Health Sciences

Welcome to the Health Sciences Division of the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission

The WVHEPC Division of Health Sciences leads by leveraging expertise, fostering collaboration, and supporting innovation to improve the health of West Virginians, particularly rural and underserved populations. Our initiatives grow and strengthen the healthcare workforce of the future through promoting equitable access to health and behavioral health sciences education and through supporting research, practice, and policy.

Our Initiatives

Governor’s Nursing Workforce Expansion Program

The Governor's Nursing Workforce Expansion program ($48 million in 2022) to expand enrollment in the state’s nursing programs, supporting scholarships for nursing students, and investing in recruiting and reattaining of nurses for West Virginia.

Governor’s Emergency Medical Services Workforce Expansion Program

The Governor's Emergency Medical Services Workforce Expansion program ($10 million in 2022) to expand enrollment in EMS programs, providing free training, mobile ambulance simulators and more.

Rural Health Initiative

The Rural Health Initiative ($1.8 million per year in grants to the state’s three medical schools) to improve the pipeline, recruitment, and retention of healthcare providers in West Virginia’s rural areas.

Grants Portal Forms

Large Grants Programs
Small Grants Programs
Grant Application Tools

Behavioral Health Initiative

The Behavioral Health Initiative to improve the pipeline, recruitment, and retention of behavioral health providers in West Virginia’s underserved areas and impacts campus mental health.

Scholarship and Loan Repayment Programs

Scholarship and Loan Repayment Programs to increase the number of providers in underserved and rural areas of West Virginia.

West Virginia Center for Nursing

West Virginia Center for Nursing is the state’s nursing workforce center.

West Virginia Perinatal Partnership

West Virginia Perinatal Partnership to improve health outcomes for pregnant women and their babies in West Virginia.

West Virginia Anatomical Board

West Virginia Anatomical Board supports the Human Gifts Registry at the state’s three medical schools. Visit their websites at:

Related Media

Healthcare Workforce Data analysis and publication to assist with policy and planning decisions

News and Commentary

Contact

304-558-0530 (office)  |  304-558-0532 (fax)  |  1018 Kanawha Blvd. East, Charleston, WV

Office suite: Boulevard Tower, 7th floor

Staff

Amanda McCarty, Vice Chancellor for Health Sciences

304-558-0530 ext. 26358
Amanda.McCarty@wvhepc.edu
Carolyn Canini

Carolyn Canini, Director of Behavioral Health Programs

304-558-0530 ext. 26391
Carolyn.Canini@wvhepc.edu

Jordyn Reed, Administrator, West Virginia Center for Nursing

304-558-0838 ext. 26393
Jordyn.Reed@wvhepc.edu

Michelle Ruppert, Health Sciences Program Administrator

304-558-0530 ext. 26392
Michelle.Ruppert@wvhepc.edu
Deloris Vance

Deloris Vance, Business and Grants Coordinator

304-558-0530 ext. 26359
Deloris.Vance@wvhepc.edu