West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morrisey has appointed Drema Hill, Ph.D., vice president for community engagement and chief operations officer of the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine (WVSOM), to the West Virginia Health Care Authority (WVHCA).
The WVHCA’s mission is to collect information about health care costs and ensure accessibility to appropriate health care services in the state. The board consists of five members who serve part-time and without compensation.
WVSOM President James W. Nemitz, Ph.D., said Hill is an excellent choice for the WVHCA board.
“Dr. Hill is a respected leader in public health in our state and across the nation. She brings a wealth of experience and expertise to this board,” he said.
Hill expressed her appreciation for the opportunity to serve West Virginia.
“I am honored to be appointed to the board of the West Virginia Health Care Authority. I look forward to representing West Virginians to ensure accessibility to quality, affordable health care,” Hill said. “As a Boone County native, I grew up in the West Virginia rural health care system. My career has allowed me to work with local health departments, hospitals, Federally Qualified Health Centers, rural health centers and specialty care centers.”
She said her work at WVSOM has helped prepare her for membership on the board.
“My role at WVSOM has afforded me the opportunity to help place well-trained physicians across our state and to work with and hear from community members about their health care issues. I hope to contribute my expertise to the board of the Health Care Authority,” Hill said.
Hill has been recognized at the national and state levels for her efforts in public health care.
In 2023, the American Public Health Association awarded Hill its Excellence in Health Administration Award, which recognizes exceptional and sustained achievement in public health administration. In 2024, she was recognized as a ‘West Virginia Wonder Woman’ by WV Living magazine for her work in making a positive change in health care in the state.
Hill has a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology, a Master of Science degree in public service management and a Ph.D. degree in human services with a specialization in health care administration. She has more than 40 years of experience in public health leadership positions.
She served on the West Virginia Bureau for Public Health for more than 20 years in several director positions, including director of the Office of Rural Health and associate director of the Office of Community Health Systems.
Hill moved to Nashville, Tenn., and served as director of the Infectious Diseases Section of the Tennessee Department of Health. She later became chief executive officer of the Nashville Health Management Foundation and Comprehensive Care Center, one of the country’slargest HIV/AIDS clinic systems.
Upon her return to West Virginia in 2010, she became director of the West Virginia Office of Emergency Medical Services. She completed her career in state government as executive director of the Mid-Ohio Valley Health Department, a six-county regional health system.
Hill joined WVSOM in 2016.
