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WVSOM chief operations officer and an alumna names ‘West Virginia Wonder Women’

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WVSOM chief operations officer and an alumna names ‘West Virginia Wonder Women’


Katherine Hill Calloway, D.O., MPH, regional assistant dean for the South Central Region of WVSOM’s Statewide Campus.
WVSOM’s Chief Operations Officer Drema Hill, Ph.D., MSP.

Two women employed at the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine (WVSOM) have been recognized for their work throughout the state. 

Drema Hill, Ph.D., MSP, WVSOM’s chief operations officer, and Katherine Hill Calloway, D.O., MPH, regional assistant dean for the South Central Region of WVSOM’s Statewide Campus, were named to this year’s “West Virginia Wonder Women” by WV Living magazine.

They are two of 50 women featured in the publication’s fall 2024 issue for being identified as leaders who raise the bar in their communities and force change for the greater good in their industries. 

“I am pleased to join my female colleagues across the state who were selected to be honored as West Virginia Wonder Women,” Hill said. “We all have different areas of expertise, but together, we make West Virginia stronger.”

Hill received a bachelor’s degree from West Virginia State University, a Master of Public Service Management degree from Cumberland University and a Ph.D. degree in human services with a specialization in health care administration from Capella University. 

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The Boone County, WV, native joined WVSOM in 2016 and became one of the school’s vice presidents in 2019. She has more than three decades of experience in public health leadership, including positions with the West Virginia Bureau for Public Health, the Tennessee Department of Health, Vanderbilt University’s Nashville Health Management Foundation and Comprehensive Care Center, and the Mid-Ohio Valley Regional Health Office. She currently serves as WVSOM’s vice president for community engagement and chief operations officer.

Hill develops and implements processes that help WVSOM achieve its strategic objectives. She also oversees the school’s Center for Rural and Community Health, Audio Visual and Production Department, Information Technology Department, Marketing and Communications Department and WVSOM’s rural health policy director. Her previous work in public health facilitates her ability to collaborate with external partners on statewide initiatives to improve the health of West Virginians.

“I have had a long career in public health and I still most enjoy working with community partners to foster and implement innovative ideas that improve health outcomes in disenfranchised populations. West Virginia is my home. I love the mountains and I love the people,” Hill said.

Before earning a D.O. degree from WVSOM in 2008, Calloway graduated from Wake Forest University with a double major in sports medicine and medical anthropology, and completed a Master of Public Health degree from Boston University. 

She said she is honored to be recognized among so many women making positive change in West Virginia. 

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“It reminds me of how much strength we have in West Virginia. The things these women are doing are incredible and impactful in a way that will bring a legacy and will make a difference for generations to come,” she said. “To be considered part of that group of women is a huge honor and privilege.”

Calloway began working as a regional assistant dean in WVSOM’s Statewide Campus in 2022.The school’s Statewide Campus consists of seven regions across the state. In her role, she oversees third- and fourth-year medical student curriculum development and student clinical rotations. In addition to her duties at WVSOM, the Kanawha County native is the director of clinical development and provides inpatient care with HospiceCare West Virginia, the state’s largest nonprofit hospice service.

She has spent much of her adult life working overseas, with efforts such as assisting with post-conflict health care development in war-torn Kosovo, where she first managed a reproductive health program with the International Rescue Committee and later implemented health policy for 17 primary care health clinics as a health officer with the United Nations. She worked with the Clinton Foundation to reduce disparities in AIDS prevention and treatment in Mozambique, and with Emory University’s HIV clinic in Rwanda.

Years later she returned to West Virginia as a physician with Charleston Internal Medicine and then began serving in public health by shifting her practice to Cabin Creek Health Systems, where she developed and supported a nonpharmacologic pain management program as part of their medication-assisted treatment program for people in substance use recovery. She then moved to HospiceCare and WVSOM. 

“The things I did globally were relevant to what we do here in our rural communities because there are so many similarities to chronic disease management or to working in areas that are resource poor. Coming back to West Virginia has been incredibly fulfilling to not only apply some of what we were doing with health care globally to our communities but also because this is part of my heritage,” she said.

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WVSOM President James W. Nemitz, Ph.D., said he is proud of “wonder women” like Hill and Calloway whose careers as public health providers span decades and make West Virginia healthier.

“The women representing WVSOM have proven to be remarkable game changers in the health care industry and public health sector,” he said. “Dr. Calloway is a physician who has served communities locally and internationally, and Dr. Hill is an influential change-maker when it comes to public health and public policy in the state. Each year I am grateful that WV Living recognizes women for their successes and the impact they make.”

WV Living will honor the recipients at a West Virginia Wonder Women event on Oct. 30 in Charleston, WV.



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West Virginia Wesleyan college holds job fair on campus

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West Virginia Wesleyan college holds job fair on campus


BUCKHANNON, W.Va (WDTV) –

West Virginia Wesleyan college held a job fair at their library on campus.

During the job fair they had various employers at the fair to help student when they are trying to find a career after college, or looking for an internship.

“We have about fifteen different business everything from the burau of ATF, FBI and several healthcare individuals and just a wide variety where students can purse jobs with.”

