The West Virginia Food Is Medicine Coalition Steering Committee brings together leaders, advocates, healthcare professionals, community organizations, and partners who are passionate about improving health outcomes across the state. Through collaboration, innovation, and shared expertise, the committee helps guide the Coalition’s mission to expand access to nutrition-focused healthcare solutions and strengthen Food Is Medicine efforts throughout West Virginia.
Representing a wide range of sectors and communities, our Steering Committee works to support strategic growth, foster meaningful partnerships, and champion initiatives that connect food, health, and well-being. Together, they help shape a healthier future for individuals, families, and communities across the Mountain State.
Adam Baus
WVU School of Public Health
Adam Baus is a Research Associate Professor at the West Virginia University School of Public Health, Department of Social & Behavioral Sciences, and Director of the West Virginia University Office of Health Services Research. Now in his 23rd year with the Office of Health Services Research, he leads applied, data-driven work focused on improving quality of care and advancing health for priority populations.
Kimberly Becher
Community Care of WV
Kimberly R. Becher, MD, is a family physician in Clay, W.V. She grew up in West Virginia and received her medical degree from Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine in 2011, where she also completed her family medicine residency and served as one of the department’s chief residents. Passionate about health policy and reform advocacy, Becher was named one of Marshall University’s Paul Ambrose Health Policy Fellows. She earned her Bachelor of Science Degree in biology from Denison University in Granville, Ohio, in 2002. Between her undergraduate studies and medical school, she carried out breast and colon cancer research at the University of Cincinnati. She is currently Chief Medical Officer at Community Care of West Virginia where she has worked as a family medicine physician since 2014.
Cordel Bostic
WV Food and Farm Coalition
Cordel Bostic is a West Virginia native with deep roots in the state and a strong record of advancing state and federal policy that strengthens food access and agricultural opportunity. A graduate of Davis & Elkins College with a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science, Cordel began his career supporting community development initiatives across West Virginia as a grant writer before bringing his expertise into the policy arena. As External Affairs & Legislative Policy Coordinator for the West Virginia Food & Farm Coalition, he has helped secure key policy wins that expand nutrition access, strengthen local food purchasing, and support farm and food business viability. In addition to his civilian policy work, Cordel has served in the U.S. Army Reserve as a Human Resource Analyst and, during deployment to Iraq, advised in areas of federal law and policy. His work reflects a commitment to pragmatic, results-driven policy solutions that directly benefit West Virginia communities.
Carolyn Canini
WV Primary Care Association
As Director of School-Based and Behavioral Health Services, Carolyn leads efforts to expand and enhance behavioral health and school-based health care within community health centers across West Virginia. A macro social worker by training, she applies a strengths-based lens to build on existing resources, networks, and community capacity, to advance high‑quality, accessible care for West Virginians.
Carolyn supports health center goals by fostering collaboration with state agencies, higher education partners, and social service organizations to drive collective impact to improve health. Drawing on her experience guiding statewide initiatives to strengthen West Virginia’s behavioral health workforce and training pipeline, Carolyn’s work addresses barriers to care from a systems-level approach. Her background includes designing and directing complex grant programs, convening cross-sector stakeholders in health and mental health, advising on behavioral health policy, and providing leadership to improve student health and wellness at K–12 and collegiate levels.
Lacy Davidson-Ferguson
WV Department of Agriculture
Lacy Davidson Ferguson is a mom of two free-range kiddos, a regenerative farmer, and a systems thinker who lives at the intersection of sustainable food systems, health, and human behavior. She and her family operate Elmcrest Farm, raising livestock on pasture, growing herbs and log-grown mushrooms, and Twelvepole Trading Post, a farm-to-table café, market, and community gathering place in Wayne, West Virginia.
Professionally, Lacy has been a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist for over a decade and a Regional Planning Coordinator in Agriculture Business Development with the West Virginia Department of Agriculture, working to empower food and agriculture-based businesses to create sustainable systems in their businesses and positive change in their communities.
By blending evidence-based science with real-world experience, Lacy helps individuals and communities work with the laws of nature to build resilient health, businesses, and prosperous lives.
Kelly Elkins
Appalachian Regional Healthcare
Kelly Elkins serves as the Community Health and Impact Manager at Appalachian Regional Healthcare (ARH) for the West Virginia Region. Kelly brings extensive experience in community-driven initiatives that address social drivers of health, with a strong focus on improving access to nutritious food, strengthening regional partnerships, and advancing health equity across Appalachia. She is passionate about collaborative solutions, Kelly is excited to be a part of the West Virginia Food Is Medicine Steering Committee and to be able to contribute efforts that connect food, health, and community well-being to everyone in West Virginia.
