CBHDS Research Scientists Chris Grubb and Rachel Silverman attended the 2025 Whole Health Consortium Symposium, held at the historic Hotel Roanoke & Conference Center on May 19.

Now in its second year, the annual symposium—sponsored by the American Cancer Society and an anonymous foundation through the Collective to Strengthen Pathways for Health Research—brings together researchers, practitioners, and community leaders to address the complex challenges facing rural communities. The event highlights community-based, evidence-informed strategies that aim to improve health outcomes through systems-level change.

Chris Grubb recently joined a multidisciplinary team of seven researchers working to develop innovative, accessible interventions designed to reduce chronic pain and opioid misuse in Appalachian communities and among Veterans. Their study, Development of an Accessible, Integrative Treatment for Chronic Pain and Opioid Use Disorder in Appalachia, is well aligned with the Consortium’s mission to transform research, policy, and practice in support of holistic health and well-being.

This year’s program emphasized actionable approaches to expanding mental health access, advancing trauma-informed care, and addressing the social and environmental determinants of health. Chris and Rachel represented CBHDS with a poster presentation highlighting the Center’s interdisciplinary collaborations and commitment to community-engaged science. Reflecting on the experience, Chris shared:

“The keynote talks were all strong, but what stood out was the creative approach to engagement. An artist was capturing key ideas live—turning the talks and Q&A sessions into visual canvases in real time. It was a thoughtful and dynamic way to reflect the content. Between that and the photographers circulating, I’m probably in more pictures than I realize!”

The move to the Hotel Roanoke and the broader reach of this year’s event were made possible in part by a generous gift from an anonymous donor, enabling greater participation from community leaders and a more expansive program. 

To learn more about this year’s event, visit the symposium website. You can also click here to view the 2024 meeting recap.

View CBHDS' Poster Showcasing Interdisciplinary Projects in Rural Health
Learn more about the Whole Health Consortium at ISCE