West Virginia

West Virginia Department of Health announces leadership for Rural Health Transformation Program

Published

4 months ago

February 17, 2026

West Virginia Department of Health announces leadership for Rural Health Transformation Program

The West Virginia Department of Health announced the official launch of new executive leadership for the Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) with the appointment of Dr. Carrie Jeffries, DNP, MPH, ANP-BC, NEA-BC, FACHE, AACRN, as Director and Dr. Soumya Prasad, MD, MBA, FAAP, as Deputy Director, according to a press release. Both begin their roles on Tuesday, February 17, 2026.

The appointments mark a significant milestone as the state accelerates implementation of its nationally recognized Rural Health Transformation Program.

Dr. Jeffries brings extensive clinical and executive leadership experience to the role. As a Doctor of Nursing Practice and Master of Public Health, she combines advanced clinical training with deep expertise in healthcare administration and system redesign. Dr. Jeffries holds board certifications as an Adult Nurse Practitioner and Nurse Executive Advanced and is a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives. Throughout her career, she has led complex healthcare operations, advanced quality improvement initiatives and strengthened care delivery systems to improve patient outcomes at scale. Dr. Jeffries’ background in rural and under-resourced healthcare uniquely positions her to lead RHTP’s statewide transformation efforts with both clinical credibility and operational discipline.

Serving as Deputy Director, Dr. Prasad is a practicing pediatrician, board certified with the American Board of Pediatrics, and an experienced healthcare executive with more than 20 years of clinical, academic, corporate and regulatory leadership experience. She has served as a Medical Officer supporting the National Institutes of Health and the National Cancer Institute, directing pharmacovigilance strategy and compliance across early phase oncology trials while ensuring alignment with federal regulatory standards. Dr. Prasad has also held senior global safety leadership roles at IQVIA, advising executive teams on risk management, regulatory interactions and safety oversight driving global drug development. In addition, she maintains active clinical engagement in pediatrics through her private practice at Candor Care, PLLC.

“Today is a major step forward for the Rural Health Transformation Program,” said Dr. Arvin Singh, Secretary of Health for West Virginia and Acting Director of RHTP. “Dr. Jeffries brings executive healthcare leadership and advanced clinical expertise that will drive system level transformation. Dr. Prasad strengthens our team with deep clinical experience, federal research leadership, and global regulatory insight.

“Together, this leadership team positions RHTP to execute quickly and deliver measurable improvements in access, quality, and outcomes for rural communities across our state. With their appointments, I will transition from the Acting Director role while maintaining direct executive oversight of the Rural Health Transformation Program, with all major strategic decisions and approvals continuing through my office. RHTP remains one of my highest priorities as Secretary of Health, and I will remain actively engaged to ensure disciplined execution, accountability, and results for the people of West Virginia.”

In addition to Dr. Jeffries and Dr. Prasad, the RHTP team recently welcomed Michael Sheets, former State Procurement Officer, and John Leite, former Assistant to the Public Health Commissioner, who began their roles last week to support rapid operational execution.

The Rural Health Transformation Program represents a historic investment in modernizing rural healthcare infrastructure, expanding access to essential services, strengthening workforce pipelines and building sustainable systems of care across West Virginia.

The Department of Health is aggressively hiring additional team members and advancing implementation efforts, including finalizing Requests for Proposals, establishing procurement pathways and accelerating program rollout to ensure timely execution of this transformative initiative.

The Department is also finalizing the Rural Health Transformation Program Advisory Panel, an expansive group of clinical, operational and community leaders who will help guide strategy and ensure accountability. Advisory panel membership will be announced in the coming weeks.

For more information about the Rural Health Transformation Program, visit health.wv.gov.

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West Virginia

Justice firm’s delinquent DEP fines rise past $1.6M amid DOJ criminal liability relief

Published

1 hour ago

June 27, 2026

Press Room

Justice firm’s delinquent DEP fines rise past .6M amid DOJ criminal liability relief

One of the most prominent coal companies in the teetering business empire of United States Sen. Jim Justice, R-W.Va., owes the state of West Virginia over $1.6 million in delinquent fines. Justice’s Bluestone Coal Corp. owes the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection roughly $1.61 million in delinquent fines issued for 214 violations across 44 DEP-issued mining permits spanning Sept. 2019 to March 2026, according to records the Gazette-Mail obtained via a Freedom of Information Act request. Bluestone Coal’s delinquent fine debt has grown 32.5% from the roughly $1.21 million it totaled in January 2026, according to records from a previous Gazette-Mail request, an indication that the long-running debt at the expense of Justice’s own constituents may not be going away anytime soon. But the companies’ long history of environmental failures was an issue that prompted a federal criminal investigation scuttled earlier in 2026 by Trump administration officials, according to a report published June 8 by ProPublica and Mountain State Spotlight.

