Petra Howell-Vasale is proof it’s never too late to start over, and it’s never too late to help others. As an Emergency Room nurse based in Beckley, West Virginia, she takes listeners through her career journey from working in Charleston kitchens as a high-end pastry chef to standing at Raleigh General Hospital’s Emergency Room doors when critical cases come in.

From his farm in southern West Virginia to McDowell County’s only acute care hospital, Dr. Judd Lindley shows what it means to care for others with humility. He’s spent decades serving the state’s coalfields as an obstetrician-gynecologist (OB-GYN). In this episode, Dr. Lindley shares how his patients have pushed him to rethink his assumptions more than once—and why that’s part of becoming the best doctor he can be.

Join Larrecsa Barker, Community Paramedic, and Whitney Maxi, EMT, on the streets of Huntington, West Virginia as they care for patients days after an overdose. As members of Cabell County’s Quick Response Team, the pair are proving that sometimes it takes getting outside and meeting people where they are to help them find a new path forward.

When babies born in rural parts of West Virginia need lifesaving care, Hannah Bowen rushes to them, sometimes even by helicopter. As a Neonatal Pediatric Intensive Care Transport Nurse, Hannah lets us in on what it’s like to hold families, and their tiny newborns, with a steady and caring hand whether on a winding West Virginia road or amidst the hum of the hospital.

Appalachian Care Chronicles is back for Season Four! This season, we explore careers in neonatal intensive care, obstetrics and gynecology, emergency medicine, and community paramedicine.

Join our new host, Kristen Carpenter, to learn about the lives of those who fight for better health every day—through long shifts, tough challenges, and victories big and small. Ever wondered what it’s really like behind the scenes in healthcare? Find out this season.

This podcast is a production of the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission Health Sciences Division. Find Appalachian Care Chronicles at appcarepod.com and on social media for episodes, behind the scenes photos, and portraits of our storytellers.

For Jordan Dennison, helping others in recovery is more than just a job—it’s personal. As a peer recovery specialist and part of Charleston’s Quick Response Team (QRT), Jordan draws on his own experience with addiction and homelessness to offer crucial, hands-on support. Whether responding to overdose calls or guiding individuals toward treatment, Jordan’s work with the QRT allows him to meet people where they are and give them the hope and resources they need to rebuild their lives.

Sally Adams is claustrophobic. Yet, every day, she helps patients navigate the small, enclosed space of an MRI machine. As an MRI technologist, her own fears have made her especially empathetic to those she works with. She reassures anxious patients, guiding them through scans with a calm, steady presence. Over the years, Sally has seen the evolution of MRI technology, but what hasn’t changed is her dedication to making sure each patient feels comfortable, safe, and cared for during their exam.

Dr. Tom Takubo is not only a pulmonary critical care physician but also a state senator, fighting to improve healthcare across West Virginia. Inspired by his father’s struggle with black lung disease, Dr. Takubo’s commitment to his patients extends far beyond the hospital. Whether he’s caring for critically ill patients or advocating for better healthcare policies, his work is driven by a deep connection to the people of his state. Join us as we explore his personal and professional journey to make a lasting impact on healthcare in Appalachia.