History & Team
Team
Dedication. Expertise. Passion.
In October of 2014, a group of providers from six federally qualified health centers (Cabin Creek Health Systems, FamilyCare, Lincoln Primary Care, New River Health Association, Valley Health Systems, and Wirt Health Services Association) and one academic medical center (Charleston Area Medical Center Family Medicine) formed a primary care network dedicated to finding creative solutions to community health issues. The WVACHS has been maturing from that point to include additional primary care systems, organizations, and researchers. The network is a mixture of health care providers, health care administrators, and academic researchers. It was brought together by the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission with funding and support from the Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation.
The WVACHS became an Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality registered practice-based research network in August, 2020 and became certified as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization in May, 2021.
We love our communities and state, find great value in our work, and feel confident that we can make significant impact on priority health issues in our state and region.
Board of Directors
Joanna Bailey, MD
Board Certified Family Physician
Tug River Health Association
Co-Director of Research; Board of Directors
Adam Baus, PhD, MA, MPH
Research Assistant Professor
West Virginia University School of Public Health, Office of Health Services Research
Board of Directors
Kimberly Becher, MD
Chief Medical Officer
Community Care of West Virginia
Research Assistant
Trey Bennett, MS
Medical Student
West Virginia University School of Medicine
Board of Directors
Jennifer Boyd, PA-C
Physician Assistant
New River Health Association
Carolyn Canini
Director, Behavioral Health Program
West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission
Board of Directors, Treasurer
Martha Carter, DHSc, MBA, APRN, CNM, FACNM
Former CEO
FamilyCare
Mollie Cecil, MD, FAAFP
Family Physician
US Department of Veterans Affairs, Clarksburg, WV
.
Angela Oglesby Cherry, MD, MBA, FAAFP
Residency Program Director, Asst Prof Rural Family Medicine
WVU Department of Medicine, Eastern Campus
Board of Directors
Jill Cochran, PhD, APRN, C-FNP, FAANP
Associate Professor
West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine
Daniel Doyle, MD
Family Physician
Cabin Creek Health Systems
Board of Directors
Treah Haggerty, MD
Associate Professor, Director of the Rural Scholars Program
West Virginia University School of Medicine, Department of Family Medicine
Board of Directors, Secretary
Sarah Hansen, MSN, AGPCNP-BC, RN
Adult-Geriatric Nurse Practitioner
Advanced Practice Provider Fellowship Program Director
Cabin Creek Health Systems
.
Shelby Helmick, BS
Research Assistant
Master of Public Health Student, West Virginia University School of Public Health
Board of Directors
Kevin McCann, MD
Family Medicine
Marshall University, Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine
Co-Director of Operations and Grants Management
Rebecca Tilson Thacker, MS
Rural Health Initiative Program Director
West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine
Board of Directors, Chair
April L. Vestal, MPH
Director
West Virginia University Institute for Community & Rural Health
Robert Walker, MD
Professor; Director, Geriatric Medicine Fellowship
Marshall Health, Family Medicine
.
Mathew Weimer, MD
Family Physician and Chief Quality Officer
Valley Health Systems