Appalachian Care Chronicles
WV Higher Education Policy Commission
Publishing Details
About This Podcast
Appalachian Care Chronicles shares the stories of folks working in every corner of West Virginia’s health sector.
Brought to you by The West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission and hosted by Kristen Carpenter, West Virginia native and Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner with nearly 20 years of nursing experience, the podcast follows a variety of problem-solvers, change makers, and daily helpers—behind the scenes and on the front lines—to shine a light on what they do day-to-day and how they got there.
This podcast offers invaluable insight, wisdom, and advice to anyone who wishes to chart their own unique path within the field of health sciences.
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Recent Episodes
Chloe Kinder, Diagnostic Medical Sonographer
“I truly, truly love my job.” 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…
Eric Rodgers, Director of Respiratory Care
“If you truly have a serving soul, respiratory provides you that ability to work with those patients who need you the most.” Meet Eric Rodgers. As Director of Respiratory Care at WVU Medicine…
Dr. Catherine “Mindy” Chua & Jason Currence, Nursing Home Care
“If you want to do family practice, the reward is amazing because you really do become a part of your patients families and that you can't buy that in gold.” Walking the nursing home halls with…
Derrick Ray, Critical Care Supervisor
“At the end of the day, I mean, basically almost 25 years deep, I can think of the differences that I've made.” Jump into Derrick Ray’s vehicle and speed off across the streets of Huntington, West…
Season Five Trailer
Get ready for the fifth season of Appalachian Care Chronicles! Join our host, Kristen Carpenter, as we explore careers in diagnostic medical sonography and ultrasound, nursing home care, respiratory…
Petra Howell-Vasale, ER Registered Nurse
From cake customers to ER patients, Petra knows that caring is the secret ingredient. Petra Howell-Vasale is proof it’s never too late to start over, and it’s never too late to help others. As an…
Dr. Judd Lindley, Obstetrician-Gynecologist (OB-GYN)
Every appointment with Dr. Lindley starts with a handshake and a question: “How can I help you?” From his farm in southern West Virginia to McDowell County’s only acute care hospital, Dr. Judd…
Whitney Maxey & Larrecsa Barker, Emergency Medical Technician & Community Paramedic
In Whitney and Larresca’s experience, to put it simply, the Quick Response Team approach works. Join Larrecsa Barker, Community Paramedic, and Whitney Maxey, EMT, on the streets of Huntington, West…
Hannah Bowen, NICU Registered Travel Nurse
For Hannah, caring for the patients in the neonatal intensive care unit—“the tinies” as she calls them—is her calling. When babies born in rural parts of West Virginia need lifesaving care, Hannah…
Season Four Trailer
Appalachian Care Chronicles is back for Season Four! This season, we explore careers in neonatal intensive care, obstetrics and gynecology, emergency medicine, and community paramedicine. Join our…
S3E4 Jordan Dennison, Peer Recovery Support Specialist
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…
S3E3 Sally Adams, MRI Technologist
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…
S3E2 Dr. Tom Takubo, Pulmonologist & WV State Senator
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…
S3E1 Julie Young, Social Worker & Director of Social Services for HospiceCare
Julie Osborne Young works at the intersection of life and death. As Director of Social Services at HospiceCare in Charleston, W.Va., she offers more than just practical support. Julie helps patients…
S3 Season Three Trailer
Appalachian Care Chronicles is back for Season Three! This season, we explore careers in hospice care and behavioral health, pulmonary medicine and medical expertise in the state legislature,…
S2E4 Greta Nelson, Registered Dental Hygienist
Take a ride into the world of rural dental care aboard a mobile dental unit with Greta Nelson, a clinical dental hygienist. In this episode, Greta shares firsthand experiences from her decade-long…
S3E3 Mary Gainer & Peter Wentzel, Family Medicine Doctors
Family doctors in rural places fill a special role—and it's exactly what it sounds like—they take care of whole families and overtime, end up becoming like family. Get a view into the world of rural…
S2E2 Zachary Grimes, Pathologist
Raised in rural West Virginia, Zach discovered his passion for science and medicine early on. From dissecting animals to conducting autopsies, his upbringing shaped his path towards becoming a…
S2E1 Angel Cunningham, Registered Dietitian Nutritionist
When it comes to West Virginia food, we often think of pepperoni rolls, Tudor’s Biscuits, and Mountain Dew. But West Virginia is also known for foraged foods like ramps and morels, and farmed foods…
S1E4 Jan Rader, Public Health Director
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. In this episode we hear…
Frequently Asked Questions
Appalachian Care Chronicles has published 24 episodes since June 2023, covering topics in Documentary, Education.
Appalachian Care Chronicles is currently dormant with new episodes daily. Average episode length is 26m.
