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Transcript of Lifelines Fall/Winter 2013
www.musc.edu/nursing
Lifelines
Fall | Winter 2013
Medical University of soUth carolina college of nUrsing
V
taking nUrsing to a higher level
130C O N G R A T U L A T I O N S
MUSC COLLEGE OF NURSING
One Hundred & Thirty YearsThe College of Nursing at the Medical University of South Carolina is celebrating a milestone - 130 years of nursing education excellence, making it one of the oldest schools of nursing in the country. The College opened its doors to nursing students in 1883 as a “training school for nurses” at the request of the City Hospital. Over the years the name has changed and ownership has passed, but its vision today is similar to the vision 130 years ago–to provide nursing education and excellence.
When the College opened in 1883, the student enrollment included 14 students and physicians as faculty members. Today, the College has a student enrollment of over 460 students, 46 full-time faculty, and four programs of study.
Over the past 130 years, the College of Nursing has become one of the most respected nursing schools in the region, while being proud of its accomplishments and contributions in the Charleston community. We eagerly anticipate the commitments the College of Nursing will make over the next 130 years and will continue to solidify its leadership role in the education of nurses well into the future.
This year marks the College of Nursing’s
130th anniversary. We are, indeed, one of
the oldest schools of nursing in the country—
one that has transitioned from a training
program, to a diploma program, and now to
a college that offers BSN, MSN, DNP and PhD
degrees. Thus we are proudly celebrating 130
glorious years in which we have truly “Taken
Nursing to a Higher Level.”
In this issue of Lifelines you will read
stories about the students, programs and
projects that help us achieve and excel in our mission. Specifically, we
will focus on four exciting areas that capture the amazing activities of our
College:
> Caring – the heart that characterizes all that we undertake
> Discovering – the brain of our inventiveness and problem solving
> Leading – the feet that accelerate us on our creative and
innovative paths, and
> Growing – the hands that reach outward and upward to new
horizons.
As I reflect on our history I also am
reminded of the inscription on our College
of Nursing pin. It is “Auget Lar-gendo.
This means, “she, the College, enriches
generously.” Our faculty and staff make that
ideal come alive each and every day.
We now humbly ask that you consider
“enriching generously” as well. The pages that
follow reflect the many opportunities that
you have to financially support us in our ongoing activities. We could not
accomplish all that we have done without your active engagement with us,
and for that we are so very grateful.
Finally, I am most moved by the words of Winston Churchill who said,
“We make a living by what we get, we make a life by what we give.” At no time
in our history has the College of Nursing needed your visible and dedicated
philanthropic support more than the present. As you read about all that we
have accomplished, I ask you to help us take nursing to an even higher level
as we venture on to the next 130 years!
Gail W. Stuart, PhD, RN, FAAN
Dean and Distinguished University Professor
Gail W. Stuart,Dean
Jo Smith,Editor
Beth Khan,Design & Production
Mardi Long,BSN Program & Alumni Services Coordinator
Laurie Scott,Director of Development
A publication of the Medical University of South Carolina
College of Nursing
PUBLiShed By
hAve feedBACK? SeNd CoMMeNtS to:
Jo Smith
Lifelines editorMUSC College of Nursing
99 Jonathan Lucas St., MSC 160Charleston, SC 29425-1600
[email protected](843) 792-3941
99 Jonathan Lucas StreetCharleston, SC 29425
www.musc.edu/nursing
MUSC NUrSeS ChANGe LiveS
PoStMASter: Send corrections to Lifelines, MUSC College of Nursing, 99 Jonathan Lucas St., MSC 160, Charleston, SC 29425-1600. © Copyright 2013 by the Medical University of South Carolina College of Nurs-ing. All rights reserved. No part of this publication can be reproduced without permission from the Medical University of South Carolina College of Nursing.
volume Xi, issue 2 • fall/Winter 2013
Lifelines
Dean’s Column
taking nUrsing to a higher level . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 The College reaches for higher levels of excellence through caring, discovering, leading and growing.
higher levels of giving ........................................................................................ 20 Take a look at our generous donors and the lives they have touched.
globalization: spanning coUntries and cUltUre ....................................... 30 Our faculty, staff, students, and alumni engage in collaborative global partnerships.
departments
CoNteNtsfeatures
dean’s colUMn ............................................................................................................. 1
aroUnd the college .............................................................................................. 34
focUs on facUlty .................................................................................................... 42
stUdent spotlight .................................................................................................. 46
alUMni connections .............................................................................................. 50
lines of life ............................................................................................................... 56
MUSC College of Nursing –
Taking Nursing to a Higher
Level. That is the theme of this
issue of Lifelines. An issue that also
celebrates the glorious 130 year
anniversary of our College and that
launches our development campaign
for the future.
Our history is impressive in
both our aspirations and our
accomplishments and we take great
pride in all that we do. But we have
our sights set on still “higher levels”
of excellence. These plans reflect our
work in four major areas—caring,
discovering, leading and growing.
