Department of
Medical Education

Loren Custer, MD

Loren Custer, M.D.

Board Certification: Obstetrics and Gynecology

Medical School: West Virginia University

Residency: West Virginia University

Faculty Rank: Assistant Professor, Assistant Residency Program Director, Clerkship Co-Director

Special Clinical/Research Interests: Clinically active in a wide variety of both Obstetrics and Gynecology. Focus in prenatal care and common GYN issues. Special interest in medical student and resident education.

Is there a particular population of students (e.g., ethnicity, spiritual, sexual orientation) that you would particularly like to advise?

Happy to advise any and all students

What does a typical day in the life of an OB/GYN include?

As a generalist in OB/GYN, my day to day fluctuates, which is something I love about my job. I typically see patients in our outpatient clinics 2-3 days per week, dealing with both OB and GYN visits. The other days of the week, I’m either covering our Labor and Delivery Unit, covering our GYN inpatient service, or operating with our GYN team. I also have dedicated administrative time to work with students and residents throughout the week. The variety in my days keeps the job interesting and enjoyable.

What is the biggest challenge of being an OB/GYN ?

OB/GYN can be a demanding career as a surgical subspeciality. Not only are we a surgical subspecialty, we also are in an emotionally taxing field as we are dealing with patients during their highest moments of life as well as very difficult moments in their life. We also have ever-changing political climates which can be difficult. While it may be challenging at times, it is such a privilege and a rewarding feeling to partner with our patients and help women throughout all of these challenges and stages of their life.

How do you foresee OB/GYN changing over the next 20 years?

I hope to see OB/GYNs lead the charge to enhance and support women’s healthcare in the coming years. Here at WVU, I would love to see our department continue to expand and provided the much needed services for the women of our state.

What advice would you give a student who is considering an OB/GYN residency?

OB/GYN is such an exciting and diverse field- there is something for everyone in our department whether it’s primary care, surgery, emergency medicine or diagnostic imagining, with both inpatient and outpatient experiences. You can really make it what you want and develop a lifestyle and career that fits your needs. If you are interested in an OB/GYN residency, feel free to reach out to us for a chance to get involved in shadowing, research, etc. OB/GYN is a competitive field, so the more experience the better. We would love to have you and show you why we love what we do!