HUNTINGTON, WV -  The Marshall University Board of Governors approved this week a major step toward the future of medical education in West Virginia, authorizing the acquisition of approximately 3.894 acres of property that will become the dedicated home of its Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine and the Marshall Community Health Institute.

The board approved the $3.5 million purchase of property located on Northcott Court and Hal Greer Boulevard in Huntington. The acquisition marks the beginning of a transformative project that will provide the school of medicine with its first free-standing facility since its establishment in 1977 and coincides as the school approaches its 50th anniversary in 2027.

“This investment represents a significant milestone in the history of Marshall University and the School of Medicine,” said Marshall University President Brad D. Smith. “For nearly five decades, the School of Medicine has trained physicians and health professionals who serve communities across West Virginia and beyond. This new facility will position us to expand that mission for generations to come.”

The project will be funded through a combination of federal, state, local and private support.

“We are deeply grateful for the collective vision and support that has made this important step possible,” said David Gozal, M.D., M.B.A., Ph.D. (Hon), vice president for health affairs at Marshall and dean of the Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine. “By bringing education, research and clinical services to our community together in a modern learning environment, we will continue to provide the resources and experiences that prepare tomorrow’s physicians and health professionals to deliver exceptional care across Appalachia and beyond.”

Founded as a VA-affiliated medical school, the Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine was established through a partnership with the Hershel “Woody” Williams VA Medical Center to address physician shortages and expand access to care across the region. As its academic programs, research enterprise and clinical partnerships expanded, the school outgrew its original facilities and extended its footprint across multiple locations throughout Marshall University’s downtown and health sciences campuses.

The new medical education building will bring many of the school’s core academic functions together under one roof, creating a modern hub for learning, collaboration and innovation. Plans include advanced instructional technology, simulation and clinical skills training spaces, enhanced computational resources to support emerging applications of artificial intelligence in healthcare, research facilities and a community clinic that will enhance hands-on learning while expanding access to care.

More than 450 medical and health professions students, along with 350 resident physicians and fellows, are expected to utilize the facility annually. Construction for the new School of Medicine building is anticipated to begin in the fall of 2027.

Date Posted: Thursday, June 11, 2026