Dolores G. Clement, a distinguished figure in healthcare education, passed away peacefully at her home in Richmond, Virginia, on August 21, 2025, after a courageous battle with metastatic breast cancer. She was surrounded by family during her final moments. Born on March 28, 1949, in Cleveland, Ohio, she was the daughter of Marjorie Hogue Gurnick and Raymond Stephen Gurnick.
Clement was preceded in death by her cherished husband, Samuel A. Clement, her parents, and her stepdaughter, Karin Denise Grice of Virginia Beach. She is survived by her stepdaughter, Janet Heide Clement (Judy McCune) of Herndon, and her grandson, Ryan Hunter Grice of Norfolk. Dolores also leaves behind a large family, including all nine of her siblings and numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews, many of whom provided care during her illness.
A Passion for Healthcare and Education
Dolores grew up as the third oldest in a family of ten. After graduating from Mount St. Joseph College in Cincinnati, she joined the Peace Corps, serving in Sierra Leone for eight years. There, she worked as an administrative assistant at a cash crop clinic, which ignited her passion for healthcare management. Upon returning to the United States, she pursued advanced degrees, earning a Master of Science in Health Systems Management from Rush University in Chicago and a Master of Arts in International Affairs from Ohio University.
Clement’s impressive career included positions with Rush University Medical Center and Whittaker Corp in the Middle East. She later obtained her doctorate from the University of California, Berkeley, specializing in Health Policy and Administration. Clement then relocated to Richmond, where she enjoyed a remarkable academic career at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU).
Over more than three decades, she contributed significantly to the Department of Health Administration at VCU. She also held a joint appointment in the Department of Epidemiology and Community Health in the School of Medicine and served as Associate Dean in the School of Allied Health Professions. Cumulatively, she directed multiple graduate programs, including the MHA and MSHA programs and the dual degree MHA/MD and MHA/JD programs. Upon her retirement, she held the title of Sentara Professor Emeritus and Career Distinguished Professor.
A Lasting Impact and Recognition
Clement’s legacy in healthcare education is profound. She mentored countless students, many of whom became lifelong friends and colleagues. Her dedication to teaching earned her numerous awards, including recognition from the MHA graduating classes of 2015 and 2016, who established a scholarship fund in her name to honor her commitment to community service.
She was a recognized leader in the healthcare field, holding board certification in healthcare management and achieving Fellow status with the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE). She served as ACHE Regent for Central Virginia from 2014 to 2017 and was also a member of the American Academy of Medical Administration. Her contributions to the Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education (CAHME) were significant; she served as Chair and received a Lifetime Achievement award for her service.
Clement was an accomplished researcher, focusing on healthcare benefits, community health, and the experiences of elderly beneficiaries in Medicare risk contracting. She published extensively in academic journals and served on the editorial board of Health Administration Press. Her consulting work extended internationally, including program development efforts in Uzbekistan.
Beyond her professional life, Clement and her husband shared a commitment to philanthropy, establishing charitable funds for managerial ethics studies at the Community Foundation of Richmond and the MCV Foundation. They cultivated a wide network of friends and enjoyed traveling, boating, and supporting local cultural programs. Despite her health challenges, Dolores embarked on memorable trips to Iceland and Alaska with family and friends.
In her journal, she articulated five simple rules for happiness that she encouraged others to follow:
– Free your heart from hatred – Forgive
– Free your mind from worries – Most never happen
– Live simply and appreciate what you have
– Give more
– Expect less
A memorial visitation for Dolores G. Clement will take place at Bliley’s Funeral Home at 3801 Augusta Ave., Richmond, on September 4 from 16:00 to 19:00. A Mass of Christian Burial is scheduled for September 5 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 9505 Gayton Rd., at 11:00, with interment following in the church columbarium. The service will also be available for livestream viewing at www.blileys.com.
In lieu of flowers, her family encourages donations to a charity of choice or performing a random act of kindness in her name. Contributions can also be made to the Dr. Dolores G. Clement Scholarship Fund at the MCV Foundation at VCU, the Shekleton Clement Families Fund at Rush University, or St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Richmond, Virginia.
