Lisa
Costello,
MD, MPH, FAAP
Assistant Professor Pediatrics
West Virginia University
Lisa M. Costello, MD, MPH, FAAP is a lifelong West Virginian who hails from Weirton, WV. She is an Assistant Professor in the Department Pediatrics at West Virginia University (WVU) in Morgantown, WV and a Pediatric Hospitalist at WVU Medicine Children’s Hospital. She is co-director of the Pediatrics Clerkship, leads a healthcare literacy and patient advocacy curriculum thread for the M.D. program, and is the advisor for the medical student group, Student Advocates Impacting Decision on Healthcare.
Presenting at the Nexus Summit:
West Virginia is often recognized for being ranked LAST in many areas of health including obesity rates and smoking. This is in sharp contrast to the state's COVID-19 response efforts, as WV was recognized nationally and internationally for its leading vaccination rates. Part of this success was due to the WV Vaccine Administration, Collaboration, and Support (WV VACS) Team, a partnership between the WV National Guard (WVNG), the WV Department of Health and Human Resources (WVDHHR), and the WV Higher Education Policy Commission (WV HEPC). Faculty and students from various healthcare colleges…
Background:The West Virginia Vaccine Administration, Collaboration, and Support (WV VACS) Team is a partnership between the WV National Guard (WVNG), the WV Department of Health and Human Resources (WVDHHR), and the WV Higher Education Policy Commission (WV HEPC) trains and deploys interprofessional teams of health sciences students to help with the COVID-19 vaccination efforts statewide. Students work with local health departments, hospitals, and community health partners. A grant was secured through the HEPC to fund this effort.Methods:A coordinator was hired to oversee the VACS program,…