HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — The 2026 West Virginia Wellness and Longevity Conference will be held Thursday, April 30, 2026, at the St. Mary’s Conference Center at 2849 Fifth Avenue in Huntington.  

Hosted by Marshall University and Marshall Health Network, the statewide conference brings together national experts, regional leaders and local practitioners for a full day of education, discussion and collaboration focused on improving the health and well-being of older adults. 

The conference runs 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. and will feature keynote addresses from Luigi Ferrucci, M.D., Ph.D., scientific director of the National Institute on Aging, and Erika M. Harris, M.D., assistant professor of family and community health at the Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine and family medicine physician with Marshall Health Network. 

Throughout the day, attendees will engage in dynamic breakout sessions exploring a variety of interdisciplinary wellness topics. Attendees will have the opportunity to create a personalized wellness plan and gain practical tools to support their patients in improving overall well-being. Networking opportunities will be available throughout the event to encourage meaningful connections, collaboration, and the exchange of innovative ideas. 

“Longevity becomes truly meaningful when it is paired with wellness,” said Courtney D. Wellman, M.D., assistant professor of family and community health at the Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine and co-organizer of the event. “In family medicine and geriatrics, I see many preventable conditions that, once developed, cannot be reversed—but might have been avoided altogether with the right tools and guidance earlier in life. This conference brings those tools together in one place, empowering our participants to enhance their own well-being and improve the lives of their patients for years to come.” 

This event is offered at a discounted rate and free to the first 40 students to register thanks to generous support from Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation. 

For more information or to register, please visit marshallwellness2026.eventbrite.com. For questions about the event, please contact Deb Koester, Ph.D., director of the division of community health at the Joan C. Ewards School of Medicine, koesterd@marshall.edu. 

Date Posted: Thursday, March 5, 2026