HUNTINGTON, W.Va.  — Susan L. Flesher, M.D., senior associate dean of admissions and professor of pediatrics at the Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine, has established a new scholarship to support West Virginia students pursuing a medical education, reinforcing her long-standing commitment to the state and its future physician workforce. 

The scholarship is designed to attract and retain high-achieving medical students from West Virginia, with priority consideration given to applicants from Monongalia, Wood and Cabell counties. Preference will also be given to students who earn an MCAT score of 510 or higher and demonstrate a strong commitment to serving the health care needs of West Virginia. 

“As a native West Virginian, I was fortunate to receive scholarship support during my own education, and this fund represents an opportunity to pay that generosity forward,” Flesher said. “My hope is to attract and retain the best and brightest students from West Virginia—individuals who are academically strong, deeply committed to our state and motivated to serve its people.” 

Flesher’s ties to West Virginia span her lifetime. Born in Monongalia County, she spent much of her childhood in Wood County, returned to Monongalia County for her undergraduate education, and has called Cabell County home since 1984. She emphasized that the scholarship is intended to support students who not only demonstrate academic excellence, but who also have a genuine understanding of—and appreciation for—the unique health care challenges and opportunities within West Virginia.  

“Marshall University has long been central to my professional and personal identity, and I most definitely bleed green,” she said. “The School of Medicine excels in preparing future physicians to understand rural health care, the challenges facing West Virginia and the tremendous potential within our communities. We do not want to lose talented West Virginians to other parts of the country for their medical training.” 

Prior to medical school, Flesher worked as a nurse in Monongalia, Wood and Cabell counties. While at Cabell Huntington Hospital, she served in several roles, including nurse in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), head nurse of the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) and director of maternal child health services. She also designed and directed the chronic disease management program at Ebenezer Medical Outreach. This community-based intervention program resulted in significant decreases in blood pressure and Hemoglobin A1C.   

Flesher is a 2007 graduate of the Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine, where she also completed her pediatric residency. Since joining the faculty in 2010, she has served in multiple pediatric leadership roles, including residency director, pediatric hospital medicine fellowship director and department chair, before being appointed senior associate dean in 2025. 

For more information or to make a gift to support the Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine, please visit give.marshall.edu/project/31785 contact Linda Holmes, associate dean for development and alumni affairs, at 304.691.1711 to holmes@marshall.edu. 

Date Posted: Monday, February 2, 2026