Student Dr. Alexa Buher has earned a scholarship from the North Carolina Public Health Association (NCPHA).
Buher is a second year student in the Campbell University Jerry M. Wallace School of Osteopathic Medicine (CUSOM). The scholarship recipients are scheduled to be recognized in an awards luncheon during the NCPHA Fall Education Conference on Oct. 1 in Concord.
At Campbell, she serves as chair for the Opioid Overdose Prevention Committee with the Student Osteopathic Medical Association and chair of Geriatrics with the Family Medicine Interest Group.”
Dr. Robert Agnello, Family Medicine chair at the med school, has worked closely with Buher and says he’s consistently impressed by her commitment to public health, service, leadership and advocacy for underserved populations.
She entered med school with an exceptional foundation in public health, he says, earning a Master of Public Health from the University of North Carolina with a concentration in Leadership in Practice. She also was recognized as an Interprofessional Education and Practice Distinguished Scholar.
In his nomination letter, Agnello says, Buher has demonstrated a remarkable ability to bridge population health principles with patient-centered care “Her educational background and practical experience provide her with a unique perspective on addressing both the clinical and social determinants of health that influence health outcomes,” he writes.
“What distinguishes Alexa most is her genuine commitment to health equity. She recognizes that effective healthcare extends beyond treating disease and requires addressing the broader conditions that affect patients’ lives.”
Buher grew up in Winfield, West Virginia, a small rural town that shaped many of her values and inspired my interest in healthcare access.
“While my family later moved out of state, I still consider West Virginia an important part of my story,” Buher says. “Growing up in rural West Virginia, I saw firsthand how difficult it can be to access healthcare in small communities. Watching my aunt navigate multiple chronic illnesses showed me that a person’s health is shaped by much more than medical treatment alone.
“Those experiences inspired my interest in both medicine and public health. CUSOM’s mission to train physicians for rural and underserved communities felt like a natural fit, and I was drawn to osteopathic medicine’s emphasis on treating the whole person.”
As chair of the Access to Comprehensive Health Resources Subcommittee for the Chatham Health Alliance, Agnello writes, Buher worked collaboratively with community stakeholders to identify and address barriers to access.
“Her efforts emphasized community engagement, partnership development, and practical solutions that promote equitable healthcare delivery,” he says in the letter. “These experiences taught her the importance of listening to those most affected by health disparities and developing interventions alongside the communities they are intended to serve.”
Buher says her passion for health equity grew through experiences in free clinics, community organizations and healthcare settings, where she saw how factors such as access to care, health literacy and social support can influence outcomes.
“Those experiences fortified my belief that everyone deserves the opportunity to achieve their best possible health, regardless of their circumstances.”
Receiving this scholarship means a lot, she says.
“Knowing that North Carolina public health leaders believe in my vision of combining medicine and public health to serve communities that need it most is both an honor and a motivation to continue pursuing that mission.”
Perhaps most important, Agnello says, Buher possesses the character and motivation necessary to make a lasting impact on public health.
“She approaches every opportunity with humility, professionalism and a sincere desire to serve others. She understands that public health improvements require both systems-level thinking and meaningful individual relationships, and she is committed to developing the skills necessary to be an effective physician, advocate and community leader.”
Says Buher, “I am incredibly grateful to the North Carolina Public Health Association for this honor. As a medical student and public health professional, I hope to combine medicine and public health to improve access to care, advocate for vulnerable populations, and make a lasting impact in the communities I serve.”