Michelle Rockwell, PhD, RD

Position Responsibilities

As Director of Health Systems Science & Interprofessional Practice (Phase 1) at the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine (VTCSOM), Dr. Michelle Rockwell provides leadership for the design, implementation, and continuous improvement of Phase 1 curricular experiences focused on health systems science, interprofessional collaboration, and community-engaged learning. In this role, she works closely with course faculty, curriculum leaders, and health system partners to ensure early medical education meaningfully prepares students to deliver high-value, patient-centered, and equitable care within complex healthcare systems.

In her role as Director of Research in the Department of Family & Community Medicine at Carilion Clinic, Dr. Rockwell leads and supports a broad portfolio of health services and practice-based research. She collaborates with clinicians, learners, and interdisciplinary teams to advance research that improves healthcare quality, value, and equity, particularly in primary care settings.

Professional Background

Dr. Michelle Rockwell is a nationally recognized health services and health systems researcher with expertise in improving healthcare quality, value, and equity. Her scholarship focuses on the delivery of preventive services, the de-implementation of low-value and potentially harmful care, and understanding patient and clinician decision-making within complex health systems. She brings broad methodological expertise, including quantitative analysis, qualitative inquiry, mixed methods, and practice-based research.

Dr. Rockwell joined the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine faculty in 2020 and currently serves as Assistant Professor of Family & Community Medicine. In parallel, she holds the role of Director of Research for the Department of Family & Community Medicine at Carilion Clinic, where she provides strategic leadership for a diverse portfolio of clinical and health services research. She is known for her collaborative approach to research development, mentoring faculty, learners, and interdisciplinary teams in the design and execution of rigorous, impactful scholarship.

With more than 20 years of experience as a Registered Dietitian, Dr. Rockwell also brings a strong clinical and applied perspective to her academic work. Prior to her current roles, she held positions as a clinical researcher, practice director, and business owner, and worked extensively in nutrition counseling and sports dietetics across collegiate, professional, and community settings. This breadth of experience informs her work in health systems science and medical education, grounding research and curriculum in real-world clinical practice.

Dr. Rockwell is an experienced educator, having taught across undergraduate, graduate, and medical education programs, and is deeply committed to mentoring learners and early-career investigators. Her contributions to research, education, and mentorship have been recognized nationally through multiple awards and honors.

Research Interests

• Health services and health systems research in primary care
• Health Policy
• De-implementation of low-value and potentially harmful care
• Health systems science and implementation science
• Nutrition, lifestyle medicine, and performance
• Patient and clinician decision-making
• Rockwell's publications

Awards and Honors

• NAPCRG Clinical Pearl Award, 2021 and 2025
• VTCSOM Research Co-Mentor of the Year, 2025
• SGIM Milton W. Hamolsky Junior Faculty Award Finalist, 2024
• Starfield Summit V Participant, 2023
• NAPCRG Distinguished Paper Award, 2022
• Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Foundation Doctoral Fellowship, 2018
• College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Alumni Award, 2009
• Florida Young Dietitian of the Year, 2004

Education and Training

• PhD, Human Nutrition, Foods, and Exercise, Virginia Tech
• Master’s, Human Nutrition, Foods, and Exercise, Virginia Tech
• Bachelor’s, Human Nutrition and Foods (Dietetics), Virginia Tech
• Intramural Research Fellowship, National Center for Excellence in Primary Care Research, Agency for Healthcare Research & Quality (AHRQ)
• Dietetics Internship, National Institutes of Health

Other Positions

• Director of Research, Family & Community Medicine, Carilion Clinic
• Assistant Professor, Family & Community Medicine, VTCSOM