In this issue of Lifelines we will
share stories about our faculty
and students and the lives they’ve
touched. From ground-breaking
research and new technologies to
stories of inspiration, we will show
you how MUSC nurses are changing
lives every day.
None of these efforts would
be possible, however, without
the support we receive from our
many benefactors—gifts from our
alumni and friends, philanthropic
contributions, and support from
foundations and other funding
agencies. All of these sources are
crucial to our success. Whether it
is funding much needed student
scholarships, supporting community
programs, or enhancing research
dollars, the gifts and grants we receive
impact everything we do in the
College of Nursing.
As you read these pages of
amazing stories, we hope you will be
inspired to join us and help support
us financially to “Take Nursing to a
Higher Level.”
Taking
higher levelnursing to a
higher levelnursing to a
Fall | Winter 2013 Lifelines 5
6 Lifelines Fall | Winter 2013
It’s the little things that matter in a
pretty building tucked behind the
Charleston Police Department on Bees
Ferry Road. Inside this building, pa-
tience is a virtue and progress is mea-
sured in the smallest of milestones.
Children are doing things that many
people considered impossible and the
pride is overflowing from family and
staff, who are helping these miracles
take place. Many times the progress is
measured in bright smiles or simple
motions of one little finger, but to
those who can interpret these actions,
they are giant steps forward.
College of Nursing faculty
member, Carrie Cormack, is among
the founding board members for
Pattison’s Academy that opened in
2006 with the mission to
improve the quality of life for
children with multiple disabilities
by integrating education and
rehabilitation. In the beginning,
Pattison’s Academy operated a
successful four week summer
day program. Strong parental and
community support led to the
creation of Pattison’s Academy for
Comprehensive Education (PACE)
in 2010. It now offers a year round
innovative educational, rehabilitative,
and nursing model of care.
When the opportunity came for
Ms. Cormack to work at Pattison’s
Academy as director of nursing
services, she never hesitated.
“Integrating these two roles of
clinician and instructor has been
extremely rewarding,” Ms. Cormack
says.
For the past several summers,
College of Nursing students have
visited Pattison’s Academy during
summer camp. Until this year, their
experience consisted of a one-day
hands-on experience. “Introducing
nursing students to this amazing
population of children with severe
and multiple disabilities, in an
environment that is healthy and
safe, where the children are learning,
thriving, making friends, and meeting
goals, is extremely important,” Ms.
Cormack says. “Most interactions that
medical professionals have with this
population is in a hospital setting
under very different circumstances.
Here at Pattison’s Academy, nursing
students are able to learn about the
children’s abilities, more than their
disabilities.”
Feedback from students has been
extremely positive. Mary Stone,
Accelerated BSN student, remarks, “It
was eye opening to see how much
care and attention is put into each
student, and the impact that the
school has on their lives and the lives
of their families. The outpouring
of affection that the educators and
therapists have for the students was
apparent as soon as I walked into a
classroom.”
HIGHER LEvELS OF...
practice grants
A total of $152,409 practice grants were funded in fiscal year 2012-2013. Among those funded were:
$70,000 - Teen Health Advocate Leadership Program
$23,416 - PASOs in South Carolina: Promoting Prevention and Bridging the Gaps for the Vulnerable Latino Population
$20,000 - Education, Outreach and Advocacy to Reduce Health Disparities
WitNessiNG MiraCLes
Caring is the core of nursing. individuals who choose nursing as a profession are driven by their desire to care for others. in the following stories you will learn how our faculty and students truly are changing lives.
Caring
Fall | Winter 2013 Lifelines 7
relationship between pattison’s academy and MUsc continues to grow
“ I chose the nursing profession because it allows nurses to give a voice to those who cannot speak for themselves. To me, being a compassionate nurse means truly placing yourself in someone else’s shoes–advocating for
their desires and providing unbiased, nonjudgmental care.” – Christie Beck, Accelerated BSN student
Today Pattison’s Academy is an
official clinical site for undergraduate
nursing students. Approximately 40
nursing students are rotated through
PACE, with each student having a
three to four day clinical experience.
“The students are experiencing more
of the daily routine of these healthy
children with severe and multiple
disabilities and the therapists and
educators that work with them, ”
Ms. Cormack says.
As the relationship between the
College of Nursing and Pattison’s
Academy increases, so will the
progress being made. Ms. Cormack
shares, “Toward the end of the last
school year, one of the classrooms
started a reading program. Within the
program students were assisted to
point to each word/sentence being
read. During one of the reading
sessions, the teacher said ‘LaMaun it’s
your turn to read the story.’ He raised
his hand and extended his pointer
finger to follow along. This may not
seem like a big victory to many, but
LaMaun’s hands are constantly in a
fisted position. It was so amazing to
see that he made the connection to
reading the story, using his finger
to follow along. This is a remarkable
first step on the road to successful
independent reading for him.”
