FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

January 15, 2015

Contact: Charles Shumaker
                Media & Community Relations Manager
                Cabell Huntington Hospital
                304-399-6742                         

                Leah C. Payne
               Director of Public Affairs, Schools of Medicine and Pharmacy 
               304-691-1713

SCHOLARSHIP FUND ANNOUNCED TO HONOR NEWLY RETIRED CABELL HUNTINGTON HOSPITAL CEO
Brent A. Marsteller Scholarship will benefit medical education

HUNTINGTON, WV – Cabell Huntington Hospital and Marshall Health announced Wednesday a $1 million endowment to launch the Brent A. Marsteller Scholarship Fund to honor the hospital’s retiring president and chief executive officer’s commitment to medical education.

The scholarship will benefit students at the Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine, and will be funded over five years in $100,000 yearly installments by both Cabell Huntington Hospital and Marshall Health, the primary physician practice group affiliated with the hospital and medical school.

The surprise announcement came Wednesday evening at Marsteller’s retirement reception on the hospital campus. He was surrounded by community leaders and employees honoring him for his 14 years of leadership at Cabell Huntington Hospital.

“The dedication of this scholarship represents Brent Marsteller’s vision to blend patient care with medical education,” said Kevin Fowler, Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Cabell Huntington Hospital. “This hospital campus has seen tremendous prosperity during Mr. Marsteller’s tenure and our employees have been under the direction of a compassionate and caring leader. His influences will truly live on through this scholarship and the students it will benefit for decades to come.”

Leaders with Marshall Health said the decision to contribute to the scholarship was an easy one to reach.

“Marshall Health is pleased to partner with Cabell Huntington Hospital to honor Mr. Marsteller. His commitment over the past 14 years to academic medicine has allowed our educational, patient care and research missions to flourish, “said Beth L. Hammers, executive director, Marshall Health.  “This gift will continue his great legacy well into the future and will provide assistance to the programs and people he has so immensely valued over the years.” 

“Brent [Marsteller] has a gift for looking at how to make things better in every situation I’ve witnessed,” said Dr. Joseph I. Shapiro, dean of the Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine.  “He is a man of unquestionable integrity and his vision for health care opportunities has been unlimited. It’s truly fitting that he be honored by this generous scholarship that will positively impact medical students and our school of medicine for years to come. He has always worked to create win-win situations and that legacy will now continue for our community and the state of West Virginia as we work to educate doctors for rural Appalachia.”

Marsteller announced his retirement effective December 31, 2014 after 14 years of leadership. Marsteller intends to continue to contribute to the success of the hospital as a consultant, and the Cabell Huntington Hospital Board of Directors has placed in motion a process to identify and name his successor. He was born and raised in Huntington where he graduated from Huntington High School and Marshall University. He served in leadership positions at more than a half dozen hospitals in West Virginia, Ohio and Florida before returning to Huntington in October of 2000. During his time at Cabell Huntington, Marsteller oversaw unmatched growth and development in physician specialties, facilities and patient services.

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Date Posted: Thursday, January 15, 2015