Appalachian Public Health Innovation

The Appalachian Public Health Innovation Lab (APP-PHI) advances community-driven solutions to public health challenges in rural areas by fostering collaboration and resilience.

APP-PHI engages health agencies, faculty, students, volunteers, and regional partners to build capacity in public health. Guided by the voices of the Appalachian community, we prioritize culturally grounded, sustainable strategies that reduce health disparities, strengthen the public health workforce, and promote inclusive systems of care. Through mentorship, skill-building, and research, we empower individuals to lead transformative change and ensure that every person in our region has the opportunity to achieve optimal health.

What Do We Do?

Launched a workforce development online micro-learning platform for students to gain knowledge around Maternal, Child, and Family Health in rural Appalachia
Burke County Community Health Assessment Focus Group Development, Planning, and Implementation
Mitchell and Yancey County Coalition on Moms and Babies to strengthen and support families in Appalachia who experience Maternal Deserts.
Recruit, train, and deploy community volunteers in disasters like Hurricane Helene (APP MRC)
Develop early career pathways for public health professionals to engage with and support Appalachian communities around health (PHA)
And more!

View all projects

Expertise

Community Resilience & Emergency Preparedness

The focus of the community resilience and emergency preparedness is to implement initiatives that strengthen community capacity to prepare for, respond to, and recover from public health emergencies, with an emphasis on rural and underserved populations. The goal is to enhance community volunteerism, improve emergency response systems, and tailor preparedness strategies for rural Appalachia.

Rural Innovative Research & Policy Scholarship

The focus of innovative research and policy scholarship is to conduct research and develop policies that address the unique challenges of rural communities. The goal is to build evidence-based policies, create innovative solutions for rural health challenges, and improve preparedness capabilities.

Community Engagement & Partnerships

The focus of the community engagement and partnerships is to build and sustain collaborative networks between academic institutions, local and state governments, community-based organizations, and the private sector to address rural health needs. The goal is to strengthen community coalitions, increase stakeholder engagement, and form sustainable partnerships for rural health improvement.

Workforce Development for Rural Resilience

The focus of the workforce development for rural resilience is to train the next generation of public health professionals and community leaders to address rural health challenges and build resilient communities. The goal is to foster a skilled and diverse public health workforce, increase career pathways for students, and improve capacity for rural health leadership.