“What impacted me the most was
the realization that their disabilities
do not stifle their inner sparkle
or limit their drive to succeed,”
says Carla Escobar, MSN student
in the FNP track. “I was excited
watching LaMaun work with his
eye gaze communication device,
and observing Jasmine walk with
determination on the treadmill with
assistance for seven minutes. All of
the children with whom I came into
contact made me appreciate the
unwavering determination of the
human spirit.”
Ms. Cormack concludes, “We look
forward to sharing these miracles with
future nurses.”
• Graduate students from the Colleges of Nursing, Dentistry, Medicine, and Health Professions have made over 1,000 visits to Pattison’s for clinical education purposes.
• Several MUSC employees serve on the Board of Directors of Pattison’s Academy and the PACE school board.
• Pattison’s Academy was awarded a pilot grant from the MUSC Center for Community Health Partnerships, Community Engaged Scholars, which investigated the effect of physical activity on two matching groups of children with multiple disabilities: children attending Pattison’s Academy and children not attending Pattison’s Academy.
• MUSC has provided IRB reviews for several of Pattison’s Academy’s research projects.
In the US, over 12.6 million
children have chronic disabilities.
Non-ambulatory children with
multiple disabilities present
with comorbidities, such as
blindness, seizures, and apnea,
which further impact the
child and family’s ability to be
physically active, participate in
life, and sustain a good quality
of life. Current health literature
clearly identifies the need for
developing effective models to
manage and improve the health
of this population, which in turn
will enhance their participation
in and quality of life.
Carrie Cormack, MSN, APRN, CPNP-BC is an instructor in the MUSC College of Nursing and director of nursing services for Pattison’s Academy.
>> SURPRISING s tat i s t i c
8 Lifelines Fall | Winter 2013
Deborah Williamson, DHA, MSN, RN is an associate professor and the associate dean for practice in the MUSC College of Nursing.
eNhaNCiNG hispaNiC heaLth
South Carolina has one of the
fastest growing Latino populations
in the nation. The increase in
the number of Spanish-speaking
residents has been recent enough that
the cultural norms and health beliefs
of the Spanish-speaking population
are not well understood by health care
providers.
Dr. Deborah Williamson was taking
care of Hispanic families in her nurse
midwifery practice and was impressed
with their difficult journeys and
resilience that seemed to come from
their close family structure, strong
work ethic, and a desire to create a
better world for their children.
She shares, “One young woman
I admitted in labor came in from
picking cucumbers in the fields.
As we spent the next five hours
together during her labor I listened
to the stories of her mother and
husband and their experiences in this
country. The young woman was a US
citizen and like her parents was an
agricultural worker. Her dream was
to finish high school and get a higher
paying job so her children could finish
high school and go on to college.”
The family, although US citizens,
described to Dr. Williamson the
frequent discrimination that
came with being perceived as
undocumented workers just because
of their ethnicity. She explained,
“Although they spoke English very
well, they spoke Spanish when
together as a family. They described
incidents of overhearing others
making ethnic slurs in English,
because they thought the family didn’t
speak English.”
Based on these interactions with
her Hispanic patients, Dr. Williamson
felt that it was important to build a
program that examined the impact of
culture, language and social bias on
health status. She received funding
from the Health Resources and
Services Administration (HRSA) and
The Duke Endowment to develop the
Hispanic Health Initiative (HHI) in
2005.
The HHI has grown to encompass
both professional education and
community outreach. Outreach
programs include Abrazos, a family
literacy program, and PASOs, a
program designed to improve the
health and well being of the Hispanic
community through education and
linking families to services.
The HHI Scholars professional
education program was designed to
build cultural competency, increase
sensitivity to community needs,
improve the ability to tailor care, and
provide the leadership skills necessary
for our graduates to address the social
determinants of health in order to
help eliminate health disparities.
Scholars are selected in their second
semester of the Accelerated BSN
program. Dr. Williamson reports, “We
have just accepted the 15th cohort of
Hispanic Health Initiative Scholars.”
Although grant funding ended in
2011, the scholars program has been
incorporated into the Population
Focused Health course in the BSN
program. Dr. Williamson explains,
“Because of our eight year experience
of building trust with the community
we are able to integrate students into
multiple clinical settings using a
service learning model.”
