Wehner named vice dean for education at Marshall University’s School of Medicine

Paulette S. Wehner, M.D., has been named vice dean for education at the Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine effective August 1, announced David Gozal, M.D., M.B.A., Ph.D. (Hon), Marshall University vice president for health affairs and dean of the medical school.

Paulette S. Wehner, M.D.

In this newly created role, Wehner will oversee education and curriculum at the graduate, professional and post-graduate levels at the Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine. This includes the areas of medical education, health sciences graduate programs and graduate medical education, as well as admissions, student advising and student life. She will also continue in her role as Designated Institutional Official (DIO), ensuring the school’s compliance with Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) requirements.

Through its school of medicine, Marshall University offers more than 10 advanced degree programs, including Doctor of Medicine, Doctor of Philosophy and a series of master’s degrees. In addition, the School of Medicine provides postgraduate training to 300 resident physicians and fellows through its 28 graduate medical education programs.

"This reorganization acknowledges and addresses the fundamental shift in health sciences education nationwide," Gozal said. "Our capacity to train future health care providers and researchers to embrace and lead in innovative medical practices is paramount. By restructuring our leadership, we are ensuring that our programs remain at the forefront of education, equipping our students and trainees with the skills and knowledge they need to excel in an ever-evolving health care landscape."

Wehner is a board-certified cardiologist and professor of cardiovascular services who has served as vice dean for graduate medical education at the Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine since 2014. Under her leadership, the school's graduate medical education programs have grown tenfold, consistently maintained ACGME accreditation and established Marshall University as a national leader in rural training programs. Wehner is the principal investigator for three planning and development grants from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) aimed at developing rural residencies.

In 2023, Wehner was inducted into the WV Executive Health Care Hall of Fame and was selected in 2021 as a member of the inaugural class of the West Virginia Rural Health Leader Recognition Program. She also served on the ACGME's Sponsoring Institution 2025 Task Force.