Publications, Presentations, & Funding

Publications

In the News: Grant fuels App State health research aimed at boosting Western NC resilience by Yager B. AppalachianToday. Published December 9, 2025. https://www.wataugademocrat.com/news/asu_news/838k-grant-fuels-app-state-health-research-aimed-at-boosting-western-nc-resilience/article_05056a67-39ca-49be-87f3-2c17c534653b.html
Tyson, J. S., Plummer, K., Chauhan, N., & Britton, A. (2025). Student Involvement in Local Emergency Preparedness, Response, and Recovery in Western North Carolina In the Wake of Hurricane Helene. Journal of the Appalachian Institute for Health and Wellness. Retrieved from https://jihhs.pubpub.org/pub/zngitb6j
Colquitt, G., Horine, M. S., McQuilling, C., & Tyson, J. S. (2025). Comprehensive Preparedness for Children with Special Health Care Needs: Lessons from Hurricane Helene . Journal of the Appalachian Institute for Health and Wellness. Retrieved from https://jihhs.pubpub.org/pub/7ptqzm3o
In the News: Answering the call: How the Appalachian Medical Reserve Corps supported the Helene response. AppalachianToday. Published September 17, 2025. https://today.appstate.edu/2025/09/17/app-mrc
In the News: App State research seeks to strengthen Western NC post-Hurricane Helene. AppalachianToday. Published September 19, 2025. https://today.appstate.edu/2025/09/19/helene-research
Isaacs S, Shoaf K, Sugg M, Tyson J, Hendren C. Western North Carolina Research for Recovery and Resilience WNC R3 Workshop Outcomes: Intersecting Research and Community Experts for a More Resilient Region White Paper.; 2025. https://research.appstate.edu/sites/default/files/wnc_r3_white_paper_final_rev092225v3.pdf
Sugg, Margaret; Shakya, Shishir; Ulrich, Sarah; Tyson, Jennifer; Runkle, Jennifer. Mapping Maternity Care Deserts: Driving Distance and Health Outcomes in North Carolina. Journal of Rural Health. 2025 https://doi.org/10.1111/jrh.70020https://doi.org/10.1111/jrh.70020
Tyson JS, Scalise D, Hege A, Sugg M, Roy M. Public Health Policy that Leads with Equity in Rural Appalachia: Recommendations to Confirm Vaccination Status in an Equitable Manner. The Journal of Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness. 2024 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39573912/
Issacs S., Tyson JS, Parks A. Check with the Intended Audience First! Content Validation as a Method for Inclusive Research for Primary Care Engagement in Rural Appalachia. Journal of Appalachian Health. 2024 https://uknowledge.uky.edu/jah/vol6/iss1/6
Mercado R, Sugg M, Tyson J. A Spatial Analysis of Power-Dependent Medical Equipment and Extreme Weather Risk in the Southeastern United States. International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction. 2023
Sugg M, Ryan S*, Spurlock T*, Duncan S*, Hege A, Ogwu M, Tyson JS, Shay E, Renwick K, Hendren C, Roy M, Runkle JD. Climate Change and Health in Rural Mountain Environments: Summary of a Workshop on Knowledge Gaps, Barriers, and Opportunities for Action. GeoJournal. 2023
Wu S, Thompson M, Hege BA, Christiana R, Tyson JS. Physical Activity is Inversely Associated with Overall Cancer Risk Among College Students in the United States: Results from the National College Health Assessment. PLOS ONE. 2023 10.1371/journal.pone.0287129
Thompson M, Tyson JS, Hege A, Seitz C. COVID-related Stress, Risk for Suicidal Behavior, and Protective Factors in a National Sample of College Students. Journal of American College Health. 2023 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0287129
Tyson JS, Frierich D, Smith D, Cope A*, Multi-modal Paths in Rural Appalachia to Improve Local Transportation Opportunities: A Case Study. Journal of Complementary & Alternative Medicine. 2022 DOI: 10.32474/OAJCAM.2022.04.000180
Sugg M, Andersen L*, Shay E, Tyson JS, Runkle J. Climate, Environment, and Public Health in Western North Carolina. The Journal of the Blue Cross NC Institute for Health & Human Services, the Beaver College of Health Sciences & Appalachian State University. 2021;1(1):76. https://issuu.com/appalachianstateuniversity/docs/sustainablehealth/76
Tyson JS & Bouldin ED. “Using Preparedness Exercise Tools to Train Public Health Teams to Address Access and Functional Needs During Emergencies in Rural Appalachia.” Health Security; Vol. 18, No. 2, (2020):145-146 doi:10.1089/hs.2020.0027
Schroeder J & Bouldin ED. Inclusive Public Health Preparedness Program to Promote Resilience in Rural Appalachia (2016–2018) American Journal of Public Health; Vol. 109 Issue S4. (2019):S283-S285. https://ajph.aphapublications.org/doi/full/10.2105/AJPH.2019.305086
Schroeder J, et al. Ebola as an Instrument of Discrimination – Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (2014) https://www.rwjf.org/en/blog/2014/11/ebola_as_an_instrume.html

