Coplin Health Systems and WVU Parkersburg Announce New Clinic
Students at West Virginia University ( WVU ) Parkersburg will soon have access to a new community-based health clinic scheduled to open on campus during the 2021-2022 school year . The new clinic is the latest example of the college ’ s commitment to providing students the resources necessary to achieve academically and personally .
Coplin Health Systems and WVU Parkersburg have formed a partnership to establish a clinic to serve the needs of the college and Mid-Ohio Valley for greater access to health care . The clinic ’ s opening will mark an important milestone in WVU Parkersburg ’ s student services and Coplin Health ’ s community outreach .
“ I believe the greatest service we can give our students , faculty , staff , their families and the community at large is high-quality , free or reduced-cost health care available to them right on our Parkersburg campus ,” says Dr . Chris Gilmer , WVU Parkersburg president . “ Coplin will be a wonderful partner because of our shared commitment to serve those who are currently underserved .”
Coplin Health Systems , a federally qualified health center , established in 1978 as the Wirt County Health Services Association , currently services Wirt , Jackson and Wood counties in West Virginia and Meigs County in Ohio with nine different facilities , including three school clinics .
“ WVU Parkersburg and Coplin Health have large goals for the campus and community ,” says Rob Dudley , Coplin Health
Systems CEO . “ It is our priority to offer quality , yet affordable , health care and advocate for children and families . We have wonderfully skilled providers and would like to grow our services with the needs of our community .”
Dr . Gordon Smith .
WVU Collaboration Earns $ 1.35 Million POWER GRANT
McDowell County — in the southern coalfields of West Virginia — is the second-most at-risk in the nation for an HIV outbreak related to drug injection . Neighboring Wyoming and Mercer counties follow close behind . All three have some of the highest rates of acute hepatitis B and hepatitis C in the U . S .
Dr . Gordon Smith , an epidemiologist in the West Virginia University School of Public Health , and his colleagues have received a $ 1.35 million three-year grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission to reduce the impact of substance abuse in these three counties . This Partnerships for Opportunity and Workforce and Economic Revitalization , or POWER , Initiative grant aims to help employ people who formerly injected drugs and are from areas savaged by job losses . It ’ s hopeful this model can then serve as a guide to be replicated across Appalachia .
“ Given the very high proportion of adults in our counties with substance use disorder , it is essential to develop a robust recovery ecosystem by aiding and sustaining both recovery
CAMC wishes to congratulate
DR . JOAN PHILLIPS on her induction into the Hall of Fame .
We are grateful for her dedication to our community and the Children ’ s Advocacy Center .
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