Tuesday, October 14, 2025

8:00 am

Registration Open and Light Breakfast

9:00 am - 10:30 am 

Welcome and Opening Remarks

Panel –Early-Career Investigators Making an Impact in Appalachian Research Panel

Dr. Samantha Kempker-Margherio, Virginia Tech

Dr. Jessica Thayer, West Virginia University

Dr. Rose Neville, University of Virginia

Dr. Alex Elswick, University of Kentucky

10:30 am - 10:45 am

Break and Visit Exhibitors

10:45 am - 12:15 pm

Concurrent Breakout Sessions

Training, Education, and Workforce Development

Evaluating the Statewide West Virginia Area Health Education Centers Program
A. Brianna Sheppard, PhD, MA – West Virginia University

Addressing Healthcare Workforce Gaps in Rural Kentucky
Sierra Williams, MPH, MS – University of Kentucky

Expanding the WVHAMP Model: A Rural Mentorship Approach to Hepatitis C, HIV, and Other Emerging Health Needs in Appalachia
Adam Baus, PhD, MA, MPH – West Virginia University School of Public Health, Office of Health Services Research

Community Engagement and Access to Optimal Health

Community-engaged Environmental Health Partnerships using Drone Technology to Improve Health in Appalachia
Ellen J. Hahn, PhD, RN, FAAN; Bart Massey, M.Ed; Mace Baker, RN; Beth Bowling, RN; Joshua Adams

Disaster Volunteering and Mental Health: Insights from Hurricane Helene in Western North Carolina
Sophia Ryan, MA – University of Pittsburgh

Hypertension Quality Improvement at a Rural Federally Qualified Health Center in Eastern Kentucky
Key Douthitt, MD – University of Kentucky North Fork Valley Community Health Center

Impact of Bidirectional Learning Between Communities and Their Academic Partners

Appalachian Kentucky Rural Research Hub: Ensuring the Success of Community-Engaged Research
David A. Gross, MPA – UK St. Claire

Mobilizing Research into Rural Appalachia
Jenny Ostien, MS – WVU Cancer Institute

Program Development and Evaluation

Mixed Method Evaluation of a Rural Residency Telehealth Training Curriculum
Karen L. Roper, PhD – University of Kentucky College of Medicine

Piloting a Model to Train Community Program Graduates as Researchers
Beata Debinski, PhD, MHS – Wake Forest University School of Medicine

Leveraging Natural Environments to Promote Physical Activity in Rural Appalachian Communities
Timothy McKay, Assistant Professor of Exercise and Health Sciences – University of Kentucky and Union Commonwealth University

12:15 pm - 12:30 pm

Break and Visit Exhibitors - Pick Up Boxed Lunch