*Indicates student

Presentations

Speaker, NC Governor’s Commission on Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs, J Schroeder Tyson and Coffey D (2025)
Speaker, Crisis Response in Rural Appalachia, Gillings on the Ground, J Schroeder Tyson (2025)
Presenter, Appalachian Medical Reserve Corps (APP MRC): A Health Equity Approach to Volunteering, Plummer K and Schroeder Tyson J, APHA (2024)
Panelist, National Public Health Week and Public Health AmeriCorps Webinar with ASTHO and ASPPH J Schroeder Tyson (2025)
Expert Career Panelist, Gillings on the Ground Career Panel, J Schroeder Tyson (2024)
Presenter, Title: Public Health in Rural Communities of the US, Public Health AmeriCorps Convening, and White House Visit (2023)
Panelist, What’s Happening With College Students in the US? Secondary Data Analysis of the ACHA, J Schroeder Tyson, A Hege, M Thompson, S Wu, M Brown, APHA (2023)
Panelist, Title: Risk for suicide among marginalized students during the COVID-19 pandemic, M Thompson, A Hege, J Schroeder Tyson, Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues Conference (SPSSI) (2023)
Annual Presenter, NCPHA (2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021*cancelled, 2022, 2023) Various Public Health Practice Projects
Learning Session, Public Health AmeriCorps in Rural Appalachia Administering Psychological First Aid J Schroeder Tyson, K Plummer, NACCHO Preparedness Summit (2023)
Oral Presentation, National Conference on Undergraduate Research (NCUR), A Cope*, J Schroder Tyson, Effectiveness of Microlearning for Knowledge Acquisition and Workforce Development in Public Health and Nursing Students at Appalachian State University (2022)
Oral Presentation, INFORMS Conference, R Mercado, M Sugg, J Schroeder Tyson, J Russell, Distributed Energy Resources for Rural Resilience: the Nexus of Energy and Health (2022)
Oral Presentation, APHA, J Schroeder Tyson, S Issacs, A Parks, Supporting Health Equity Collaborative (2022)
Oral Presentation, APHA, J Schroeder Tyson, S Issacs, A Parks, SHEQuITY Project on Rural Health Network (2022)
Poster, NC Undergraduate Research Symposium, A Estes*, J Schroeder Tyson (2022)
Oral Presentation, Supporting Health Equity Collaborative, Tyson JS, Issacs S, Parks, A, Research and Creative Activities at Appalachian Event (2022)
Oral Presentation, Public Health Think Tank, Tyson JS, Hege, A, Roy, M, Research and Creative Activities at Appalachian Event (2022)
Webinar, Power Outages and Health Research Collective, J Schroeder Tyson, J Russell, R Mercado, M Sugg, Research Institute for Environment, Energy, and Economics Webinar Series (2022)
Poster, From a Student’s Perspective: Personal and Community Disaster Preparedness, Response, Mitigation, and Recovery, S Filiault, J Schroeder Tyson, OSR Annual Celebration of Student Research and Creative Endeavors (2022)
Poster, Utilizing Microlearning for Maternal, Child and Family Health Knowledge Acquisition: MCFH | Appalachian, A Cope, J Schroeder Tyson, OSR Annual Celebration of Student Research and Creative Endeavors (2022)
Poster, A Spatially Explicit Analysis of Extreme Weather Risk on Vulnerable Populations in the Southeastern United States, K Spulock, T Minor, M Sugg, J Schroeder Tyson, J Russell, R Mercado, OSR Annual Celebration of Student Research and Creative Endeavors (2022)
Oral Presentation, Power and Health Nexus, R Mercado, J Schroeder Tyson, J Russell, M Sugg, State Energy Conference NC (2022)
Poster, The CDC’s zombie preparedness graphic novel impact on knowledge and attitudes of preparedness kits, C Seitz, K Dunlap, J Schroeder Tyson, NACCHO Preparedness Summit (2022)
Poster, A Case Study: The Arts and Public Health Unite to Re-open During COVID-19 Pandemic, J Schroeder Tyson, HC Bledsoe, K King, NACCHO Preparedness Summit (2022)
Panel Presentation, Enhancing After Action and Improvement Processes for COVID-19 and Future Public Health Emergencies, R Patel, J Schroeder Tyson, M Marquis, J Conway, M Robinson, NACCHO Preparedness Summit (2022)
Oral Presentation, Maternal Child and Family Health Microlearning Project at Appalachian: A Student’s Perspective, A Cope, J Schroeder Tyson, National Conference on Undergraduate Research (2022)
Digital Poster Presenter, Public Health Preparedness Fellowship, Tyson JS, Virtual Research and Creative Activities at Appalachian Event (2021)
Workshop Facilitator, Watauga County Schools What is Public Health Learning Session to supplement the summer learning program for 5 schools and 14 activities (2021)
Oral Presenter, Through A Traineeship: Supporting and Training the Public Health Workforce through a Traineeship on Preparedness and the Global Pandemic, Tyson JS, Benson E, Fox M, ASPPH (2021)
Oral Presenter, Public Health Preparedness Experience: Through the Eyes of the Fellows, Fox M, Benton E, Brady L, Tyson JS, Office of Student Research Annual Celebration of Student Research and Creative Endeavors (2021)
Workshop Facilitator, Adapting the Public Health Workforce to COVID-19 through a Preparedness Traineeship Learning Session (On Demand Learning Session), Tyson JS, Benson E, Fox M, Brady L, NACCHO Public Health Preparedness Summit (2021)
Learning Session Facilitator, Water and Public Health Preparedness in collaboration with NACCHO staff and volunteers, Tyson JS, Public Health Preparedness Summit (2021)
Plenary Speaker, Improving Community Outcomes for Maternal and Child Health in Rural Appalachia, AMCHP (2019)

