Patrick Henry's Trajan Cannon throws a pitch against Auburn on Tuesday evening.
Patrick Henry's Trajan Cannon throws a pitch against Auburn on Tuesday evening.
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Kaine tours School of Health Sciences, meets with students and faculty
U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine meets with faculty, staff, and students of Emory & Henry's School of Health Sciences in Marion.
Dr. Blake Justice, dean of the School of Health Sciences, gave U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine, left, a tour of the facility Tuesday.
One U.S. Senate committee is dubbed HELP. Senator Tim Kaine may have found it some help in Marion Tuesday.
Kaine serves on HELP, or the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee. Tuesday, he toured Emory & Henry University’s School of Health Sciences in Marion. Then, he met with faculty and students, who shared their challenges and dreams.
Wherever he goes, Kaine said when talking to healthcare leaders he hears about staff shortages and the consequences.
As he learned about the School of Health Sciences, Kaine said he can say here’s a program that works and is creating new healthcare providers. The School of Health Sciences offers programs in nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, physician assistant, and mental health counseling.
Kaine talked about multiple healthcare challenges, including Medicaid changes and the loss of coverage for many people. In nearby Wytheville, he said, Wythe County Community Hospital has a high percentage of Medicaid patients.
Affordability and accessibility were key areas of concern to which Kaine pointed.
One student said, “It’s really awesome to work in rural medicine,” noting that they often get to do much more with a patient here than in urban areas when a transfer to a specialist would be expected.
However, another noted that may also mean having to find resources for those patients.
Kaine reflected on the value of a provider offering more care rather than making multiple referrals to specialists. When that happens, the senator said, “People feel like no one is looking at the whole person.”
A student also praised the research being done at the School of Health Sciences and students’ access to professors.
“They work hard to inform us about the rural environment,” he said.
When asked about how many students stay in the region, Dr. Jessica Burkholder, an associate professor in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, said in that program students tend to stay where they are. The counseling program is largely taught online with an intensive week on campus each semester.
She estimated that 50% to 60% of the students live within 60 to 90 minutes of the campus. However, with the program being offered largely online and in evenings, it does attract more non-traditional students.
Regarding mental health, Kaine and the group talked about efforts to de-stigmatize receiving mental health care and the value of telehealth. Burkholder noted that one student just did a paper that found farmers prefer telehealth visits.
Looking to the future, Kaine wondered about the two undeveloped upper floors of the former hospital that is now home to the School of Health Sciences.
Both Dr. Blake Justice, the School’s dean, and faculty members spoke about the potential for expanding existing programs and increasing services to the community should those floors be added to the School.
In the lobby of the School of Health Sciences, Kaine met a high school student who is taking part in Southwest Virginia Healthcare Excellence Academy Laboratory School and is now considering building on her education at the School of Health Sciences. Through SWVA HEALS, high school students from Smyth County and Wythe County attend classes on the E&H Marion campus.
The program also serves Bristol and Washington County students who want to explore a healthcare career.
HEALS students also have access to clinical skills labs, science labs, simulation labs, computer labs, and state-of-the-art equipment.
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Marion-based free clinic wins grant to address patient transportation needs
Harry Howe, a provider at the Mel Leaman Free Clinic, talked with U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine about healthcare issues.
This grant-funded new car will help the free clinic get patients without transportation to and from clinic appointments.
U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine talks with Marion Town Manager Andrew Keen about funding opportunities.
The Mel Leaman Free Clinic is addressing one of the biggest problems that stop people from getting care: the lack of transportation.
Thanks to a $50,000 grant from the Virginia Community Healthcare Association, Executive Director Susan Ferraro, said the clinic has been able to buy an already equipped vehicle and, as of last week, has already transported a patient.
Ferraro said the 2026 Chevorlet Trax will help “make sure people get the care they need”. She also believes it may prevent individuals from not showing up for their appointments when a ride is what they need.
Ferraro said the clinic staff does ask patients about their transportation needs, and they believe 30 to 40 of their existing patients depend on someone else to bring them to appointments.
The National Institutes of Health say a lack of transportation leads to a 26% decrease in dental visits, 39% lower odds of getting to dental cleanings, and lower chances of getting checkups by 29%. The federal agency said this issue disproportionately affects low-income, rural, and elderly populations, contributing to worsened chronic illness management.
On Tuesday, the Marion-based clinic got a visit from U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine, who was spending three days in Southwest Virginia and spent time at several healthcare-related sites. Kaine serves on the Senate’s Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee.
He’d just spent time at Emory & Henry’s School of Health Sciences.
At the clinic, he met more E&H students volunteering.
Kaine spoke about the impact of Medicaid changes that resultedin many people losing coverage.
Ferraro said the Marion clinic is seeing many of its former patients who lost their Medicaid coverage. She noted that they’re also caring for several people who are homeless and are living in their vehicles.
Kaine knew the late Mel Leaman, the clinic’s founding director, who was described as being the nonprofit’s backbone and heart and soul. The senator told School of Health Sciences faculty and staff about Leaman, calling him as an active proponent of health care.
