Board of Directors

BIOGRAPHY

Mr. Cox is the Executive Director of Network Development with Charleston Area Medical Center. He is also the Executive Director of the Partners in Health Network. Prior to assuming these two roles, he served as Director of IT Applications for CAMC Information Services, Director of Operations for CAMC Physicians Group, and he spent several years managing private physician offices.

Mr. Cox has also achieved the rank of Commander in the U.S. Navy Reserve as an Air Traffic Control specialist. He has more than 31 years of combined active and reserve military service with multiple tours of duty overseas. Commander Cox currently serves on the Navy Reserve Joint Staff South team in support of cyber defense and joint coalition interoperability for the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Mr. Cox was appointed to the West Virginia Board of Osteopathic Medicine on April 10, 2021. He is a native of Logan County and currently resides in Hurricane, West Virginia.

BIOGRAPHY

Brianna Sheppard, PhD, MA

Dr. Sheppard is the Director of the statewide WV Area Health Education Centers Program (WV AHEC) whose mission is to improve the health of communities by developing an interprofessional workforce prepared to address the health needs of rural and underserved communities of the state.

Prior to serving as the WV AHEC Director, she was the Associate Director for Rural Health Workforce and Center Development at the National Center for Rural Health Professions. The NCRHP is housed in the University of Illinois College of Medicine Rockford and is dedicated to meeting the health care needs of rural residents and their communities around the nation and throughout the world through educational programs, translational research, and policy initiatives.

She has also served as Assistant Director for the West Virginia University (WVU) Institute for Community and Rural Health, Associate Director of Research for the WVU Health Affairs Institute, and Co-Director of Community Engagement and Outreach within the West Virginia Clinical and Translational Science Institute.

She has previously served on the WVRHA Board of Directors and has been active in the policy and poster sub-committees from 2015-2021. She is a member of the Appalachian Translational Research Network Executive Leadership Committee, serving as Chair in 2023, and is an active member of the National Rural Health Association.

BIOGRAPHY

Terry Wooten, MA

Associate Director, WV Area Health Education Centers

Terry Wooten is the associate director for the West Virginia Area Health Education Centers Program (WV AHEC). At WV AHEC, she works with five regional AHEC center directors, local partners, students, and collaborators to develop and promote community-based projects in West Virginia to improve healthcare in rural and underserved communities.

Terry has more than 25 years of experience in serving West Virginia communities and a passion for the health and well-being of the people of our state. She has experience in identifying and engaging community healthcare partners in rural communities, program development, promoting healthcare education and services in rural communities, rural healthcare professionals’ recruitment, and community improvement through her work at West Virginia University, The March of Dimes, The American Heart Association, Jackson General Hospital, and the Kanawha County Public Library System.

Terry serves as co-chair of the WVRHA Annual Conference Planning Committee, member of the WVRHA Policy Committee, member of the HSTA Summer Advisory Board and Kanawha Local Governing Board, and member of the National AHEC Organization’s Program Office Constituency Group, Northeast Learning Collaborative, and National Conference committees.

BIOGRAPHY

Janet Hinton, M.S., became WVSOM’s director of rural outreach in October 2018, a position in which she manages projects, programs and grants involving rural outreach activities. From 2010 to 2018, she served as program coordinator for WVSOM’s Rural Health Initiative program. Prior to joining WVSOM, Hinton served for 10 years as an assistant professor of medical assisting and allied health. Hinton has a Master of Science degree in health sciences and a Bachelor of Science degree in health education and wellness.

She has more than 29 years of experience in rural and emergency medicine in underserved areas of West Virginia. Hinton is a member of the National Rural Health Association and serves on the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission’s Health Advisory Board. Additionally, she was appointed to the National Surface Mine Rescue Advisory Board to assist in planning and implementing first aid scenarios for competitions across the U.S. Hinton is passionate about rural health and enjoys seeing WVSOM’s students stay in or return to the state to improve the health care needs of West Virginians. She has been a member of the West Virginia Rural Health Association since 2010, serving on the organization’s board of directors since 2017 and becoming president-elect in February 2023.

BIOGRAPHY

Katherine Calloway, D.O., MPH, is a West Virginia physician-leader dedicated to advancing rural health, medical education, and community-based care across Appalachia. She is a graduate of Wake Forest University, Boston University School of Public Health, and the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine.