Funding

Appalachian State University, Chancellor’s Scholars Program: Identifying Community Needs in the Wake of Hurricane Helene: Supporting Overburdened Populations | PI(s): E. Lamont, D. Russell, J. Tyson, M. Sugg (Pending: $25,000) 2025
NC DHHS: Innovative Approaches Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs in Transition and Emergency Preparedness; Role: Co-PI (Awarded: $110,333 for three years; totaling $330,999) 2025-2028
NC DHHS; Title: High Country Older Adult Mental Health Initiative; Role: PI (Awarded: $499,968) 2025-2028
NIH R61/R33; Title: Enhancing Rural Healthcare Resilience Post Hurricane Helene: Addressing Barriers and Improving Recovery Strategies for Flood-Affected Communities in Appalachia; Role: Co-PI (Awarded: $1.7 Million) 2025-2028
HAZARD Grant Colorado University/NIH; Title: Mental Health of Community Volunteers in the Aftermath of Hurricane Helene; Role: Co-PI (Awarded $50,000) 2025
HIRSA through Appalachian Institute of Health and Wellness Funding; Title: Zoning Simulation to Support Housing Development and Transportation CO2 Emissions Reduction in Mountain Communities; Role: Co-PI (Awarded $10,000) 2024-2025
PCORI Grant Letter of Interest; Title: Enhancing Perinatal Mental Health in Western North Carolina through Community Engagement; Role: PI (Denied $1 Million)
ORAU Innovation Partnerships Award; Title: Conference on Understanding and Addressing Health Disparities in Rural Central and Southcentral Appalachia; Role: Co-PI (Awarded $4,000) 2024
CDC and AmeriCorps; Title: Public Health AmeriCorps at Appalachian State; Role: Lead PI (Awarded $346,112 annually for three years, totaling $1.1 million) 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025 (Submitted another 3-year cycle in 2025)
University Research Council; Title: Uncovering Maternal Healthcare Deserts: A Geospatial Exploration of Access Disparities in the United States; Role: Co-PI (Awarded $5,000) 2024
NC Division of Health and Human Services MRC STTRONG; Title: Enhancing the Appalachian Medical Reserve Corps; Role: Lead PI (Awarded $145,000) 2023 and 2024
NC Division of Health and Human Services Grant; Title: HBCU Health Equity Data Consortium; Role: Co-investigator (Awarded $132,000) 2023 and 2024
HRSA; Title: Rural Health Network Planning Grant; Supporting Health Equity in Quality Improvement through Stockholder Engagement; Role: Co-PI (Awarded 100,000) 2023 and 2024

Meet the APP-PHI Team

Jennifer Schroeder Tyson
Project Investigator/Executive Director
APP-PHI

Seth Overton
Research Coordinator
Older Adult Mental Health Initiative

Nadia Chauhan
Senior Project Coordinator
APP-PHI Corps and APP MRC

Cameron Pittman
Research Coordinator
Appalachian Innovative Approaches 2.0

Get Connected

One of the greatest strengths of Appalachian culture is community involvement. We would love to continue to bolster this value by finding a place for every community member to be engaged through the Appalachian Public Health Innovation! If you would like to learn more or get connected, please fill out our volunteer interest form.

Have a question? Email app-phi@appstate.edu for more information.