Q&A WITH OUR NEW CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER, JOHN HENDERSON, MD

Q&A with our new Chief Medical Officer, John Henderson, MD

Barbour Community Health Association is delighted to announce the promotion of Dr. John Henderson, MD, to Chief Medical Officer. Dr. Henderson will lead Barbour Community Health Association’s clinical team while continuing to provide care to his patients at Belington Medical Clinic. We chatted with Dr. Henderson to learn more about his experience in Family Medicine and about his new role. Read on to learn more.  

What is the title and role of your current position at Barbour Community Health Association (BCHA)? 

Chief Medical Officer and Medical Provider.

Can you briefly describe the responsibilities and duties associated with the CMO position? 

The primary thing is to ensure quality care to all patients that we serve and to oversee the clinical staff regarding our policies and procedures.

How does your previous experience and skill set align with the requirements of this role? 

I served as Medical Director in the past as well as worked as a Family Practice Physician for 28 years. I have worked here at BCHA in one capacity or another for all of those 28 years. I served as Chief of Staff at a local hospital. I am also the Medical Director of Mountain Hospice – a nursing home in Belington. 

How do you balance the role of an administrator and a provider? 

Balancing both roles is sometimes tough. You never know when things will come up. Thursdays are now dedicated to just administrative tasks and duties, however, issues do come up on other days as well. Balancing a busy schedule has been a responsibility of mine since Medical School. Prioritizing my work and working efficiently helps balance.

What excites you the most about your new position? 

I think it’s being involved with an organization that I truly believe has/puts the wellbeing of our patients and the community first. Having the dedicated time to do administrative tasks is a big change, where before, these responsibilities were always just squeezed in. We do great things here at BCHA, and I want to be a part of that, and continue being a part of it in the future.

How do you envision your new position contributing to the BCHA’s overall goals and objectives?

I think I try to be objective and not take any sides. I try to listen to the opinions of both the administrative side and the clinical side, and support whichever side seems to make most sense. Sometimes I have to work with one side – admin and providers – or vice versa to help them understand who may or may not be right given the circumstance.

Can you share any specific projects or initiatives you’ll be working on in your new position? 

We acquired the Myers Clinic seven years ago. It’s been a struggle for the two organizations to feel as one. I really would like us to feel like we’re all on the same team. To feel like we are all BCHA.

What are some of your immediate goals and priorities in your new role?

Learn what a CMO needs to do. In the past, we had a Clinical Director that did a lot of the grunt work, and I basically just signed off on things as a Medical Director. This role is more responsibility. I want to unify the BCHA organization. 

Why did you choose a career in the healthcare industry? 

Honestly, I just sort of fell into it. Some of my background – I wanted to be a farmer, and I did not go to college until six years after completing high school. I was married with kids when I then decided I needed more, so I went to college, then went on to med school. I like to help folks. I chose family medicine because I like the idea of being involved in care for the whole family.

What is your educational background? Please elaborate.

I graduated from East Fairmont High School in 1979. Following high school, I married my wife Annette – my high school sweetheart. I received my undergrad degree in Animal Science from West Virginia University. I then went on to medical school at West Virginia University, where I additionally completed a three year residency in family medicine. I have four children who are now all adults as well as seven grandchildren. I moved to Elkins in 1995, the same year I opened a private practice and worked at BCHA part time.

What are key challenges that you feel healthcare administrators face?

We’re a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC), so we get federal funding, and with that comes a lot of rules and regulations to ensure we are doing what we need to do.

It is a challenge to know and follow those rules. Being an FQHC is much more involved than just doing the right thing in the exam room – we do the right thing in the room and must track and prove to the insurance companies that we are doing the right thing. Sometimes it’s hard to put it all on paper that we are providing the best care for our patients.

Providers are all different people with different personalities and practice approaches. This doesn’t mean one provider is right and one is wrong. We must understand how to come up with a protocol(s) to do things that also doesn’t interfere with a provider’s individuality and individual practice of medicine. The way I do it doesn’t mean it’s right for other providers.

Why do you choose (to work at) Barbour Community Health Association? 

Without sounding too corny, I really believe this organization cares about the patients first. A close second to that is the employees. I’ve seen many, many, many times over the years where the BCHA administration would go above and beyond to help our employees. I truly believe it’s a caring organization and that trickles down to our patients. From the board to our CEO to administration, the nurses, front desk and janitor – everyone really cares.

