Submitted by Terri Lilly
Community Outreach-Glenville, WV
Joseph Dougherty completed a Rural Health Education Partnership rotation with Dr. Balasubramony at Minnie Hamilton Health System.
He is a 4th year medical student at West Virginia University. He is the son of Thomas and Joan Dougherty of Gibsonia, PA. He chose this rotation to complete his requirement for graduation and to explore rural medicine.
After his graduation in May, he will begin his residency at UPMC-St. Margaret in Pittsburgh, which was his first choice.
Joe worked with Calhoun County school nurse, Joyce Morgan, presenting Pretty Poisons at Pleasant Hill Elementary and Calhoun Middle School. Pretty Poisons is a program that educates children to recognize the difference between candy and medication that looks like candy. He also assisted Ms. Morgan with BMI checks for the physical education department at Calhoun High.
Northern West Virginia Rural Health Education (NWVRHEC), Region 2, covers eight counties including Calhoun, Gilmer, Doddridge, Pleasants, Ritchie, Tyler, Wirt and Wood. RHEC provides housing for students when necessary. Student housing is fully furnished with cable and internet provided.
The goal of the organization when bringing students into the rural areas is to retain health care professionals to practice in medically under-served areas such as the eight counties listed above.
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