Written by: Ansley Hall and published in The Martinsburg Journal on April 27, 2025, link to the article HERE.
MARTINSBURG – Recently, students, their family members, and education leaders from Berkeley County Schools joined WVU Medicine Berkeley Medical Center leadership to announce the inaugural class selection for the county’s MedEd program.
The MedEd program is a two-year education and healthcare program that will introduce high school students to WVU Medicine Berkeley Medical Center and give them first-hand, on-the-job experience in healthcare careers. This WVU Medicine Berkeley Medical Center MedEd program, which is a partnership with the school system and the Education Alliance, also serves as a direct pathway to a possible healthcare career after graduation.
During ceremonies at Martinsburg and Spring Mills High Schools, students signed on the dotted line to show their commitment to the program and were recognized in front of friends and family members with MedEd certificates.
“We are thrilled to collaborate with our partners in introducing students to healthcare careers,” said Justin Ruble, WVU Medicine Vice President, Human Resources. “This program will provide knowledge and real-world experience, setting students on a path to success in a specific field. We believe that by fostering this early interest and support, we can inspire the next generation of compassionate and skilled healthcare professionals who will make a positive impact serving those in our community.”
"We are pleased to work with our partners to open pathways for students across the state," said Dr. Ryan Saxe, Berkeley County Schools Superintendent. "Programs such as these increase student success because they combine real-world experience with classroom learning. Students are able to cast a vision for their future while gaining a range of skills necessary to successfully pursue their journey. The MedEd program is what industry and education working together looks like, and our students will reap the benefits of this partnership for years to come."
The MedEd program will begin at the start of the 2025-2026 school year. Students will participate in classroom health science learning at the schools and at Berkeley Medical Center, working alongside WVU Medicine Berkeley Medical Center healthcare professionals. The program is modeled after a manufacturing program that originated at Toyota Motor Manufacturing. It was developed locally via a collaborative effort with partners from across the educational spectrum.
“The future is bright in our state and there are so many healthcare career opportunities. Today’s Signing Day spotlights how the MedEd program will enable Berkeley County students to develop the professional and technical skills they need to be successful,” said Dr. Amelia Courts, President and CEO of The Education Alliance. “We are grateful to WVU Medicine Berkeley Medical Center Network and Berkeley County Schools for their partnership and commitment to equipping our students for a bright future.