Virginia Via Research Day Book 2026

Medical Student Research Public Health

07 PROMOTING WHOLE-PERSON HEALTH: A DO STUDENT-LED INITIATIVE TO INCREASE AWARENESS OF HOUSING NEEDS IN MONTGOMERY COUNTY, SOUTHWEST VA

Shahad Musa, OMS-II, Seyed Hamrahian, OMS-II, Hannah Smith, OMS-II, Bernard Kadio, MD, MPH, PhD Corresponding author: hsmith01@vcom.edu

VCOM-Virginia, Blacksburg, Virginia

National Housing Survey Questionnaire developed by NORC at the University of Chicago's AmeriSpeak Panel. The survey captured socio-demographics, perceptions of housing access, and attitudes toward local housing challenges as outlined in the study protocol. Findings were used to create an educational flyer distributed during the event to promote community awareness. Descriptive statistics summarize participant characteristics and perspectives. Results: A total of 40 participants were present at the 5K, and throughout this initiative, a total of $1,440 was raised for the New River Valley Community Action. Survey results revealed that the majority of younger respondents (ages 18 -34) reported high rent and home prices as a significant barrier, with the proportion declining in older age groups. This suggests that housing affordability challenges are most acute among younger adults. Employment status also influenced reported barriers: individuals employed full-time most frequently cited a lack of housing availability, while those not currently in a paying job reported this barrier at much lower rates. These findings highlight that both age and employment status are key factors shaping perceptions of housing insecurity in Southwest Virginia.

Context: Housing instability is a major social determinant of health, contributing to chronic disease, mental health burdens, and reduced access to preventive care, yet it remains an underrecognized issue in many communities. In the new river valley, rising housing costs, limited affordable units, and growing insecurity disproportionately affect low-income and rural residents, worsening health disparities. This project aims to increase awareness of local housing challenges and highlight the critical role of housing stability in promoting whole-person health. Objective and/or Hypothesis: To what extent does participation in a DO student-led housing awareness project improve medical students' knowledge, attitudes, and perceived competence in addressing housing related health issues? Methods: This cross-sectional project was conducted during Strides for Shelter, a student-led 5K developed in partnership with the New River Community Action to highlight housing needs and raise funds supporting local housing initiatives. All adult participants completed a brief, anonymous pre event survey assessing baseline knowledge, attitudes, perceived competence, and barriers related to housing insecurity. Survey items were adapted from the

Conclusion(s): This project demonstrates that a student-led awareness event can meaningfully engage both medical trainees and community members in understanding housing insecurity as a key determinant of health in Southwest Virginia. By engaging DO students directly with the community, the initiative fosters empathy, civic responsibility, and the real-world application of whole-person care principles central to osteopathic practice. The survey findings highlight important differences in how housing challenges are perceived across age and employment groups, underscoring the need for targeted education and advocacy efforts. Building on the success of Strides for Shelter, future efforts will continue to expand this annual 5K event, strengthen collaboration with New River Community Action, and further integrate housing awareness into osteopathic medical training and community health initiatives. IRB Statement: This study was approved by the Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine Institutional Review Board, protocol number 2316777-2.

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