WVSOM Launches Walking Initiative to Boost Health Among Students and Community

LEWISBURG, WV – The West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine (WVSOM) is taking significant steps to enhance the health of West Virginians by adopting the “Mountaineer Mile” walking initiative put forth by Governor Patrick Morrisey. This initiative encourages not only the WVSOM community but also local residents to prioritize their health through regular physical activity.

The initiative will see students, faculty, and staff walking a mile every Monday on WVSOM’s Lewisburg campus. Participants will begin their weekly walks in front of the WVSOM Student Center’s Alumni Tower at 12 p.m., starting on April 14. University President Dr. James W. Nemitz and other leadership members will join in these walks, creating a collaborative atmosphere.

In expressing his enthusiasm for the initiative, Dr. Nemitz remarked, ‘This is an exciting opportunity for our state to move the needle when it comes to reducing obesity and positively impacting chronic disease. I’m proud to lead the governor’s Mountaineer Mile initiative on our campus.’

The program will not only focus on the walks but also includes weight-loss goals, weekly step and weight tracking, as well as access to health education resources from the Center for Rural and Community Health.

Additionally, WVSOM aims to engage surrounding communities in the Greenbrier Valley to participate in the statewide initiative, fostering a broader culture of health and fitness.

Dr. Nemitz has also extended a challenge to other colleges and universities, stating, ‘I challenge other schools to adopt the governor’s Mountaineer Mile walking initiative in the hope that we can work together to improve the health of our population.’

Supporting the initiative, WVSOM’s Chief Operations Officer Dr. Drema Hill shared her personal health journey, saying, ‘As a person who has lost 160 pounds, I know weight loss is not easy. I applaud the governor for taking a personal stand to set an example. I look forward to walking many Mountaineer Miles, and I hope all West Virginians will follow his lead so that we can get healthier together.’