BCHA is an organization to be proud of. Considering Barbour County is very poor, we have really state-of- the-art medical facilities. We have the brand new Myers Clinic in Philippi, several Wellness Centers and School-Based clinics such as the AB Wellness Clinic. Our outreach is county-wide and I believe we do a very good job.

We are so excited for Dr. Henderson to take on the role of Chief Medical Officer. Patients can see Dr. Henderson at our Belington Medical Clinic

Get to Know our New PA-C, Stephen Harris

Get to Know our New PA-C, Stephen Harris

Barbour Community Health Association  is pleased to announce the addition of Stephen Harris, PA-C, to our dedicated staff. Stephen Harris will serve as one of eight Physician Assistants caring for our patients. Read on to learn more.

What is the title and role of your current position at Barbour Community Health Association (BCHA)? 

I am a Physician Assistant.

What was your previous role, prior to joining BCHA? 

Physician Assistant at Grafton City Hospital, as well as a Professor at Alderson Broaddus University.

Can you briefly describe the responsibilities and duties associated with being a Certified Physician Assistant? 

Providing Acute Care and the Management of Chronic Medical Conditions across the patient lifespan.

Does your previous experience and skill set align with the requirements of this role? 

Yes it does, I have been doing this for 22 years. 

What excites you the most about your new position? 

Getting the chance to move back to my home county to provide care to the community that I grew up in excites me the most about this new position. 

How do you envision your new position contributing to the BCHA’s overall goals and objectives?

 Providing acute and chronic care in a compassionate manner.

Can you share any specific healthcare interests that you hope to work on as a PA-C (i.e., diabetes, adolescent mental health, etc)? 

Working with Diabetic Patients is something that I definitely kind of like;  takin

g care of them. Preventative medicine, and geriatric care as well. At my last position, I took care of about 25 nursing home-like patients. 

What are some of your immediate goals and priorities in your new role? 

My first immediate goal is to build a family practice here. Changing from my already established family practice at my previous job and coming somewhere new. Additionally, it sounds like most providers prefer to provide acute care rather than chronic care. 

Why did you choose a career in the healthcare industry? 

To provide care and preventative care to keep people from (being diagnosed with) some of the things I see now such as congestive heart failure and heart disease. 

What is your educational background? Please elaborate. 

I received my Bachelor’s Degree in Biology from Alderson Broaddus University (ABU) in 1994, a Medical Science Bachelor’s Degree from ABU in 2001, a Masters in Medical SCience – Primary Care Track from ABU in 2005, and a Masters in Medical Science – Hospital Track from ABU in 2006. 

What are key challenges that you feel healthcare providers face? 

Being in a rural community, I believe some challenges are patient follow-ups – partly due to lack of transportation. Patient compliance with medications, and the impact that insurances have on what and/or how we practice. 

Why do you choose (to work at) Barbour Community Health Association? 

Part of it is moving back to the community, I wanted to be closer to my new home. My brother works for BCHA as well, plus, when I was growing up, the Belington Clinic was the clinic that I went to. 

Can you share any personal information with the community?

I am married, no children. My hobbies are golf, but mostly I work. 

We are so excited for Stephen to step into the role of Physician Assistant. Patients can see Stephen at our Myers Clinic site.

Barbour Community Health Association Names Josh Allen as New Community Engagement Specialist

Barbour Community Health Association Names Josh Allen as New Community Engagement Specialist

July 16, 2023 — Barbour Community Health Association (BCHA) announces new Community Engagement Specialist, Josh Allen. This entirely new position is funded through the Rural Communities Opioid Response Program (RCORP) grant.

Allen, a resident of Barbour County for more than 20 years, is eager to serve as Community Engagement Specialist. “Substance abuse is an issue that, unfortunately, has far-reaching impacts on families, communities, and individuals—even those in my own family,” says Allen, “I look forward to helping identify the needs within our community and work to find solutions for Barbour County residents.”

This position will connect several entities including BCHA, New Vision, the Barbour County Health Department, West Virginia Prevention Solutions, and more to identify community needs within prevention, treatment, and recovery of substance use and abuse. Allen will be tasked with identifying how BCHA—and the other organizations—can create change and further advance the community plan to make sure they are all working together to better improve substance and opioid abuse within the Barbour County community.

Allen will also provide organizational leadership by engaging both public and private organizations to inform and further the strategic mission and initiatives of BCHA and Bright Futures, Barbour County.

