E-Pylons WVU Medical Students

12/26/2025

Kwanzaa is a week-long celebration held in the United States and Canada honoring African-Canadian and African-American heritage and culture. It is observed from December 26-January 1 annually and culminates in a feast and gift-giving. It was created by Maulana Karenga and was first celebrated in 1966–67. Learn more at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kwanzaa

12/25/2025

Christmas is an annual widely observed holiday commemoration of the birth of Jesus Christ and celebrated generally on December 25th by millions of people around the world. A feast central to the Christian liturgical year, it closes the Advent season and initiates the twelve days of Christmastide. Christmas is a civil holiday in many of the world's nations and is celebrated by some non-Christians. Learn more at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas

12/24/2025

Christmas Eve is the evening or entire day preceding Christmas Day, the widely celebrated annual Christian festival commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ. It occurs on December 24 in the Western Christian Church, and is considered one of the most culturally significant celebrations in Christendom and the Western world, where it is widely observed as a full or partial holiday in anticipation of Christmas Day. In many sects of the Christian faith, the night culminates with Evening or Midnight Service. Read more at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_traditions

12/23/2025

Our Culinary and Lifestyle Medicine Track is getting national attention.
Since many of chronic conditions can be improved through diet and exercise, in 2017, the WVU School of Medicine started a longitudinal Culinary and Lifestyle Medicine Track, which covers four foundational concepts of wellness — nutrition, physical activity, stress management, and sleep. Students compete for spots in the concentration, which requires extensive dedicated training, in addition to completing the school’s core curriculum. Pictured here are Arjun Tomer, M3 and Jade Schlegel, M2. To read the entire article from the AAMC: https://www.aamc.org/news/medical-schools-focus-prevention-well-treatment-disease

12/21/2025

Yule or Yuletide ("Yule time") is a religious festival observed by the historical Germanic cultures, before later being absorbed into, and equated with, the Christian festival of Christmas. Yule has a long-standing history originating in the days of Mithras, Nordic tribes, and among a number of other cultures. Its origin is mostly attributed to the Winter Solstice. On the longest night of the year, families burn bonfires or their fireplace with the highest quality log they can obtain without buying. The fire symbolizes the light of coming longer days. Locals often exchanged practical gifts with neighbors. Learn more about the meanings, symbolism, folklore, and traditions of Yule here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yule

12/21/2025

In honor of Lord Ganesha, Patron of Arts and Guardian of Culture, Pancha Ganapati is a modern five-day Hindu festival celebrated from December 21-25. With a focus on a “new beginning” and “mending of mistakes,” each family focuses on one area of spiritual growth in the upcoming year. Each day, children are given gifts, which are placed in front of a statue or picture of Ganesha. These gifts are opened on the final day. The emphasis on these gifts is thoughtfulness and art, and not commercialism. Learn more here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ganesha

12/21/2025

The Dōngzhì Festival or Winter Solstice Festival is one of the most important festivals celebrated by the Chinese and other East Asians during the Dongzhi solar term (winter solstice) when sunshine is weakest and daylight shortest. The origins of this festival can be traced back to the yin and yang philosophy of balance and harmony in the cosmos. After this celebration, there will be days with longer daylight hours and therefore an increase in positive energy. Traditionally, families eat tangyuan, sugary rice balls that symbolize family union. Learn more here:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dongzhi_Festival

12/19/2025

12/19/2025

How nice to see two of our SOM graduates return to Wheeling to serve the community that nurtured them in their youth. Best wishes to Drs. Taylor Cunningham-Lee and Justin Lee.

12/16/2025

Las Posadas is a religious and social celebration that continues for nine nights beginning on December 16th and ends Christmas Eve. The holiday commemorates Joseph and Mary's journey to Bethlehem and their search for shelter prior to the birth of Christ. Las Posadas is a reenactment of this difficult journey. Celebrated predominately in Mexico and Central America, posada is Spanish for lodging. Even though originally a Catholic custom, Protestants often take part in the popular tradition. Learn more here: https://www.britannica.com/topic/Las-Posadas

12/14/2025

Often referred to as the Festival of Lights or Feast of Dedication, Hanukkah is an eight-day Jewish holiday that commemorates the rededication of the Holy Temple (also known as the Second Temple) in Jerusalem. It is customary for observers to light a candle of a menorah each evening. Regions and families vary on specific customs performed. However, other common events include the eating of food baked or fried in oil, children playing with a dreidel, and distribution of Hanukkah gelt (coins and chocolate that resemble coins). Learn more here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hanukkah

12/13/2025

Today more than 50 people joined our admissions team who hosted an open house for prospective MD degree students. The group had tours of the health science center and our simulation center which is in an elite group of of centers certified in so many different aspects of simulation including teaching, assessment, research and systems integration. LET'S GO!