BEDFORD COUNTY, PA — A mother-daughter duo who recently completed the Faith Community Nursing program at the West Virginia University School of Nursing are launching a new project aimed at improving access to health education, screenings, and supportive services.
Pamela Lodge and her daughter, Brittany Sell, will be launching the Faith Community Nursing project in a small borough of approximately 1,800 residents and surrounding rural areas of Bedford County.
The program is being developed in partnership with the Community Foundation for the Alleghenies, a nonprofit organization serving Bedford County, and is designed to address key social determinants of health affecting the community, including limited access to healthcare, transportation barriers, and gaps in both physical and mental health insurance coverage.
“The Faith Community Nursing training at WVU gave us the tools to respond to real needs we see in our community every day,” Lodge said. “Our goal is to meet people where they are and provide compassionate, practical support that improves health and well-being.”
Rooted in the holistic model of care emphasized by the WVU School of Nursing, the program will focus on health education, resource navigation, transportation assistance, and monthly health screening clinics. These clinics will be hosted at a local church that has generously donated space and will offer services such as weight checks, blood pressure monitoring, glucose testing, health education, and referrals to community resources.
In preparation for the launch, the nurses have established a seven-member board of directors, adopted formal bylaws, and begun community outreach efforts. In January, Lodge and Sell hosted a suicide prevention training open to community members, marking an early step in addressing mental health awareness and reducing stigma.
Looking ahead, the ministry plans to offer quarterly educational presentations led by qualified professionals on topics related to physical and mental health. These sessions aim to increase access to credible health information, promote preventive care, and strengthen community resilience.
“This work reflects the mission of Faith Community Nursing which is to care for the whole person: body, mind, and spirit,” Sell said.
“The work that is being done by Brittany and Pam demonstrates the advocacy role of faith community nurses, and we could not be prouder of them” said Dr. Angel Smothers, Associate Dean for Community Engagement and Director of the Faith Community Nursing program at the WVU School of Nursing.
To learn more about Faith Community Nursing, contact Dr. Smothers at angel.smothers@hsc.wvu.edu.
Photo Caption: Pictured from left in the back row are Theresa Bricker, Board Member, Executive Director of Renewing Hope Ministries; Pamela “Criss” Lodge, President, Registered Nurse; Carol Ickes, Board Member, Retired Mental Health Nurse; Susan McCahan, Board Member, Retired Mental Health Nurse. Pictured from left in the front row are Arlene Cottel, Board Member, Retired Nurse; and Pastor Kathy Popp, Board Member, Secretary, Active Ordained Lutheran Minister. Absent from the photo are Janet Bowser, Board Member and Treasurer, Retired Family Practice Nurse, and Brittany Sell, Board Member, Active Registered Nurse, ER Manager.
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MEDIA CONTACT:
Wendy Holdren
Director of Communications and Marketing
WVU School of Nursing
304-581-1772; wendy.holdren@hsc.wvu.edu