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Marshall University Programs Lead National Expansion of Rural Physician Training
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West Virginia’s Marshall University and its partners are pioneering innovative residency programs designed to address critical healthcare shortages in rural communities.
Huntington, W.va. – Marshall University’s Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine and teh marshall Community Health Consortium received top honors from the West Virginia Rural Health Association (WVRHA) on November 13, recognizing their groundbreaking work in expanding access to medical care in underserved areas.The awards highlight a strategic effort to cultivate a new generation of physicians committed to rural practice.
Honoring a legacy of Rural Health Advocacy
The WVRHA also commemorated the life and work of debbie Curry (1960-2025), a dedicated rural health educator at the Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine. In her memory, the association established the Debbie Curry Award for Opportunity and Innovation, presented to Caspia Sheppard of Boone county for her commitment to teaching, mentoring, and serving rural West Virginia. The inaugural award underscores the importance of fostering future leaders in rural healthcare.
Securing Funding for Innovative Residency Programs
Through the collaborative efforts of the Consortium and Paulette S. Wehner, M.D., vice dean for education at the School of Medicine, and special projects coordinator Jo Ann Raines, more than $2.5 million in funding was secured from the Health Resources and Services Association. This investment has been instrumental in establishing three new, separately accredited rural residencies in surgery, psychiatry, and internal medicine. These programs are uniquely embedded within rural hospitals, providing residents with immersive, real-world experience.
Did you know? – Marshall University’s rural surgery residency is the first of its kind. It is indeed the only separately accredited rural general surgery residency in the nation. The program is based at Logan Regional medical Center and Holzer Medical Center in Ohio.
Pioneering Rural Surgery Training
the rural surgery residency, initially based at Logan Regional Medical Center, stands as a national first – the only separately accredited rural general surgery residency in the nation. The program has as expanded to include Holzer Medical Center in gallipolis, Ohio, further extending its reach.According to a senior official, “Rural residency programs improve patient care and create a sustainable training ground for physicians who are more likely to remain in rural practice.” This emphasis on location is deliberate, as physicians frequently enough choose to practice where they receive their training.
Pro tip: – Rural residency programs are designed to improve patient care. they also create a sustainable training ground for physicians. These physicians are more likely to stay in rural practice after completing their training.
A National Model for Rural Healthcare
Over her three decades of service to Marshall University, Dr. Wehner has become a nationally recognized leader in rural health education.She has mentored numerous residents and fellows,championed rural health research,and consistently amplified West Virginia’s voice on the national stage. Her work has been widely shared through podcasts, panel discussions, and presentations to federal bodies, establishing a replicable model for rural residency growth.
Reader question: – How has Marshall University expanded its residency programs? Under Dr. wehner’s leadership, residency positions have increased by 86%. Fellowship programs have increased by 240%. The university now has 29 training programs.
Under Dr. Wehner’s leadership, Marshall’s residency positions have increased by 86% and fellowship programs by 240%. The university now boasts a total of 29 training programs, including the three rural residencies and a new anesthesiology residency, solidifying its position as a leader in expanding access to care across Appalachia.
“Together, Dr. Wehner and the Marshall community Health Consortium exemplify what it means to serve with purpose and innovation,” stated David Gozal, M.D., M.B.A
