NEWS RELEASE – April 20, 2026
ARH Celebrates Innovative Community Health Initiative at Appalachian Research Day
Lexington, KY – ARH is proud to announce that one of its dedicated employees was recognized at the recent Appalachian Research Day, held at The Corbin Center. This annual conference showcased vital health research initiatives aimed at improving outcomes in rural Appalachia and featured an impressive lineup of presentations from various community health projects.
Among the highlighted projects was a poster titled “Peer Support in Action: Implementing a Community-Based Health Challenge to Promote Diabetes Self-Management in Rural Appalachia.” As part of the Diabetes Connection program, this initiative showed how peer support helps improve diabetes self-management through strong community involvement.
Key findings from the 2025 Healthy Habits Challenge included:
– 381 participants
– 85% of participants lost weight, with 32% maintaining for three months or longer.
– 94 participants lost a total of 517.9 pounds
– 75% of participants had improved A1C results.
– 357 free A1C screenings were provided
The poster earned 2nd place among a competitive field of 28 entries, further emphasizing ARH’s commitment to supporting community health and wellness. The winner of the poster session, Ashley Webb, the ARH System Diabetes Education Coordinator, emphasized ARH’s dedication to promoting healthier lifestyles in our communities.
“I am incredibly grateful to share this project and its findings with a bigger audience,” said Webb. “I hope that we can inspire others to implement similar initiatives that empower individuals to take charge of their health. Together, we can make lasting changes in our communities.”
Participation in Appalachian Research Day reflects ARH’s mission to address health disparities and improve access to quality healthcare in rural areas. ARH is committed to tackling the unique challenges faced by residents in Appalachia through proactive health initiatives and community partnerships that promote positive change.
For more information about the Diabetes Connection, contact ARH at 606-789-3511 ext. 1229 or by email at diabetesarh1@arh.org
About Appalachian Regional Healthcare (ARH)
Appalachian Regional Healthcare (ARH) traces its roots back to 1955, when the United Mine Workers of America opened the Miners Memorial Hospital system – a network of 10 hospitals dedicated to providing care throughout the coalfields of eastern Kentucky and southern West Virginia. Seventy years later, ARH has grown into a 14-hospital not-for-profit health system that serves more than 500,000 residents of central Appalachia each year. ARH hospitals in Barbourville, Harlan, Hazard, Hyden, Martin, McDowell, Middlesboro, Paintsville, Prestonsburg, West Liberty, Whitesburg, and South Williamson in Kentucky, and Beckley and Hinton in West Virginia, ensure that residents, tucked away in even the most remote areas, can access the highest quality of care without traveling hours from home. ARH’s hospitals, clinics, multi-specialty physician practices, home health agencies, home medical equipment stores, retail pharmacies, and medical spas boast more than 6,700 employees with a network of more than 1,300 providers, making it the single largest employer in southeastern Kentucky and the third-largest private employer in southern West Virginia.