“The roles I have had through the years have given me insight into understanding the different needs of a diverse environment, which has helped me achieve positive results in developing strong relationships. No task is too small or mundane when working towards the organization’s overall goals,” Allen says.

Plans are currently in the works to offer supervised opportunities for community members—while focusing on the youth—such as pool parties and adult/youth combined volleyball tournaments. The events will give Bright Futures an opportunity to educate the community and break down the stigma on substance use and abuse.

Allen’s new role also allows him to make recommendations for needs within the BCHA organization and the community as a whole where he sees fit.

“I’m excited for the opportunity to be a part of the BCHA team, and to work with organizations within the county as we strive towards our goal of improving the health of Barbour County. I hope that I can contribute to the great work that is already taking place.”

For more information about the Community Engagement Specialist or the services offered at BCHA, head to barbourhealth.org.

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About Barbour Community Health Association

Belington Medical and Myers Clinics are federally qualified health centers that provide medical and behavioral health care to patients with insurance, Medicare and/or Medicaid and for those without health insurance through the clinic’s Health Access program.

The organization also operates Barbour Behavioral Health, Barbour Quick Care, Belington Wellness Center, Brandon School-Based Health Services, Philippi Wellness Center, and AB Wellness Center. The Barbour Behavioral Health team is made up of well-trained psychologists and psychotherapists who offer a variety of behavioral health services. Barbour Quick Care has walk-in care available in Philippi. Belington and Philippi Wellness Centers offer a wide variety of exercise equipment, and exercise programs. Brandon School-Based Health Services offers a variety of nursing, preventive and acute care medical and behavioral health services to all students and staff in the Barbour County School system. The purpose of AB Wellness Center is to bring affordable primary health care to all Alderson Broaddus University students, faculty, staff, and their families. Learn More About the Barbour Community Health Association.

Q&A: Women’s Health Services with Jennifer Duvall, PA-C

Q&A: Women’s Health Services with Jennifer Duvall, PA-C

At Barbour Community Health Association, we understand our mothers, sisters, daughters and wives are juggling many different priorities in their day to day lives. Sometimes it can be difficult to prioritize your own health, but that’s where Jennifer Duvall, PA-C, our Women’s Health Services provider at Belington Medical Clinic comes in! Jennifer offers convenient solutions for women’s health right here in Barbour County! We sat down with Jennifer for a little Q&A about the Women’s Health Services available and what patients can expect. Read on to learn all about it here:

 

Q: What types of Women’s Health services do you provide?

A: The women’s health services that we provide here at Barbour Community Health Association are clinical breast exams, PAP testing, sexually transmitted infection testing and appropriate treatment, contraceptive services, endometrial biopsy, and pessary fitting and care for urinary incontinence. We do offer long-acting, reversible contraceptives such as IUDs and Nexplanon.

 

Q: Who qualifies for women’s health services at BCHA? // What ages do you treat?

A: We provide women’s health services for adolescents to postmenopausal women.

Whether you have insurance, are uninsured, or are underinsured, we have programs available to cover routine screening exams, contraceptives, and evaluation/treatment of gynecological infections. Family planning services (including STI evaluation/treatment, condoms, and sterilization referral) are also available for men who are uninsured. Referrals can also be placed for uninsured individuals who desire sterilization free of charge.

 

Q: How can patients schedule appointments with you?

A: Patients can schedule an appointment with me through our registration office by calling 304-823-2800. Evening hours are available on Tuesdays.

 

If you seek routine health exams, birth control, or have a women’s health concern, we have services available and can help you achieve health and wellness.

At Barbour Community Health Association, we’re here for you and your entire family.

Provider Spotlight: Carol Everson, PA-C

Provider Spotlight: Carol Everson, PA-C

 

Barbour Community Health Association is excited to welcome Carol Everson, PA-C to the Barbour Quick Care team. Carol will see patients at our Myers Clinic. We chatted with Carol to learn more about her experience and what she hopes to offer her patients and this community. 

 

Q: Tell us a bit about yourself.

A: I was born and raised in Upshur County and graduated from Buckhannon-Upshur High School. I graduated from Alderson-Broaddus College in 2007 and began working as a board certified Physician Assistant. I’ve invested sixteen years into clinical practice. I also have worked toward gaining certificates in injection therapy including joint injections and trigger point injection to build my skill in pain management. To further that, I have also gained certification in musculoskeletal ultrasound.  

