ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
This project was developed by Dr. Ranjita Misra, Professor and MPH Program Coordinator, Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, School of Public Health, West Virginia University. Samantha Shawley, Program Coordinator, provided oversight and guidance. Megan O'Dell, Kara Viggiano, Jay Stewart, Samantha Shawley and Meredith Brown oversaw the educational programs for the 1st year program and Benjamin Frear helped with data entry. The Health Coaches (HCs) are students from the West Virginia University (MPH, PhD, and MS from Public Health, Exercise Physiology, and College of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences), were hired and trained to recruit participants, deliver the lifestyle intervention, make follow-up phone calls and help with data collection.
A special acknowledgment goes to Dr. V.K. Raju who provided the preliminary funds for the planning and implementation of this project. Dr. Raju is the Co-Investigator and was instrumental in getting Mon General on board, as well as spending a significant amount of his time and is also one of the original PI's of the current project. Dr. V.K Raju also provided eye exams to interested participants, and made follow-up calls to all participant’s health care providers regarding abnormalities in their baseline clinical exam results. We would like to thank the Monongalia Eye Clinic for providing us with the eye exams.
The researchers are thankful to the staff and community board members at the United Methodist Church and the Village Chapel Presbyterian Church, and for their critical roles in the planning, coordination and implementation of this project.
The researchers are thankful to the funders; The Rotary Foundation, The Rotary Club of Morgantown, The Charleston Vandalia Rotary Club, The Rotary Club of St. Thomas II and their respective District Offices for their generous funding to conduct the DPM community-based programs in West Virginia.
A special thank you goes to the Benedum Foundation for their participation in the Mid-Program Evaluation.