Dr. Calloway serves as Chief Medical Officer of HospiceCare WV and Regional Assistant Dean to the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine. Her work spans private practice, federally qualified health centers, nonprofit and hospital-based systems, and academic medicine, with a focus on family medicine, osteopathic manipulative medicine, integrative and non-pharmacologic care, hospice and palliative medicine, chronic disease management, and rural workforce development.

Her career reflects a longstanding commitment to serving resource-limited communities both internationally and in West Virginia. She has held global public health leadership roles focused on HIV programs, chronic disease management, and post-conflict health system strengthening in collaboration with the United Nations, Emory University, and non-governmental organizations to advance sustainable population health systems.

Dr. Calloway serves on the advisory panel for the West Virginia Rural Health Transformation Program and is a Past President of the West Virginia Rural Health Association. She also serves on the Board of Directors for the West Virginia Academy of Family Physicians and as an advisor to the Bureau of International Osteopathic Medicine under the American Osteopathic Association. She lives in Charleston, West Virginia, with her husband and three children.

BIOGRAPHY

Amber Vance is currently the Grants Program Coordinator for the Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine Robert C. Byrd Center for Rural Health. As the Grants Program Coordinator at the Center for Rural Health, she has worked on numerous projects related to rural health issues such as retention and recruitment of rural health providers and rural research.

BIOGRAPHY

Brent Tomblin is a seasoned healthcare executive with over ten years’ experience. He obtained a Master of Science Degree in Healthcare Administration from Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia. Brent has served in leadership and executive roles in one of the state’s largest tertiary centers, as well as a rural twenty-five bed critical access hospital. In these roles Brent has overseen multiple primary care, specialty care, mental health, addiction, telehealth, mobile units, and pharmacy practices. He has been heavily involved in business development projects as well as recruiting new providers.

In addition to his professional achievements, Brent is also active in his community. He is a member of the Beni Kedem Shrine Temple in Charleston where his main objective is supporting the Shriners Hospitals for Children. Brent also serves on the Logan County Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, the Southern West Virginia Community and Technical College Board of Directors and the Logan Healthcare Foundation Advisory Committee. Brent was selected to participate in the 2016 Leadership Logan and 2019 Leadership West Virginia, 2019 Generation Next 40 under 40, as well as Marquis Who’s Who in 2021. Brent lives in Charleston, WV with his wife Brittany and their daughter Saylor. Brent’s goal and desire is to contribute to the growth and development of his state and its communities by providing tools and resources to its residents so they may achieve a longer, healthier, and more enriched life.

BIOGRAPHY

Brock Malcolm is the leader of the Bowles Rice Health Care Practice Group. Prior to joining the firm, he served as Chief Operations Officer and In-house Legal Counsel for Community Care of West Virginia, Inc. (CCWV), a Federally Qualified Health Center with operations across a significant portion of West Virginia. In addition to his legal and operational duties, he served as Privacy Officer and oversaw the organization’s compliance program and risk management and emergency preparedness committees.

With experience unique to rural and community health care, Brock brings a deep understanding of regional health issues to the Bowles Rice team. He served on the Medical Subcommittee of the U.S. Attorney’s Addiction Action Plan. As former Chair for the Partners In Health Network, he helped members work toward a rational approach to health care delivery and access to essential health services in West Virginia’s rural communities. Brock is the primary author of the firm’s West Virginia Health Care Law blog.

In addition to serving as the immediate past President of the West Virginia Rural Health Association, Brock currently serves as the President of United Way of Harrison and Doddridge Counties and as a board member for Healthy Harrison, Inc., The Center for Rural Health Development, Philanthropy West Virginia, the Resilience Collaborative, and the Clarksburg Lions Club.

BIOGRAPHY

Dr. Bob Foster, D.O. is the Assistant Dean for Osteopathic Medical Education and Professor of Family Medicine and Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine at the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine (WVSOM). He is a native of Arizona and practiced Family Medicine with OB and Emergency Medicine in Tucson before coming to WVSOM in 1978 because of its mission to train rural physicians. He was previously the Associate Clinical Dean responsible for all the clinical programs at hospitals and clinics all around the State of WV. Dr. Bob served as Deputy Medical Examiner for 38 years, was Medical Director of 3 ambulance squads, was on the founding Board of the Family Refuge Center, Served on the Board of WV Children’s Home Society, 11 years on the WV Board of Osteopathic Medicine, Greenbrier Valley Health Alliance, Child Abuse Task Force, and many other community organizations. His current passions in medical education include: the Rural Enhancement Program (with hand chosen Medical Students from every class), teaching reversing degenerative disease with Nutrition in Medicine, Spirituality in Medicine, International Medicine and the uniqueness of Osteopathic Medicine.