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These job fairs are a way for students to have help when professional networking with employer’s and to prepare them for the what’s next after college.



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Iowa State vs West Virginia football prediction, picks, betting odds: Who wins Week 7 game?

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Iowa State vs West Virginia football prediction, picks, betting odds: Who wins Week 7 game?


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Coming off another convincing victory, Iowa State football hits the road and hopes to keep its undefeated streak alive at West Virginia on Saturday. FOX will show the 7 p.m. contest.

The Cyclones (5-0) will look to build on a strong start that includes wins over North Dakota, Iowa, Arkansas State, Houston and Baylor. Meanwhile, West Virginia is 3-2 is coming off a 38-14 win at Oklahoma State.

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Here are our expert picks and the betting odds for the game:

More: Iowa State football: Cyclones prep for West Virginia, eye first 6-0 start since 1938

Iowa State football vs West Virginia betting odds, money line, over/under for Week 7 game

Odds courtesy of BetMGM as of Tuesday, Oct. 8.

  • Moneyline: Iowa State -155, West Virginia +130
  • Spread: Iowa State -3
  • O/U: 53.5

Not interested in this game? Our guide to college football betting odds, picks and spreads has you covered.

If you’re new to sports betting, don’t worry. We have tips for beginners on how to place a bet online. And USA TODAY Network readers can claim exclusive promos and bonus codes with these online sportsbooks and sports betting sites.

More: What channel is Iowa State football vs West Virginia on Saturday? Time, TV to watch Week 7 game

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Iowa State vs West Virginia football prediction, picks for college football Week 7



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Senate approves Child Care Tax Credit, House squashes Justices’ other child care bill • West Virginia Watch

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Senate approves Child Care Tax Credit, House squashes Justices’ other child care bill • West Virginia Watch


Lawmakers came into the special session aware of the state’s child care crisis. West Virginia needs more than 20,000 child care spots. Meanwhile, hundreds of providers have closed down this year — despite waitlists for families — due to financial strain and uncertain state funding.

Gov. Jim Justice put two child care focused bills on his special session call. He focused on affordability, and lawmakers approved his plan for a state level Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit.

Eligible West Virginia families, who already claim the federal child care tax credit, would on average receive around $250 through the state level credit, according to lawmakers. Most families are paying $600 to $700 a month for day care. 

The House of Delegates opted to punt on Justice’s other child care bill, which would have given $5 million in funds for a pilot program with an outside company to open five new day care centers and help connect providers with children who could fill spots. 

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On Wednesday, after the special session concluded, Justice told reporters that the state should have put more money into child care. Justice said he included bills that he thought would be approved. 

“When we decide that child care is a real problem and it warrants absolute consideration and concern, then we’ll do something about it and we’ll do something about it in a profound way,” he said. “We didn’t do as much as I wanted to in regards to child care, but we did something.”

House Bill 229, which allocated surplus money for Justice’s pilot program idea, didn’t include the details on how it would be used. Lawmakers said the money would likely go to Wonderschool, a California-based company focused on child care. 

“Instead of pouring millions into an out-of-state program, let’s focus on tweaking these programs in West Virginia,” said Del. Wayne Clark, R-Jefferson. 

Several lawmakers noted that child care providers had already told lawmakers what they needed, including increased subsidies for day care centers that serve more than 15,000 low-income children in the state.

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Del. Joey Garcia, D-Marion

“Honestly, I don’t know who worked for this other than maybe a lobbyist,” said Del. Joey Garcia, D-Marion. “We have heard from the people on the ground that are running these businesses that there are certain things they need. I don’t see [how] giving $5 million to some recruitment agency or some app … how is that not money that’s just going down the drain?” 

At Garcia’s suggestion, the House voted 47-40 to table the bill indefinitely. The House and Senate adjourned sine die late Tuesday evening, concluding the special session. 

Justice said he had tried to put $20 million into child care but it got whittled down to a $5 million ask for his pilot program.

“Lobbyists were up there going crazy, trying to grab the cheese. The Legislature got tired of it, and said we’re done, we’re not going to do that,” he said.

The Senate signed off on the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit on Tuesday, sending the bill to the governor’s desk on the final day of the special session. It would allow eligible families to claim a credit equal to 50% of the allowable federal child and dependent care credit.

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It will cost $4.2 million to implement, according to the bill’s fiscal note

“The first-ever for working families in West Virginia,” Justice said. “It’s a good start. We’ve got to do more.”

Lawmakers and the state Chamber of Commerce urged Justice to add other child care bills to the special session call. Bills during the regular session, which failed to get up for a vote, had included ideas like helping child care workers pay for daycare and giving businesses an increased tax credit for providing child care.

“We worked hand-in-hand with the leadership and agreed on what’s got a shot and what’s not,” Justice said. 

Del. Kayla Young, D-Kanawha, said that she was glad that the special session resulted in some relief for families. “We know every little bit helps,” she said. 

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Young, who has led child care legislation efforts in the House, continued, “I was disappointed but not surprised to see the governor not follow through on this promise to allocate $20 million to child care providers. I look forward to meaningful work in the regular session. Solving child care means bringing providers, parents, employers, tech solutions and our state agencies to the table.”

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