The Health Plan awards Full Medical School Scholarship to WVSOM's Lenzie Stiltner of Matewan
Seated Left to Right: Principal Brandon Cline; Jeff Knight, President & CEO of The Health Plan,
Scholarship Winner Lenzie Stiltner; English Teacher Elizabeth Cline; Delegate Mark Dean,
Director of CTE; Don Smith, Associate Vice President of Government and
External Relations, WV School of Osteopathic Medicine
A Matewan native is attending medical school at the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine (WVSOM) without the burden of tuition and fees thanks to a medical scholarship program offered by The Health Plan (THP).
WVSOM first-year student Lenzie Stiltner has been awarded The Health Plan Scholarship, which covers tuition and fees and is renewable for four years, allowing Lenzie to graduate medical school without worrying about those costs.
“I am truly grateful to The Health Plan for awarding me this scholarship, which allows me to pursue my lifelong dream of becoming a physician,” Stiltner said. “Growing up in Matewan I was shaped by a community that instilled in me the values of resilience, compassion, and service. My goal is to return home after my training to practice rural medicine, giving back to the community that raised me and working to improve access to quality healthcare within our region.”
Since 2009, The Health Plan has provided more than $3 million in full scholarships to more than 50 medical and nursing students who attend West Virginia institutions and intend to practice healthcare in West Virginia. Stiltner is one of four students awarded a full medical scholarship this year.
“Our team was really taken with Lenzie’s pride in her hometown of Matewan and her passion for improving healthcare access in rural West Virginia,” said Jeff Knight, President and CEO of The Health Plan. “We anticipate great things from Lenzie and know her hard work, compassion and love for Mingo County will serve our state well.”
James W. Nemitz, Ph.D., president of WVSOM, congratulated Lenzie.
Nemitz thanked Knight and The Health Plan for offering the scholarship program at WVSOM, which educates an average of 800 medical students each year. According to a report by the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission, the school is No. 1 in producing both primary care physicians who practice in West Virginia and who practice in rural areas of the state.
“With this program, The Health Plan is directly impacting the physician shortage in West Virginia. WVSOM is appreciative that The Health Plan includes osteopathic medical students in its scholarship program. Medical school is not inexpensive. This scholarship, by financially assisting recipients who want to stay in West Virginia, benefits not only our students but the state,” Nemitz said.
Lenzie’s family, several members of the faculty at Mingo Central High School and other local leaders attended the announcement. Associate Vice President for Government and External Relations Don Smith represented WVSOM.
Seated Left to Right: Principal Brandon Cline; Jeff Knight, President & CEO of The Health Plan,
Scholarship Winner Lenzie Stiltner; English Teacher Elizabeth Cline; Delegate Mark Dean,
Director of CTE; Don Smith, Associate Vice President of Government and
External Relations, WV School of Osteopathic Medicine
A Matewan native is attending medical school at the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine (WVSOM) without the burden of tuition and fees thanks to a medical scholarship program offered by The Health Plan (THP).
WVSOM first-year student Lenzie Stiltner has been awarded The Health Plan Scholarship, which covers tuition and fees and is renewable for four years, allowing Lenzie to graduate medical school without worrying about those costs.
“I am truly grateful to The Health Plan for awarding me this scholarship, which allows me to pursue my lifelong dream of becoming a physician,” Stiltner said. “Growing up in Matewan I was shaped by a community that instilled in me the values of resilience, compassion, and service. My goal is to return home after my training to practice rural medicine, giving back to the community that raised me and working to improve access to quality healthcare within our region.”
Since 2009, The Health Plan has provided more than $3 million in full scholarships to more than 50 medical and nursing students who attend West Virginia institutions and intend to practice healthcare in West Virginia. Stiltner is one of four students awarded a full medical scholarship this year.
“Our team was really taken with Lenzie’s pride in her hometown of Matewan and her passion for improving healthcare access in rural West Virginia,” said Jeff Knight, President and CEO of The Health Plan. “We anticipate great things from Lenzie and know her hard work, compassion and love for Mingo County will serve our state well.”
James W. Nemitz, Ph.D., president of WVSOM, congratulated Lenzie.
Nemitz thanked Knight and The Health Plan for offering the scholarship program at WVSOM, which educates an average of 800 medical students each year. According to a report by the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission, the school is No. 1 in producing both primary care physicians who practice in West Virginia and who practice in rural areas of the state.
“With this program, The Health Plan is directly impacting the physician shortage in West Virginia. WVSOM is appreciative that The Health Plan includes osteopathic medical students in its scholarship program. Medical school is not inexpensive. This scholarship, by financially assisting recipients who want to stay in West Virginia, benefits not only our students but the state,” Nemitz said.
Lenzie’s family, several members of the faculty at Mingo Central High School and other local leaders attended the announcement. Associate Vice President for Government and External Relations Don Smith represented WVSOM.
The West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine hosted Concord University President Bethany Meighen and her team — Dr. Amanda Sauchuck, Associate Provost; Dr. Michael Bean, Associate Professor of Education; and Andrew Sulgit, Chief Grants & Government Relations Officer — on the WVSOM in Lewisburg on Oct. 16.
During the meeting, President James Nemitz was joined by Gail Swarm, Assistant Dean of Clinical Sciences; Brian Griffith, Professor, Department of Biomedical Sciences; Matthew Williams, Associate Professor, Department of Biomedical Sciences; Ronnie Collins, Executive Director of Enrollment; and Don Smith, Associate Vice President of Government and External Relations.
WVSOM and Concord have a strong working relationship and the meeting allowed the sharing of ideas.
During the meeting, President James Nemitz was joined by Gail Swarm, Assistant Dean of Clinical Sciences; Brian Griffith, Professor, Department of Biomedical Sciences; Matthew Williams, Associate Professor, Department of Biomedical Sciences; Ronnie Collins, Executive Director of Enrollment; and Don Smith, Associate Vice President of Government and External Relations.
WVSOM and Concord have a strong working relationship and the meeting allowed the sharing of ideas.
Machelle Linsenmeyer, Ed.D., West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine's (WVSOM) assistant vice president of institutional effectiveness and academic resources and the chair of the school's AI Task Force, talks with Caleb Oaks of 59 News WVNS TV about the Task Force. Linsenmeyer also participates in the AI Advisory Workgroup with the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine (AACOM), an organization that supports all U.S. osteopathic medical schools.
Rod Doss, D.O., WVSOM Class of 2003, and a member of the United States Navy, presents WVSOM President Jim Nemtiz with a U.S. Military Challenge Coin.
The West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine leadership was represented at the West Virginia Business Roundtable annual meeting on Oct. 13 at the University of Charleston. Thee was a presentation on data centers.
WVSOM hosted a Fall Fest on Oct. 6-10. These are photos from the event.
WVSOM hosted a Fall Fest on Oct. 6-10. These are photos from the event.
The 2025 American Osteopathic Association’s Osteopathic Medical Education Conference (OMED) took place in Nashville, Tenn. These are photos from WVSOM's participation and activities at OMED.
The 2025 American Osteopathic Association’s Osteopathic Medical Education Conference (OMED) took place in Nashville, Tenn. These are photos from WVSOM's participation and activities at OMED.