Outside of work, I live in Audra with my husband and our six children, my four daughters and his son and daughter. I have lots of hobbies outside of work, I love to keep busy. I garden, can, build, landscape, sew, cook, bake, make soap, render lard, and wrench on trucks with my husband. I attend church regularly and volunteer on missions. I also love swimming, running and playing violin. When it’s nice out, my favorite way to end the day is building a fire outside in our firepit. 

 

Q: What do you like about working with Barbour Quick Care?

 A: My favorite aspect of this kind of work is that because it’s so busy, the day flies by and it doesn’t even feel like work. Quick care is just that, quick. The pace of the work is my favorite. Ask my family, I never sit down. I don’t want to sit at work either. 

 

Q: What do you love about your job?

A: I absolutely love helping others. The most rewarding decision I made for my life was giving it away to people in need. There is much reward serving people in need. I am in a position to meet all kinds of people and see different needs and the best part is learning that I can meet one of those needs. 

 

Q: Describe yourself/your professional style in 3 words.

A: Tenacious, but unassuming.

 

Q: What are some of your strengths as a doctor that impact your treatment and interactions with patients?

A: I have learned over time that most times, I have been in the shoes of the person I am serving and I can empathize with them on so many levels because I too have suffered hardships in life. I believe being humble and having humility were not traits I set out to gain in my career, but literally have been my biggest assets in my career. 

I’m constantly hungry for knowledge and I read all the time. I research all the time too. I do think that having that hunger and building my base of basic medical knowledge, I am able to explain to a person before me “why” they need to control their diabetes and that helps them understand the importance of prevention and they are more likely to buy into their own self-awareness. 

 

Q: Anything else that you would like potential patients to know about you?

A: I was twelve years old when I decided I wanted to commit my life to becoming a Physician Assistant. I’ve diligently worked toward this goal my entire life. After I started practicing, I realized I have an interest in pain management. My career goal is to build a skill set that I can pull from for any case that comes to my door. I’m serious about what I do and I’m serious about resolving cases that come my way. I truly believe that I have been given the privilege to learn the practice of medicine and every one of us who practices should have the same goal, and that’s enhancing our patients’ quality of life through tremendous health care.

We are so excited to have Carol as a part of our Barbour Quick Care team. Patients can see Carol at our Myers Clinic location. 

Get to Know our Personal Trainer Misty Bradley

Get to Know our Personal Trainer Misty Bradley

At Barbour Community Health Association, we are committed to the total health and well-being of our patients and community, which is why we are so happy to be able to provide Personal Training services from our very own Misty Bradley. If you’re wanting to get back on track with your fitness goals, read more about Misty and the services she is able to offer!

Tell us About Yourself:

I’m an ACE Certified Personal Trainer and have been certified since 2008. I am always working on continuing education credits in this field. I’m happy to be part of this community and offer sessions at both the Belington and Philippi Wellness Centers

What Type of Services Do You Provide?

I offer a wide variety of types of training. It is not a one size fits all. For example, I have experience helping athletes train, as well as working with those concerned with weight issues and health conditions. I love to help people set, plan, and meet goals. I have worked with elderly, any age range that may be interested in becoming healthier or may have had some setbacks – I can help. I’ve helped individuals train for powerlifting competitions, train for 5ks and half marathons. We can’t forget that rest, strength training, cardio, hydration, nutrition, and flexibility are important components for our bodies to work efficiently. If you have felt like you had a setback – let’s set you up for the best comeback ever. If this is all new to you, let me share my story with you how I weighed over 220 pounds in high school, had never exercised in my life before well into my 20s, and never thought I would ever be able to help others find balance with healthy lifestyle habits and still “living.” For the gurus out there – let’s change it up. I think with 14 years of experience I can pass along some new things to try to mix it up for 2023.  

What Are Some of Your Best Pieces of Advice for People Looking to Start Getting in Shape?

I always tell people to be proactive with their health, not reactive and that if you don’t take time for your wellness, you will be forced to take time for your illness. 

Who Can Use Your Services?

With my vast experience, no matter what age you are or level of fitness you’re at, I can work with you! 

How Can Someone Book an Appointment with You?

I have business cards at both locations, but the easiest way to get in touch with me is my cell phone number, 304-400-8586. You can text or call to get scheduled with me! 

