HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – The Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine has received an “A” from the American Medical Student Association’s PharmFree ScoreCard 2013.

Approximately 25 percent of the 158 medical schools in the United States and Canada received an “A” this year.  Marshall is the only medical school in West Virginia to receive the top assessment. 

The scorecard uses letter grades to assess schools’ performances as they relate to conflict-of-interest policies in American medical education.    The scorecard analyzes gifts and meals from industry to doctors, paid promotional speaking for industry, acceptance of free drug samples, interaction with sales representatives and industry-funded education. 

“Our School of Medicine has been, and is, working diligently to ensure our relationships are appropriate with industry and that we are transparent in all that we do,” said Joseph I. Shapiro, M.D., dean of the School of Medicine.  “I’m pleased that the AMSA has recognized our efforts to provide medical education free from undue marketing influence.”

The American Medical Student Association (AMSA) released the first “PharmFree Scorecard” in 2007.

Date Posted: Monday, April 15, 2013