Health Sciences
Welcome to the Health Sciences Division of the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission
The 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 are designed to grow and strengthen the healthcare workforce of the future through promoting equitable access to and support of health and behavioral health sciences education, 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
- Exhibit A pt.1 – SoW
- Exhibit A pt.2 – Workplan & Outcomes Tracking
- Exhibit B – Budget Detail
- Exhibit C – Budget Narrative
- Exhibit G – Eligibility Verification
Small Grants Programs
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.
- Health Sciences Service Program
- Choose WV Practice Program
- Mental Health Loan Repayment Program
- West Virginia Rural Health Residency Program
West Virginia Center for Nursing
West Virginia Center for Nursing is the state’s nursing workforce center.
- Nursing Career Pathways
- Junior and Senior Nursing Academies for middle and high school students
- WV Nursing Scholarship Program
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.
Contact
304-558-0530 (office) | 304-558-0532 (fax) | 1018 Kanawha Blvd. East, Charleston, WV
Office suite: Boulevard Tower, 7th floor
Staff
 | Dr. Cynthia Persily, Vice Chancellor for Health Sciences304-558-0530 ext. 26358Cynthia.Persily@wvhepc.edu |
 | Carolyn Canini, Director of Behavioral Health Programs304-558-0530 ext. 26391Carolyn.Canini@wvhepc.edu |
Jordyn Reed, Administrator, West Virginia Center for Nursing304-558-0838 ext. 26393Jordyn.Reed@wvhepc.edu |
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Michelle Ruppert, Health Sciences Program Administrator304-558-0530 ext. 26392Michelle.Ruppert@wvhepc.edu |