Dr. Jennifer Hanrahan tapped to lead Department of Internal Medicine at Marshall University

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Jennifer Hanrahan, D.O., MSc, has been appointed professor and chair of the department of internal medicine at the Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine effective July 21, 2025, announced David Gozal, M.D., M.B.A., Ph.D. (Hon), Marshall University vice president for health affairs and dean of the medical school.  

“Following a national search, we are pleased to welcome Dr. Hanrahan as the new chair of our largest department at the School of Medicine,” Gozal said. “Her leading expertise in infectious diseases, combined with her extensive leadership experience, will be invaluable in guiding the Department of Internal Medicine forward and in driving efforts to enhance the various departmental missions encompassing clinical, educational, research and community services.” 

As chair, Hanrahan will lead initiatives to enhance patient care, expand research opportunities and strengthen medical education and graduate medical education programs. She will work closely with Marshall University and Marshall Health Network to implement evidence-based practices aimed at improving patient outcomes and overall wellness in the region with a special emphasis on Marshall’s defined Centers of Wellness.  

Hanrahan earned her medical degree from the Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine in Downers Grove, Illinois. She completed her internal medicine residency and infectious disease fellowship at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio. She has also completed Harvard University’s physician leadership course and is a member of the Infectious Disease Society of America (IDSA) and the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America.  

Hanrahan has served as faculty at Case Western Reserve University, the University of Toledo College of Medicine and Life Sciences in Toledo, Ohio, and the Eastern Virginia Medical School in Norfolk, Virginia, where she is currently the chief of infectious diseases and director of the infectious diseases fellowship program. She has also served in multiple hospital leadership roles, including medical director of infection prevention at MetroHealth Medical Center in Cleveland, Ohio, and ProMedica, as well as chief of the division of infectious diseases at Sentara Norfolk General Hospital in Norfolk, Virginia. Passionate about education, Hanrahan has been actively involved in training medical students, resident physicians and fellows. 

In addition to her academic and administrative responsibilities, Hanrahan maintains an active clinical practice in infectious diseases. Her research focuses on antibiotic resistance, infectious disease management and quality improvement. She has published extensively in peer-reviewed journals, including the Journal of Virology and the Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association.