Organization Overview
After endowing the fund that supports the UVa-Wise Fellowship in Natural Sciences (FINS) undergraduate research scholars program at UVa-Wise, Eleanore Sturgill approached Dr. Richard Guerrant at the Center for Global Health with the idea of sending UVa-Wise students with international research teams from UVA. Dr. Guerrant was incredibly enthusiastic and supportive of a partnership with UVa-Wise and the Center for Global Health continues to be one of the strongest partnerships that exists between UVA, UVa-Wise and Healthy Appalachia Institute.
Since 2010 Healthy Appalachia Institute has supported 10 UVa-Wise students as HAI Global Health Scholars in partnership with the Center for Global Health at UVA. Students have traveled to South Africa, Uganda and St. Kitts and Nevis. In 2015, HAI Global Health Scholars joined the MHIRT (Minority Health International Research Training) Program. HAI Global Health Scholars have participated and presented at national and regional conferences and all have gone onto or are pursing careers in medicine and nursing.
Healthy Appalachia Institute (HAI) at The University of Virginia’s College at Wise is a public health institute created in partnership between UVa-Wise and The University of Virginia. In collaboration with community leaders and organizations throughout the region, HAI focuses on high leverage, priority issues identified in the Blueprint for Health Improvement and Health Enabled Prosperity, a community health assessment adopted by the Southwest Virginia Health Authority. Healthy Appalachia Institute is committed to building a culture of health in Southwest Virginia through sustainable, innovative and community based approaches and is focused on increasing capacity at the regional, county, community levels, and at UVa-Wise to address public health challenges that exist and impact people of southwest Virginia.
For more information about the HAI Global Health Scholars Program, HAI programming, or opportunities to support or engage with public health research and practice in Southwest Virginia please contact:
Margaret Tomann, MSPH
Director, Healthy Appalachia Institute
Office of Economic Development & Engagement
The University of Virginia’s College at Wise
1 College Ave, Wise VA 24293
276-376-4882