Lisa M. Costello, M.D., MPH

As a lifelong West Virginian, Lisa Costello has always valued her Mountaineer heritage.

“To me, the Mountaineer spirit embodies what my parents instilled in me at a young age—a strong work ethic, determination to succeed and desire to help others,” says Costello, assistant professor in the West Virginia University (WVU) School of Medicine’s Department of Pediatrics.

Growing up in the blue-collar steel mill town of Weirton, WV, a central theme in Costello’s childhood was community. Her time was spent volunteering through the local baseball association, where her father served as president, or through the United Way, where her mother served as executive director.

Costello was the first in her immediate family to graduate from college and attend medical school, where she received both her master’s degree in public health and doctorate in medicine. As a pediatric hospitalist at WVU Medicine Children’s Hospital, Costello cares for children and their families.

From a young age, Costello was strongly motivated to remain in her home state to serve her community. Working in the hospital and as an assistant professor has given her the opportunity to give back on two fronts—educating the next generation of health care professionals in the classroom and helping families along their medical journeys.

“Hardworking, passionate and giving are the qualities that I believe best describe West Virginians,” she says. “These traits drew me to a career in medicine. As a young girl growing up in Weirton, I aspired to be a physician because I wanted to help people.”

Costello’s most challenging moments in her career and personal life, like many, have come from the COVID-19 pandemic. Over the past two years, she has been assisting the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources on the statewide pandemic response and helped launch the #LETSGO gratitude project, which aims to educate youth about the those working on the frontlines of the pandemic and give them an opportunity to say thank you.

“I am a helper, and I feel it is our responsibility to give what we can whenever we can to serve and help others,” she says. “It’s important to give back because we are better when we work together to solve problems, lift people up, empower them to engage and leave the world better than we found it.”

You can find Costello at many important tables as she fights to give every West Virginian a chance at a healthy life. Through her work as president of the West Virginia chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics and president-elect of the West Virginia State Medical Association, Costello works to ensure the state maintains strong public health policy, exemplified by testifying to the state legislature about the importance of immunizations. As a board member of the West Virginia Children’s Health Insurance Program, she has been given the opportunity to make impactful decisions that translate to health care access for thousands of children and families.

While Costello aims to make a widespread difference that can be felt in every corner of the state, she has not forgotten about her immediate community—volunteering at her local parish, Saint Mary Roman Catholic Church, and WVU Medicine Children’s Kids Fair; participating in WVU alumni activities; and fundraising for Great Strides Cystic Fibrosis Walk and the Audia Caring Heritage Association event planning committee.

“I’m motivated by a strong desire to help others and the belief that through dedicated efforts from passionate, committed individuals we can make a positive difference to improve and impact lives for the better,” she says.