Environmental health professionals provide additional, much-needed pandemic care

The COVID-19 pandemic has been a public health crisis of historic portions, with the phrase 'frontline workers' becoming a large part of the daily lexicon. And the Environmental Health Program at Western Carolina University has contributed its fair share of professionals to those ranks at the local, state and national levels.  

Trustees appoint Lori Anderson of Tusculum University next health, human sciences dean

WCU's Board of Trustees has approved Lori Schumacher Anderson as the next dean of the College of Health and Human Sciences.  

Clinical training goes virtual for School of Nursing

For nursing students, an important part of instruction are clinicals, typically performed at hospitals and other care facilities. With precautions required during the current COVID-19 pandemic, that training at the School of Nursing continues - albeit virtually - with Shadow Health software.   

Hunter Library continues to assist faculty, students with virtual research, including 3D anatomy

When Ashley Hyatt, assistant professor of physical therapy at Western Carolina University, recently needed to show her students various perspectives of the human brain, there was a challenge. Normally, Hyatt teaches from a classroom, in the laboratory and using clinical demonstrations. But in this case, she was faced with the new normal of COVID-19.  

Working Professional Summer McMurry Achieves a Milestone

Summer McMurry claims a singular distinction in Western Carolina University history ― she’s the first person to earn a doctoral degree in speech communication and disorders through a collaborative program with the University of North Carolina Greensboro.  

Read Her Story  

Alumni Spotlight: Sue Lynn Ledford

Sue Lynn Ledford learned to care for sick people as a young nursing student at Western Carolina University. Today, she uses the same approach as director of population health and field services for WellCare of North Carolina, a provider health plan for Medicare and Medicaid.  

Primary care nursing residency pivots standard training to assist during pandemic

As COVID-19 protocols began taking effect in the Asheville area, registered nurses in a primary care residency and fellows program made a quick shift to assist an at-risk population while still continuing their training.  

Recreational Therapy Director says Helping Others Helps Her; an “I Love WCU” Story

It’s hard to tell where Jennifer Hinton’s real job ends and her volunteer work begins. As program director and clinical education coordinator for Western Carolina University’s recreational therapy program, Hinton spends much of her time teaching her students about service-learning, coordinating volunteer projects for them or doing community service herself — sometimes for work, her church, her family — or often a combination of some of them, if not all.   

Combatting Addiction: A Second Chance for Veterans

Alumnus Kevin Rumley '18 serves with Asheville's Buncombe County Veterans Treatment Court (VTC) which is an example of a treatment court that specifically serves the veteran community.