Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine

Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine We empower the future of medicine by advancing medical education, driving discovery and promoting wellness throughout Appalachia and beyond.

09/18/2026

There’s nothing quite like coming home. 💚🩺

During Homecoming Weekend, we asked some of our Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine alumni one question: What does coming back to Marshall mean to you?

Hear what coming home means to our alumni and why it’s always special to be back together again.

Students alongside OB/GYN faculty members at organized the Period Education Project workshop, helping young participan...
09/17/2026

Students alongside OB/GYN faculty members at organized the Period Education Project workshop, helping young participants learn more about their health in a welcoming and supportive environment.

The free educational event covered female reproductive anatomy, the menstrual cycle, normal and abnormal periods and safe options for period management.

We’re proud of our students for giving their time to support health education and empower the next generation with knowledge and confidence! 💚

🔗 Learn more about the Period Education Project: rebrand.ly/n1oroae

Choosing a physician assistant program means finding the right place to learn, grow and prepare for the patients you’ll ...
09/16/2026

Choosing a physician assistant program means finding the right place to learn, grow and prepare for the patients you’ll one day serve.
At the Marshall University Physician Assistant Program, students benefit from:

• A strong emphasis on rural health
• Clinical rotations in orthopaedics, cardiology and rural health
• Competitive PANCE scores
• Affiliation with the Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine and Hershel "Woody" Williams VA Medical Center

Ready to take the next step? 💚

📅 Applications must be submitted and verified through CASPA by Oct. 1.

🔗 Learn more and apply: rebrand.ly/gaa7boe

🩺 Physician Assistant Spotlight: Emily Fox 🩺Marshall University Physician Assistant Program student Emily Fox already ha...
09/16/2026

🩺 Physician Assistant Spotlight: Emily Fox 🩺

Marshall University Physician Assistant Program student Emily Fox already had a connection to Marshall as an undergraduate, but the program’s emphasis on rural health and opportunities for hands-on learning made continuing her education at Marshall feel like the right choice. From working in the anatomy lab to learning alongside students in other graduate medical programs, Emily was drawn to experiences that would prepare her to work as part of a healthcare team.

Now approaching her ninth month of the didactic phase, Emily says one of the most rewarding parts has been realizing just how much she has learned in a short time. She also credits her classmates with making the challenging days easier and creating a supportive environment throughout the experience.

PA school has pushed Emily outside her comfort zone, helping her become more disciplined with her time, confident in her abilities and comfortable working through challenges. Looking back, she says the experience has shown her that she is capable of more than she initially thought and has helped her develop resilience she’ll carry into her career.

With a background as a neonatal and pediatric respiratory therapist, Emily is especially interested in pediatrics and intensive care. She has also developed an unexpected curiosity about plastic surgery. As clinical rotations approach, she’s excited to put what she has learned into practice, work directly with patients and keep an open mind as she explores different specialties.

Outside the classroom, Emily has another talent that might surprise you. For the past few years, she has painted pet portraits for friends and family, turning their favorite animals into one-of-a-kind keepsakes.

We’re excited to see Emily take what she’s learned from the classroom to clinical rotations and continue building on the confidence, resilience and passion for patient care she has developed along the way! 💚

09/16/2026

From reconnecting with classmates and reminiscing about medical school days to celebrating milestones and making new memories, Homecoming brought Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine alumni back together.

This year, we welcomed alumni from the classes of 1981, 1986, 1991, 1996, 2001, 2006, 2011, 2016 and 2021 back to Marshall for a weekend filled with friendship and celebration 🦬💚

Thank you to everyone who came home and made Homecoming Weekend one to remember.

Update your information to stay connected: rebrand.ly/s57r56v

Alumni gathered for Mimosas & Mingling, hosted by Dr. Nathan (’11) and Mrs. Griffin Hatfield, for a relaxed morning of b...
09/16/2026

Alumni gathered for Mimosas & Mingling, hosted by Dr. Nathan (’11) and Mrs. Griffin Hatfield, for a relaxed morning of brunch, conversation and time spent catching up with School of Medicine faculty and staff.

Thank you to the Hatfields for opening their beautiful home, to our Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine students who volunteered and to everyone who joined us for another memorable Homecoming celebration. 💚

Summer Research Spotlight: Bryn Schoonover ☀️🔬As part of our summer research spotlight series, we're highlighting the wo...
09/14/2026

Summer Research Spotlight: Bryn Schoonover ☀️🔬

As part of our summer research spotlight series, we're highlighting the work Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine students pursued this summer.

Second-year medical student Bryn Schoonover explored two research projects this summer. In Dr. Alip Borthakur's lab, he investigated how the gut bacterial metabolite p-cresol affects intestinal epithelial cell function and proliferation, exploring the complex relationship between diet, the gut microbiome and human health.