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West Virginia

West Virginia First Foundation advances key initiatives at second quarterly board meeting

Published

12 hours ago

June 26, 2026

Press Room

West Virginia First Foundation advances key initiatives at second quarterly board meeting

Community Bulletin

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CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The West Virginia First Foundation (WVFF) convened its second quarterly board meeting of 2026 at Ascend West Virginia in Charleston, continuing its work to advance prevention, treatment and recovery efforts across West Virginia through responsible stewardship of opioid settlement funds.

The meeting provided board members with updates on several key initiatives and strategic priorities currently underway.

Expert panel appointments

A significant focus of the meeting was the appointment of several volunteer Expert Panel members following the conclusion of certain panel terms. Expert panelists serve in advisory roles and provide regional knowledge, professional expertise and community perspective to help inform WVFF’s work and funding priorities. To allow time for all appointees to complete the necessary confirmation and onboarding process, names will not be publicly released until all appointments have been finalized.

“Expert Panelists play an important role in helping us understand the needs, challenges, and opportunities facing our local communities,” said Jonathan Board, Executive Director of WVFF. “We are grateful for the individuals who volunteer their time and expertise to support this work and help guide thoughtful, informed decision-making.”

Local government reporting and best practices

Board members reviewed progress on the 2026 Local Government Expenditure Report, which compiles annual spending data submitted by local governments receiving opioid settlement funds. Staff reported that more than 65% of eligible local governments have submitted expenditure reports to date, with the statewide report expected to be released in mid-July.

The board also received an update on new resources being developed to help local governments identify promising practices and learn from successful approaches being implemented across West Virginia. While WVFF does not direct how local governments spend their allocated settlement funds, the Foundation remains committed to providing educational resources that highlight allowable uses, share examples from around the state and support informed local decision-making.

[CHAMBER] [2026-06-23] Hiring Executive Director

In the coming months, WVFF plans to host regional learning sessions that will bring local government representatives together to share experiences, discuss challenges and explore opportunities to maximize the impact of opioid settlement investments within their communities.

Strategic priorities

The board received updates on the Community Catalyst Grant (CCG) program, which opened for applications on June 1 and remains open through June 30. Designed as a three-year, outcomes-driven investment, the program will support projects focused on public safety response, day report centers and generational prevention efforts.

Board members also received updates on the West Virginia Wayfinder, the statewide needs assessment project led by the West Virginia University Health Affairs Institute, in partnership with the Institute for Policy Research and Public Affairs, and Data Driven WV. Meetings and engagement activities are underway with WVFF staff, expert panelists and community stakeholders across the state, with data, insights and priority areas currently being gathered and analyzed to help identify needs, gaps and opportunities related to substance use disorder prevention, treatment and recovery services in West Virginia.

“Our Board remains focused on ensuring these funds are invested responsibly and strategically for the benefit of West Virginia communities,” said Greg Duckworth, Chairman of the WVFF Board of Directors. “Each meeting provides an opportunity to review progress, strengthen accountability, and continue building on the work being done across the state.”

Direct funding request approved

The board also voted to approve a $4 million direct funding request submitted by the Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute (RNI) at West Virginia University. The project is focused on expanding access to innovative addiction treatment and recovery support tools while building the technology and infrastructure needed to support implementation across West Virginia.

Consistent with WVFF’s commitment to transparency and accountability, additional details regarding the project and funding agreement will be released in the coming weeks following the completion of final documentation. WVFF and RNI plan to issue a joint announcement once the agreement process has been finalized.

Hold the Line Tour stop at Rea of Hope

After the board meeting, WVFF board members and staff will visit Rea of Hope, an Initial Opportunity Grant awardee, as part of the Foundation’s Hold the Line Tour, which highlights organizations and programs working to make a difference in communities across West Virginia. The visit will provide an opportunity to hear directly from leadership about the impact of recovery-focused services and community support.

The next regular meeting of the Foundation’s board of directors is scheduled for September 17, 2026 (subject to change). Visit wvfirst.org to learn more.

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