WVU Health Sciences students to discuss impact of reform

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Students from WVU’s four health professions schools and other health-related disciplines across the University will spend Saturday morning (April 9) discussing health reform with national and state policy makers, WVU faculty members and health experts from across the state.

“The Impact of Healthcare Reform on Your Life and Career: A Student Conversation,” will be held from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at the Health Sciences Center. Speakers include Jocelyn Moore, staff director of U.S. Senate Finance Subcommittee on Healthcare and legislative director for U.S. Sen. Jay Rockefeller; West Virginia State University student and healthcare advocate Erin Snyder of Charleston; WVU Hospitals CEO Bruce McClymonds; and Christopher Colenda, M.D., M.P.H., chancellor for health sciences at WVU.

About a dozen members of the West Virginia Legislature have volunteered to lead small-group discussions with the students.

“I truly appreciate the willingness of these policy makers to sacrifice part of a spring weekend to help our students understand and prepare for the changes that will face them as they begin careers in healthcare,” Dr. Colenda said. “The future of healthcare is that we will be playing a team sport – with all of the health professions working together to advance the health of patients and communities. It’s important for our students to speak to one another across all our disciplines.”

More than 150 students are registered for the event, including students in the Schools of Dentistry, Medicine, Nursing and Pharmacy and in the Division of Public Administration. It is co-sponsored by WVU Health Sciences and West Virginians for Affordable Healthcare.