WEST VIRGINIA WONDER WOMEN
EMMA MORTON-EGGLESTON Fighting Diabetes, Promoting Public Health West Virginia gained a powerful ally in its struggle against diabetes and for
better health when Dr. Emma Morton- Eggleston accepted a position at WVU School of Medicine’s Eastern Division in Martinsburg in 2016. An endocrinologist
with a master’s in public health,
CATHY SLEMP Boosting Public Health
Eggleston came to us from Brigham and Women’s Hospital at Harvard, where she directed the Division of Endocrinology Pregnancy Program, among other posts. The move brought her and her husband nearer their aging parents in Virginia, and, at the same time, she was energized by WVU’s strong role in addressing diabetes and public health. Eggleston was named associate vice president of Health Sciences and dean of WVU’s Eastern Campus in 2017. She also directs the university’s Center for Diabetes and Metabolic Health. She’s excited about her team’s work in expanding WVU’s clinical services in the Eastern Panhandle, growing educational programs that will train future health care providers for West Virginia, and deepening community partnerships. “We have some wonderful collaborations that are beginning to bear fruit in health and wellness—working with local farmers and food banks and with local families and birth-to-three organizations,” she says. “We’re also doing a lot with our community partners in substance use and behavioral health. Seeing that build and grow is very exciting.” PK
Cathy Slemp came into the public eye when COVID-19 hit. When she was called from private practice in November 2018 to serve as West Virginia’s public health officer, it was an invitation back—she’d done the job from 2002 to 2011 under governors Bob Wise and Joe Manchin following eight years in other roles at the Bureau for Public Health (BPH). A Duke University–trained medical doctor, Slemp came fresh off a master’s in public health from Johns Hopkins University in 1994 to found the BPH’s Division of Infectious Disease Epidemiology and, later, the Center for Threat Preparedness. Those two modernizations strengthened public health response to everything from disease outbreaks to industrial accidents to natural disasters, making all West Virginians safer. After two decades of service to the BPH, Slemp made a graceful exit when the governor, with little explanation, called for her departure in June. Senator Manchin thanked her publicly and expressed respect, highlighting her crucial role as the state received victims of Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Others noted advancements in immunization, family planning, and addressing the substance use epidemic. Slemp is now using her voice to advocate for strengthening public health. “It’s time not only to rebuild capacity lost, but to rethink development of healthy communities.” Slemp is exploring exciting futures from the local to the global arena. “What excites me is joining others, identifying our gifts and assets, and applying them collectively to a common vision,” she says. “It’s creating opportunity for individuals, organizations, and communities to grow and change.” PK
BOBBIE CONKLIN Unflinching
Bobbie Conklin likes to carve a path, from being a first-generation college graduate to the first person to have a specific job. She currently serves as the first business development manager at the law firm Steptoe & Johnson PLLC. Her dynamic, fast-paced position allows her to interact with colleagues in multiple geographies, developing and implementing strategies that help attorneys build better relationships with their clients. In 2019, Conklin was a recipient of the Earl L. Core Award given by the Morgantown Area Chamber of Commerce to a Monongalia County resident for outstanding service to the community. Conklin is former co-director of Leadership Monongalia, a program designed to identify and support up-and-coming leaders in Monongalia County. Additionally, for the past 10 years, she has served on the Board of Directors for Monongalia Health System, and she currently serves as the chair of its Quality Committee. Having been a 4-H leader for many years, Conklin lives by the 4-H motto “To make the best better,” which she strives to do in her volunteer activities, professional life, and personal relationships. She attributes her success to having a group of unflinching female friends who keep her in check and join her on adventures. JC
newsouthmedia.com 75
Made with FlippingBook - professional solution for displaying marketing and sales documents online