Start your fitness journey today and schedule your personal training sessions with Misty Bradley today! For more information call the Belington or Philippi Wellness Centers

Lunch Packing Tips with Rachel Williams

Lunch Packing Tips with Rachel Williams

When it comes to packing nutritious lunches for your school-aged child or teenager, there are a few simple rules that you can follow to make sure your kiddo is getting a satisfying meal, and that all their nutrient needs are being met each day! 

Read along for some tips and tricks to packing healthy – but tasty –  school lunches! 

Rachel Williams, BCHA’s Nutritionist

Focus on providing a variety of foods: 

The ideal lunch box contains one fruit, two veggies, one protein, and one grain. However, it is important to remember that sometimes it takes a few tries to like something new. Children are more likely to be “picky” eaters when they are young. Experimenting with different types of dishes and preparations of food can make a huge difference, have fun with it! 

Involve kids in choosing and preparing lunches: 

Let your children choose what they prefer among a few nutritious options, and try out age-appropriate food preparation activities. Take them to the store with you, and allow them to pick out a new vegetable or fruit, with the agreement that they will try it.

Apply the Plate Method to the lunch box: 

You might be asking, “What is the Plate Method?” It’s an easy solution to incorporating nutritious produce into lunches! Here’s how to apply it to your lunch prep:

Half of the plate is made up of colorful fruits and vegetables, a quarter of the plate consists of protein foods, and another quarter of the plate consists of whole grains. Be sure to include small servings of healthy fats (like nuts) and fun foods on the side.

Some assembly required: 

While a thermos of soup might be nourishing, finger foods are more fun for children! Try your hand at assembling a nutritious DIY lunch kit, using tupperware with compartments for finger food. This could include whole grain crackers, hummus, cucumber slices, carrot coins, pickled beet rounds, and other stackable veggies! 

Dippers are a fun option for little ones, too! Salad dressing, hummus, mustard, bean dip, veggie dip, applesauce and yogurt all make great dips. Apple slices, celery stalks, and whole grain bread sticks are each tasty dippers, and all pair well with peanut butter.

A bento box or a lunch box with built-in compartments are perfect for assembling meals with variety. These options keep food in place without the need for multiple plastic bags and containers. Plus, this method of lunch packing is a great way to implement sustainability into your family’s everyday routine! 

Themes can make a lunch more fun to pack and eat:

There are countless themes that you could follow and build a lunch around. Color, shape, place, holiday, or event, are all fun themes for school-aged children! For example, an Italian themed lunch could include whole grain bowtie pasta, white beans, cherry tomatoes and green beans with pesto or Italian salad dressing, plus a side of grapes and an almond cookie. A red foods lunch could feature strawberries, red pepper slices, beets, red kidney bean and red quinoa salad.

Older kids may prefer more composed options like all-in-one bowls, salads, sandwiches and soups.

Homemade snacks and treats can be healthy and economical.

Prepare them in advance and have them ready to go for daily lunch packing. Whole grain, low sugar mini muffins and cereal bars freeze well; salads and sandwich components can keep in the refrigerator for a few days; trail mix or snack mix can keep for a month or more if stored properly. 

Don’t forget water! 

Let your child choose a favorite water bottle or to decorate one with stickers, etc. Add juice ice cubes, orange slices, frozen mango, etc. to add some flavor if desired.

Nutrition counseling is a free service to all Barbour Community Health Association patients. If you and your loved ones would like additional recipes and more tips on nutrition, keep looking out for our nutrition blogs and social media posts or schedule an appointment with our Nutritionist, Rachel Williams. 



Accountable Care Organization Q&A with Amy Chenoweth, LPN

Accountable Care Organization Q&A with Amy Chenoweth, LPN

The Accountable Care Organization (ACO) team plays a vital role to Barbour Community Health Association from coordinated patient care to providing education to the staff that works within BCHA’s organization to help best treat and assist our patients. The team promotes integrated and higher quality care and seeks alternatives to fee-for-service for BCHA patients.

We chatted with Amy Chenoweth, LPN, Team Lead Coordinator for BCHA’s Accountable Care Organization about the value that this team brings not only to BCHA but the Barbour County community.

Q: How long has the ACO team been a part of BCHA?

A: We have been providing these services for a while, but within the last year we noticed these services overlapped and decided to bring this team together for a more integrative approach with our services such as Accountable / Quality Care, Follow up ED calls, Advance Directive Care, Transitional Care Management and Annual Wellness Visits.

