Topic: Health and Wellness

Displaying 1 - 18 of 434

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.
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.
Meet Your Vagus Nerve: A Key Pathway Linking Brain, Body and Behavior [faculty featured]
Technology Networks
Dec. 11, 2025
Dr. Hannah Holmes, clinical assistant professor in App State’s Department of Psychology, breaks down the anatomy, function and impact of the vagus nerve. She explores how vagal pathways support heart rate, digestion and emotional regulation, why the vagus nerve is central to stress recovery and overall well-being, and the bidirectional signals that link physical states and psychological experience.
$838K grant fuels App State health research aimed at boosting Western NC resilience
The community-engaged research examines rural health and housing challenges post-Helene
Nov. 25, 2025
App State has received a $838,276 grant from Dogwood Health Trust in support of the university’s work as part of the Health Policy Research Consortium — an initiative aimed at addressing physical and mental health issues, substance use and misuse, and housing and food insecurity in Western North Carolina.
App State advances community-driven research for recovery and resilience
Ongoing post-Helene projects examine flood forecasting models, backup energy systems, ecological impacts, private well contamination and health solutions
Sept. 19, 2025
App State research in the wake of Helene has the university joining local partners, diving into health data, surveying ecosystems and energizing transdisciplinary initiatives to armor the Western North Carolina region against future disasters.
3 App State teams confront flood risks and teacher shortages with Chancellor's Innovation grants
Aug. 26, 2025
Three App State faculty teams have been awarded grants of up to $25,000 each as part of the 2025 Chancellor’s Innovation Scholars Program. Their winning projects aim to increase the number of special education teachers in NC’s public schools and better quantify flood–health risks by fusing data, AI and community input.
The future of healthcare starts online and why more and more students are choosing online healthcare management degrees
Yes! Weekly
July 31, 2025
The Greensboro newspaper features App State’s Bachelor of Science in health care management as a top online program in North Carolina for health care degrees. The article highlights the program’s academic rigor, real-world experience and flexibility for working professionals, transfer students and others entering the field.
Some Helene volunteers show signs of PTSD, App State professor says [faculty featured]
Spectrum News 1
July 17, 2025
Dr. Maggie Sugg, associate professor and honors director in App State’s Department of Geography and Planning, speaks about Hurricane Helene volunteers and why some show signs of PTSD. Sugg’s research team has surveyed volunteers from Watauga, Buncombe and Yancey counties to better understand trauma after natural disasters and how to help those affected.