Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine
A Brief History of Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine
Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine, a part of The Marshall University, was established due to the Federal Legislation authorizing the creation of five new medical schools in the 1970s. The first class graduated in 1981. To start with, the school focused on building strong faculty and a sound academic program. Establishing partnerships to take the school forward in a community-based medical school as well as moving towards laying the foundations for research, focusing on biomedical. The school also developed primary care and rural health programs that would become cornerstones for its growth in the coming years. In the following years, the medical school greatly increased the scope and depth of its clinical services, as well as saw steady growth in the development of its research program. Being ranked amongst the highest despite being the smallest biomedical science center. Marshall became the stand-alone Ph.D.-granting status for its Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program in 1992, and it created a graduate program in forensic science that quickly gained national prominence. The School further focused on its educational programs and stimulating students’ interest in rural practice, as well as an accelerated family practice residency. By the mid-1990s, five new buildings were constructed due to the need for increased space as the medical school grew with vigor. These included the completion of five new clinical, the VA Research addition, the Marshall University Medical Center, the Robert C. Byrd Biotechnology Science Center, the Erma Ora Byrd Clinical Center, and the Edwards Comprehensive Cancer Center. These new facilities helped the school respond to new educational requirements, accommodating increased faculty size and a dedicated clinical skills lab. Departments such as Orthopedic Surgery, Neuroscience, and Ophthalmology were added. Over the years this medical school saw advancements and the easing of the state’s shortage of primary care physicians. With more facilities being opened The Marshal University School of Medicine was expanding. Today the region is full of clinical training opportunities expanded through several local practices. With Marshall’s continued efforts to build on its mission of educating a physician workforce for the Appalachian region. By 2015, The Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine started its newly created BS/MD program for West Virginia students, which allows them to complete their bachelor’s and medical degrees in just seven years. A new partnership Supporting research was also established with St George’s University of London Medical School. Graduate Medical Education has expanded vastly in recent years to produce residencies in psychiatry and dentistry and fellowships in sports medicine (family and community health), nephrology, and hematology-oncology.An Overview – Why would you want to come to Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine
Mission Statement – Inspired
, The Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine at Marshall University is a community-based, “Veterans Affairs affiliated medical school dedicated to providing high-quality medical education and postgraduate training programs to foster a skilled physician workforce to meet the unique healthcare needs of West Virginia and Central Appalachia.” The school is very focused on giving the best education foundation and building upon its medical education. The school seeks to develop centers of excellence in clinical care, start research projects, and excel in all fields. Give primary care to rural areas and to fulfill its academy goals by academic scholarships and public service outreach. The School is committed to fulfilling its mission by creating a diverse and inclusive academic community that is sustained in a collegial and nurturing environment of life-long learning. As a student here, you will feel and be given a lot of motivation due to all of the things the school is/and means to accomplish. You can be part of all of this and more and continue to get inspired at Joan C. Edwards College of Medicine.Grooming Physician Leaders,
at Joan C. Edwards, Learning communities are more than study groups. For the medical students at Marshall University, these have evolved into deeper interpersonal and community-based relationships. The school aims to find activities now and then that that would allow medical students and faculty to nurture their learning community in a less formal setting and give, especially first- and second-year, medical students the opportunity to interact and build relationships with community members outside the clinical setting. This helps the students learn so much more and evolve as humans as a whole – who keep up the service to humanity and increase social and personal awareness. Their vision (and hope) is that every year these students from the learning communities will be able to volunteer with their group of multi-level learners and build long-term relationships with partner organizations so that when the organization is in need, they can mobilize and help fulfill their mission. When taken feedback, many students and individuals from the organizations expressed that they enjoyed having the opportunity to bond and talk with each other, as well as being able to work together to complete projects – this feedback alone shows that the Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine is reaching their goal of a sustainable and healthy system.Alumni,
here at Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine, one can see the alumni system to stand strong and proud. Providing information to the school’s alumni office also keeps letting the ex-students know when and how they can help the school. Their mission is-
- to help advance and influence the interest of the alma mater,
- to support current students on their journey to becoming physicians
- to provide programs and opportunities for alumni to connect and the School of Medicine.
