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First Ascent Healthcare

First Ascent Healthcare helps healthcare graduates find a pathway to rural healthcare opportunities. Participants can build meaningful careers while becoming part of the communities they serve. Along the way, First Ascent Healthcare provides the support and connections to help you grow, not just as a healthcare professional, but as a West Virginian.

First Ascent Healthcare First Ascent Healthcare

Build your career. Find your community.

First Ascent Healthcare connects participants with meaningful healthcare opportunities in rural West Virginia, helping them build rewarding careers, develop lasting relationships, and become part of the communities they serve.

Apply now
The program package

Support for your career and your life in West Virginia

Financial support, professional connections and year-round experiences help participants put down roots and thrive.

12,000 Incentive

Up to a $12,000 financial stipend. $6,000 to each program participant in Year 1 and an additional $6,000 in Year 2 if funding renews.

Free coworking membership

Work, gather, and grow your network in a welcoming coworking space within your First Ascent community.

Free outdoor gear rentals

Explore the Mountain State with access to mountain bikes, paddleboards, kayaks, tents, bouldering pads, and more.

Career mentorship

Build confidence and professional momentum with guidance, coaching, and connections tailored to your goals.

Job-matching support

Get personalized help navigating healthcare opportunities and connecting with employers across West Virginia.

Events and experiences

Get connected through structured social gatherings and outdoor adventures including an annual orientation event with members across the state.

Who can participate?

Eligibility requirements

  • Must be a recent (within two years) graduate of West Virginia University, Marshall University, West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine, or another participating West Virginia institution, or be within 6 (six) months of graduation or the end of medical education, including residency.
  • Must be a licensed healthcare provider in one of the following fields, or be able to obtain licensure within 6 (six) months of application:
    • Primary care provider
    • Nursing (RN, LPN, CNA)
    • Behavioral health or mental health provider
    • Maternal health provider
    • Specialist physician
    • Allied health, technicians, and diagnostic professionals (e.g., respiratory therapists, medical lab techs, diagnostic imaging technologists, EMTs)
  • Must have a job offer from an approved healthcare entity in West Virginia but have not yet started the job.
    • If the applicant does not yet have a job offer, conditional acceptance can be granted to qualified applicants until a job offer is secured. Employment verification from an approved healthcare entity is required within 6 (six) months of program acceptance.
  • Must be willing to live in one of the regions designated by the First Ascent Healthcare Program within 6 (six) months of notification of acceptance. Alternate locations in West Virginia outside the seven primary locations may be approved on a case-by-case basis.
  • Must be a U.S. citizen or Green Card holder. Proof of citizenship or Green Card status may be requested; the First Ascent Healthcare Program cannot aid an applicant in attaining citizenship.
  • Must be 18 years or older.
Seven places to belong

Find your West Virginia community

Choose a place where a rewarding healthcare career and an exceptional quality of life can grow together.

Morgantown Area

A lively university town where healthcare innovation, culture and entrepreneurship meet. Coopers Rock, Cheat Lake and a thriving food scene put recreation close to home.

Explore Morgantown

Greenbrier Valley

Charming downtowns, galleries, restaurants, breweries and seemingly endless recreation make this scenic valley an inviting place to build a life.

Explore Greenbrier Valley

Eastern Panhandle

Historic towns, mountain views and easy access to the Washington, D.C., region offer small-town character without giving up big-city connections.

Explore the Eastern Panhandle

Greater Elkins

History, mountain scenery, festivals and a creative arts community come together near the Monongahela National Forest in this welcoming Potomac Highlands hub.

Explore Greater Elkins

New River Gorge

Root your career near a national park, where beloved mountain towns and world-class climbing, paddling, hiking and biking invite everyday adventure.

Explore New River Gorge

Charleston Area

West Virginia's capital blends the energy and amenities of a city with the warmth of a small town. Rivers, mountains and forests are always within easy reach.

Explore Charleston

Huntington Area

Set along the Ohio River, Huntington pairs a walkable downtown with Marshall University, vibrant arts, independent restaurants and outdoor experiences for the whole family.

Explore Huntington
Portrait of First Ascent participant Jake Ellis
Community counts

A First Ascent participant's experience

“The resources are here. You just have to join in and use them.”

Jake Ellis

Senior Staff Accountant, Circular Action Alliance

View all profiles
Apply today

Ready to build your future in West Virginia?

Join graduates who are launching healthcare careers, making meaningful connections and creating lives they love across the Mountain State.

Apply now