HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — Marshall University and Marshall Health Network (MHN) will receive nearly $13 million across four awards announced this week by Gov. Patrick Morrisey as part of West Virginia's Rural Health Transformation Program. The funding will support initiatives to strengthen the state's healthcare workforce, improve chronic disease management and expand access to care. 

 Announced during a press conference at Brad D. Smith Foundation Hall on Marshall University's campus, the projects will draw on the education, public service and clinical expertise of Marshall's academic health system to address critical health care needs across West Virginia. 

The funding, awarded through the West Virginia Office of Rural Health Transformation, will support the following initiatives: 

• Rural Healthcare Workforce Development ($1.75 million): Marshall University's Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine and School of Pharmacy will develop three rural residency programs in emergency medicine, physician assistant practice and clinical pharmacy to help recruit and retain health professionals in underserved communities. Once accredited, the emergency medicine and physician assistant residencies are anticipated to be national firsts, while the clinical pharmacy residency is expected to be West Virginia's first rural-focused program of its kind. 

• DRIVE-WV and RECOVER+ ($5.04 million): Two complementary programs will use nutrition, lifestyle medicine and behavioral support to improve health outcomes. DRIVE-WV will enroll approximately 4,300 adults with type 2 diabetes in a 12-week program focused on metabolic health and diabetes remission. RECOVER+ will serve approximately 1,050 adults across six West Virginia counties through a 12-week program combining nutrition, physical activity, peer coaching and substance use disorder recovery support. 

• DRIVE Connect-WV ($4.64 million): A remote patient monitoring initiative will help individuals with diabetes and hypertension manage their conditions between office visits. Connected devices, including continuous glucose monitors and wearable technology, will securely transmit health information to care teams, enabling timely interventions and personalized support. 

• Smart Care Catalyst — Cabell Huntington Hospital ($1.56 million): MHN will establish a regional shared-services collaborative offering centralized patient navigation, referral coordination and chronic disease education for rural health care providers. Artificial intelligence-enabled tools will help streamline workflows, reduce administrative burdens and improve access to specialized care. 

"Transforming rural health care requires us to think differently about how we train providers, deliver services and support patients beyond the walls of our hospitals and clinics," said Scott Raynes, president and CEO of Marshall Health Network. "These investments allow us to build on the strengths of our academic health system and develop sustainable solutions that improve access, strengthen our workforce and help West Virginians lead healthier lives." 

The initiatives support West Virginia's Rural Health Transformation priorities by combining workforce development, preventive care and technology to improve health outcomes in rural communities. Additional details about implementation, participation and referral opportunities will be announced as the programs move forward. 

This press release is supported by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award totaling $401,557,453.35 in combined Year 1 and Year 2 funding, with 100 percent funded by CMS/HHS. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement by, CMS/HHS or the U.S. Government. 

Date Posted: Wednesday, November 11, 2026