BIOGRAPHY

Court A. Hereford is an experienced researcher driven to enhancing holistic health and care among WV communities.

In her role with West Virginia University’s Health Affairs Institute (HAI), Court provides dynamic research and evaluation support in collaboration with the WV DHHR in efforts to expand and enhance mental and behavioral health services for WV youth and families. Court is a proud WV native and a returned Peace Corps volunteer with dual masters and fellowship in the science of public health and social work (MSPH, MSW) from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Prior to joining HAI, Court was the research director for the Center for Rural and Community Health at the WV School of Osteopathic Medicine in partnership with the WV Clinical and Translational Science Institute.

Court is passionate for holistic health access and equity with research and programmatic experience spanning refugee and migrant resettlement, child protective services, workforce services, LGBTQ+ and underserved communities across WV, the Carolinas, and abroad. She is board member and conference chair of the WV Rural Health Association and has been active across local inclusion efforts including Greenbrier Valley Pride, Greenbrier County Health Alliance, Race Matters, Lewisburg Literary Festival, and Communities in Schools.

Education

MSPH, Master of Science of Public Health, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill

MSW, Master of Social Work, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill

BA, Political Science, College of Charleston, SC

BIOGRAPHY

Professor Department of Pediatrics, West Virginia University School of Medicine, Executive Director WVU Institute for Community and Rural Health

Larry A. Rhodes, MD is a Professor of Pediatrics at West Virginia University (WVU) School of Medicine in Morgantown, WV. Dr. Rhodes has served on the faculty at WVU School of Medicine from 1991 to 1995 and 2005 until present. A native of West Virginia, he is a 1980 graduate of Alderson Broaddus College in Philippi WV and a 1984 graduate of WVU School of Medicine. Following medical school, he completed a Pediatric Residency at WVU Children’s Hospital and a Cardiology Fellowship at Boston Children’s Hospital. He served as the Pediatrics Residency Program Director from 1993-1995. He then spent ten years at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia as the Director of Pediatric Electrophysiology and on the fellowship recruitment committee. With his return to WVU in 2005 he served as the Chief of Pediatric Cardiology until 2012 when he became the Chairman of Pediatrics. Dr. Rhodes stepped down as the Chair of Pediatrics in July 2016 to take on a full-time role in rural and community medicine. He has served on several hospital committees including the UHA Board, Medical Executive Committee, and the Ruby Memorial Hospital Planning Committee. He is a member of the Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Honor Society and was named Rural Practitioner of the Year in 2013 by the National Rural Health Association. He has received the resident teaching award 6 times as a faculty member in Pediatrics. Dr Rhodes has published over 60 peer reviewed articles, 10 book chapters and is an editor of a textbook on pediatric pacing and electrophysiology. He has over 30 years of experience in mentoring medical students and residents. He is hopelessly devoted to the State of West Virginia, its people and their health.

BIOGRAPHY

Ashalia Aggarwal is an advocate for Centers of Excellence in medicine. She began her organization – The Giving Palm – in high school and has since dedicated her time to improving health outcomes in West Virginia. Outside of her community service work, she is currently a second year medical student at Marshall University’s Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine. She also completed her undergraduate degree in Biology with a minor in English at Marshall University.

BIOGRAPHY

Dr. Mark Waddell is a 1990 alumnus of the WV School of Osteopathic Medicine and holds board certification in Family Medicine and Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine. In addition to his Family Medicine and OMT Residency at Allegheny Regional Hospital in Low Moor Virginia, Dr Waddell completed an Emergency Medicine Certificate Program at West Virginia University School of Medicine.

As a lifetime member of the WVSOM Alumni Association, he has served in many different facets and is a past president of the WVSOM Alumni Association Board. Currently, Dr. Waddell is an Associate Professor of Clinical Medicine here at WVSOM where he also serves as the Director of Rural and International Medicine. Additionally, he served as the Assistant Program Director of the Family Medicine Residency at CAMC Greenbrier Valley Medical Center for four years prior to accepting his position with the RIM Center. He also works part time as an ER physician at CAMC Greenbrier Valley Medical Center. His past work history includes 18 years of employment as the Emergency Department Medical Director for both Team Health and WVU Medicine and he has amassed over 30+ years of experience providing emergency medical care in rural Appalachia.

