Esteemed Healthcare Educator Dolores G. Clement Passes Away

Dolores G. Clement, a prominent figure in healthcare education and administration, passed away peacefully at her home in Richmond, Virginia, on August 21, 2025, following a prolonged battle with metastatic breast cancer. She was born on March 28, 1949, in Cleveland, Ohio, to Marjorie Hogue Gurnick and Raymond Stephen Gurnick. Dolores is remembered not only for her professional achievements but also for her deep commitment to family and community.

Clement was preceded in death by her husband, Samuel A. Clement, and her beloved stepdaughter, Karin Denise Grice, of Virginia Beach. She is survived by her stepdaughter, Janet Heide Clement, and her grandchild, Ryan Hunter Grice, as well as many siblings, cousins, nieces, and nephews who cherished her deeply.

A Legacy of Service and Education

Growing up as the third of ten children in Cleveland, Dolores was shaped by her large family and the values instilled by her parents. Her siblings provided unwavering support during her illness, highlighting the close-knit bonds that defined her life. After graduating from Mount St. Joseph College in Cincinnati, Ohio, she joined the Peace Corps, serving in Sierra Leone for eight years. This experience ignited her passion for healthcare management and led her back to the United States for further education.

Clement earned a Master of Science in Health Systems Management from Rush University in Chicago and a Master of Arts in International Affairs from Ohio University. She later obtained her doctorate in Health Policy and Administration from the University of California, Berkeley. This educational foundation paved the way for a distinguished career at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU), where she spent over three decades in the Department of Health Administration.

During her tenure at VCU, Clement held numerous roles, including Associate Dean in the School of Allied Health Professions and Director of several graduate programs. She was recognized as a Sentara Professor Emeritus and received multiple awards for her excellence in teaching and leadership. Notably, the MHA graduating classes of 2015 and 2016 established a scholarship fund in her honor, underscoring her influence on the next generation of healthcare leaders.

A Leader in Healthcare Management

Clement was widely regarded as a leader in the healthcare community. She was board certified in healthcare management and served as a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE). From 2014 to 2017, she was the ACHE Regent for Central Virginia, contributing to the advancement of healthcare management education.

Her research focused on critical areas such as healthcare benefits, community health, and Medicare risk contracting, leading to numerous publications in esteemed academic journals. She served on the editorial board of Health Administration Press and consulted on program development in countries like Uzbekistan. Her contributions to the field were recognized with a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education (CAHME).

Beyond her professional accomplishments, Dolores and her husband, Sam, had a rich philanthropic presence in Richmond. They established charitable funds aimed at promoting ethical managerial practices and supporting healthcare education. The couple enjoyed a vibrant social life, engaging in travel, boating, and community activities, while also providing a loving home to rescue animals, including a dog named Skylar who brought comfort during her illness.

Dolores Clement’s life was characterized by her commitment to service, education, and family. In her own words, she encouraged others to live by five simple rules for happiness: forgive, let go of worries, appreciate what you have, give more, and expect less.

A memorial visitation will be held at Bliley’s Funeral Home in Richmond on September 4 from 16:00 to 19:00. A Mass of Christian Burial will take place at St. Mary’s Catholic Church on September 5 at 11:00, followed by interment in the church columbarium. A livestream of the service will be available on the funeral home’s website.

In lieu of flowers, the family encourages donations to a charity of choice or acts of kindness in Dolores’s name. Contributions can also be made to the Dr. Dolores G. Clement Scholarship Fund at the MCV Foundation at VCU or to St. Mary’s Catholic Church.