Megan Govindan
WVU Institute for Community and Rural Health
Dr. Govindan is a Research Scientist and the Director of the Nourish WV Initiative at the West Virginia University Institute for Community & Rural Health. A Registered Dietitian Nutritionist and native West Virginian, she specializes in food systems innovation, focusing on the critical intersection of agriculture and healthcare. Her work utilizes evidence-based research to design farm to health care pipelines that leverage local food procurement to improve patient outcomes. By integrating West Virginia’s agricultural assets with institutional health systems, she is dedicated to cultivating a sustainable models for community wellness that empowers both local producers and the neighbors they serve.
Carol Antonelli-Greco
FARMacy WV
Carol Antonelli-Greco, DO is a graduate of the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine. She is board certified in both Family and Hospice and Palliative Medicine and has practiced in the Upper Ohio Valley and Northern Panhandle of WV since 1986. Her work as a physician over the last 10 years has focused on the education of patients in dietary and behavioral changes to help prevent and control chronic disease. In 2016 she co-founded the FARMacy WV: Prescriptions for Produce program. The impetus for creation of the program was a growing awareness of the increasing incidence of chronic disease and nutrition insecurities in the most vulnerable populations of West Virginians. Since that time, the program has grown to encompass sites throughout WV and the Ohio River Valley. She currently resides in Wheeling, WV with her husband, Rick. She is the proud mother of 5 children and 11 grandchildren.
Cyndi Kirkhart
Facing Hunger Food Bank
Born and raised in Huntington, WV Cyndi is a daughter of Marshall University (BA Psychology and English, Minor-History). Her first professional position was as a shelter worker at Branches Domestic Violence Shelter, and that start in the helping professions has surrounded her throughout her professional career. After relocating to Atlanta, GA to work in an outdoor residential treatment facility for adolescents, Cyndi completed her Master of Science in Psychology at Georgia State University in Atlanta, and then relocated to Winter Haven FL to work in a variety of behavioral health programs at Winter Haven Hospital. Cyndi moved back to West Virginia in 1997, staying in the behavioral health field until she completed her MBA at Ohio University, and then moving into Clinical Resource Management at Cabell Huntington Hospital. She worked as a Patient Advocate with Legal Aid, and in August 2014, she joined the food bank as the Executive Director as she had a friend who was the Board Chair and she asked Cyndi why she had not applied for the position. Cyndi advised her that it was because she didn’t know how to run a warehouse…and to that her friend said “I don’t either, but I could run the food bank.” This move has resulted in a feeling of coming full circle and moreover, coming home. Cyndi will soon celebrate her 12th anniversary at Facing Hunger Food Bank. That celebration includes the growth from 13 team members to over 50, and the further expansion of programming, resources and commitment to best serve the communities and neighbors at the center of the food bank’s work, and the internal customers who serve with a passion and commitment that makes it all happen.
Cyndi has been married to her best friend and life partner for 24 years, and they have a large peaceable kingdom on their farm. She & Mark love to travel, and are grateful that the world has many places to include on their bucket list as they experience even their daily lives with the perspective of being citizens of the world.
Katie Lanham
Vandalia Health Network
Katie Lanham is the Director of Community Growth and Engagement at Vandalia Health Network. Katie holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Master of Science in Healthcare Administration from Marshall University. As a lifelong resident of West Virginia, Katie has seen the health struggles prevalent in the area. Committed to improving the quality of health in her home state, Katie joined the Vandalia Health Network where she works alongside practices and healthcare facilities across the state, using population data to identify need and turning that data into actionable initiatives. Additionally, Katie is dedicated to improving health equity while increasing access to preventative care such as breast, lung, and colorectal cancer screenings through the use of strategic mobile fleet deployment, preventable disease through increased immunizations, and addressing chronic disease and food insecurity through the use of Food As Medicine.
Katie has been at Vandalia Health Network for five years where she has continued to grow in her role to serve the community and Network partners. Katie enjoys her free time exercising, reading or listening to books, drinking coffee, and spending time with her husband, two children, and two cats. Katie is an active member in WV Food is Medicine Coalition (Steering Committee), WV Immunization Network (Steering Committee), Mountains of Hope Cancer Coalition, Kanawha Coalition for Community Health Improvement (Steering Committee), WV Colorectal Cancer Roundtable.
Laura Mayhew
Wellpoint
Laura Mayhew is a Program Administrator at Wellpoint WV. In her role, she administers initiatives focused on improving access to care by addressing the everyday conditions that impact health and well-being. Laura partners with community organizations and stakeholders to help advance initiatives and strengthen whole-person collaboration, with the goal of improving health outcomes across West Virginia.
Holly Morgan
WV Farmers Market Association
Holly Morgan is the Executive Director of the West Virginia Farmers Market Association, where she leads statewide efforts to strengthen local food systems by connecting farmers, markets, and institutions. Her work focuses on improving access to locally produced foods while building sustainable infrastructure that supports producers and communities.
With a background spanning agriculture, conservation, and tourism, Holly brings both strategic and operational experience to cross-sector initiatives. She has worked directly with healthcare partners, farmers, and community organizations to expand programs that integrate local food into health and wellness efforts, including produce prescription models and institutional sourcing.