Over the last 30+ years Dr. Waddell has been a Family Physician and Hospitalist as well as an ER Physician. He is an ACLS instructor, ATLS instructor, long time member of the International Wilderness Medicine Society and a frequent lecturer on Wilderness Survival to healthcare providers and lay persons. He also served on the Physician Advisory Council for HealthNet Aeromedical Services and has provided survival training to the medical crews of both HealthNet and Air Evac Lifeteam. Recently he was awarded the 2022 WVSOM Distinguished Alumni Award and in 2023 he was presented with the West Virginia Rural Health Association’s Outstanding Rural Provider award.

In his free time, he is an advanced scuba diver, kayaker, and backpacker. Along with enjoying family time with his wife, three adult children and granddaughter, Dr. Waddell enjoys blacksmithing, woodworking, gardening, and travel. However, when asked which of these activities bring the most joy, he will smile and tell you that his joy comes from his personal relationship with Jesus and serving Him through short term medical mission trips to underdeveloped foreign countries. He and his wife Rebecca have been privileged to participate in 33 short term missions in 9 different countries on 5 different continents.

BIOGRAPHY

With over 30 years of healthcare management, provider relations, and customer service experience in rural Appalachian communities, Lisa has demonstrated strong leadership and operational excellence. She combines strategic, organizational, and interpersonal skills to drive healthcare engagement and administration. In her current role as a Provider Engagement Specialist at CareSource, she partners with health providers to enhance engagement and communication around products, services, and technology. She has experience working with NCQA Accreditation and Medicare Auditing. Previously, she held roles at Highmark BC/BS, DVA Renal Healthcare (CFO), and CIGNA Healthcare (Provider Representative), and began her career as a medical practice Office Manager.

Lisa holds a BA in Business Communication from Marietta College with a Certificate of Oral Communication. She has completed professional development courses including personal branding, value-based care reimbursement, leadership, and The Science of Well-Being from institutions such as CareSource, University of Houston, and Yale.

Her volunteer work includes roles with the WV Rural Health Association’s Conference Planning Committee, Save A Life Day-WV, conducting a monthly young ladies Bible study, and formerly serving as the Regional Girls Speech Coordinator for Lads-to-Leaders/Leaderettes.

Lisa and her husband, Harvey, enjoy spending time with their 3 children and 8 grandchildren who all reside in WV.

BIOGRAPHY

Since late-2019 Chris has been the chief executive office of HospiceCare, located in Charleston, WV. Prior to joining HospiceCare, Chris was Associate Administrator of the Ambulatory Division of CAMC. Previously he held positions with Arnett Carbis Toothman, SCANA Corporation, and Elliott Davis, LLC. He is a member of the board of directors of The Counseling Connection, the West Virginia Healthcare Financial Management Association and Partners in Health Network. Chris is a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives, the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the West Virginia Association of Certified Public Accountants and the Healthcare Financial Management Association.

The Charleston native is a graduate of George Washington High School and received his MBA and MS in Accounting, and BS in Finance, Economics and Accounting from the University of South Carolina. Mr. Rawlings currently lives in Charleston with his wife Kate and two sons, William and Thomas.

BIOGRAPHY

Stephanie Ballard Conrad, MA, is the chief of staff for clinical and translational science at West Virginia University, which is the home of the West Virginia Clinical and Translational Science Institute (WVCTSI). She has been with WVCTSI since 2013 and oversees operations, personnel, communications, outreach, and special initiatives. She works on several broad, grant-funded initiatives to improve the health of West Virginians including West Virginia Rural Roots to Research (expanding access to clinical trials in rural communities) and MAVERICK, WVCTSI’s mobile clinical trials unit that travels across the state.

She is the previous director of the Office of University Events within WVU’s President’s Office, leading operational and programmatic event planning and execution across the institution while collaborating with state and regional partners. Early in her career, Stephanie worked for a daily West Virginia newspaper, and she brings significant experience in communications strategy and messaging for distinct audiences. Additionally, she has served on the steering committee for the WVU Women’s Leadership Initiative since 2020 and has been a member since 2013.

Stephanie graduated from WVU with a bachelor’s degree in public relations and later a Master’s degree in corporate and organizational communication.

She is a Charleston, WV native and grew up in Morgantown where she resides with her husband and 2 daughters. She is passionate about addressing food insecurity and expanding access to reading and science resources for children.