Virginia Tech’s Whole Health Consortium Tackles Community Health Challenges Through Multidisciplinary Research

The Whole Health Consortium at Virginia Tech is addressing critical health challenges in underserved communities through innovative research projects. Supported by seed grants, these initiatives focus on improving healthcare access, addressing substance misuse, and promoting trauma-informed care.

Geospatial Analysis Improves Veteran Healthcare Access

One project, led by Assistant Professor Junghwan Kim, leverages artificial intelligence and geospatial analysis to expand veterans’ access to pain management services. Acadia Lewis, an undergraduate student involved in the project, said, “Working on this project allows me to apply geospatial analysis to real-world challenges while collaborating with experts across disciplines.I’m excited to contribute to improving health care access for veterans and to see how data-driven solutions can make a meaningful difference.”

The team aims to identify service shortages, especially in rural areas, and develop solutions by examining transportation options and community resources. A key partnership with the Salem VA Health care System will help translate research into practical improvements for veteran care. According to Kim,“We are particularly excited to collaborate with the Salem VA Health Care System,as this partnership extends the impact of our research beyond academic publications. Our goal is to contribute to evidence-based decision making that can help VA personnel better serve veterans in Virginia.”

Addressing Chronic Pain and Opioid Use in Appalachia

Another project, spearheaded by Meagan Brem, focuses on the intersection of chronic pain and opioid use disorder in Appalachia. The team will use smartphone-based data collection to identify daily triggers that worsen or ease pain and substance misuse. The goal is to develop a “just-in-time” intervention to deliver skills coaching when individuals need it most,overcoming barriers like stigma and rural isolation.

“as early career investigators, this grant is instrumental to our ability to test whether our procedures are feasible and gather some preliminary answers to the questions we are asking,” said Brem.“This grant has enabled us to build new partnerships among our team of investigators who have expertise in multiple domains,meaning our data will be informed by multidisciplinary perspectives and will carry implications across multiple lines of research.”

Whole Health Consortium’s Mission and Funding Tracks

According to Tina Savla, director of the Whole Health consortium, “by facilitating multidisciplinary, community-informed research, the Whole Health Consortium continues its commitment to reshaping health systems, practices, and policies — ultimately supporting better health outcomes for individuals and families across virginia and beyond.”

the seed grants are awarded through two tracks:

• Advancing Partnerships: One-year grants for established teams addressing complex whole health objectives.
• Incubating Emergent Collaborations: Six-month grants for smaller teams to develop preliminary data or pilot projects.

This year, carilion Clinic partnered with the Whole Health Consortium to help fund the Incubating Emergent Collaborations Track. Francis Farrell, senior director of research and development at Carilion clinic, stated, “Carilion Clinic’s partnership with the Whole Health Consortium strengthens our shared commitment to improving health care for everyone. By bringing Carilion’s patient-centered approach, which our health care team practices, together with Virginia Tech’s innovative researchers and community partners, we can more effectively address our region’s health needs, develop strategic interventions, and ultimately improve the lives of our patients and communities we serve.”

Advancing Partnerships Track Awardees

The Advancing Partnerships Track includes projects such as:

• Geospatial Analysis and Optimization for Veterans’ Health Care Access in Pain Management: Aiming to identify underserved areas and improve veterans’ access to pain management, with community partners Rena Courtney and Francis Cannizzo from the Salem VA Health Care System.
• Psychosocial and Physical Environments of Health Care: Investigating how hospital design and dialogue affect patient wellness. Research team includes Monifa Vaughn-cooke and Sarah henrickson Parker from Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine, charles Calderwood from the college of Science, and Alp Tural from the School of Design. Community partners include Lisa Uherick and Ottilia lewis from Carilion Clinic.

Incubating Emergent Collaborations track Awardees

The Incubating Emergent Collaborations track includes projects such as:

• Developmental Disability Abuse Prevention and response: Focused on prevention and response strategies for sexual abuse affecting individuals with developmental and intellectual disabilities.
• Development of an Accessible, Integrative Treatment for Chronic Pain and Opioid Use Disorder in Appalachia: Laying the groundwork for interventions to reduce chronic pain and opioid misuse.The research team includes Meagan Brem and Chloe Hudson from the College of Science, Edward Fox from the College of Engineering, Mary Beth Dunkenberger from the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences, Teresa Johnson from Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine, April Fu from the College of science, and Chris Grubb from the Center for Biostatistics and Health Data Science. Community partners include Rena Courtney and Dan Blalock from the VA Health Care System, and Robert McNamara from Carilion Clinic and Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine.
• Ethical Dilemmas of Medical Interpretation in Indigenous Languages: Examining how medical interpreters balance objectivity with advocacy for Indigenous patients. Research team includes Rebecca Hester, Nick copeland, Cecily Rodriguez, and Andrea Briceno Mosquera from the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences. Community Partners include Odilia Romero, Silvia Ventura Luna, Daniela E Obregón, and Luis López Resendiz from Comunidades Indigenas en Liderazgo.

looking Ahead

Many of these collaborative initiatives originated from the consortium’s inaugural annual meeting in April 2024. The Leadership Council aims to foster further connections at the upcoming annual meeting on May 19 at The Hotel Roanoke & Conference Center. Researchers, community partners, and healthcare professionals will explore opportunities to advance whole health research and community-informed solutions.

The Whole Health Consortium is actively reshaping health systems and practices to support better health outcomes. Learn more about the Whole Health Consortium, and consider attending the annual meeting on May 19 to contribute to community-informed solutions.