Fall | Winter 2013 Lifelines 9
Remembering the past, striving for the futureBy Benny espinoza
This experience really brought back memories from my childhood. I come from a long line of migrant workers. As a child I remember being put into the back seat of our car, wrapped in a blanket, looking out of the rear window at darkness. I would awake some time later in the morning to cool air and the smell of strawberries. My parents and several aunts and uncles worked in “the berries”. I had many cousins with me in the fields. Some of the older ones would work while the younger ones would play. I remember my father teaching me how to pick and package the berries. I recall a time visiting my great grandmother in the apricot fields. She was a cook at a migrant camp in California. The migrant camp we visited during our clinical orientation reminded me of that experience. It has been about 30 years since I ran in the strawberry fields with my cousins. The agricultural work environment has not changed much from what I can remember, it seems that only I have changed. It is kind of interesting, considering where I have been, to have the opportunity to visit this community again, only under very different circumstances. I meditated on many possible career paths from accounting to computer science and, in the end, nursing was the best fit for me and my life’s goals. I love studying the health sciences; I enjoy meeting and helping people; and I believe that nursing gives me the most flexibility in deciding how I can help others. After graduation I hope to work in a hospital setting and thoroughly master the skills of a nurse on a challenging, forward thinking unit.
Challenges of life complicated by lifestyleBy anne Griffin patterson
What struck me most significantly during my time at the Rural Mission Migrant Head Start program was one little girl named Daisy. When the bus arrived in the morning, I enjoyed escorting the children from the bus to their appropriate classroom. When Daisy was handed to me, the Head Start employee commented: “Don’t put her down when you get to the classroom. Hand her to someone because she does not walk.” Carrying Daisy to her classroom, I noticed it felt different than carrying other children. I had to position her legs so that she could rest on my hip as we walked. She felt much more limp, and therefore heavier than the other children, and she appeared to be older. When Daisy and I got to her classroom, the teacher instructed that I put her in her seat on the floor. Daisy had a special supportive chair that helped her to sit up and I noticed she was significantly larger than the other children in the classroom. The teacher asked the other children to go and say “Good Morning” to Daisy, and the little girls wobbled over to interact with her. As I walked back to the bus to get the next child, I couldn’t help but wonder about the challenges Daisy and her family face, and will face in the coming years. I wondered how many extra hands it takes to care for a child like Daisy with this migrant lifestyle. On days when the children are not in a Head Start program, does her mother have to stay home from working to care for her, or can she be cared for with all of the other children? I wondered about her medical needs, and how she receives care. I also wondered if Daisy’s condition is one that could improve, given medical attention and extensive therapy. Unfortunately, I felt that the therapy required to improve her condition would be costly and require a long period of time. Due to her migrant lifestyle, I doubted that this would even be an option for Daisy’s family. Daisy is small enough now to carry on your hip, but she will not stay this way. I wondered how the family copes with having a handicapped child. My memory flashed back to a woman I saw in Zimbabwe pushing a wheelbarrow down the sidewalk carrying a disabled adult man sitting on pillows. I hope the arrangements will be better for Daisy. It will be a challenge to find a wheelchair, possibly through a donation. I doubt that any of the housing provided by farmers for migrant workers is handicap accessible. Frequently children work in the fields when they are of an age that they can contribute to supporting the family. Daisy will not be able to do this and caring for her will be costly. Finally, I wondered if she will ever talk. Migrant life through her eyes is a storyI am eager to hear.
Hispanic Health Initiative
Scholars and Accelerated
BSN students, Anne Griffin
Patterson (pictured second
from the left) and Benny
Espinoza (pictured far right)
share their experiences in
the HHI program.
10 Lifelines Fall | Winter 2013
HIGHER LEvELS OF...
A total of $4,295,427 in research grants were funded in fiscal year 2012-13. Among those funded were:
HIGHER lEvElS of DISCovERING
$380,286 - A Community Partnership Approach for Advancing Burden Measurement in Rare Genetic Conditions. Pamela Williams (PI)
$115,595 - A Peer Navigator Intervention for Individuals with Spinal Cord Injury. Susan Newman (PI)
$90,728 - Personalized Bio-behavioral Weight Loss Intervention for African American Women. Gayenell Magwood (PI)
Dr. Teresa Kelechi began working
with patients with lower extrem-
ity vein problems in 1992 when she
started a leg and foot clinic while
working in general internal medicine
at MUSC. She noticed some of her pa-
tients who were experiencing venous
leg ulcers had very warm, reddish
inflamed skin in certain areas of the
leg, primarily between the calf muscle
and foot. They often complained
that they had a sensation of “heat” or
“fever” in their legs before they devel-
oped an ulcer. She wondered if there
was some way to predict the develop-
ment of these ulcers by measuring the
temperature of the skin and tracking it
over time. Dr. Kelechi began to study
some of the patients she saw in her
clinic as part of her PhD dissertation.
She discovered that when skin blood
flow was high and skin temperature
rose about two degrees above the
patient’s normal temperature in the
lower leg, they often developed an
ulcer.
Fast forward to 2013. Dr. Kelechi
is conducting a National Institutes
of Health, multi-site, randomized
clinical trial to determine if cooling
the skin with a special cryotherapy
gel, called Kool Cuff, might prevent
new ulcers from developing. In a
pilot study, she demonstrated that
cooling the inflamed skin affected by
vein disorders significantly reduced
blood flow and temperature after
a four week intense cryotherapy
intervention.
