Thank you for attending the 2026 Appalachian Health Leadership Forum!

To obtain continuing education credit for your attendance at the Forum, you must complete the session evaluation for each session you attend by May 8, 2026. Evaluations will close after that date and the CE certificate will be sent by email after May 30, 2026.

Thursday, April 23, 2026

10:15 AM – 10:45 AM

Session 1 Title: WV Rural Health Transformation Program Update

Presenter: Carrie Jeffries, DNP, MPH, ANP-BC, NEA-BC, FACHE, AACRN, Director, Rural Health Transformation Program, State of West Virginia

10:45 AM – 11:45 AM

Session 2 Title: Taking Care of Our Own: Building and Strengthening Recovery Ecosystems

Presenter: Michael Meit, MA, MPH, Director, East Tennessee State University Center for Rural Health and Research

Click here to access Michael Meit’s presentation slides.

1:15 PM – 2:30 PM

Session 3 Title: Engaging Local Policy Makers in Community Health Improvement

Presenters:

Anne Cavalier, Ed.D., Mayor of Smithers, WV
Delegate Sarah Drennan, RN, WV House of Delegates, District 20
Gary Roberts, MPA, Commissioner, Nicholas County, WV

2:45 PM – 3:45 PM

Session 4 Title: Transforming Vacant and Dilapidated Properties

Presenters:

Mark Buchanan, MS, CPESC, Project Manager & Research Associate, WV Brownfields Assistance Center at Marshall University
Katherine Garvey, Esq., Director, Land Use and Sustainable Development Law Clinic, WVU College of Law
Katie See, AICP, Assistant Director, WV Brownfields Assistance Center at West Virginia University

Click here for the the Brownfields Assistance Center’s presentation slides.

4:00 PM – 5:00 PM

Session 5 Title: Improving Healthy Food Access and Supporting Local Farmers and Food Systems

Presenters:

Mandy Curry, BS, Owner/Founder, Healthy Kids Inc.
Spencer Moss, MPA, Executive Director, West Virginia Food and Farm Coalition

Click here for Mandy Curry and Spencer Moss’ presentation slides.

Friday, April 24, 2026

9:15am – 10:15am

Session 6 Title: Compassion Fatigue: Considerations for Recognition and Management Among Public Health and Healthcare Providers

Presenter: Daniel Barnett, MD, MPH, Professor, Johns Hopkins School of Public Health

Click here for the presentation slides.

10:45am – 12:00pm

Session 7 Title: Adaptive Leadership: Leading through Change

Presenter: Catherine Slemp, MD, MPH, Principal and Managing Member, Deepa Consulting

Panelists:

Donovan “Dino” Beckett, DO, CEO, Williamson Health and Wellness Center Inc.
Angela Gray, BSN, RN, SUD Case Manager, WVU Medicine Berkeley Medical Center
Anita Stewart, DO, Health Officer, Nicholas County Health Department

Click here for the presentation slides.

1:00pm – 2:30pm

Session 8 Title: Responsible AI Use in Healthcare and Public Health

Presenter: Merage Ghane, PhD, Director of Responsible AI, Coalition for Health AI

Click here for the presentation slides.

2:30pm- 3:30pm

Session 9 Title: From Mission to Action: Strategic Planning for Healthcare and Local Health Boards

Presenter: Jenna Misiti, Esq., MHA, CHC, Owner/Attorney, Appalachian Healthcare Legal Consulting

Click here for the presentation slides.