About Us

WVU Medicine is the clinical and academic health enterprise of West Virginia University, and stands as the state’s largest health system and private employer. Founded in 1996 to unify academic medicine, clinical care, and community health initiatives, WVU Medicine has grown into a regional powerhouse with 25 hospitals across West Virginia, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Maryland. It includes specialized institutes, such as the WVU Cancer Institute, WVU Heart and Vascular Institute, WVU Eye Institute, and the WVU Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute, and employs over 35,000 people. With more than 3,260 beds, the system delivers comprehensive care, ranging from primary services and advanced procedures like robotic cardiac surgery to mobile cancer screenings.

The foundation of WVU Medicine is deeply rooted in the history of West Virginia University, which began offering medical education in 1869. The School of Medicine evolved from a two-year program in 1912 to a full four-year medical school by 1960, thanks to a unique “pop tax” on soft drinks that funded its expansion. Over the decades, the WVU Health Sciences Center has grown to include schools of Medicine, Dentistry, Nursing, Pharmacy, and Public Health, serving more than 2,500 students.