During the current clinical trial,
after an initial 30-day intense cooling
period, Dr. Kelechi is adding an
at-home, sequenced tapered cooling
method over a nine month period. If
ranked 21st in National institutes of health funding among
colleges of nursing, our faculty is conducting innovative
research that will shape health care delivery in the future.
Discovering
DeveLopiNG NeW praCtiCe staNDarDs
Fall | Winter 2013 Lifelines 11
this treatment proves successful, a
new practice standard for prevention
can be established.
“We currently have three study
sites in South Carolina located in
Spartanburg, Loris, and Charleston
with 35 active participants and
we plan to enroll an additional 75
participants soon,” Dr. Kelechi says.
“We just completed the study at a
site in Georgia where we enrolled 90
participants.”
One of the study participants,
Davis L., is a 67-year-old married
retiree who lives in Inman, SC.
His quality of life began to slowly
deteriorate over the past five years
due to ongoing complications from
chronic venous disease. He has tried
to relieve his symptoms by using
heat packs and applying various
presciption creams but nothing has
worked. A few months ago his doctor
suggested that he might benefit from
participating in Dr. Kelechi’s study
and he agreed to give it a try.
After two months in the study
Davis reports he doesn’t have any
more blisters. “I still have a little
swelling around my toes and the top
of my foot, but it is not as bad. I have
slight numbness when I try to wiggle
my toes, but I am doing much better,”
he says.
Davis explains that he decided
to participate in the study because
he thought it would help him and
in the process it would help other
people. “I’ve always been one to try
something new.”
This positive news makes Margie
Prentice, MBA, program coordinator
for the clinical trial, pleased. “When
I hear that a subject’s condition
is improving because of a new
procedure, therapy or product we are
testing, I get a tremendous sense of
personal and job satisfaction to know
that I am part of something that has
made a positive difference in their
life and potentially for others,” she
says.
Early indications are that this new
method of treatment is showing
great promise. “It humbles me to be
able to conduct a study that has the
potential to change a treatment that
is well over 100 years old,” Dr. Kelechi
says. “There is so little available for
people who suffer with chronic
venous disease and leg ulcers. If this
new prevention approach works, it
could reduce the number of new and
recurring leg ulcers, decreasing costs
of care and human suffering.”
Teresa Kelechi, PhD, GCNS-BC, CWCN, FAAN is a professor and the interim associate dean for research in the MUSC College of Nursing.
“ To aid in the healing of another person, whether physical, spiritual, emotional, or mental, is a great reward and nurses have the opportunity to heal in each of those four categories.” – Lindsey Reeves, Accelerated BSN student
“ To me, RN doesn’t only mean Registered Nurse. The letter r stands for respectful, responsible, reliable, and responsive. The letter n stands for notable, necessary, nice, and nurturing. A good nurse combines the science of
medicine with the compassion of humanity. The nurse has to focus on more than just a diagnosis, but also see how environment, culture, lifestyle, and relationships specific to that individual intertwine. This holistic view defines the
nursing strategy that initiates an effective treatment process.” – Lindsey Reeves, Accelerated BSN student
Venous disease refers to all
conditions related to or caused
by veins that become diseased
or abnormal. An estimated 7
million adults in the US have a
venous disorder such as venous
insufficiency. These under-
recognized vascular problems
result in severe skin damage
and ulcerations of the lower
legs, produce pain, and restrict
mobility.
Chronic venous insufficiency is
more common among those
who are obese, pregnant, or
who have a family history of the
problem. Individuals who have
had trauma to the leg through
injury, surgery, or previous
blood clots are also more likely
to develop the condition.
According to available data, over $3 billion is spent annually on leg ulcer care.
W H At I SVenous disease
12 Lifelines Fall | Winter 2013
The Centers for Disease Control defines health literacy as the ability to obtain, process and understand basic health information and services to make appropriate decisions and follow instructions for
treatment. Many factors determine the health literacy level of health education materials or other health interventions: reading level, numeracy level, language barriers, cultural appropriateness,
format and style, sentence structure, use of illustrations, and interactiveness of intervention. These and many other factors can affect how easily health information is understood and followed.
Dr. Ida Spruill is not new to the
Lowcountry. In her role as nurse
manager and co-investigator for Proj-
ect SUGAR, a genetic research study
conducted in the Sea Islands from
1995-2003, Dr. Spruill was responsible
for enrolling 650 African-American
families with type 2 diabetes (T2DM)
into the study. While doing so, she
witnessed disparities that plague the
Lowcountry and the impact they have
on the community.
Research suggests that regimen
adherence for self-management of
diabetes is a serious problem and the
reason for poor adherence may be
rooted in low literacy, culture, and
lifestyle. Dr. Spruill explains, “Health
literacy not only measures a person’s
ability to read and comprehend, but
also the ability to act on medical
instructions and information. This
is particularly true for the African-
American community, which suffers
disparate impact from chronic illness.”
