The Vital Role of Food Systems in Central Appalachia’s Public Health

Central Appalachia’s public health disparities are staggering compared with the rest of the country. However, this data-driven analysis and video presentation by Dr. Randy Wykoff, Dean of the ETSU College of Public Health shows that there is great potential to impact the major health factors of social determinants and behavior. Education outcomes, public health, and economic opportunities influence each other deeply, and this means actors in each area need to work together. As Dr. Wyckoff points out, local food systems offer a strategic entry point to address all of these factors simultaneously.