Clay's Purpose — August 2022 | School of Public Health

Welcome home. To Almost Heaven.

For those of you who are new to Health Sciences, welcome. To those of you who are returning, welcome back. We are so happy to have each one of you join us as part of our family and community here at WVU.

Welcome Week events will take place on the Morgantown campus through August 21 and are open to all new and returning students. I encourage you to connect with your WVU community through activities like adventure, service and wellness opportunities, Monday Night Lights and the Graduate Student Welcome Picnic.

I am excited to start this new semester, and I hope you are too. We want all of you to feel welcomed, included and safe at Health Sciences. There are many campus and community resources and services to help you find parking, navigate your way in the building, learn about clubs and organizations and even how to make a dental appointment. Coming to a new place can feel intimidating and unfamiliar, but we are here to help you every step of the way.

The University will continue to monitor public health data relating to COVID-19. Students on the Health Sciences campus involved in patient care, including residents, fellows and students, are required to follow WVU Health System or other clinical provider’s policies, including those related to COVID-19 such as vaccinations, masks and PPE. Make sure you check with your program director or adviser for specifics. Employees can check with their supervisor for updated guidance. We also ask that our students, along with our faculty and staff, follow the Health Sciences professionalism policy.

We want everyone to stay healthy and to have a positive experience.

Here at Health Sciences, we want you to expand your horizons and immerse yourself in the discovery of knowledge – of the subject matter you take at WVU and of your personal growth and journey. While you are learning and growing during your time at WVU, be sure to enjoy the people you meet along your new journey. Take a moment and take in the beauty that surrounds you.

As we start the semester, I will leave you with a quote from the Dalai Lama: “We can only transform humanity and create a happier more compassionate world through education.”

Let’s Go.

Clay Marsh, M.D.
Chancellor and Executive Dean
WVU Health Sciences