In April 2012, Dr. Spruill was
awarded a three year R01 grant from
the National Institutes of Health/Na-
tional Institute of Nursing Research
to explore the effects of beliefs and
culture on health literacy and ulti-
mately the management of diabetes in
African-Americans from four regions
in South Carolina – the Upper Pied-
mont/Blue Ridge, Pee Dee/Sand Hills,
Central Midlands/Lower Piedmont,
and Coastal Plains.
Phase one of the study is now com-
pleted. “We conducted 12 focus groups
in Allendale, Jasper, Dillon, Orange-
burg, Fairfield, Edgefield, Richland,
and Greenville counties,” reports Dr.
Spruill. “The focus groups were mostly
women with an average age of 54.”
Phase one participants were asked
a few questions about their under-
standing of diabetes and their answers
were not that surpising.
One question asked, what does
‘take on an empty stomach’ mean
to you? Responder:“Take meds on
an empty stomach make you sick.”
Another question asked, what do you
want to learn about diabetes? Reply:
“How much sugar I can eat without
overdoing it.”
“Although these comments may
seem simplistic, they reflect the at-
titudes, beliefs and lack of knowledge
throughout our study population,” Dr.
Spruill explains. “The perceived belief
of “no control” of an illness can be
identified as a barrier to care because
people, who do not believe that they
can control their diabetes, are less
likely to make attempts.”
The project’s significance rests on
its innovative approach to exploring
the important relationship between
health literacy, cultural beliefs and
diabetes self-management among Af-
rican-Americans. “Understanding this
relationship is pivotal to the design
of tailored interventions to improve
self-management and health status
in a population disproportionately af-
fected with the burden of diabetes,” Dr.
Spruill says.
The study is currently midway
through phase two. It consists of
survey development, cognitive inter-
views, and pre-testing of the survey.
During phase three, the survey will be
administered to two hundred Afri-
can-American participants with and
without T2DM residing in the target
population.
“Findings from this study will
guide the selection of messages and
strategies that will be subsequently
tested within targeted populations to
improve health outcomes. This study
can advance the science as it relates to
promoting health literacy and dis-
ease management among vulnerable
populations,” Dr. Spruill says.
ida Spruill conducts focus group.
College of Nursing staff youlanda Gibbs (far left) and Leticia Lee (far right) pose with focus group participants.
Ida Spruill, PhD, RN, LISW, FAAN is an associate professor in the MUSC College of Nursing.
>> WHAt IS HealtH literacy?
iMpaCtiNG heaLth LiteraCy aND Disease MaNaGeMeNt
Fall | Winter 2013 Lifelines 13
Over a $1 miilion in education grants were funded in fiscal year 2012-13. Among those funded were:
$350,000 - Advanced Education Nursing Traineeship Program
$240,715 - Advanced Nursing Education
$150,000 - New Careers in Nursing: Mentoring Future Nurse Leaders
By Allyson Bird, Office of Development and Alumni Affairs
Hector Chocobar noticed a change
in himself. He seemed sluggish,
yet his body felt like it was speeding up.
A musician and pastor, he felt drained
after a single song.
His friend, medical translator Judith
Rundbaken, noticed the change, too.
She saw Chocobar’s bloodshot eyes
and his agitation. Recognizing that
language stood as a barrier between
her friend and the medical care that
he needed, Rundbaken recommended
that he come down to the Medical
University of South Carolina for a study
funded by the verizon Foundation.
Program manager Brenda Brunner-
Jackson took his blood pressure
reading. “Well, it’s not such good news
for you,” she said. “But it’s good news
for us. You are the right person.”
Mr. Chocobar’s blood pressure
reading came in at 185 over 120,
considerably higher than the optimal
reading of 120 over 80 and crossing
into the realm of severe hypertension.
Mr. Chocobar, a 51-year-old father,
knew the problem. He had moved to
the MUsC College of Nursing has a distinguished 130 year
history preparing the finest professional nurses who care, cure,
and create new knowledge to improve the health of individuals,
families, and communities. Nursing graduates assume
leadership roles throughout the state and beyond. together
with our faculty, who are using innovative technologies, we are
actively shaping the health care of tomorrow.
HIGHER LEvELS OF...
LeadingKeepiNG CoNNeCtioNs to iMprove heaLth
hector Chocobar checks his blood pressure with a cuff provided through the verizon foundation’s grant to the MUSC College of Nursing.
HIGHER lEvElS of lEADING
The number of people accessing health apps on
their mobile devices is expected to
>> statistics
North Charleston seven years ago from
Argentina, where beef, bread and pasta
dominate the native diet.
