WVU Health Affairs Institute

02/23/2026

02/16/2026

🌟Breaking training into short, focused modules, often called microlearning, is the secret to higher completion rates and better performance. When we learn in bursts, we stay engaged and can apply new skills immediately.🌟💻

02/12/2026

At the Health Affairs Institute, we know that meaningful health outcomes require looking at the whole picture. This Black History Month, we celebrate the Black researchers, doctors, and advocates whose work has shaped public health through:

🌟Building and operating hospitals during segregation
🌟Training Black nurses when mainstream education excluded them
🌟Leading tuberculosis, mental health, and community care facilities

These contributions spanning more than a century continue to influence the health and well-being of communities across West Virginia.

🔗Read more: https://nealmuseum.wvu.edu/learn/2024/11/04/taking-care-of-their-own-african-american-hospitals-in-w...

02/10/2026

Together with CHESS Health, the Health Affairs Institute is bridging the gap in recovery support across West Virginia. 🤝📱

Through this partnership, we are providing the Connections App, a no-cost, statewide digital tool designed to help you build communication skills and find the peer support vital for long-term recovery.

🔗Read more here: https://healthaffairsinstitute.org/featured-work/chess-health-connections-companion-apps-support-individuals-with-substance-use-disorder-and-their-loved-ones/

02/09/2026

Our team had an incredible time at the 17th Annual Medicaid Innovations Forum in St. Petersburg, FL! 🎉

This year’s conference brought together leaders from Medicaid health plans, state agencies, and solution partners to explore how to deliver quality, accountable, transparent, and cost‑efficient care in today’s new Medicaid reality. We especially valued the deep‑dive discussions around H.R.1, Medicaid redetermination, work requirements, and the future of Medicaid transformation.

Coming out of the conference, our team is energized and ready to put these insights into action.✨The perspectives shared at the forum will directly inform our planning, help us anticipate emerging challenges, and guide us as we partner with the WV Bureau for Medical Services to deliver more efficient, equitable, and innovative Medicaid services.

02/06/2026

The Health Affairs Institute combines scientific expertise with a deep understanding of the unique challenges facing Appalachia. Whether it’s evaluating a new program or providing the data-driven insights needed for policy change, our team is dedicated to delivering results that work in the real world.

HAI brings "boots-on-the-ground" experience to: 📊 Health Data Analytics 📋 Program Development 🎓 Training & Technical Assistance 🔍 Survey Research

We bridge the gap between academic rigor and practical implementation to make a real impact.

Ready to Partner with us? Message us here, find our information in our bio, or reach out to us via our website! 🤝

02/04/2026

Great to see Benjamin Balding and Brandon Marsh featured on WSAZ! 📺They did a wonderful job promoting the MATCH Survey and explaining how this assessment benefits our communities.

If you haven't seen it yet, be sure to check out the clip below to learn more about the important work MATCH is doing for the Mountain State. 👏
Link:

Studio 3

02/03/2026

Check out the work WV MATCH Survey is doing to improve health outcomes across our state. Right now, they’re running a statewide survey to get better resources to the people who need them most.

📬 Check your mail: If you were selected, fill out your survey! 📲 Give them a follow: Stay updated on how they’re helping West Virginians lead healthier lives.

Making a difference means taking the MATCH survey! 🤝

If you are selected, you can take the statewide survey that can help improve health outcomes and resources for your fellow West Virginians.

Check your mail today to see if you can make your voice heard! 🗣

01/27/2026

At HAI, program evaluation is built on a flexible, inclusive foundation that brings both stakeholders and researchers to the table. By collaborating with community members, we deliver professional, comprehensive strategy and actionable end products that drive organizational growth.
Connecting action to outcome: 🔗
https://healthaffairsinstitute.org/capabilities/program-evaluation/

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Sound Strategies / Improve Lives

01/23/2026

Huge congratulations to Brandon Marsh and Bryce Weaver for their recent presentation at the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine! They shared the vital work being done through our Study of Housing and Population Erosion (SHAPE) project.🎉

It was a privilege to exchange insights with peer organizations dedicated to a shared mission, ensuring the visibility and equitable representation of historically unrepresented populations.

✨A massive thank you to the entire SHAPE team for the tireless work:
Anina Rossouw, Gabriela Martin Barbosa, Carrie Clippinger, Benjamin Balding, team member emeritus ,Tonya Taylor, and everyone else who made these presentations possible! ✨

01/22/2026

In academic health systems, one person can be a clinician, researcher, faculty member, and grant lead in the same week.

When systems are built around departments instead of real workflows:

• Data gets re-entered
• Reports don’t match
• Projects slow down
• Workarounds explode

Better approach:

✓ Map real workflows before buying or building
✓ Design around roles and tasks, not titles
✓ Expect temporary teams and exceptions
✓ Review workflows every year

Good technology reduces friction.
Great technology disappears into the work.

01/20/2026

Proud of our partnership with the WV Oral Health Coalition! 🦷 ✨

Together, we’ve mapped dental access across WV to identify where care is needed most.

See our 2025 Summit presentation here:
https://irp.cdn-website.com/4cb23709/files/uploaded/WVMD_Overview+Presentation_20250416.pdf