Working as a diagnostic medical sonographer in obstetrics and gynecology, Chloe Kinder gets a front row seat at the earliest signs of life. From her calm, dimly lit ultrasound room, she helps women to better understand what’s happening in their bodies and sometimes that can come with the happiest, or hardest, news.

Meet Eric Rodgers. As Director of Respiratory Care at WVU Medicine Princeton Community Hospital, this proud California surfer is helping to bring a wave of welcome change to his southern West Virginia hospital. And in the process, he and his team of respiratory therapists are helping people to breathe better, literally.

Walking the nursing home halls with Dr. Catherine “Mindy” Chua and Jason Currence, LPN, the closeness they share with their patients comes through. A bit of a dynamic duo, together these two are bringing both deep knowledge and a well of warmth for their aging patients.

Jump into Derrick Ray’s vehicle and speed off across the streets of Huntington, West Virginia to someone in need. After working in emergency services for 25 years, Derrick has seen a bit of everything, but that hasn’t eroded his empathy.

Get ready for Season Five of Appalachian Care Chronicles! Join our host, Kristen Carpenter, as we explore careers in diagnostic medical sonography and ultrasound, nursing home care, respiratory therapy, and emergency medicine. Stay tuned for brand new stories from every corner of West Virginia’s health sector.

When babies born in rural parts of West Virginia need lifesaving care, Hannah Bowen rushes to them, sometimes even by helicopter. As a Neonatal Pediatric Intensive Care Transport Nurse, Hannah lets us in on what it’s like to hold families, and their tiny newborns, with a steady and caring hand whether on a winding West Virginia road or amidst the hum of the hospital.

Join Larrecsa Barker, Community Paramedic, and Whitney Maxey, EMT, on the streets of Huntington, West Virginia as they care for patients days after an overdose. As members of Cabell County’s Quick Response Team, the pair are proving that sometimes it takes getting outside and meeting people where they are to help them find a new path forward.

From his farm in southern West Virginia to McDowell County’s only acute care hospital, Dr. Judd Lindley shows what it means to care for others with humility. He’s spent decades serving the state’s coalfields as an OB-GYN. In this episode, Dr. Lindley shares how his patients have pushed him to rethink his assumptions more than once—and why that’s part of becoming the best doctor he can be.

Petra Howell-Vasale is proof it’s never too late to start over, and it’s never too late to help others. As an Emergency Room nurse based in Beckley, West Virginia, she takes listeners through her career journey from working in Charleston kitchens as a high-end pastry chef to standing at Raleigh General Hospital’s Emergency Room doors when critical cases come in.

Get ready for Season Four of Appalachian Care Chronicles! Join our new host, Kristen Carpenter, as we explore careers in neonatal intensive care, obstetrics and gynecology, emergency medicine, and community paramedicine. Ever wondered what it’s really like behind the scenes in healthcare? Find out this season.

For Jordan Dennison, helping others in recovery is more than just a job—it’s personal. As a peer recovery specialist and part of Charleston’s Quick Response Team (QRT), Jordan draws on his own experience with addiction and homelessness to offer crucial, hands-on support.

Sally Adams is claustrophobic. Yet, every day, she helps patients navigate the small, enclosed space of an MRI machine. As an MRI technologist, her own fears have made her especially empathetic to those she works with.

Dr. Tom Takubo is not only a pulmonary critical care physician but also a state senator, fighting to improve healthcare across West Virginia. Inspired by his father’s struggle with black lung disease, Dr. Takubo’s commitment to his patients extends far beyond the hospital.

Julie Osborne Young works at the intersection of life and death. As Director of Social Services at HospiceCare in Charleston, she offers more than just practical support. Julie helps patients navigate deep emotional and spiritual challenges during their final stages of life.

Get ready for another season of Appalachian Care Chronicles! Host Aryana Misaghi invites you to delve into the intricate world of West Virginia’s healthcare system, where each episode uncovers inspiring stories of dedicated individuals making a difference.

In this episode, Greta shares firsthand experiences from her decade-long journey, highlighting the challenges and triumphs of providing comprehensive dental services to underserved areas like rural West Virginia. Discover how oral health is a window into overall health and the ways in which dental care providers are fixing so much more than smiles.

Family doctors in rural places fill a special role, and it's exactly what it sounds like, they take care of the whole families and overtime, end up becoming like family.

Raised in rural West Virginia, Dr. Zach Grimes discovered his passion for science and medicine early on. From dissecting animals to conducting autopsies, his upbringing shaped his path towards becoming a pathologist.

When it comes to West Virginia food, we often think of pepperoni rolls, Tudor’s biscuits, and Mountain Dew, but also foraged and farmed foods like ramps and morels foods like zucchini, tomatoes, and cabbage. Registered dietitians helps patients navigate food choices that balance the flavors they love and the nutrition that keeps them healthy.

In this episode we hear from the one and only Jan Rader, the first woman to lead a professional fire department in West Virginia and a TIME100 Most Influential Person in 2018.