School of Medicine

Spurred by unproven assumptions that vaping is safer than smoking cigarettes, a team at West Virginia University is conducting a three-year study on the effects of vaping during pregnancy.

An international student who has immersed himself in the “cultural heartbeat” of his new community, a first-generation student graduating with a cumulative 4.0 grade-point average who had no access to high school college-prep courses and a Black woman who aspires to bridge the gap between research and clinical care to improve health disparities are among the graduating seniors to receive West Virginia University’s highest student honor, the Order of Augusta. These eight students are among 50 named WVU Foundation Outstanding Seniors.

It’s been 10 years since former West Virginia University Emergency Medicine resident Greg Seftick died in an avalanche at Wyoming’s Grand Teton National Park. Shortly after the tragic accident, the WVU Foundation worked with Seftick’s family and the School of Medicine to establish the Dr. Gregory Seftick Wilderness Medicine Fund. Now, Seftick’s family has partnered with the Foundation again to launch a crowdfunding effort that builds upon his legacy.

A West Virginia University tradition, although delayed by a global pandemic, was held Friday, April 23, as Timmy Eads passed the Mountaineer Mascot rifle to Colson Glover, who began his second year in the buckskins with the spring football Gold-Blue game on Saturday, April 24.

Just as e-cigarette ingredients can vary from one region to another, the health effects of vaping can have regional characteristics as well. A new study out of West Virginia University suggests that rural e-cigarette users are older—and often get sicker—than their urban counterparts.

West Virginia University will pause administration of Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen COVID-19 vaccine based on a joint recommendation released Tuesday (April 13) from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration. WVU strongly recommends all students and employees be vaccinated for COVID-19.

When you think of ways to treat opioid use disorder, you probably imagine methadone clinics and Narcotics Anonymous meetings, not stretching and strengthening exercises. But Anne Swisher—a professor with the WVU Division of Physical Therapy—is working to address opioid misuse through physical therapy. She and her colleagues enhanced physical therapy instruction at WVU to emphasize the profession’s role in addressing opioid use disorder.

Despite the challenges posed by the pandemic, West Virginia University’s Bucklew Scholars continue to maintain high standards for academics, a passion for discovery and a desire to serve their state and others, while eagerly awaiting an opportunity to travel abroad.

West Virginia University graduates will return to in-person commencement ceremonies this May; and although some restrictions will be in place because of COVID-19, the celebrations will be no less memorable for the 4,499 who walk across the stage to receive their diplomas. Graduates from May, August and December 2020 are also eligible to participate in the exercises.

Peter Stoilov, associate professor of biochemistry at the West Virginia University School of Medicine is helping to lead the laboratory efforts of a statewide partnership between WVU Medicine, Marshall University and the state Department of Health and Human Resources to identify COVID-10 variants.