West Virginia University: Cruz Julia M MD

About

Formed in 1972, the West Virginia University Charleston Division includes the Schools of Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy and Social Work.

Story

The Charleston Division was formed in 1972 as part of a federal rural health initiative in order to expand medical schools beyond the traditional campus. An affiliation with the newly formed Charleston Area Medical Center (CAMC) to direct CAMC residency programs was also established that year. In 1977, the WVU Education Building was built, primarily through funding from The Sarah and Pauline Maier Foundation and the AHEC (Area Health Education Centers) Program. This partnership between WVU and CAMC provides a tremendous academic and medical resource for the Kanawha Valley with a very positive one billion dollar economic impact. In 2010, a convocation was held at the Charleston Division in recognition of the WVU Health Sciences Center’s 50 years of leadership in health.

The Health Sciences Center in Charleston houses divisions of the West Virginia University Schools of Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy and Social Work. The Charleston Division School of Medicine includes the departments of Behavioral Medicine and Psychiatry, Family Medicine, Internal Medicine, Obstetrics & Gynecology, Pediatrics and Surgery. In addition, the WVU Health Sciences Library, the West Virginia Poison Center, an Area Health Education Center (AHEC), the CAMC School of Nurse Anesthesia, the office of the regional West Virginia University School of Medicine Dean, the regional offices of the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine, the West Virginia Geriatric Education Center, and CAMC's Office of Continuing Medical Education, among others, are also located on the Charleston campus.

The West Virginia University Physicians of Charleston is the multi-specialty group practice of faculty physicians and health care providers at the West Virginia University Charleston Division School of Medicine. West Virginia University Physicians of Charleston group members provide world-class medical care while conducting groundbreaking research and continuing education. Our physicians are recognized leaders in their chosen specialties. Driven by the motto “We practice what we teach,” our physicians and health care providers training never ends because they are in the classroom and in the laboratory, training the next generation of healthcare providers.

Educational opportunities abound at WVU Charleston. Today, one third of WVU's medical students are assigned to the Charleston Division for their third and fourth years. Four doctors of pharmacy interact closely with the medical staff, and teach pharmacy students from both West Virginia University and the University of Charleston. The school of nursing has baccalaureate, master's level and doctorate programs available. Through its partnership with Charleston Area Medical Center as its teaching hospital, WVU Charleston educates over 500 students, researches in over 400 areas, hospitalizes over 40,000 patients, and treats over 200,000 outpatients. Our services reach over 25 counties on any given day. In addition to our own students and faculty, CAMC, visiting professors and the community utilize our facilities to offer important health care education and services. From young people exploring the possibilities of a health science career, to continuing education for professionals, to programs and classes for seniors, the Health Sciences Center is in constant use as an educational and research facility and community outreach center.

Mission

As one of the oldest regional medical education campuses in the United States, West Virginia University's Charleston Division is dedicated to educating caring health care professionals, providing research to improve the health care of West Virginia citizens, and offering services to meet the health care needs of West Virginians.