providing informational interviews, guest lectures, shadowing opportunities, and community/workplace tours giving students real-world experiences.
We could not be more proud to have him on our team and celebrate this accomplishment alongside him. Congratulations, Reuben!