Courtney
Hereford

Contact

Education

MPH, Maternal and Child Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
MSW, Community Management and Policy Practice, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill 
BA, Political Science, College of Charleston, South Carolina  

In her role with the Health Affairs Institute, Courtney (she/her) provides research and evaluation support for the Children’s Mental Health Evaluation (CMHE), in collaboration with the West Virginia Department of Human Services’ goal to expand and enhance community-based mental and behavioral health services for the youth and families of West Virginia. She performs a range of predominantly qualitative research and evaluation activities, including interview and survey design, administration, analysis, and dissemination, with the aim to empower data and amplify the voice and expertise of West Virginians.   

Courtney is a proud native of West Virginia and returned Peace Corps volunteer with dual masters and a research fellowship in the science of public health and social work (MPH, MSW) from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Prior to joining HAI, Courtney was the research director for the Center for Rural and Community Health at the WV School of Osteopathic Medicine in partnership with the WV Clinical and Translational Science Institute, where she worked closely with current and future physicians and allied providers and the stakeholders they serve.

Courtney’s extensive research and evaluation experience further spans refugee and migrant resettlement, child protective services, LGBTQ+, and underserved communities across WV, Appalachia, and abroad. She serves as board member and conference chair of the WV Rural Health Association and is active in the WV Practice-Based Research and Appalachian Translational Research Networks, as well as Greenbrier County Health Alliance, Greenbrier Valley Pride, Charlotte Pride, Race Matters, and Communities in Schools. An experienced researcher driven to enhancing holistic health access and equity, Courtney is honored to serve WV communities with Health Affairs’ Children’s Mental Health Evaluation team.  

Published Works:  

• Prescriber Attitudes and Medication Assisted Treatment. Sept 2022. West Virginia Medical Journal (not open access).  
• Factors Influencing the Decision to Practice Medicine in West Virginia: Findings from a Statewide Survey of Physicians. March 2022. West Virginia Medical Journal.  
• Factors Influencing the Decision to Practice Medicine in West Virginia: Training Experiences. Mar 2022. West Virginia Medical Journal.  
• Pro-inflammatory diet and depressive symptoms in the healthcare setting. Feb 2022. BMC Psychiatry.
  
• Engaging Community Perceptions of Research in Rural West Virginia. Sept 2021. Collaborations: A Journal of Community-Based Research and Practice.