Topic: Health and Wellness

Displaying 1 - 18 of 440

App State researchers partner to strengthen Western NC resilience 2 years post-Helene
Community-informed projects span energy resilience, data coordination, community health and the arts
Sept. 30, 2026
Two years after Hurricane Helene, App State faculty and staff continue leading research to help build long-term resilience for communities across Western North Carolina. Spanning energy systems, data coordination, community health and the arts, these projects aim to deliver real solutions to problems surfaced and made worse by the storm.
The Thinking About Kids and Heat Has Flipped [faculty featured]
The Atlantic
July 11, 2026
Dr. Caroline Smith, professor in App State’s Department of Kinesiology, discusses research that challenges the long-held belief that children are more vulnerable to heat than adults. She explains that children have less electrolytes in their sweat, allowing it to evaporate more easily and cool the body more efficiently.
Statewide agreement links NC community colleges to App State health sciences program
New pathway creates seamless transfer for health-related AAS graduates
July 1, 2026
Appalachian State University has partnered with the North Carolina Community College System on a new statewide articulation agreement for health-related Associate in Applied Science degrees. The initiative includes nearly all of the state’s community colleges and establishes seamless transfer pathways into App State’s Bachelor of Science in health sciences program.
App State honors faculty research to improve lives and longevity across the region
Drs. Martie Thompson and Jeffrey McBride receive 2026 Chancellor’s and Provost’s Awards
April 30, 2026
App State faculty members Dr. Martie Thompson and Dr. Jeffrey McBride have been honored with 2026 Chancellor’s and Provost’s Awards for their focus on community-and student-involved research that aims to strengthen health and resilience in Western North Carolina. Thompson received the Chancellor’s Award, and McBride is the Provost’s Award winner.
App State Mountaineer Medics gain international perspective on emergency care
Students engaged in service-learning with London Ambulance Service
April 23, 2026
This spring, App State students and Mountaineer Medics traveled across the pond to study international emergency services firsthand, observing the London Ambulance Service — one of the world’s busiest emergency medical service agencies — in the field. They aim to use their insights to help strengthen local and campus emergency response protocols.
App State earns Family Forward NC certification for its support of working families
April 21, 2026
App State has been named a Family Forward NC Certified Employer by the North Carolina Early Childhood Foundation’s Family Forward NC initiative. The certification recognizes NC employers offering policies and practices that support the health and well-being of working families and children.
Helene exposed cracks in western NC’s health care safety net [faculty featured]
NC Health News
April 15, 2026
NC Health News highlights research from App State’s Dr. Maggie Sugg, associate professor in the Department of Geography and Planning, analyzing emergency department use in Western NC following Hurricane Helene. Sugg and her partners focused on 19 hard-hit western counties, drawing data from nearly 130 emergency departments statewide.
Precision and purpose: App State industrial design team builds next-generation prosthetics
April 14, 2026
A team of App State industrial design students, led by Department of Applied Design faculty Jimena Vergara-Sanz and Dr. Garner Dewy, is taking a human-centered approach to innovation. Using 3D printing technology, the team is working to design and develop next-generation prosthetic hands that are both accessible and customizable for users.
Empowering resilience: App State graduate student creates disaster-ready drinking water system
Bradley Del Vecchio’s design earned him 1st place in App State’s 3MT Competition
April 8, 2026
Leveraging his renewable energy technology studies, App State graduate student Bradley Del Vecchio developed a solar-powered system to provide clean drinking water during natural disasters. Witnessing the devastation of Hurricane Helene inspired his award-winning design, which can produce up to 100 gallons of drinking water per day.
Growing Well: App State clinic expands access to specialized pediatric care in Northwestern NC
$2M Vaya Health grant supports clinic’s expansion this spring
March 30, 2026
Specialized pediatric care is now closer to home for High Country families thanks to App State’s Growing Well High Country Developmental Clinic, which provides expert diagnosis and treatment for children with developmental delays. With $2 million in funding support from Vaya Health, the clinic will expand its operations this spring, including at App State’s Hickory campus.
$500K Golden LEAF Foundation funding equips nursing simulation lab at App State Hickory
March 3, 2026
App State has been awarded $500,000 in Golden LEAF Foundation funding, which will equip a nursing simulation and clinical learning lab at the App State Hickory campus. The new space will support App State’s nursing program — including the Doctor of Nursing Practice program, launching this fall — and serve as a hub for interprofessional health care education.
App State's Dr. JP Jameson honored for advancing rural mental health care across Western NC
Jameson receives UNC System’s 2025 James E. Holshouser Jr. Award for Excellence in Public Service
Feb. 27, 2026
Dr. John Paul “JP” Jameson, App State professor of psychology, has received the 2025 Gov. James E. Holshouser Jr. Award for Excellence in Public Service from the UNC System Board of Governors. The award recognizes Jameson's work to improve access to quality mental health care services for rural communities across Western North Carolina.
Protecting those who protect us: App State studies the cooling limits of new firefighter gear
Dr. Caroline Smith is App State’s lead for this collaborative research with NC State
Feb. 24, 2026
App State research led by Dr. Caroline Smith, in collaboration with NC State, aims to advance firefighter safety by testing whether new moisture barriers in personal protective gear prevent overheating — a key factor in reducing firefighters’ risk of heat stroke and cardiac events. The work is supported by a $1.5 million FEMA grant.
App State’s Doctor of Nursing Practice program accepting applications — priority deadline is Feb. 1
The hybrid program will welcome its first students this fall
Jan. 22, 2026
App State is accepting applications for its new Doctor of Nursing Practice-Family Nurse Practitioner program. The part-time, hybrid program is designed for registered nurses with a bachelor’s degree in nursing and at least one year of work experience. Prospective students are encouraged to apply by the priority deadline, Feb. 1.
A Rural Wisconsin Community Charts a Path for Intergenerational Care [faculty featured]
The Daily Yonder
Jan. 19, 2026
Dr. Jill Juris, professor and chair of App State’s Department of Recreation Management and Physical Education, shares insights from BRIDGE2Health, an intergenerational mentoring program linking high school students with older adults. Early data show it boosts social connections and life skills, benefiting participants of all ages.
Top One-Year Online RN to BSN Programs for 2026
Nurse.org
Jan. 9, 2026
The nursing organization named App State’s RN to BSN program the No. 1 online RN to BSN program in the country for 2026, citing its affordability and positive online learning experience. The program is also highlighted for the flexibility of its one- to three-year formats, designed to accommodate students with varying weekly time commitments.
11 Tips for Overcoming Gym Anxiety [faculty featured]
Everyday Health
Dec. 28, 2025
Dr. Hannah Holmes, clinical assistant professor in App State’s Department of Psychology, shares 11 tips for overcoming gym anxiety — the fear, worry and self-consciousness some people experience when exercising at the gym. She notes that strategies such as working out with a friend, taking a class or partnering with a personal trainer can help boost confidence.
App State awarded $1.1M NCInnovation grant for digital tool supporting families of children with developmental delays
Dec. 18, 2025
Supported by a $1.1 million NCInnovation grant, App State’s Dr. Gavin Colquitt is developing an interactive, AI-powered web-based platform designed to identify delayed development of movement skills in young children and provide support resources for these children and their families. Colquitt plans to launch the platform in Western NC, with a goal of expanding it across North Carolina and the U.S.