WVU School of Medicine Eastern Campus celebrates 15 years with unveiling of pylons
Members of the West Virginia University School of Medicine Eastern Campus community gathered Saturday, June 11, at the Health Sciences Center Eastern Division in Martinsburg to celebrate 15 years of the campus and to officially unveil the new pylons specifically for their campus.
Originally commissioned in 1954 and finished two years later by sculptor Milton Horn, the original pylons have stood as an iconic feature of the main Health Sciences Campus in Morgantown for more than half a century. The pylons stand as a tribute to the developing of the “healing arts,” and history of milestones in medicine, nursing, pharmacy, dentistry and public health.
The original pylons remain on display inside the main entrance of the Health Sciences Center in Morgantown, while the plaster molds of those original sculptures are displayed on the Charleston Campus. With the completion of the pylons on the Eastern Campus, all three are now their own set to display, more strongly unifying the three campuses.
Former Eastern Campus Dean, K.C. Nau, M.D., had the idea to have pylons on display on the Eastern Campus as well, and began raising funds for new pylons under his leadership. This mission was passed down to Emma Eggleston, M.D., M.P.H., when she became dean in 2017.
"I am excited to be celebrating the 15th anniversary of our medical school, the hundreds of learners who have passed through our halls, the faculty and staff who have taught them and the community who has supported them,” Dr. Eggleston said. “We are also excited to add the pylons to our campus where they will serve as yet another unifying trait connecting the Morgantown, Charleston and Eastern Campuses.
Attendees of the event included Eastern Campus faculty, staff, students, alumni, former deans Mitch Jacques, M.D., Ph.D., and K.C. Nau and Chancellor and Executive Dean for Health Sciences, Clay Marsh, M.D. The event began with faculty development sessions in the early afternoon, followed by a special keynote presented by Dr. Marsh.
WVU School of Art & Design Associate Professor Dylan Collins was commissioned to create the new pylons, which were originally going to be unveiled during the Eastern Campus 15th Anniversary Celebration in 2020. The event was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic and eventually rescheduled for 2022.
To learn more about the opportunities available on the Eastern Campus, visit medicine.hsc.wvu.edu/eastern.