Connections made easy,
on the official website is a list of all the important people a student can visit or call or ask for help when in need of guidance. Providing personal and welcomed the help. Administrative contacts are all available if a student has any questions or queries. Various departments and who you can contact are listed there.Health Care Services,
Marshall Health offers an experience as well as safety and health for your loved ones. Resulting to be the largest, most comprehensive health care provider in the tri-state region. With more than 75 different specialties and subspecialties. Collaborations with health partners provide the Comprehensive Cancer Center to deliver the latest cancer treatments and technologies. Primary care is the foundation of your overall health and wellness at Marshall Health, seeing this physician at least once a year is recommended. Primary care services include Family Medicine, General Internal Medicine, Pediatrics, Med-Peds, and OB/GYN. As a student at Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine, you will feel proud of your institute and its many ventures also the learning opportunities in these fields and the environment at Joan C. Edwards combined is a sign of all the motivation you will grab.Summer Pre-Med Academy,
if you are looking to come here and want to be ahead of your course work and understand the environment and orientation of the program better, Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine offers a Summer Pre-Med Academy for high school students. This summer program includes,- All about the admissions process – from the experts
- What to expect in medical school and how to improve your study skills
- Hands-on experience with suturing
- How to provide wound care and splints in wilderness medicine
- Tour of the anatomy lab with talks on the human organ systems
How to Apply in Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine
At Joan C. Edwards they specialize in rural health issues. Many of the students are from rural West Virginia and are trained not only in rural but also in clinical settings and as graduates are encouraged to stay and practice in rural communities.JCESOM Admission Criteria
-
- Preference is given to West Virginia residents.
- A limited number of well-qualified nonresidents from states adjoining West Virginia (nonresidents who have strong ties to West Virginia or to students who are introduced to the school through their out-of-state recruitment pipeline and outreach programs will be considered.)
- Applicants are considered only if they are U.S. citizens or have permanent resident visas. Other nonresidents are not considered.
- GPA = 3.0, MCAT = 498, Students participating in other activities will be considered however a minimum of 496 is advisable.
- Letters of Recommendations must be provided – to be submitted to AMCAS by December 15 of the year before matriculation.
- Interviews – arranged only by invitation and upon recommendation by the Interview Selection Workgroup.
- purpose of the interview is to assess personal characteristics that are pertinent to the admissions decision.
- Some attributes the admissions committee might look for
| Personal attributes | Experience |
| Resilience | Community Service |
| Honesty/Ethics | Distance Traveled |
| Work Ethic | Life Experience |
| Communication | Research |
| Skills | Teaching |
| Rural Background |
-
-
- Interview Day,
-
-
-
- Technical Standards you will be required to fulfill,
- Be able to obtain, process, and learn the information presented in the classroom, laboratory, and clinical experiences, including but not limited to lecture, anatomical dissection, and simulated and real treatment situations;
- Be able to acquire information from a variety of sources, including but not limited to texts, journals, written documentation, videotapes, films, slides, and advanced media resources;
- Have the mental capacity to, promptly, assimilate, learn, and communicate large volumes of complex, technically detailed information, to perform clinical problem-solving, and synthesize and apply concepts and information from different disciplines to formulate evaluative and therapeutic judgments;
- Be able to measure, calculate, analyze, synthesize, and evaluate information;
- Be able to comprehend three-dimensional relationships and understand the spatial relationships of structures;
- Be able to process the information on time;
- Be able to solve clinical problems promptly;
- Be able to observe simulated and real patients accurately close at hand and a distance;
- Be able to assess verbal and non-verbal communication from others;
- Be able to demonstrate effective, efficient, and sensitive verbal, non-verbal, and written communication skills with faculty, peers, patients, and other members of the health care team from different cultural and social backgrounds;
- Be able to consistently perform a complete history and physical exam on any patient regardless of the patient’s race, religion, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, gender, age, or sexual orientation.
