HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – The Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine has announced the appointment of Rita M. Ryan, M.D., as chair of the department of pediatrics, effective July 1, 2026. 

Ryan is a nationally-recognized lung biologist and board-certified neonatologist with extensive experience as a clinician, educator, administrator and researcher. She currently serves as professor of pediatrics at Case Western Reserve University and senior attending neonatologist at University Hospitals Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital. 

A seasoned academic leader, Ryan previously served as chair of pediatrics and pediatrician-in-chief at the Medical University of South Carolina, where she led clinical, educational and research programs while advancing faculty development and departmental growth. She has also held faculty appointments and served as a neonatal-perinatal medicine fellowship director at the University at Buffalo and the University of Rochester and chief of the division of neonatology in Buffalo. 

“Dr. Ryan brings exceptional experience across academic medicine and a strong track record of leadership in pediatrics,” said David Gozal, M.D., M.B.A., Ph.D. (Hon), vice president for health affairs at Marshall University and dean of the Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine. “Her expertise will be instrumental as we continue to strengthen pediatric services and expand opportunities for the students and families we serve. With several of our faculty having trained under her leadership, her arrival creates a meaningful opportunity to further mentor and prepare the next generation of pediatric physicians.” 

“I am honored to join Marshall University and the Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine,” Ryan said. “I look forward to building on the strong foundation already in place and working alongside faculty, staff and our clinical partners to educate future physicians and advance care for children and families across the region.” 

Ryan earned her undergraduate degree in mathematical sciences from Johns Hopkins University and her medical degree from SUNY Upstate Medical Center, where she also completed her pediatric residency. She went on to complete a neonatal-perinatal medicine fellowship at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center. 

Her research focuses on neonatal lung biology, with a longstanding interest in the effects of hyperoxia and its role in bronchopulmonary dysplasia. She recently served as principal investigator on a National Institutes of Health National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NIH NHLBI) grant for the Prematurity and Respiratory Outcomes Program (PROP) and has been invited to present her work at national forums, including a National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) workshop on bronchopulmonary dysplasia. She currently serves on the Pediatric Academic Societies Program Committee and as associate editor for both the Journal of Perinatology and Pediatric Pulmonology. 

Date Posted: Friday, March 27, 2026