HSCommunity is a newsletter from the Health Sciences Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Subcommittee on Communications.
September 2022: Welcome to the WVU Health Sciences Community
/ Court Side
Hello, students, faculty and staff:
I know many of you may have met me already or seen announcements, but I wanted to take this time to introduce myself. My name is Courtney, but you can call me Court. My pronouns are they/them. I grew up in Paint Creek (Kanawha County) and graduated from Riverside High School. I attended WVU for my undergraduate in psychology and my master’s in social work. My passion in life is to help people remember that there is so much value in the ways we differ as humans – if we only approach it that way. While the work of DEI is always a big adventure and undertaking, I am dedicated to chipping away at it a little at a time until all Mountaineers experience acceptance and pride.
If you are looking to find or connect with me, you can always email and set up an appointment, or you can find me located in the Chancellor and Executive Dean’s Suite in HSC South. In addition, I will be using this column to connect, reflect and share ideas. Please reach out to me to do the same! I hope you all had a fantastic start to the semester! As we move forward, think about your fellow Mountaineers. We differ in many ways, but our values that we carry shine through us all: service, curiosity, respect, accountability and appreciation. Carry these with you as you move through your journey. LET’S GO!
Photo: I recently had lunch with Delegate Danielle Walker and we were able to chat about the importance of community and uniting.
/ Courtney Lanham, MSW
They/Them
Director of Diversity, WVU Health Sciences
Chancellor and Executive Dean's Office
/ Resources
Whether you're a returning student or new to campus, we want you to have all the resources you need to find connection and community; to be physically and mentally healthy; and to have the best semester possible.
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
At Health Sciences, we're focused on cultivating an inclusive community. People from all different backgrounds seek care from us, and we must be able to understand their individual and cultural needs. Without an understanding of our where our patients come from, we cannot effectively provide compassionate, patient-centered care.
- Learn about our values, plan and progress.
- Discover community and campus resources and services.
- Attend an event and meet the members of our community.
- Black Community Resources
- International Community Resources
- LGBTQ+ Community Resources
- Veteran Community Resources
BeWell
BeWell offers behavioral wellness services to all Health Sciences majors, including undergraduate, graduate and professional programs. Services include individualized care, outreach, community referrals and more. Located on the Health Sciences campus, BeWell is a satellite office of the Carruth Center for Counseling and Psychological Services.
Student Health
WVU Medicine provides top quality healthcare for students at the Health and Education Building. Services include wellness visits, vaccinations, on-site x-rays, lab services, telemedicine and more. The facility also houses urgent care, travel medicine services, behavioral medicine and a pharmacy.
WVU Collegiate Recovery Program
The WVU Collegiate Recovery Program supports students in recovery from mental or behavioral health concern by promoting a healthy, balanced and meaningful life on campus. Through activities centered around health, wellness, adventure, community, service and fun, the goal of the program is to provide the support and resources necessary for students to thrive in their recovery and develop meaning and purpose as they move forward in life.
WELLWVU
WELLWVU delivers comprehensive wellness education to all WVU students. Their work is based on the latest in prevention research and they are committed to best practices in health education and evaluation.
Student Organizations at Health Sciences
WVU Health Sciences programs offer a number of diverse student organizations (below are just a few). WVU also boasts more than 500 student organizations.
- Minorities Association of Pre-healthcare Students
- Multicultural Association of Students in Healthcare
- Rainbow Coats
- Graduate Women Advocating Science
Know of a resource that would be great to add? Email it to Court.
/ News
Partnership connects students with care providers in Brazil
Due to the constraints of the lingering pandemic, study abroad and other valuable international learning opportunities have been limited. Thanks to a collaboration between WVU and Amizade, the West Virginia Virtual Service Learning to Brazil Program allowed students to learn about the healthcare system directly from clinicians in medicine, physical therapy and dentistry in an online environment.
/ Upcoming Events
Support Groups
Every semester the Carruth Center for Counseling and Psychological Services offers a variety of groups, including First Gen Student Group, Qmmunity and Asian American Pacific Islander Support. Groups give you contact with peers as well as a therapist in a safe and confidential environment. The groups meet one time a week and vary in time. Learn more.
Annual New Women Meet-Up
Hosted by the Women’s Resource Center, in collaboration with the Center for Women’s & Gender Studies and the Women’s Leadership Initiative, the annual New Women Meet-Up will take place Tuesday, Sept. 13, from 5:30-8 p.m. at Terra Café. Register online.
Peer Learning Communities for New Colleagues
The Women’s Resource Center offers this program for first- and second-year faculty and staff to build relationships, network and quickly integrate into the fabric of WVU. The next gathering will take place Thursday, Sept. 15, at 4 p.m. at Terra Café. Register online.
Global Health Week
Sponsored by the WVU School of Medicine Global Health Program and Health Sciences Global Engagement Office, Global Health Week will be held Sept. 19-23. Featuring speakers from across the United States, this year’s topics include COVID-19 pandemic response and vaccine equity, landmine eradication, global critical care and international aid. Register online.
In My Opinion: Inclusion or Erasure? Removing “Women” from the Vernacular
Join the Women's Resource Center and the Center for Women's and Gender Studies on Friday, Sept. 23, from 12-1 p.m. for an open, candid discussion with special guest Judith Stitzel about differing viewpoints on the place of "women" in contemporary vernacular. Learn more.
Diversity Week
WVU’s annual Diversity Week aims to create an atmosphere that provides the WVU community the opportunity to explore different cultures, engage in discussions that bring new perspectives, and celebrate the presence of, and contributions made by, people of all identities and experiences. Diversity Week will be held Oct. 9-14.
