WVU Medicine

Citing the urgent need to vaccinate as many West Virginians against the SARS-CoV-2 virus as soon as possible, the elected leadership of Monongalia County, the Monongalia Health Department, Mon Health System, and WVU Medicine announced Monday (Jan. 25) that they are combining resources – people, vaccines, and infrastructure – to support Gov. Jim Justice’s on-going efforts to vaccinate West Virginians against the virus. The new partnership will unite community vaccination efforts utilizing the existing clinic that WVU Medicine established last week at the Morgantown Mall in the former Sears location.

Pregnancy doesn’t have to sabotage athletes’ fitness. Shon Rowan—a researcher with the WVU School of Medicine—and his colleagues used a wearable device called WHOOP to monitor the heart rate and heart rate variability of women before they conceived, throughout pregnancy and after giving birth. The data that the researchers collected from the WHOOP devices suggests that some women may be in better shape after delivering their babies than they were before they became pregnant.

West Virginia University alumnus George R. Farmer Jr. was a successful attorney who devoted his career to carrying on the giving tradition of one of West Virginia’s most celebrated benefactors. In doing so, he helped transform his alma mater and the Morgantown community through impactful philanthropic giving that will be remembered long beyond his passing Monday, at the age of 92.

The spring semester begins on Tuesday, Jan. 19, and West Virginia University is sharing details to help students, faculty and staff stay safe and abide by the University’s guidance to protect the campuses and surrounding communities from the spread of COVID-19. The campus community is invited to join a Return to Campus Conversation on Thursday, Jan. 14, from 10-11:30 a.m. to hear from administrators and public health experts and ask them questions.

Although it may seem that the COVID-19 vaccine came from out of nowhere, it underwent the same rigorous testing that all vaccines do. Ivan Martinez—a virologist with the WVU School of Medicine and Cancer Institute—discusses how the vaccine was made, why it’s safe, and how it will make our lives better in 2021.

West Virginia University President Gordon Gee called for transformation during Friday’s (Dec. 18) Board of Governors meeting, warning that across the country there is a loss of public trust and the perceived value of higher education has diminished.

West Virginia University researchers saw a sharp uptick in inquiries regarding end-of-life care in the first half of 2020, according to a study published in the Journal of Pain and Symptom Management.

Amidst a global pandemic, exercise has become a more valuable tool in boosting immune systems and managing stress, according to West Virginia University researchers. Thanks to a program spearheaded by the WVU College of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences, West Virginians, from Berkeley County to Mingo County, will have new and improved opportunities to be physically active in their communities.

Across the nation, many individuals who identify as transgender or gender diverse avoid accessing health care, even basic primary care, because of fear of discrimination or mistreatment — but WVU Medicine is implementing a number of strategies to improve care for this patient population.

Medical specialists often can’t—or choose not to—work in rural emergency departments. But Scott Findley, a researcher with the WVU School of Medicine, and his colleagues are using telehealth to close that gap. They have received a $1.2 million grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration to support telehealth at four rural emergency departments in West Virginia. Findley and his colleagues will connect the four emergency departments with WVU Medicine specialists in Morgantown.