Arnethea L. Sutton, Ph.D.
Sutton has research interests in identifying and understanding the association between sociodemographic, healthcare, and psychosocial factors and racial disparities in cardiovascular toxicities amongst breast cancer survivors.
Arnethea Sutton, Ph.D., is an assistant professor in the Department of Kinesiology and Health Sciences. She has expertise in identifying multilevel factors that contribute to racial inequities and racial disparities in cancer. Specifically, her work focuses on understanding psychosocial, sociocultural, and cancer care delivery factors that contribute to poorer outcomes in Black women with breast cancer. During her postdoctoral fellowship, she was awarded an NCI K99/R00 from the National Cancer Institute to examine factors associated with racial disparities in treatment-related cardiovascular toxicities in women with breast cancer.
Q&A with Dr. Sutton
Where did you grow up? Can you tell us a little about your educational journey?
I was born in Portsmouth, Va., raised in West Chester, Pa. and moved back to the 757 (Norfolk, Va.) in the 10th grade. I am a VCU Ram through and through. I got my B.S., M.S., Ph.D., and did my postdoc at VCU. My degrees are all in clinical laboratory sciences. The focus areas of my postdoc were cancer prevention and control, health disparities, and cardiooncology.
When did you first fall in love with your field of study? What made you decide to work in academia?
My mentor, Vanessa Sheppard, Ph.D., introduced me to cancer prevention and control and to disparities research. Her passion for the work ignited my passion for research and for academia. Additionally, I get to work with some amazing cancer survivors.
Can you explain the focus of your research?
My research focuses on identifying and understanding the association between sociodemographic, healthcare, and psychosocial factors and racial disparities in cardiovascular toxicities amongst breast cancer survivors.
What attracted you to VCU? What are you most excited about in regards to VCU and Richmond?
I am so excited to continue my journey at VCU. It's almost been 21 years to the day that I stepped foot on the Monroe Park Campus as a 1st gen college student – completely lost in the sauce. I look forward to being a resource, mentor or sponsor for undergrad students who are interested in disparities research or who would like to pursue graduate degrees. I wish I had someone like that when I was in undergrad.
Can you talk a little about your teaching philosophy? What do you most like about teaching?
My teaching philosophy can be summarized by three aims:
- incorporate various teaching methodologies to accommodate different learning styles
- encourage critical thinking through healthy discourse between the students and the instructor
- create a safe learning environment
My goal as an educator is for the students to leave my course feeling that they have been challenged, mentally stimulated and equipped with tangible resources to contribute to their aspirations.
Can you tell us either a quirky fact about yourself or some of your hobbies?
My hobbies – exercising, singing at church and spending time with family and friends.