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2026 Appalachian Health Leadership Forum
Join us April 23 & 24, 2026!
Stonewall Resort & Conference Center, Roanoke, WV
Registration is closed.
The Forum is a place for thought-provoking ideas and conversations. We bring together West Virginia’s board and executive leaders from healthcare and public health, along with business and community leaders to share strategies and resources to address the vital conditions that affect community health and wellbeing. Day One of the Forum will focus on community health improvement strategies to address social determinants of health and advance the vital conditions for health and well-being in your communities. On Day Two of the Forum, hear from thought leaders on board governance best practices and how to nurture a more resilient workforce.
Agenda:
April 23, 2026 – Community Health Improvement
10:00 AM Forum Opening: Welcome & Introductions
WV Rural Health Transformation Program Update
- Carrie Jeffries, DNP, MPH, ANP-BC, NEA-BC, FACHE, AACRN, Director, Rural Health Transformation Program, State of West Virginia
Taking Care of Our Own: Building and Strengthening Recovery Ecosystems
- Michael Meit, MA, MPH, Director, East Tennessee State University Center for Rural Health and Research
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM Lunch (Provided) in Stillwaters
Engaging Local Policy Makers in Community Health Improvement
- Anne Cavalier, Ed.D., Mayor of Smithers, WV
- Delegate Sarah Drennan, WV House of Delegates, District 20
- Gary Roberts, MPA, Commissioner, Nicholas County, WV
Transforming Vacant and Dilapidated Properties
- Mark Buchanan, MS, CPESC, Project Manager & Research Associate, 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, Brownfields Assistance Center at West Virginia University
Improving Healthy Food Access and Supporting Local Farmers and Food Systems
- Mandy Curry, Owner/Founder, Healthy Kids Inc.
- Spencer Moss, MPA, Executive Director, West Virginia Food and Farm Coalition
5:00 PM Closing Remarks & Evaluation
6:00 PM – 7:00 PM Appalachian Health Leadership Forum Opening Reception
April 24, 2026 – Governance & Leadership
8:30 AM Breakfast Provided
9:00 AM – 9:15AM Welcome & Introductions
Compassion Fatigue: Considerations for Recognition and Management Among Public Health and Healthcare Providers
- Dan Barnett, MD, MPH, Professor, Johns Hopkins School of Public Health
Adaptive Leadership: Leading through Change
- Catherine Slemp, MD, MPH, Principal and Managing Member, Deepa Consulting
- C. Donovan Beckett, DO, Chief Executive Officer, 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
12:00 NOON – 12:45 PM Annual Rural Health Leadership Award Lunch
Responsible AI Use in Healthcare and Public Health
- Merage Ghane, PhD, Director of Responsible AI, Coalition for Health AI
From Mission to Action: Strategic Planning for Healthcare and Local Health Boards
- Jenna Misiti, Esq., MHA, CHC, Attorney/Owner, Appalachian Healthcare Legal Consulting, PLLC
3:30pm Forum Closing
Registration Information:
 2026 Registration Prices: |
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| Early Bird Registration Fees (available until February 28th) | Registration Fees (after March 1st) | |
| Full Conference Registration | $350.00 | $400.00 |
| Student Full Conference Registration Includes both Thursday and Friday sessions and all meals and reception. Must be an active college/ university student to receive this rate. | $175.00 | $200.00 |
| One Day Only: Thursday, April 23, 2026 Includes breakfast, lunch and evening reception. | $200.00 | $250.00 |
| Student – One Day Only: Thursday, April 23, 2026 Includes breakfast, lunch and evening reception. | $100.00 | $125.00 |
| Day 1 Lunch Guest Ticket | $40.00 | $50.00 |
| April 23rd Evening Reception Guest Ticket | $20.00 | $25.00 |
| One Day Only: Friday, April 24, 2026 Includes breakfast and Awards Lunch; does not include Thursday evening reception. | $180.00 | $210.00 |
| Student One Day Only: Friday, April 24, 2026 Includes breakfast and Awards Lunch; does not include Thursday evening reception. | $90.00 | $105.00 |
| Friday Awards Lunch Guest Ticket: | $60.00 | $70.00 |
| VALUE DEAL: (Full Conference Registration Only) | Fourth Team Member FREE *Must register as group prior to March 1st. Not available for registrations received after March 1st. | |
Registration is closed.
Accommodations:
To make a reservation with Stonewall Resort, click here or call Stonewall Resort at 304-269-7400 and select the room reservations prompt.
Exhibit and Sponsorship Opportunities:
Exhibitor, advertising, and sponsorship opportunities are available to support this event and engage with the attendees. Click here to view options.
Continuing Education:
The following Continuing Education Units have been approved for this event…
DISCLOSURE AND MITIGATION
The CAMC Institute for Academic Medicine and West Virginia Immunization Network, the Center for Rural Health Development Inc. controls the content and production of this CE activity and attempt to ensure the presentation of balanced, objective information. In accordance with the Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Education established by the ACCME, faculty, abstract reviewers, paper presenters/authors, planning committee members, staff and any others involved in planning the educational content must disclose any relationship they or their co-authors have with ineligible companies which may be related to their content. The ACCME defines “relevant financial relationships” as financial relationships in any amount occurring within the past 24 months that create a conflict of interest. All presenters, planning committee and faculty have declared no financial interest with an ineligible company for this educational activity.
Accreditation:
In support of improving patient care, this activity has been planned and implemented by the West Virginia Immunization Network, Center for Rural Health Development Inc. and CAMC Institute for Academic Medicine. CAMC Institute for Academic Medicine is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.
Physicians:
The CAMC Institute for Academic Medicine designates this live activity for a maximum of 9.25 hours for AMA PRA Category I Credit(s)™. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
Nurses:
The CAMC Institute for Academic Medicine is an approved provider of continuing nursing education by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation. This offering has been approved for 9.25 contact hours (JA0026-26-CE1106)
Pharmacy:
The CAMC Institute for A
cademic Medicine is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education as a provider of continuing pharmacy education. To receive credit, participants must complete the sign-in sheet, attend each session and complete an evaluation. ACPE credits will be posted online to the CPE Monitor within six (6) weeks following the activity. This knowledge-based activity provides 9.25 contact hours (JA0006133-9999-26-129-L99-P).
American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE):
As an independent chartered chapter of the American College of Healthcare Executives, the West Virginia Chapter of the American College of Healthcare Executives, is authorized to award 8.0 hours of ACHE Qualifying Education credits toward advancement or recertification in the American College of Healthcare Executives. Participants in this program who wish to have it considered for ACHE Qualifying Education credit should list their attendance when they apply to the American College of Healthcare Executives for advancement or recertification.
