WVU Institute for Community and Rural Health

06/01/2026

Apply today!

Are you a health professions student passionate about serving medically underserved communities in West Virginia?

The Rural Community Health Scholars Program is a hands-on educational pathway that allows students to immerse themselves in an educational experience in rural areas currently experiencing health disparities.

Apply today by scanning the QR Code!

05/31/2026

Staff Profile: Jacquelynn Copenhaver manages vital funding resources for ICRH as the Grants Administrator. She says the best part of her job is getting to draw out the stories from ICRH’s partners and staff, then use them to craft winning grant proposals.

“Every grant we write is for a program that’s going to help someone in a rural area, and I love that,” she says. “We make an effort to put as much money as we can into the community.”

In addition to grant applications and reporting, Jacquelynn helps with student recruitment programs and provides peer mentorship to her colleagues. She brings 30 years of experience in rural health and a deep knowledge of–and affection–for West Virginia, from legislative information to local mythology.

05/29/2026

That's a great group!

It finally stopped raining and our Resident Physicians said they needed to be outdoors. Didactics 😉 on the Shenandoah!

05/29/2026

Conference Dates and Location Monday, October 12 – Tuesday, October 13, 2026, Columbus, Ohio.

Abstract Submission Deadline: Friday, July 10, 2026 at 11:59 pm
Applicants will be notified of their poster and/or oral presentation acceptance by Friday, August 14, 2026.

Appalachian Translational Research NetworkATRN 2026 Annual Health SummitListening, Learning, and Leading: Translating Research to Strengthen Health for Appalachia

05/28/2026

Recent AHEC Scholars grad, Emily Kuykendall, had this to say about her experience in the Scholars program.

"Being an AHEC Scholar has given me a deeper perspective of the challenges the rural population faces and how important it is to be an advocate in this area of healthcare."

05/20/2026

05/11/2026

Continuing Education Opportunity for Healthcare Professionals!

Join us for “Pain Management & Opioids: A Patient-Centered Approach”—a timely and important training designed to support best practices in pain management and opioid prescribing.

🗓 Choose a session:
• June 11, 2026 | 1:00–4:00 PM
West Liberty University, Campbell Hall, West Liberty, WV

• June 26, 2026 | 8:00–11:00 AM
WVU Medicine Camden Clark Medical Center Auditorium, Parkersburg, WV

Earn 3 AAFP Prescribed Credits

Led by Michael Cheshire, DO, FACOI, FACP, FNLA, this case-based CO*RE curriculum covers:
✔️ Patient-centered pain treatment planning
✔️ Safe and effective opioid prescribing
✔️ Non-pharmacologic treatment options
✔️ Addressing opioid use disorder
✔️ Patient and caregiver education

✅ Meets WV opioid education requirements
✅ Counts toward DEA training requirements (8-hour mandate)

Register now: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/N2FLBLF

Questions? Contact Amanda Fisher at [email protected] or 304-685-0152

05/11/2026

Congratulations to PREP student, Amaira Palmer!

Six members of the West Virginia University Class of 2026 and two December 2025 graduates have earned the Order of Augusta, the University’s most prestigious honor for academic excellence, leadership and service. The eight inductees were selected from the 52 WVU Foundation Outstanding Seniors.

05/08/2026

Congratulations to Rural Health Leader, Jonathan Hung!

The West Virginia University School of Dentistry recently held its annual research competition for third-year Doctor of Dental Surgery students.