“It was very hard for me, because
I’m not very disciplined,” Mr. Chocobar
said. “I love all types of meat.” His
bad eating habits, coupled with a
language barrier to health care, made
Mr. Chocobar a prime candidate
for help. The verizon Foundation
recently provided the MUSC College
of Nursing with a $46,000 grant for
the Smartphone Management of
Hypertension and Diabetes Program.
The program provides smartphone-
connected electronic medication trays
and blood pressure cuffs to patients,
primarily minorities, who live in rural
areas.
The project falls under the verizon
Foundation’s $15 million investment in
technology to improve health care in
communities where verizon employ-
ees work and live. South Carolina ranks
among the states with the highest in-
cidence of diabetes, hypertension and
stroke. Through the grant, residents
get trays that not only store their daily
medications but provide a series of
reminders for when to take them.
The alerts begin with a blinking
light. If the patient doesn’t take the
medication from its compartment
within a half-hour, a chime alert fol-
lows. After another half-hour, the
patient receives an automated call. On
the rare occasion that the call fails, Ms.
Brunner-Jackson and Ms. Rundbaken
receive automated calls and then per-
sonally contact the patient.
Both the trays and the blood pres-
sure cuffs transmit health data to a se-
cure computer server. Patients receive
personalized motivational messages,
based on their success with the pro-
gram. Their physicians receive weekly
progress reports.
Frank Treiber, PhD, endowed chair
and professor of nursing, pointed
out the widespread appeal, given that
nearly 94 percent of adults have cell
phones, and that almost half of those
cell phone users own smartphones
that could work with this technology.“
What we’re able to do is help patients
manage their health care more ef-
fectively,” Dr. Treiber said. “Clinicians
provide input on what patients should
be doing. Patients provide input on
how they would like to go about meet-
ing those goals and what motivates
them to become healthier. Summary
reports help clinicians to intervene
faster in treatment, rather than the
typical approach of waiting until the
next scheduled clinic visit, three or six
months later. We can get those patients
to the right dose faster.”
Dr. Treiber also noted that regular
monitoring prevents a patient from
gaining weight or not taking his medi-
cation and winding up in the emer-
gency room. The next step, he said, is
to ensure that patients continue with
their programs for years and not just
months.
These days Mr. Chocobar eats beef
sparingly, and he has cut bread, salt
and soft drinks from his diet alto-
gether. He monitors portion size and
noticed some new changes in himself.
He sings an entire set of music and
feels fine, even reaching for higher
notes than before. He had to buy a
new wardrobe full of slimmer pants,
and he looks at self-discipline much
differently now. “It’s not a sacrifice. It’s
just taking care of my own health,” Mr.
Chocobar said. “This program is excel-
lent, but if we do not take proper care,
there is no program that will help us.”
hector Chocobar holds MedMinder’s Maya pill dispenser. the medication dispenser contains 28 compartments for a week’s supply of medication and can accommodate many different types of pills.
“ While we know much about the human body and it’s workings, there is much we have yet to learn. There is art involved with science as teams work hard to
save and improve lives. I want to understand both so I can more effectively help those requiring care.” – Robert Egbert, Accelerated BSN Student
The Verizon Foundation’s focus is to reduce health disparities, improve access and quality, and enable better chronic disease outcomes through health information technology that educates and empowers patients to self-manage their health.
more tHan triple By 2016.
$488.7 BIllIoN/yEAR
The cost of chronic respiratory disease,
diabetes, and heart disease to the health care system.
from the
14 Lifelines Fall | Winter 2013
Frank Treiber, PhD, is a professor and endowed chair for Technology Applications Center for Healthful Lifestyles (TACHL).
Leslie Parker, PhD, APRN (NNP-BC) had been a nurse for 21
years and was working half-time as a neonatal nurse practi-
tioner in the neonatal intensive care department at Shands
Hospital and half-time as a clinical assistant professor
teaching in the neonatal nurse practitioner program at the
University of Florida (UF). She was very happy in her roles
when the UF College of Nursing opened the DNP program.
Since she was masters prepared, she felt she now needed a doctoral degree
in order to teach in this new program. At first, she thought she would pursue
a DNP degree, but wondered if that was the best degree for her to attain her
future goals. She decided that it wasn’t and instead chose to pursue a PhD at
MUSC’s online program.
Dr. Parker has achieved great success in her career since graduating from
the PhD program in 2010. She has received R15 and R01 funding from the
National Institutes of Health, in addition to publishing and presenting her
work. In July, she traveled to Charleston to share her formula for success with
students enrolled in the PhD program during residency week.
Mapping Success for PhD Students
Lifelines: Why did you choose MUSC? Dr. Parker: i started looking at programs in florida and found that i could go for free at a university other than where i was working. all of my expenses would be paid, but i would have to attend classes in person one day a week. i wondered what i could do with the time i would spend traveling in the car four or five hours every week? so, i started looking at online programs and i felt that MUsC was the best match for me.
