Ms. Weaver is dedicated to helping vulnerable populations in rural West Virginia. I have worked with Heather during the DNP program as the DNP faculty consultant for her DNP project. She is outgoing, innovative and enthusiastic about her role in healthcare. She is a strong student and Nurse Practitioner. She is committed to the improvement of health outcomes of people in her community.

Her DNP project implemented interventions to improve the detection and treatment of Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) in a medication-assisted treatment (MAT) program in a rural community. Since 2010, HCV cases in West Virginia (WV) have increased to nine times the national average due to injection drug use. As of 2017, WV ranks first in the nation for acute HCV incidence (Baus et al., 2022). This project was implemented in a Comprehensive Opioid Addiction Treatment (COAT) program. Patients admitted to the program during the last three years, and all new incoming COAT patients could benefit from the project interventions. Project results revealed 100% provider notification of patients who tested positive for Hepatitis C during the 16 weeks of the project. There were six referrals from the community that began treatment and were not in the COAT program.. This is a 600% improvement in treatment in this community. Treatment in a rural community was made possible by joining the West Virginia Hepatitis Academic Mentorship Program. This program is a telementoring program that allows patients to consult with a specialist while remaining in their community with continued care by a primary care provider. The combination of improved screening, notification, and treatment for HCV in an MAT made a difference in this rural community.

Heather received a Rising Star nomination from the Sigma chapter at Purdue Global. If selected by Sigma, she will attend the Sigma Biennial Conference in November and present a poster of her project.