Steel and spinoffs, chemicals, and coal provided a tax base that afforded state residents an opportunity for low cost educations and schools with the funds to grow and develop. I believe the thing that was different in the past is then you had the presence of a vibrant and prosperous industrial sector in West Virginia, as well as a booming coal market. (sorry for long post - I meant to make a short reply! LOL) It IS exciting to think of things turning and going well. The "succeeding in the face of adversity" is popular as it should be, so achievements here in WV won't go unnoticed. We do have a growing national stature as you stated. Something seemed different in the past.The huge scale of improvements that happened then I am afraid couldn't happen now and that's sad. WVU has their own lobbyists in Charleston that can pick up the slack of our reps. We are getting attention with our growth now. I am glad that an interchange is planned before development (just like Westridge -finally - the way it's supposed to be ) and maybe the University can help by using their political clout to get our roads "maintained" too on a regular basis. I don't care if we can't agree on anything, but access to state of the art healthcare would be an exception that all would welcome. (He does get paid 900K+ a year ) I think people get caught up in the infighting and forget the true purpose of the university and why it is here. I wish he would make more statements like this. “Through outreach clinics and services like Bonnie’s Bus, this program is serving the state in one of its greatest needs, which is the high burden of cancer.”
Gordon Gee, president of West Virginia University and chair of the WVUHS Board of Directors, said.
“The WVU Cancer Institute is truly fulfilling the mission of our state’s land-grant institution,” E. Gordon Gee makes a nice statement in the Cancer Center article linked in a previous post I don't know the figures so am just guessing, but I would put us against any state ranked "poor" and I believe our healthcare would be ranked competitively or above those. There is a lot happening in the southern part of the state too. I know with our health issues people would think the opposite but we are very fortunate in that regard. People from out of state would be surprised at the good health care we have for residents statewide. This is just one small example of what I meant about amazing opportunities in this state for all residents - even those with no health insurance. The amazing part is my family who met low income requirements paid nothing as long as we agreed to have the surgery done as part of a teaching exercise where other doctors and students could observe, record and share with other universities. I would go to my dental appts there and even had an experimental (at that time) oral surgery to prevent a rare deformation. I remember the expansion to the Med Center in the early 70's or so (where the pillars are). It most likely is the state's biggest success.
Yes, you are so right, WVU Medicine has been first rate all the way. Perhaps that explains the growing national stature for the organization? It is possibly the biggest success story in the entire state, and it truly benefits the whole state too. I actually remember when the Med Center itself was built in the 1950s, and the growth of that establishment over time is nothing short of amazing. not just with facilities but with staffing too. I have noticed (who wouldn't notice?) that when WVU Medicine does something, it is absolutely first rate. I think you're spot on about the improvements to our medical community.