Two West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine (WVSOM) alumni entered West Virginia Executive magazine’s Health Care Hall of Fame, which recognizes West Virginians who go above and beyond in the health care industry and supporting industries.
Dara Aliff, D.O., of WVSOM’s Class of 1999, and Steven Eshenaur, D.O., of the Class of 1996, were inducted into the hall along with nine other health care professionals during a Feb. 25 ceremony in Charleston, W.Va.
Aliff has been co-owner of Premier Women’s Health Specialists, a Charleston-based provider of OB-GYN services, since launching the practice with her husband in 2009. She is active in advocacy for West Virginia’s women and children through her status as a section president of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and her work as a board member of the West Virginia Women’s Alliance. Aliff also is a member of the West Virginia Perinatal Partnership Committee.
She said she enjoys her efforts to advocate for the health of residents of the state in which she was born and raised.
“I’m proud of the work these organizations do to guide and change health care policy and policies that affect working women and mothers, such as child care and maternity leave issues,” she said. “It felt like the right thing to do to stay and give back to the state that developed me into the person I am. It’s an honor to be able to serve the women of West Virginia.”
Aliff, who serves as a preceptor for WVSOM and for the West Virginia University Obstetrics and Gynecology residency at Charleston Area Medical Center (CAMC), was president of the student body and of the Class of 1999 while attending WVSOM. She said medical school played a crucial role in how she practices medicine today.
“It was the most formative part of my life. I’m still best friends with several of my classmates. We’ve been able to call, text and consult with one another. The school instilled in me a love for the art of medicine, and the support I’ve received as an alum has been a game changer,” she said.
Aliff also is on the board of directors for MagMutual Insurance, which provides professional liability insurance for physicians.
Steven Eshenaur, D.O., has been executive director and public health officer of the Kanawha-Charleston Health Department since 2022. After graduating from WVSOM and completing a residency at CAMC, he was state surgeon for the West Virginia Army National Guard — a position in which he was responsible for ensuring West Virginia’s 4,100 soldiers were medically fit for potential deployment — and worked as director of the emergency department and outpatient clinics at WVU Medicine Jackson General Hospital in Ripley, W.Va.
He also served as volunteer medical director for the Summit Bechtel Reserve in Glen Jean, W.Va.
Eshenaur is an outspoken advocate for immunization in children and adults, making him a respected resource for educating the public and a source of information about public health. In addition to his role with the health department, Eshenaur still works in emergency rooms, primarily at Jackson General Hospital and WVU Medicine Camden Clark Medical Center in Parkersburg, W.Va.
“I continue to work in clinical medicine in emergency rooms in West Virginia, which lets me see firsthand the effects of deficiencies in public health,” he said. “That encourages me to continue to strive to improve our public health and keep people out of the hospital.”
He said the “whole person” approach to medicine taught by WVSOM and other osteopathic medical schools, and WVSOM’s significance in producing physicians who practice primary care, make the school a valuable resource for the health care needs of the Mountain State.
“Patient-centric medical education has helped drive my personal approach toward medicine. And I’m proud that WVSOM puts more primary care providers into our communities than the other medical schools. We desperately need that, especially in rural communities,” Eshenaur said.
Eshenaur previously was named a “Sharp Shooter” by West Virginia Executive in 2018, a designation recognizing West Virginians who stand out in their respective fields, participate in community service, achieve philanthropic endeavors and work to move West Virginia forward.
James W. Nemitz, Ph.D., WVSOM’s president, praised both physicians for the impact their work has had on the state.
“Drs. Aliff and Eshenaur are outstanding WVSOM alumni who have made significant contributions to health care in our state,” Nemitz said. “They are both exceptional physicians who are committed to making a difference in the lives of West Virginians.”
David Ramsey, who served on WVSOM’s Board of Governors from 2013 to 2021, was also inducted to the Health Care Hall of Fame. Ramsey is president and chief executive officer of Vandalia Health.