The West Virginia University School of Nursing is expanding its Faith Community Nursing program into seven counties in the Mid-Ohio Valley — Jackson, Pleasants, Ritchie, Roane, Tyler, Wirt, and Wood — thanks to generous funding from the Sisters Health Foundation.
Their funding helps to equip nurses in these counties to serve as Faith Community Nurses, which is a unique role that blends professional nursing with spiritual care and community outreach.
Nurses in these counties can receive a full scholarship for the all-online, 8-week Faith Community Nursing program. The next course will begin Sept. 15, 2025.
“Faith Community Nursing is about meeting people where they are — physically, emotionally, and spiritually,” said Dr. Angel Smothers, Associate Dean for Community Engagement and Director of the Faith Community Nursing program at WVU. “This funding allows us to support nurses who are deeply embedded in their communities and who are uniquely positioned to make a lasting impact on the health of West Virginians.”
Faith Community Nurses provide holistic care by addressing the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of individuals and families. They serve as health educators, advocates, and liaisons between the health care system and faith-based organizations, often working in churches, community centers, and other local settings.
“With a focus on establishing care points within local faith communities, this program aims to bring care to people in spaces that they trust, aligning with our goal of expanding access to health care” said Marian Clowes, Associate Director for the Sisters Health Foundation.
The program offers specialized training, mentorship, and ongoing support to nurses, enabling them to promote wellness, prevent illness, and provide compassionate care in rural and underserved areas. The initiative aligns with WVU’s land-grant mission to improve health outcomes across the state and foster community-based solutions to health disparities.
To learn more, visit the WVU School of Nursing’s Faith Community Nursing website or contact Dr. Smothers at asmothers@hsc.wvu.edu.
Donations like the ones from the Sisters Health Foundation are awarded via the WVU Foundation, the nonprofit organization that receives and administers private donations on behalf of the University.
If you are interested in making a donation to this or any other program at the WVU School of Nursing, please contact Dr. Kimberly Colebank, Development Director, at kcolebank@wvuf.org or 304-554-0237.