Q: What services does this team offer?

A: Our team provides many services. The Annual Wellness Visit (sometimes referred to as a Medicare Wellness Visit) offers one free visit a year with your primary care physician. During this visit, we make sure your chart is completely updated and make sure all necessary screenings are done. These visits are for anyone with Medicare Part A and B coverage. The nurses on our team who conduct these visits are trained by Aledade, an organization that helps us pull all the data together for these visits.

Another service is Transitional Care Management. After a patient spends time in the hospital, our nurses contact them to help make sure they have all their orders in place and arrange a hospital follow up with their PCP. After a visit to the hospital, it can be difficult for patients to locate oxygen, canes, or anything else they might need and that’s where our Transitional Care Nurses come into play. They work as a liaison between the hospital, patient, and the patient’s PCP to make the transition back to home and regular appointments easier.

Finally, we offer Accountable/Quality Care Management, which is where one of the nurses on our team will check in with patients that are due for screenings or tests and help educate them on the importance of this screening. They answer questions regarding procedures, medication, diet, and much more. This program is designed to help capture past due screenings to prevent health problems before they occur. We want to assist patients to live a healthy lifestyle and reach their health goals!

Q: What kind of patients, typically, are utilizing these kinds of services?

A: The patients who typically use or are eligible for these services have Medicare Insurance and are usually 65 and above.

Q: What kind of projects and tasks do you do to keep the team running smoothly?

A: Our team gets together monthly for meetings. Communication is a key for our team so being able to get together and check in on how things are working with everyone is important and if there are any problems or concerns that need to be discussed. I have a great team that I trust, so it’s not hard to keep it running smoothly!

Q: Who makes up the ACO team?

A: Erica Weese, RN, and Chelsea Reed, LPN, our Accountable Care/Quality Nurses at our Belington Medical Clinic and Myers Clinic, they handle the emergency department follow-up calls, Advance Directives Care, and ordering screenings and tests for Quality care of patients. Brandy Cunnigham, LPN works as our Transitional Care Nurse and helps with Annual Wellness Visits at Myers Clinic. Jamie Carpenter, LPN handles our Annual Wellness Visits at Myers. At Belington Medical Clinic, Ashley Spencer, LPN, works as our Transitional Care Nurse and helps with Annual Wellness Visits. And I am the Team Lead Coordinator of the ACO Team and work with the Annual Wellness Visits.

Q: What are probably the biggest parts of this whole team that you would like the community to know about?

A: An ACO is a group of medical professionals that’s providing high-quality care. Our goal is to make sure that patients are getting the right care at the right time, avoiding duplication of services, preventing medical errors, making sure patients’ medical histories, medication and allergies are up to date, as well as vaccinations and screenings. It’s more of a preventative care. We want to prevent illnesses and problems before they begin, and that’s the importance of these screenings.

If you or a loved one is eligible for any of these ACO services, give our talented team of experts a call at either our Belington Medical Clinic or Myers Clinic! They are here to help, educate and guide you into the right direction.

Provider Spotlight: Dr. Casey Jo Cottrill, PsyD

Provider Spotlight: Dr. Casey Jo Cottrill, PsyD

Barbour Community Health Association is excited to welcome Dr. Casey Jo Cottrill, PsyD to the behavioral health team. Dr. Cottrill will work with patients at our Brandon Wellness Center. We chatted with Dr. Cottrill to learn more about her experience in the mental health field and what she hopes to offer for her patients and this community.

Q: Tell us a bit about yourself.

A: I grew up in Buckhannon, West Virginia. I earned a BA in Psychology with a minor in Criminal Justice from West Virginia Wesleyan College, an MA in Clinical Psychology from Marshall University, and a Doctorate (PsyD) in Clinical Psychology from Marshall University. Outside of work I enjoy spending the weekends with my family and dogs at the lake, reading, and traveling.

Q: What types of conditions do you treat or work with?

A: I am a generalist psychologist who is trained to treat a wide range of behavioral health conditions across the lifespan. However, while working in school-based settings I most often work with individuals to treat various forms of anxiety, depression, trauma, and health-related struggles. 

Q: Who should seek your care?

A: The Brandon Wellness Center is located at Philip Barbour High School and primarily services students and staff. A unique aspect to this clinic is our ability to see patients for re-occurring outpatient therapy appointments as well as walk-in behavioral health crisis support. I encourage any student or staff member who is looking to make a change in how they interact with and experience their world to stop by the clinic and see if therapy might be the right fit for you. 

