Schmidt named chair of Surgery for the WVU School of Medicine

June 5, 2026

MORGANTOWN, W.VA. – Following a national search, Carl R. Schmidt, M.D., F.A.C.S., professor of surgery, has been named chair of the West Virginia University School of Medicine Department of Surgery, effective July 1.

Since joining WVU in 2018, Dr. Schmidt has served as the chief of the Division of Surgical Oncology, where he has been instrumental in expanding surgical programs and bolstering the faculty, nursing, and advanced practice provider teams.

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Carl Schmidt, M.D., F.A.C.S.

“I am deeply honored to lead WVU’s Department of Surgery at such an important time for our school, our health system, and the people of West Virginia,” Dr. Schmidt said.

Schmidt says the department will continue its mission of serving as the statewide leader in advanced surgical care, providing high-quality, innovative therapies at J.W. Ruby Memorial Hospital, while expanding access to specialty surgery across WVU Medicine.

“We will continue to invest in education and research relevant to the population we serve,” he said. “Most importantly, we will remain focused on our core mission: training the next generation of surgeons and delivering outstanding, patient-centered care close to home.”

Schmidt brings a multitude of leadership experience to the role, including work on both the state and national level. These roles include serving on the Annals of Surgical Oncology and Journal of Surgical Oncology editorial boards, acting as the state chair of the West Virginia Cancer Liaison Program for the American College of Surgeons and as associate chief quality officer for Surgery at WVU Medicine.

Throughout his tenure, he has been a vocal advocate for surgical quality, serving as a surgeon champion for the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program and co-founding the Oncology Quality Council at the WVU Cancer Institute.

As a longtime leader within the WVU Department of Surgery, Schmidt said he’s especially grateful to the current chair Dr. Wallis Marsh, whose, “outstanding leadership since 2017 built a strong foundation and positioned us for continued growth and success.”

Schmidt is board-certified in surgery and nationally recognized, having received the "National Gold Standard" award from Castle Connolly for Pancreatic Cancer Surgery in 2025. He has authored over 220 publications.
 
“Dr. Carl Schmidt is an exceptional leader, a talented surgeon, and the ideal person to guide the Department of Surgery into its next era of excellence,” Clay Marsh, M.D., chancellor and executive dean for WVU Health Sciences, said.
 
“Since joining WVU, he has proven his commitment to advancing surgical training, fostering research, advancing complex, patient-centered clinical care, and mentoring the next generation of physicians. Ultimately, his vision will ensure that West Virginians continue to have local access to world-class, cutting-edge surgical treatments, and we are thrilled to welcome him into this crucial leadership role.”
 
Prior to joining WVU, he served on the faculty at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center from 2008-2018, where he held several leadership positions, including program director for the Surgical Oncology Fellowship and vice chair for Quality and Patient Safety.
 
Schmidt completed fellowship training in surgical oncology at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. earned his medical degree from the University of Michigan, and completed his general surgery residency at Vanderbilt University, where he also earned a Master of Science in Clinical Investigation.
 
For more information on the Department of Surgery, visit Medicine.WVU.edu/Surgery.
 

For media inquiries: Cassie Thomas, WVU Health Sciences and School of Medicine Executive Director of Communications and Marketing, 304-293-3412