HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Susan L. Flesher, M.D., professor and chair of pediatrics at the Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine, is passionate about comprehensive, state-of-the-art health care for children in our local region.

Since being named chair in 2020, Flesher, a double board-certified general pediatrician and pediatric hospitalist, has worked to grow access to pediatric specialty care, including the addition of fellowship-trained specialists in developmental-behavioral pediatrics, emergency medicine, endocrinology, hospital medicine and nephrology. Now, she is personally financing a new endowment fund known as the Dr. Susan Flesher Pediatric Subspecialty Endowment to help the department continue its momentum in recruiting talented pediatric specialists to the region.

“Pediatric specialists are the only physicians uniquely qualified to treat many of the children who have complex conditions,” Flesher said. “The physical, developmental and emotional needs of children and adolescents significantly differ from those of adults. Our goal is to provide this care close to home, which requires the recruitment of highly trained specialists to our region.”

Pediatric subspecialists require an additional two to three years of fellowship training after four years of medical school and three years of residency that are required to become a general pediatrician. This highly specialized training, along with a shortage of some specialties, makes the recruitment of these physicians highly competitive.

“We are thankful for both Dr. Flesher’s generosity and vision for the future of pediatric specialty care at Marshall Health and the School of Medicine,” said Bobby L. Miller, M.D., interim dean of the School of Medicine. “In addition to enhancing local pediatric care offerings, specialties ensure general pediatricians access to a local referral for advanced care while also elevating the training experience medical students and pediatric residents receive.”

Marshall Health and the School of Medicine partner closely with Hoops Family Children’s Hospital at Cabell Huntington Hospital, a member of Mountain Heath Network, to recruit and retain pediatric specialists. In addition to financial support, Mountain Health maintains exceptional facilities where pediatric specialists from Marshall Health care for sick children alongside an outstanding team of nurses, respiratory therapists and other professionals at Hoops.

Flesher earned her medical degree from Marshall University in 2007 after working as a neonatal, pediatric ICU and administrative leadership nurse for more than 25 years. After completing her pediatric residency at Marshall, Flesher joined the school’s pediatric faculty and has served in various leadership roles, including pediatric residency program director from 2011 to 2020. In addition to her role as chair, Flesher also currently serves as director of the pediatric hospital medicine fellowship.

For more information or to make a gift to support Marshall Health or the Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine, please contact Linda Holmes, director of development and alumni affairs, by phone at 304-691-1711 or by e-mail at holmes@marshall.edu. For news and information about the Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine, follow us on Twitter @MUSOMWV, like us on Facebook or visit jcesom.marshall.edu. 

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Date Posted: Friday, February 10, 2023