Q: What are some of your strengths as a doctor that impact your treatment and interactions with patients?

A: I take a patient-centered, collaborative approach in therapy. I have found that this empowers patients and engages them actively in treatment. I often begin our therapy work by teaching patients about the science or theory underlying their condition so they can best understand how and why their treatment plan will be effective. Interactive skills training is often foundational to my treatment plans so that patients leave their sessions confident in their ability to make meaningful changes within their life. I am passionate about advocating for my patients within their school system, medical care, parent-child relationships, etc, and facilitating my patients learning to do the same themselves. 

Q: Describe yourself/your professional style in 3 words.

A: Collaborative, engaging, and dynamic. 

Q: Anything else that you would like potential patients to know about you?

A: I love seeing patients grow in their confidence to make meaningful changes in their lives and am looking forward to continuing to provide services at the Brandon Wellness Center!

We are looking forward to having Dr. Cottrill share her talents with our team and patients! Students can see Dr. Cottrill at our Brandon Wellness Center located in Phillip Barbour High School. 



Healthy Inside & Out Q&A with Donna Seaman

Healthy Inside & Out Q&A with Donna Seaman

We are told to eat better, exercise more, sleep better, and stress less. But that sounds like a tall order if you are not familiar with all that involves! That’s where Donna Seaman, the Director of the Philippi Wellness Center had the idea to create Healthy Inside and Out! We sat down with Donna for a little Q&A about the event and what attendees should expect! Learn more about it all here:

Q: How did you get the idea for Healthy Inside and Out, what was the need that you saw in the community to create these events?

Rachel Williams, BCHA’s Nutritionist

A: Well, I think a lot of times people don’t put together the entire picture of what health is made up of. And sometimes we only focus on needing to exercise more or eat differently and we don’t think about the mental health aspect of it. So much of the eating we do is connected to how we think and how we process stress in our lives. We want to look at a more holistic view of health and address some things outside of the norm that will be helpful as well.

Q: In a few words, how would you describe what Healthy Inside and Out is to participants?

A: This series of three programs will help answer your questions and give you tools to get started or to build on your goals to get healthier. You don’t have to wait until January 1st, you’ll be motivated to start making changes before that famous date rolls around. We are really focusing on being healthy not only on the outside but on the inside as well. We are really going to talk about how exercise, nutrition, and stress management work together to keep you healthier and more energized. 

Q: What will the sessions be on?

Dr. Casey Jo Cottrill

A: Our first session will be on October 25th and it’s titled ‘Food is Our Body’s Fuel’ and will be led by Barbour Community Health Association’s Nutritionist, Rachel Williams. Rachel will be answering questions such as “What do “better” food choices look like when we are racing to get out the door in the morning or sitting down to dinner at night?” and “Can healthy eating fit into my budget?” She will also be providing recipes to get you started!

The second session on November 1st will be ‘Actionable Tips for Making Lifestyle Changes’ with Dr. Casey Jo Cottrill. Dr. Cottrill is one of our organization’s newest psychologists and will focus on learning to set goals, the connection between emotions and eating, and tips for turning a new behavior into a long-term habit.

Donna Seaman, Director of PWC

Finally, I’ll be leading the last session titled ‘Why Moving More AND Sleeping Better Matter’ on November 8th. In this session, we will explore what our bodies really need in terms of movement and present numerous ideas for you to consider, with the help of Barbour Community Health Association’s personal trainer, Misty Bradley. We will also look at the ways sleep influences every aspect of our health!

Q: Why is this an event our community doesn’t want to miss?

A: It’s free, it’s practical, it’s doable and it’s motivating! Please plan to join us for plenty of helpful information, lively discussion, valuable resources, encouragement, and door prizes!

Misty Bradley, BCHA’s Personal Trainer

This three-part event will be held on October 25th, November 1st, and November 8th at the Taj Moe Hall at 6:30 pm in Philippi. Check out our Facebook event for more information on our sessions and follow along on our page for more information on our speakers! You can register by clicking here, filling out the form, and returning to Donna Seaman at the Philippi Wellness Center, 206 South Main Street, or dseaman@barbourhealth.org. Please register by October 18th! If you have any questions, contact Donna Seaman at 305-457-0700.