Faculty Voices: Dr. Troy Makal, UVA Wise

In this episode of SHECP Talks, Dr. Troy Makal, Assistant Professor of Biochemistry at UVA Wise, invites us to consider how deeply interconnected everything truly is, from molecules to community building. Dr. Makal focuses on addressing medical mistrust in rural Appalachia, health disparities, and nutritional access. Blending science with service, Dr. Makal shares how education and community engagement can work hand-in-hand to illuminate the challenges of poverty and empower students to be changemakers.

Dr. Makal discusses how he teaches students to approach community-based research through the idea that “everything is connected.” Applying the tenets of osteopathic medicine, a person is a sum of everything that affects them, body, mind, and spirit, to the classroom and community. This conversation highlights how engagement is highest when we use real-world and tangible learning to foster empathy, challenge assumptions, and inspire practical solutions to systemic issues like food insecurity and economic inequality. As he explains, his research on obesity and food deserts highlights how identifying “small problems that are systems of larger problems” is a powerful way to begin addressing entrenched social challenges.

Throughout the episode, Dr. Makal emphasizes the value of curiosity, humility, and action: “Your judgment means nothing… what you have instead is an opportunity to learn if you’re open to it.” He urges students to identify what fuels their passion early on, encouraging a life of purpose rooted in understanding and impact.

For more information about topics discussed in the podcast:

• Community Nourishment Project: https://swvagmec.com/cnproject/ 

• Southwest Virginia Graduate Medical Education Consortium: https://swvagmec.com/what-gmec-is-and-does/

• Reach out to Dr. Makal through email vem4r@uvawise.edu

Thank you to Evan Clark, Geena Ravelo Cepero, and Lela Casey for supporting the production of today's episode.