In this episode of Our Communiversity, host Dr. Ramon Stuart welcomes Karen Bowling, president and CEO of WVU Medicine Princeton Community Hospital. Bowling shares how growing up in Mullens, West Virginia, shaped her commitment to service, hard work, and caring for the people of Southern West Virginia. She also discusses beginning her career as a nurse and eventually moving into hospital administration to help improve healthcare policies, support employees, and make a greater impact on patient care.
Bowling explains that every major decision she makes is guided by three questions: How will it affect patients, employees, and the community? She discusses Princeton Community Hospital’s work to bring high-quality healthcare closer to home, especially for families who may struggle to travel long distances. Through partnerships with WVU Medicine, the hospital now connects patients with pediatric specialists, neurologists, endocrinologists, cardiovascular surgeons, and other providers through telemedicine and local follow-up care.
The conversation also looks toward the future of healthcare in Southern West Virginia. Bowling highlights plans for an expanded cancer center, additional services in the Bluefield area, and continued efforts to bring specialists and advanced treatment options into the region. Through her leadership, Princeton Community Hospital is working to ensure that people throughout Southern West Virginia can receive compassionate, high-quality healthcare without leaving their communities.
