Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine: A vision for health care excellence

Transforming wellness through education and genuine concern for the community

Since its founding in 1977, the Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine at Marshall University has held steadfast to a powerful mission:  to train compassionate, skilled physicians to meet the health care needs of West Virginia and beyond. Its dean, David Gozal, M.D., M.B.A., Ph.D. (Hon), underscores that this mandate is not just about education—it is about a commitment to address the unique challenges of rural and underserved communities, putting the patient at the center.

“We are training the next generation of hardworking, outstanding physicians, scientists and health care professionals who will work hard for their community and serve their patients with passion, dedication, integrity and the best knowledge,” says Dr. Gozal, who is also the vice president for health affairs at Marshall University.

From humble beginnings, the school has grown into a powerhouse of medical education, producing top-tier physicians in primary care and a wide range of specialties, providing holistic care for all. Marshall’s 28 residency and fellowship programs include the nation’s only separately accredited rural general surgery residency as well as dedicated rural residencies in internal medicine and psychiatry.

As part of a broader vision, the school is creating a future that goes beyond health care delivery. It is developing centers of excellence in areas such as rural health and primary care, gerontology and healthy aging, obesity and diabetes, and addiction and behavioral health. With the comprehensive support of its academic health system, Marshall Health Network, these efforts aim to address, through education and training, patient care and research, pressing wellness concerns that particularly affect the region, such as the opioid epidemic and obesity rates, along with the downstream consequences.

During the next five years, the school plans to embrace its pioneering spirit with innovative parallel and dual degree programs that enhance the student experience at Marshall and prepare its graduates for future uncharted career trajectories. It also plans to expand its infrastructure, combining progressive medical education with community health in a state-of-the-art medical education facility that will serve students and the community. This ambitious goal is part of a larger effort to transform Marshall University into a leader in health care innovation.

As a first-generation college student himself, Dr. Gozal serves as an inspiration to his students, 60 percent of whom are also the first in their immediate family to attend college or university.

“We are looking for creative, resourceful, independent thinkers who are ready to shape the future of medicine,” says Dr. Gozal, a pediatric pulmonologist and world-renowned pediatric sleep expert. “Marshall is a special place with a unique sense of family and community spirit that allows our students and residents not just to learn, but to truly thrive. Here, they find the support and encouragement to lead boldly in their fields and make a lasting impact.”

Learn more about Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine at jcesom.marshall.edu.