Medical students at the Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine are helping rural West Virginia high school students explore careers in health care through NeuroAppalachia, a student-led outreach initiative that uses neuroscience education to spark curiosity and introduce new health career pathways.
NeuroAppalachia strengthens engagement between future physicians and students from underserved communities by pairing interactive lessons with real-world applications. Using neuroscience as its foundation, the program helps students better understand how science connects to health care while introducing a wide range of career opportunities across the medical field.
The program is led by third-year Marshall medical students Dami Adeshina and Jordyn Torrens and hopes to draw more student volunteers from across the medical school who serve as mentors and facilitators to continue and cement the initiative as recognized running program.
“By introducing students to hands-on neuroscience activities and meaningful mentorship, NeuroAppalachia ignites the spark that helps rural youth discover their passion and envision a future in health care,” Adeshina says. “In the face of a growing national shortage of health care providers—most acutely felt in underserved and rural communities—this program empowers the next generation of medical professionals to rise from West Virginia and serve where they are needed most.”
Since May 2025, NeuroAppalachia has completed multiple teaching cohorts at the Boone Career and Technical Center, serving students from Scott, Sherman and Van high schools in Boone County, WV. The program works primarily with eleventh-grade students to support career exploration as they prepare for post-secondary education.
“NeuroAppalachia is an innovative program that brings health literacy to rural communities in West Virginia,” Torrens says. “Its mission extends beyond creating future physicians to highlighting the full spectrum of health care careers—from radiologic technologists to EMTs—equipping the next generation with knowledge, access and opportunity. It is a program I am proud to lead and be a part of.”