In Dr. Monica Valentovic's lab, Bryn studied pterostilbene, an antioxidant that may protect kidney cells from oxidative stress and chemotherapy-induced renal toxicity. His work focused on understanding the mechanisms behind that protection and its potential impact on preventing kidney damage in patients receiving chemotherapy.

For Bryn, research has always been about curiosity and the opportunity to explore questions that haven't been fully answered. He says his experiences have allowed him to better understand why things happen in the human body and experience the excitement of working to solve an unsolved problem.

Working with Dr. Borthakur and Dr. Valentovic also taught Bryn how to ask strong scientific questions and systematically work toward answering them. Their mentorship helped him build a foundation in the literature, troubleshoot data analysis and think more deeply about his research.

Bryn's research experiences have strengthened his belief that research is foundational to the evolution of patient care. He hopes to carry that perspective into his future as a physician and remain engaged with the research that continues to shape healthcare.

His advice to fellow medical students interested in research is to get involved, whether through clinical research or bench science. Research challenges you to think differently about medicine and better understand the unanswered questions facing healthcare.
Research today can lead to better patient care tomorrow. 💚

Do you have a summer research project you'd like to share? Email [email protected] for a chance to be featured!

Alumni, students, faculty and friends showed their Herd pride at the Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medic...
09/13/2026

Alumni, students, faculty and friends showed their Herd pride at the Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine tailgate, enjoying great food, good company and plenty of green and white before heading to the stadium for the Herd’s home opener. 🦬🏈

The celebration continued with a Marshall University win over Middle Tennessee, making for the perfect ending to a memorable Homecoming Weekend!

Thank you to everyone who came home to Marshall to reconnect, celebrate and make new memories. We loved having you back! 💚

📸 View more photos from Homecoming Weekend: rebrand.ly/78xahtm

Meet the Future Doctors: Samuel Hankley 🩺Incoming Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine student Samuel ...
09/13/2026

Meet the Future Doctors: Samuel Hankley 🩺

Incoming Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine student Samuel Hankley discovered what draws him to medicine through firsthand experiences caring for patients and seeing the difference compassionate care can make.

A native of Asheville, North Carolina, Samuel graduated from the The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a degree in neuroscience. After initially shadowing physicians, he wanted a more active role in patient care and became a medical assistant at a busy orthopaedic practice. For more than two years, he roomed patients, obtained vital signs, applied casts, boots and braces, removed sutures, changed dressings and assisted with postoperative care.

Those experiences gave Samuel a deeper understanding of both the challenges and rewards of medicine. From supporting a woman who was struggling to manage her own health while caring for her mother with advanced Alzheimer's disease to witnessing the relief of a patient who feared an infection could lead to amputation, Samuel saw how meaningful it can be to help patients through difficult and uncertain moments.

His curiosity has also taken him into the lab. At UNC, Samuel contributed to research involving skin-inspired sensory technology and stimuli-responsive hydrogel biosensors for biomedical applications. The experience not only expanded his scientific interests, but also taught him to become more comfortable with failure and approach setbacks with curiosity rather than self-doubt.
Samuel has also served as a peer mentor and dedicated approximately 250 hours to tutoring middle school students in math and science. Outside of medicine, he enjoys weightlifting and has recently tried his hand at tennis and pickleball.

A second-time applicant to Marshall, Samuel approached the process with determination, reflecting on his previous application and identifying ways he could continue to grow. His interest in Marshall is also closely connected to the School of Medicine's commitment to rural health. Childhood visits to his grandparents' farm in rural Mississippi and his experiences caring for rural patients in North Carolina have given him a greater appreciation for the people and communities he hopes to serve.

We're excited to welcome Samuel to the Class of 2030 and look forward to seeing the curiosity, resilience and commitment to others he will bring to the future of medicine. 💚

The Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine Reunion Banquet brought alumni together to celebrate the clas...
09/12/2026

The Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine Reunion Banquet brought alumni together to celebrate the classes of 1981, 1986, 1991, 1996, 2001, 2006, 2011, 2016 and 2021 as part of Homecoming Weekend.

The evening also included the presentation of the 2026 Distinguished Alumna Award to Carmella Evans-Molina, M.D., Ph.D. (’01) in recognition of her accomplishments and contributions to medicine.

Thank you to everyone who came home to Marshall to celebrate old friendships, make new memories and share in another special Homecoming. Stay tuned for more throughout the weekend! 💚

📸 View more photos from the Reunion Banquet: rebrand.ly/78xahtm

Address

1600 Medical Center Drive
Huntington, WV
25701

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Featured

Share

Category