Article written by Ainsley Hall and published in The Journal on April 29, 2026, link to article HERE.
WVU Medicine Berkeley Medical Center and Berkeley County Schools celebrated the upcoming MedEd class during their signing ceremony on April 27. Students from all four high schools gathered to take this new step as they work toward careers in the medical field. With the addition of Musselman High School and Hedgesville High School, plus students from Jefferson and Morgan counties, the MedEd program is set to become one of the largest programs of this type in the country.
Emma Wilber, a student at Musselman High School, was one of 24 Berkeley County students to join the program. She first heard about the program through her mom Ashley, who works as an Oncology Tech at the hospital. As she learned more about the MedEd program and what it offers, she decided it was the perfect way to follow in her mom’s footsteps.
“I look up to her a lot because she’s my only parent,” Wilber said. “She’s been my source of everything my whole life, so I really look up to what she does, and I also love seeing people happy. I want to be able to do that and put a smile on somebody’s face when I tell them that they’re going to be okay.”
Through MedEd she will get hands-on experience during her junior and senior year of high school, participate in a paid internship during her second semester of her senior year and possibly considered for full-time employment at WVU Medicine after graduation. Wilber said that she is looking forward to learning all the basics and growing her medical expertise. She also has a passion for working with children and plans on becoming a pediatric surgeon.
“I love kids and being able to help a kid in need is on the most joyful things that you can do,” Wilber said. “Being able to just see the happiness of people makes me really want to do this.”
During the ceremony, students heard from WVU Medicine East’s Regional President Mark O’Hern and Berkeley County Schools Superintendent Ryan Saxe. O’Hern said that it takes tremendous leadership to take a concept and make it a reality. By partnering with Education Alliance, WVU Medicine and Berkeley County Schools are preparing students for future careers and training the doctors and nurses of tomorrow. As the county continues to grow and they find ways to address the demand for healthcare, O’Hern is excited to see the MedEd grow as well. He encouraged students to be curious and find what interests them.
“You’re going to hit challenges and roadblocks, and we’re going to be here to support you through that journey,” O’Hern said. “And if you say, ‘You know what, I’m not interested in this type of role, but could I get some exposure over here?’ There are so many different opportunities in healthcare.”
Saxe also congratulated the students and their families as they take advantage of this unique opportunity.
“This day is about celebrating each and every single one of you,” Saxe said. “It marks more than just acceptance into a program. It marks your entry into a profession that is built upon purpose. Through this MedEd pathway, you are stepping into a learning experience that connects classroom learning to real world experiences and that is not something that every student always gets to experience.”
Each student was then called up to sign their name and officially join the program. Students also received a special bag full of small gifts to celebrate this new step in their education. For more information on MedEd, visit https://wvumedicine.org/healthcare-professionals/education/meded/.