Stay informed on the latest developments shaping Food Is Medicine across West Virginia. This quarterly roundup highlights coalition priorities, policy updates, funding opportunities, research, events, and collaborative projects working to expand access to nutrition-based care statewide. Explore key takeaways from recent meetings and find ways to engage in building a stronger, more coordinated Food Is Medicine ecosystem.
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Kent Leonhardt is a longtime farmer whose passion for agriculture began at a very young age and grew into a business operation while still serving in the United States Marine Corps. Early in his military career, Mr. Leonhardt bought a farm near Blacksville, West Virginia that had been abandoned for more than 40 years. It was purchased in 1982, where he still lives today. Prior to holding his current office, Kent and his wife Shirley raised sheep, cattle, and goats, and sold hay when a surplus was available.
Mr. Leonhardt graduated from the University of Missouri with a Bachelor of Science in Wildlife Management. He focused on a variety of courses pertinent to agriculture, natural resources, and environmental protection. While still on active duty, he earned a Master of Business Management from Central Michigan University. He is also a graduate of the Defense Language Institute – Arabic, Defense Intelligence College, and the Marine Corps Command and Staff College.
After two decades in the United States Marine Corps, Mr. Leonhardt retired from the military in 1996 as a Lieutenant Colonel. During that time, he served on multiple joint service assignments, leading America’s men and women during wartime and peace. Among the ten decorations he received are the Legion of Merit, and Combat Action Ribbon.
In 2014, Mr. Leonhardt was elected to the West Virginia State Senate in the Second Senatorial District. At the time, the district was one of the largest and most rural in the state, containing all or parts of Marshall, Wetzel, Gilmer, Marion, Monongalia, Tyler, Doddridge, Calhoun, and Ritchie counties. In 2017, he resigned from his position in the Senate after being elected West Virginia Commissioner of Agriculture. He has held that position since January 2017. Mr. Leonhardt is also a member of the Monongalia County Farm Bureau.
The Leonhardts have three sons, six grandchildren, and two great grandchildren.
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As the Medicaid Commissioner, Christy Donohue brings decades of experience in government health programs and health plan administration to her role. Her background includes senior leadership positions with The Health Plan of West Virginia, CNSI, and Molina Healthcare, with extensive experience in Medicaid operations, contract oversight, budget and rate setting, regulatory compliance, and program integrity.
With more than 33 years of experience working with Medicaid, CHIP, and DSNP programs, Commissioner Donohue brings deep institutional knowledge and a strong understanding of how state and managed care partners work together to serve West Virginians.
Commissioner Donohue is a graduate of West Virginia State University and completed the Organizational Leadership Program through Mountain State University. She is actively engaged in her community, serving with organizations including Big Brothers Big Sisters and United Way, and is a 2024 graduate of Leadership West Virginia. She resides in Boone County, West Virginia with her family.
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.
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.
Merinda 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.