Leaman died on Oct. 16, 2010, at the age of 56. The clinic was renamed for him in 2012.
Beach Bash
Kaine picked up a flyer for the clinic’s upcoming benefit, its major annual fundraiser.
The last two events each raised $30,000 to $35,000, which, Ferraro said, was a huge boost. She hopes to achieve the same result this May.
This year, the clinic’s benefit is a Hawaiian Beach Bash set to take place on Saturday, May 9, from 6:30-10:30 p.m. at Holston Hills Golf Club.
The benefit offers hors D’oeuvres, an open bar, music, dancing, and a silent auction for which items are now being sought. Vince Groseclose will serve as emcee.
Tickets are $50 each.
Anyone interested in getting tickets or becoming a sponsor should call the clinic at 276-781-2090.
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Marion's fire-EMS chief is leaving Marion to serve the Commonwealth
Marion Fire-EMS Chief Rusty Hamm started with the department as a volunteer when he was 16 years old. Now, he's stepping down to serve the Commonwealth.
Monday evening, the Marion Town Council gave Rusty Hamm a standing ovation and presented him with a resolution honoring his years of service.
Rusty Hamm began caring for the people of Marion and Smyth County when he was 16 years old and volunteered to serve with the fire department and lifesaving crew. Through that experience, he knew early on that he wanted to become a police officer or firefighter. In the years since, he’s served as both, sometimes simultaneously.
On Monday, Hamm reflected on the moment in March 2024 when he was named chief of today’s Marion Fire-EMS Department. “It was like a homecoming, where it all started for me,” he said.
Monday was Hamm’s last day in the department’s uniform, in any uniform for the town. He’s stepped down to serve the Commonwealth. Hamm has been named the Continuity of Operations and Emergency Preparedness Coordinator. There, he’ll be making sure all the plans for evacuations, safety drills, and exercises for the Capitol stay updated and are fulfilled.
“The transition is bittersweet,” Hamm acknowledged, noting that he’s worked for the town for almost 25 years.
He got his first taste of work with the Town of Marion as a Wytheville Community College work study student assigned to Marion’s recreation department. He also worked part-time as a lifeguard at the town’s pool.
He gained insights from his brother Billy Hamm, who worked for the town and recently retired as its town manager.
Hamm joined the police department and rose through the ranks to become one of its lieutenants, right under the chief.
Looking back at his police career, Hamm saw graduating from the forensic science academy and moving into crime investigation as a high point.
Not only did he strive to help crime victims, Hamm championed helping others whether it was the men and women who he worked with or children at Christmastime.
He led an initiative with Emory & Henry’s School of Health Sciences to improve officer health. He also sought and received federal funding to bring high-level supervisory training for police officers to Southwest Virginia.
For years, Hamm organized the community’s law enforcement officers and first responders to unite for Shop With a Hero. One day each December, through Santa’s Elves, officers, firefighters, and others would take children shopping in Walmart to ensure they got Christmas gifts.
This year, out of work on medical leave, Hamm still made his way to Walmart to join in the festivities.
Hamm knew the label “hero” truly applied to many people with whom he worked.
As flood water rose following Hurricane Helene in September 2024, he watched firefighters, police officers and others rush to the scene when an 11-year-old boy was carried away and then rescued and revived.
Hamm arrived on the scene to see much of the activity.
“I saw in the next few moments some of the most heroic things I’ve ever witnessed in this community,” he said at the time. Over the coming days, weeks, and months, he strove to ensure everyone who had a hand in saving the boy were recognized.
Earlier this year, Hamm worked with other fire department leaders to champion more equitable funding for rural agencies.
While he’s seen heroics, Hamm has also witnessed horrors.
Through law enforcement and fire-rescue professions, Hamm reflected, “You often see people on their worst day.” However, he said, to have the opportunity to make something better for them is worth it.
He said he tried to spare or even carry some of the burden people were bearing.
“Being a voice for the voiceless” was something he tried to carry out.
Monday as Hamm reflected on his career with the Town of Marion, he said, “There’s so much to be thankful for.” He praised the town staff, the departments he worked with, and the community’s residents. “I really appreciate that they trusted to me to provide the public safety services I have.”
The men and women of the police and fire-EMS departments were also on his mind. Of them, Hamm said he made lifelong friendships that “I will forever cherish.”
Of the move, he said, “Change is not always bad.”
While acknowledging that part of him is terrified, Hamm said he’s excited about the opportunity.
He also doesn’t plan to be gone forever.
“Marion will always be home,” he declared, adding that he plans to return one day, play golf, and “live out my days in the mountains.”
Monday evening, he told the Marion Town Council about a new ambulance already at work and a new fire truck that should arrive in a few weeks. Together, the two vehicles carry a price tag that’s just shy of $1.5 million.
Hamm also told the council that his first day seemed like yesterday, taking the same oath that two young police officers took earlier in the meeting to join the MPD.
“It has been an honor and a privilege to serve this town,” he said.
The council presented Hamm with a resolution honoring his service.
They also named Deputy Chief Richard “Dickie” Keesling as interim chief while the search for the next chief moves forward. Keesling has previously headed the department.