- Be able to tolerate long periods of sitting as well as long periods of physical activity;
- Be able to manipulate parts of, or whole bodies of, simulated and real patients;
- Be able to tolerate close physical contact with patients for instructional purposes while maintaining professional deportment;
- Possess the emotional health necessary for the full use of intellectual abilities, the exercise of sound judgment, and the effective completion of all responsibilities attendant to the educational expectations, assessment and treatment of patients, and the development of mature, sensitive, and effective relationships with patients, family members, colleagues, and others;
- Be able to endure physically and mentally stressful workloads and function effectively and professionally under stress;
- Be able to adapt to changing environments and expectations;
- Be able to prioritize activities effectively;
- Possess adequate sensory function to fulfill the minimum competency objectives for auscultation, percussion, and other physical assessment and treatment procedures commonly used in the medical practice;
- Have the capacity to learn, model and abide by the professional competencies of the profession;
- Have the ability to record examination and diagnostic results, accurately and efficiently, and communicate them effectively to the patient and colleagues.
-
Application Process
| Activity | 2020-21 Cycle for Class Entering 2021 |
| Submit AMCAS application | June 1, 2020 – Nov 1, 2020 |
| Supplemental Application Deadline | December 15, 2020 |
| Letters of Recommendation Deadline | December 15, 2020 |
| MCAT Deadline for last administration of exam to be considered for the cycle. | Last available test date of September 2020 |
| Interview season for In-State applicants | September through December 2020 |
| Interview season for Out-of-State applicants | December 2020 through January 2021 |
| Letters of Acceptance | Sent by mail – as accepted by Committee |
| Response to Letters of Acceptance | Can be emailed or mailed – Must be provided within 2 weeks of receipt of the letter |
| Accepted students should indicate “Plan to Enroll” via AMCAS Choose Your Medical School Tool. | Begins February 19, 2021 |
| Students with multiple offers of acceptance should narrow offers to no more than 3 medical schools | Begins April 15, 2021 |
| Students can use the “Commit to Enroll” option via AMCAS Choose Your Medical School Tool | Begins April 30, 2021 |
| Orientation | TBD |
| Academic Boot Camp | TBD |
| Start Date of Classes | TBD |
Cost
Freshmen & Sophomores Living with Parents
| Resident | Metro | Non-Resident | |
| Tuition & Fees | 8,532 | 14,616 | 19,386 |
| Books & Supplies | 1,100 | 1,100 | 1,100 |
| Housing & Meals | 2,950 | 2,950 | 2,950 |
| Transportation | 2,000 | 2,000 | 2,000 |
| Miscellaneous/Personal | 1,087 | 1,087 | 1,087 |
| Average Loan Fees | 72 | 72 | 72 |
| Sub-total | 15,741 | 21,825 | 26,595 |
| Program Fees | 0 – 1,120 | 0 – 1,730 | 0 – 1,730 |
| Total | $15,741 – $16,861 | $21,825 – $23,555 | $26,595 – $28,325 |
Freshmen & Sophomores Living on Campus
| Resident | Metro | Non-Resident | |
| Tuition & Fees | 8,532 | 14,616 | 18,734 |
| Books & Supplies | 1,100 | 1,100 | 1,100 |
| Housing & Meals | 10,644 | 10,644 | 10,450 |
| Transportation | 1,200 | 1,200 | 1,200 |
| Miscellaneous/Personal | 1,087 | 1,087 | 1,087 |
| Average Loan Fees | 72 | 72 | 71 |
| Sub-total | 22,635 | 28,719 | 32,642 |
| Program Fees | 0 – 1,120 | 0 – 1,730 | 0 – 1,730 |
| Total | $22,635 – $23,755 | $28,719 – $30,449 | $32,642 – $34,372 |
Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine Scholarships
Criteria for selection,
New Students – (Entering first-year students)-
- All newly admitted students will be considered as candidates.
- Priority is given to applicants with outstanding academic credentials.
-
- All continuing, enrolled students in good academic standing with a minimum 3.0 GPA will be considered as candidates.
- Financial need and academic merit will be the primary basis for determining recipients.
- Recipients will have their current year’s student loan reduced by the amount of scholarship awarded.
