Abigail Conrad (left) and Elliot “Ellie” Nesbitt (right)
Two West Virginia University School of Public Health students are the inaugural recipients of the Golden-Burkhardt Scholarship, an award established by retired health professionals Joseph I. Golden, MD, MPH, and Margaret A. Burkhardt to support graduate students dedicated to improving health outcomes in West Virginia. The scholarship reflects the donors’ vision to empower public health leaders who will strengthen health equity and access.
Elliot “Ellie” Nesbitt and Abigail Conrad, both natives of the Mountain State, were selected for their commitment to addressing public health challenges in their communities.
Ellie Nesbitt: Transforming Appalachia’s health
Ellie Nesbitt, of Monongalia County, is a first-year Master of Public Health student specializing in social and behavioral sciences. A former collegiate athlete, Nesbitt is driven by a passion for health and wellness, as well as a personal connection to the health challenges faced by West Virginians.
“One of my primary motivations in pursuing a master’s in public health is to promote health and well-being for the people of West Virginia,” she said. “As a former collegiate runner, I have always had a passion for maintaining overall health and wellness, and [a] great desire to communicate to others the benefits of a healthy lifestyle.”
Nesbitt said her work as a WVU Extension health ambassador and volunteer at a Morgantown food pantry deepened her understanding of health disparities and fueled her commitment to creating equitable systems. “I have also come to believe that healthcare is a fundamental human right,” she said. “The people of West Virginia deserve this right, and it is only when West Virginians get this right that we will see the necessary socioeconomic improvements to achieve broader sustainable development within the state.”
Nesbitt plans to focus her career on improving the social determinants of health, including education, housing and food security. “My goal as a public health professional is to establish initiatives in the most rural and underserved areas of the state to ensure that people have access to programs that produce positive health outcomes,” she said.
Abigail Conrad: Championing care for veterans
Abigail Conrad, of Lewis County, is a second-year Master of Public Health student in applied epidemiology and biostatistics. Her passion for public health stems from her family’s influence, particularly her mother’s career in community health and her grandfather’s service as a veteran.
“My personal motivation for pursuing a master’s in public health is majorly influenced by my family,” Conrad said. “Growing up, I looked up to my mom and grandfather. My mom worked through the United Summit Center and also worked at our local hospital. She would tell me intriguing stories and interesting facts about her work.”
Conrad said her grandfather’s experiences inspired her interest in serving veterans. “When I was younger, I used to join my grandfather for his doctor’s appointments at the veterans’ hospital in Clarksburg,” she said. “I was interested [in] the numerous stories I heard from other veterans while sitting in the waiting room. Every veteran had different experiences, struggles and battles with health insurance.”
After graduation, Conrad plans to pursue a career with the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs, focusing on improving healthcare access for West Virginia veterans. “I want to start straight into the workforce, and I intend to serve local veterans by discovering solutions to healthcare issues they face within our state,” she said.
A lasting legacy
The Golden-Burkhardt Scholarship was created to support students who demonstrate a commitment to public health and the future of West Virginia. Golden and Burkhardt, Connecticut natives who built their careers in rural healthcare settings in the state, were inspired by their own experiences with scholarship support during their education.
“We can’t be healthy unless our environment is healthy, unless the earth is healthy, unless we have clean water and air, and services that support families,” Burkhardt said.
Golden emphasized the importance of a robust public health workforce, particularly in addressing critical challenges such as pandemics and climate change. “Given what the world is experiencing with climate change and navigating pandemics and other epidemics, we need people who are sophisticated and knowledgeable working in public health,” he said. “Even though most people in the country don’t know what public health professionals do, the population’s quality of life is highly dependent on public health measures and having people who know how to think through and implement these measures is vital.”
By supporting students like Nesbitt and Conrad, the Golden-Burkhardt Scholarship is paving the way for a healthier, stronger West Virginia.
The Golden-Burkhardt Scholarship was made through the WVU Foundation, the nonprofit organization that receives and administers private donations on behalf of the University. Scholarship gifts to support the School of Public Health can be made online at give.wvu.edu/publichealth.