The Center for Rural Health Development, Inc.

10/16/2026

Respiratory season is here, and flu infections are starting to increase. Say boo to the flu and get your annual flu shot before Halloween!

It takes about two weeks after flu immunization for your body to develop protection, making October an important time to prepare for the respiratory illness season and upcoming holidays.

Flu viruses typically circulate during the fall and winter, and flu can cause serious illness and complications. Annual flu immunization is recommended for most people 6 months and older and can help reduce the risk of severe flu infection and its related complications.

So, while you're getting ready for costumes, candy, and everything spooky, add flu shots to your October checklist. Talk with your healthcare provider if you have questions about flu vaccination for you and your loved ones.

10/15/2026

In Gilbert, a trip to the local pharmacy can mean more than picking up a prescription. 💜

At Carewell Pharmacy , pharmacist and owner Courtney Riffe and her team help their neighbors access a range of healthcare services close to home—from prescriptions and immunizations to medical equipment and diabetic shoes.

For a community in rural Appalachia, having those resources available locally means more of the everyday healthcare needs of patients and families can be met right where they live.

This Pharmacists Month, we celebrate community pharmacists, like Courtney and her team for the many ways they continue to serve their community!

10/12/2026

Access to healthcare is about more than having a provider nearby. It’s also about having someone who takes the time to listen, understand, and respond to the needs of the families they serve.

In Buckhannon, WV, Jessica “Jess” Mongold, DNP, is doing just that through Goldilocks Pediatrics. Since opening her practice in January, Jess and her team have quickly become a healthcare resource for children and families across North Central West Virginia, with some patients traveling as far as three hours for care.

Many of the families Jess serves have children with ADHD and autism spectrum disorder, a population that is highly underserved in West Virginia. For Jess, building relationships with those families and making sure they feel heard is at the heart of her work.

“Patients tell me, ‘You’re the first person that’s actually sat down and listened to me and asked me questions,’” Jess says. “I just feel like I’m doing my job.”

Goldilocks Pediatrics’ growth reflects both the need for this care and the important role local providers play in responding to the unique healthcare needs of their communities.

The practice was supported through the West Virginia Rural Health Infrastructure Loan Fund, helping Jess turn her vision for an independent practice into a healthcare resource serving families across the region.

Buckhannon, Upshur County, WV, Pediatric & Family Medical Practice. In her senior year of high school in Philippi, West Virginia (WV), Jessica Mongold told her coach she wasn’t going to college. He balked, telling her, “Yes, you are.” A series of similar assertions, encouragement, and support ...

10/09/2026

For more than 30 years, Terri Doss has been part of community pharmacy in Logan. 💜

As pharmacist and owner of Hometown Rx Pharmacy and Mount Gay Pharmacy, Terri has helped maintain a local healthcare resource where neighbors can turn for prescriptions, guidance, and support close to home.

Three decades of serving a community means generations of patients and families have had access to pharmacy care right where they live. Today, Terri and her team continue that work across both Logan locations, helping meet the everyday healthcare needs of their neighbors.

This Pharmacists Month, we celebrate community pharmacists, like Terri, and their continued commitment to their community!

10/06/2026

Did you know? Rabies is a fatal, but preventable, disease that is transmitted to people and pets through bites or scratches from an infected animal. Rabies can infect any mammal, and in the US, is most commonly found in bats, skunks, raccoons, foxes, and cats. Rabies cases are on the rise, and the CDC has recently reported an increase in human exposures to rabies across the country.

As you enjoy camping, hiking, and other outdoor activities, you can help protect your loved ones from rabies by:
∙ Keeping your pets up to date on their rabies vaccines.
∙ Avoiding contact with wildlife. Encourage children to observe wild animals from a distance and to never handle unfamiliar animals, even if they appear friendly.
∙ Washing bites or scratches immediately with soap and water after possible rabies exposure and seeking urgent medical care.
∙ Since bat bites are small and can go unnoticed, anyone who awakens to find a bat in their home, anyone with mental impairment or children who are playing unsupervised with a bat should be considered for rabies post-exposure prophylaxis and should contact their local health department immediately.

If you’ve been in contact with any wildlife, stray or unfamiliar animals, particularly if you’ve been bitten or scratched, you should talk with a healthcare or public health professional as soon as possible to determine your risk for rabies or other illnesses.

10/05/2026

Did you know that meningococcal disease is a serious bacterial infection that can cause swelling around the brain and spinal cord? Symptoms like fever, severe headache, stiff neck, nausea, confusion, and sensitivity to light can come on quickly and require immediate medical attention.

Because the bacteria that cause meningococcal disease can be spread through close contact, shared spaces like schools and college campuses can increase the risk of infection. The good news? Vaccination can help protect your teen from some of the most common types of bacterial meningitis.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends meningococcal vaccination starting at ages 11-12. Depending on your child's age and health needs, they may receive MenACWY, MenB, or a combination vaccine called MenABCWY to give them protection against the 5 common strains of bacteria that can cause meningococcal disease.

Talk with your child's healthcare provider if you have questions and to find out if they're up to date on their meningococcal vaccines.

Learn about meningococcal disease, meningitis and MenB and MenACWY vaccines for teens, including young adults in college and the military.

10/05/2026

Hib may not be a disease many parents hear about today, but that wasn’t always the case.

Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) infection can cause serious complications in babies and young children, including meningitis, pneumonia, and swelling in the throat that can make it difficult to breathe. Before the introduction of the Hib immunization, Hib infection was the leading cause of bacterial meningitis in children in the United States.

Today, immunization helps protect children during the early years, when they are most vulnerable to Hib disease. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends routine Hib immunization beginning at 2 months of age. Depending on the vaccine used, children receive a 3- or 4-doses of Hib vaccine between 2 and 15 months of age.

If you have questions about Hib or other immunizations recommended for your child, talk with your healthcare provider.

10/02/2026

Day after day, community pharmacists help meet the healthcare needs of their neighbors while keeping an important resource close to home. For patients in Beckley, Kriston Ellis and Kim Miller of Premier Pharmacy & Wellness are an integral part of the local healthcare system.

This American Pharmacists Month, we're grateful for community pharmacists, like Kriston and Kim, and all they do to serve their communities. 💜

09/28/2026

Save the Date for the Appalachian Health Leadership Forum (AHLF) next year, April 8th & 9th, 2027 at Stonewall Resort! 📅

Each year, healthcare and community leaders come together at AHLF to learn, connect, and explore strategies for strengthening organizations, improving community health, and building a healthier future for West Virginia.

Mark your calendars and plan to join us April 8th & 9th, 2027.

More details are coming soon!

09/25/2026

Please join us in welcoming Aagna Patel, DDS, to Bluefield Dental Care! 🦷

A native of Beckley, Dr. Patel recently returned to southern West Virginia after earning her Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from Indiana University School of Dentistry. Now, she's beginning her career close to home with a commitment to providing compassionate, patient-centered dental care to the communities that helped shape her.

For Dr. Tom Honaker and the Bluefield Dental Care team, welcoming Dr. Patel marks an exciting step in the practice's continued growth. With another provider on staff, Bluefield Dental Care is now open five days a week, creating more opportunities for patients across the region to access dental care close to home.

Growing the rural healthcare workforce is about more than filling a position. It means expanding capacity, strengthening local access to healthcare, and helping communities maintain the healthcare services they need to thrive.

We’re excited to see Bluefield Dental Care continue investing in its community and to welcome Dr. Patel home to southern West Virginia!