HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – The Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine will welcome alumni and their families back to Huntington Sept. 11 and 12 for its 39th Annual Homecoming Weekend, themed “Back Together Again.” 

The celebration offers opportunities for graduates to reconnect with classmates, engage with current medical students, hear from fellow alumni and enjoy a weekend of fellowship and Marshall traditions. 

This year’s Homecoming weekend will celebrate the milestone classes of 1981, 1986, 1991, 1996, 2001, 2006, 2011, 2016 and 2021. All School of Medicine alumni and their families are invited to attend. 

“Homecoming is a special opportunity to bring generations of Marshall physicians back together,” said Linda S. Holmes, associate dean for development and alumni affairs at the Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine. “Whether alumni are reconnecting with classmates, sharing their experiences with today’s medical students or introducing their families to the place where their medical careers began, we look forward to welcoming everyone home.” 

The weekend begins Friday, Sept. 11, with a Student-Alumni Networking Lunch from noon to 1 p.m. in Harless Auditorium at the Marshall University Medical Center. The casual gathering will give alumni an opportunity to connect with current medical students and share their experiences and advice. 

Friday afternoon will feature a series of CME and learning lectures presented by distinguished School of Medicine alumni, including: 

• Shane A. Wells, M.D., President, Class of 2006, associate professor of radiology, urology and biomedical engineering at the University of Michigan, presenting “Image-based Biomarkers of the Lower Urinary Tract.” 

• Carmella Evans-Molina, M.D., Ph.D., President, Class of 2001, Eli Lilly Professor of Pediatric Diabetes at Indiana University School of Medicine, presenting “New Paradigms for the Treatment of Type 1 Diabetes.” 

• Matthew M. Snyder, M.D., President, Class of 2016, assistant professor of cardiovascular and thoracic surgery at WVU Medicine, presenting “Acute Aortic Dissection for the Primary Care Provider.” 

Friday evening festivities will continue with a Homecoming Happy Hour followed by the annual Reunion Banquet at the Marshall Memorial Student Center. During the banquet, the School of Medicine will celebrate its milestone classes and present the 2026 Distinguished Alumna Award to Carmella Evans-Molina, M.D., Ph.D. ('01). 

Saturday’s activities will include Mimosas & Mingling, an informal brunch hosted by Dr. Nathan Hatfield ('11) and Mrs. Griffin Hatfield, followed by the School of Medicine’s annual Tailgate Party at the Marshall Sports Medicine Institute. 

The weekend will conclude with Marshall football as the Thundering Herd takes on Middle Tennessee at Joan C. Edwards Stadium. 

Registration is now open. Alumni can view the complete Homecoming Weekend schedule and register to attend at www.eventbrite.com/e/back-together-again-som-homecoming-weekend-2026-tickets-1990669222231. 

For more information, jcesom.marshall.edu/alumni-giving/homecoming/. 

Date Posted: Friday, September 4, 2026