Paulette S . Wehner , M . D .,
FACC , FACP , FCCP , FAHA
Vice Dean of Graduate Medical Education & Professor , Marshall University School of Medicine
EMILY PELLHAM
There is no fear in being the first for Paulette Wehner . Instead , there is a fondness for blazing trails that others can follow . Wehner , current professor of internal medicine and cardiology and vice dean of graduate medical education ( GME ) at the Marshall University School of Medicine , was the first in her family to pursue education and a career in the medical field .
Wehner received her undergraduate degree in psychology from Notre Dame as part of the eighth class of women at the university . She then went on to medical school at Marshall University and completed both an internal medicine residency and a cardiology fellowship at the Marshall University School of Medicine . She later finished another interventional cardiology fellowship at Marshall and Charleston Area Medical Center .
“ Cardiology is my chosen specialty because of the content and how that system made sense . At the time , it was also a challenge because very few women were in the specialty ,” says Wehner .
At the beginning of her career , Wehner was the first female interventional cardiologist in the state and later the first female American College of Cardiology governor for West Virginia . In addition to her desire to study cardiology , Wehner was always drawn toward education .
“ Oddly , I was always an educator , regardless of the level of my own training . I always taught medical students and residents and then became the program director in cardiology ,” Wehner says . “ Now the path has led to vice dean , assuring compliance of all the graduate medical education programs at Marshall .”
In her current position , Wehner is able to help develop medical school graduates into specialty physicians and support the program directors of the residency and fellowship programs at Marshall University School of Medicine .
“ I get to watch medical school graduates become competent , independent
Photo by Emily Porter .
physicians ,” says Wehner . “ What I like best is seeing the growth of all involved and watching young physicians complete their training and become competent physicians .”
Through Wehner ’ s involvement in mentoring and training young medical professionals , she has earned a series of awards and honors . Some of these include Teacher of the Year , Mentor of the Year , Lifetime Achievement Award in Cardiology , American College of Cardiology Governor , Faculty Impact Award , Inaugural Distinguished Women in Medicine and Science Award and the Award for Excellence in Leadership .
Despite having been awarded many
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