Episodit
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Take a ride into the world of rural dental care aboard a mobile dental unit with Greta Nelson, a clinical dental hygienist.
In this episode, Greta shares firsthand experiences from her decade-long journey, highlighting the challenges and triumphs of providing comprehensive dental services to underserved areas like rural West Virginia. Discover how oral health is a window into overall health and the ways in which dental care providers are fixing so much more than smiles.
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Family doctors in rural places fill a special role—and it's exactly what it sounds like—they take care of whole families and overtime, end up becoming like family.
Get a view into the world of rural healthcare with Drs. Mary Gainer and Peter Wentzel, a married couple of family physicians serving patients in northern West Virginia. Operating within federally qualified health centers, Mary and Peter discuss the joys and challenges of rural medicine and share what it’s really like to provide personalized care to underserved communities, from toenail trimming and mole removal, to addressing complex medical issues.
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Raised in rural West Virginia, Zach discovered his passion for science and medicine early on. From dissecting animals to conducting autopsies, his upbringing shaped his path towards becoming a pathologist.
Now, with a keen eye for detail and a dedication to public health, he works tirelessly to uncover the mysteries within patient samples. Zach’s journey from New York City to Charleston reflects his commitment to serving his home state and addressing the critical shortage of pathologists. Through his work, Zach ensures that patients receive accurate diagnoses, guiding their treatment and ultimately impacting lives beyond the lens of his microscope.
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When it comes to West Virginia food, we often think of pepperoni rolls, Tudor’s Biscuits, and Mountain Dew. But West Virginia is also known for foraged foods like ramps and morels, and farmed foods like zucchini, tomatoes, and cabbage. Registered dietitians help patients navigate food choices that balance the flavors they love and the nutrition that keeps them healthy.
In this episode, we explore the work of Angel Cunningham who guides patients towards healthier eating habits, addressing diabetes management and grocery store navigation. With humor and empathy, Angel draws from her upbringing and personal experiences, empowering individuals to take control of their health through positive food choices. Despite challenges, she remains dedicated to her patients’ well-being, exemplifying the transformative power of food as medicine in Appalachia.
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In this episode we hear from the one and only Jan Rader, the first woman to lead a professional fire department in West Virginia and a TIME100 Most Influential Person in 2018.
In this episode we hear from the one and only Jan Rader, the first woman to lead a professional fire department in West Virginia and a TIME100 Most Influential Person in 2018. Over the length of her career, Jan’s dedication to combating the opioid epidemic (along with compassion fatigue among first responders) has inspired folks engaged in similar fights not just in the Mountain State, but across the country and even the world. Though she recently retired as Huntington’s fire chief, Jan continues to spearhead innovative solutions to some of West Virginia’s most pressing healthcare challenges as director of the Huntington Mayor’s Council on Public Health and Drug Control Policy. In the face of both searing criticism and soaring praise, she has stayed the course, remaining laser-focused on her mission to save and improve lives.
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During this episode we visit the classroom of a social work professor at Marshall University to learn about the landscape of social work in West Virginia.
With a population-to-provider ratio nearly 50% lower than the national average, West Virginia’s need for new social work and mental health practitioners is immense. During this episode, we visit the classroom of Shikeal Harris, Marshall University Professor of Social Work, to discuss the many forms that social work can take, barriers to care in rural areas, and why Shikeal feels called to help train the next generation of clinicians in our state.
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In rural, medically-underserved areas like Logan County, West Virginia, bringing care to patients directly is often crucial to the health of the community. From conducting home visits to helping operate a mobile medical clinic, nurse practitioner Anitra Ellis makes it a priority to meet her patients where they are.
In episode two, we delve into the life and career of family nurse practitioner Anitra Ellis. From conducting home visits to helping operate a mobile clinic, Anitra’s priority is meeting her patients where they are. In rural, medically-underserved areas like Anitra’s home of Logan County, West Virginia, bringing care to patients directly is crucial to ensuring accessibility of services and improving overall health outcomes. We talk with Anitra about the importance (and challenges) of building trusting relationships with patients who may be skeptical or unfamiliar with the healthcare system, along with the common misconception that in order to pursue a career in healthcare, your path must be mapped out early on.
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When serious accidents or injuries occur in remote and rural places like West Virginia, an emergency helicopter is sometimes a person’s sole chance at survival. No spoilers—but, this episode, we’re in for a wild ride.
In this episode, we’re traveling through the sky with Heidi Stump, critical care flight paramedic with Health Net in Beckley, West Virginia. Critical care air transport is a valuable component of any effective healthcare system, but it’s particularly vital in remote and rural places like West Virginia, where so much of our population lives nestled deep in the hills, accessible only by bumpy backroads, often hours from the nearest hospital. When serious accidents or injuries occur in these environments, an emergency helicopter is sometimes a person’s sole chance at survival. For flight paramedics like Heidi (and their teams), these highest-of-high stakes give a powerful sense of purpose to their work.
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Curious about the people who are working behind the scenes and on the front lines to care for our communities every day?
Appalachian Care Chronicles is a new podcast bringing you stories from every corner of West Virginia’s health sector. Join host, Aryana Misaghi, to journey alongside a variety of problem-solvers, change makers, and daily helpers. Explore what they do day-to-day, the steps that got them there, and the “why’s” that continue to draw them back.
Find Appalachian Care Chronicles at appalachiancarechronicles.com and on social media for episodes, behind the scenes photos, and portraits of our storytellers.