Holly also serves as a District Supervisor for the Upper Ohio Conservation District and has led community development and tourism initiatives at the county level. Her work is grounded in the belief that strong local food systems are essential to improving both economic outcomes for farmers and health outcomes for communities.
Hilary Payne
WV Bureau for Public Health
Hilary Payne is the Director of the Division of Health Promotion and Chronic Disease at the West Virginia Department of Health, a role in which she spearheads multiple initiatives aimed at chronic disease management and prevention with the goal of achieving health and wellness for all West Virginians. Prior to this role she served as the Appalachian Pulmonary Health Project Director and the Accountable Health Communities Program Director.
Hilary has more than 25 years of experience working in various aspects of the healthcare industry in West Virginia. She has held positions in provider relations, long-term care, health insurance, medical malpractice insurance, physician practice management, and grants management. She holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in health care management from Marshall University as well as a Master of Public Health degree in health planning and administration from the University of Tennessee.
Laura Phillips
Mountaineer Food Bank
Laura Phillips has been a member of the Mountaineer Food Bank team for nine years. Serving first on the Agency Relations team and then transitioning to the Director of Community Programs Department at the department’s initiation. After graduating from Fairmont State, Laura served as a Food Pantry Coordinator through the AmeriCorps Lifebridge Program. Her year with AmeriCorps shaped her passion and professional trajectory towards addressing access barriers to healthy food. She lives in Lewis County with her husband, (soon to be) 3 children, and rambunctious bird dogs!
Merinda Stricklen
FamilyCare Health Centers (Co-Chair)
Merinda Stricklen is a certified physician assistant who is passionate about improving the health of families and communities in WV. She received a Bachelor of Science in Physician Assistant Studies from Seton Hill University in 2002. She also received a Master of Public Health in Health Promotion from Liberty University in 2023. She has over 23 years of pediatric experience, including extensive experience in treating childhood obesity. She worked with a pediatric weight management program called HealthyKids and was involved with conducting research and quality improvement projects around childhood obesity, particularly using produce prescriptions as an obesity intervention. She currently serves as the Director of the Health And Community Education Department at FamilyCare Health Centers, a Federally Qualified Health Center, which serves 4 counties in WV. She is especially passionate about using Food Is Medicine as an intervention to increase access to healthy foods and nutrition education for communities, resulting in improved health outcomes. In addition to her role at FamilyCare, she serves as a Co-Chair of the WV FIM Coalition, whose goal is to transform health in WV by harnessing the power of nutrition to prevent and treat disease, reduce healthcare costs, and improve quality of life statewide.
Sue-Lynn Ramella
Community Member
Sue-Lynn Ramella is a West Virginia–based compliance and healthcare operations professional focused on improving access, equity, and support for communities across the state. Her experience spans rehabilitation services, medical claims, nonprofit finance, and regulatory oversight, giving her a practical understanding of how healthcare systems and community programs intersect. She holds an Associate of Applied Business in Law & Paralegal Studies (Cum Laude) and is currently completing a Bachelor of Science in Law & Paralegal Studies at the University of Cincinnati. Sue-Lynn’s background in legal research, administrative law, and healthcare regulation shapes her work in patient advocacy, chronic‑illness support, and community education.
Robert Trombley
Coalfield Development
Robert Trombley is the sales and logistics coordinator for Coalfield Development’s Refresh Appalachia Food Hub, based out of the West Edge Factory in Huntington, West Virginia. His background is in distribution, retail sales, and logistics. After moving to Huntington in 2023, Robert began to use his skills to support local farmers and food producers at The Wild Ramp. Through his work in local food initiatives, he has connected farmers and food producers with Food Is Medicine programming across the southern coalfields, allowing these programs to deepen their impact to rural communities by prioritizing local agriculture. He is excited to continue working with WV Food is Medicine Coalition to expand his work with local farmers through the steering committee.
Jeff Wiseman
The Health Plan of WV
Jeff Wiseman is the Senior Vice President for Mountain Health Trust (WV Medicaid and WVCHIP) for The Health Plan of WV, one of the State’s Medicaid Managed Care Organizations. In addition, he also assists with oversight of community events to help educate West Virginians on the benefits of utilizing the health care system. Mr. Wiseman has been with The Health Plan for over 5 years, and previously worked with the WV Department of Health and Human Resources (7 years) and the WV Offices of the Insurance Commissioner (3 years). He holds an MBA from Morehead State University. In his free time, Mr. Wiseman is an avid bowler and loves spending time with his baby niece.
Gina Wood
WVU Extension Family Nutrition Program (Co-chair)
Gina is a Registered Dietitian with over 25 years’ experience in private industry, community nutrition, and public health. She currently serves as an Associate Professor and Coordinator of the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program with West Virginia University Extension where her role is focused on administration and implementation of service delivery programs to under-resourced communities and populations through direct education and public health outreach. She believes strongly in the power of food and community in building local connection and a self-sustaining ecosystem of health, wealth, and social trust.