What did you like best about our program?one of my favorite things was residency week. i would be trudging along, losing all of my momentum. When i came here for residency week, i was inspired to re-ally start doing my research, really start doing my classes. i was so excited when i was asked to come speak to the current students because i could get that excite-ment again. i loved being a phD student. i learned and changed so much. i grew from be-lieving that the nnp works in the hospital, that there is no other health care, only hospital work and only in the United states. i also believed that there was no other population, only neonates. as i progressed in the program it expanded my mind.
What advice do you give the current students on how to successfully progress through the program? focus on your goals – presentations, manuscripts, grants, mentors, and of course, graduation. Develop a timeline. this is imperative. Just making it through the day or making it to the end of the class can’t be your goal. you have to have a plan for making presentations, publish-ing and finding mentors. Maintain your research focus. i think people get very bogged down with what their research focus is going to be. When you enter school you may not have your dissertation question, but you know what subject you want to study. for instance, for me it was breastfeeding very low birth weight infants. it took me a while to iron out my specific question, but i based every single assignment on the broad topic of breastfeeding. i strongly suggest that because you are killing two birds with one stone. not only are you getting through the class, you also are building your literature and learning more about your subject. as you do that, you narrow it down and get that all-important disserta-tion question. How do you select your mentors?i found this incredibly difficult at first, but when i started thinking about what men-
tors really are it was much easier. i think a lot of people struggle with that. i learned that you have to be flexible. you are not likely to find a mentor that does exactly what you like to do. one of my mentors is in the Uf College of nursing. she deals with my population of premature infants, but i don’t really like what she’s doing. However, i learned so much from her. you don’t have to love the subject. you also need many mentors. Look outside of nursing at other disciplines and also select mentors outside your institution. select different mentors for different goals.
You and your PhD cohort developed the 6 C’s for successful online education that you presented at SNRS and the AACN Doctoral Conference. What are they? Cohort, collaboration, collateral, commu-nication, curriculum and commitment. Cohort is a group of students entering the program together. in the cohort there is intragroup cohesiveness, mentorship, and a strong sense of community. a strong sense of community is necessary to be a successful student. those in my cohort were some of my best friends dur-ing that time and we still keep in touch. Collaboration is very important. Clearly established guidelines and expectations are crucial – not only from faculty to student, but also student-to-student. We
Dr. Leslie parker shares
pearls of wisdom from her
experience as a College of
Nursing phD student.
Fall | Winter 2013 Lifelines 15
found that if you were able to success-fully collaborate, the results were research funding, publications, and presentations. Communication is the lynchpin for completing the program. if you have a face-to-face program it is not as necessary because you are in the classroom every week. But when you are in an online pro-gram you have to be original. you have to utilize mechanisms for communication including email, cell phones, asynchro-nized discussion boards and web based video conferencing. Curriculum is key. for online educa-tion, the organization of the coursework and how it matches the mission of the institution is important. Curriculum needs to be dynamic and adaptive to new evidence and delivery systems and rigor is expected. Commitment is dedication to comple-tion of the program by both faculty and students. this is different from retention. retention is what the college tracks to see how many students stay in the program. Commitment is the student deciding how they are going to make it through the program and graduate with, of course, the support of faculty. Collateral is your internal or exter-nal sources of support. some you can change, some you can’t. What are your individual strengths and mechanisms? are your friends and family supporting
you? Do you have a place to work without distractions? Do you have a flexible work schedule? How are you going to finance your education?
What is your advice about dissertation?Make a timeline and stick to it. i say that over and over again and i cannot express how important that is. selecting a disser-tation topic often will make people freeze. they think they have to have a perfect topic and one that they want to do for the rest of their life. Let that go, it doesn’t have to be perfect. you can change your mind after you graduate. and, you don’t have to like it at the end. it’s oK to be imperfect. i also suggest students progress one step at a time – even one sentence at a time. i wrote my dissertation one sen-tence at a time. think about it in bite size pieces or it’s going to be overwhelming and you’re going to shut down and be unable to do it.
What about life after graduation? i did not expect my life to change as much as it did after graduation. it was immediate and it was dramatic. after graduation you enter a pool of phD prepared scholars and it levels the play-ing field. i don’t want to limit myself to just nursing research. yes, i want to do research that makes nurses lives better,
but i also want to do research that other disciplines find important and useful. so that equalizer was very important to me. i attended an interprofessional research conference a few months after graduating and we were all at the same level. it was tremendously invigorating and it opened so many doors. once i obtained my phD, doors just fell open for me and i walked through them. some of the things you have to think about after graduation is career negotia-tion and changes. What are your goals and desires? Do you want to just teach? Do you want to do research? talk with mentors about what things you can do to advance your career.
Why do you think you were able to attain NIH funding so quickly?one of the things i have found extremely important is collaboration. after i graduated i tried to get lots of experiences. i had the opportunity to continue to work with my mentor and with physicians on my unit on research projects. they weren’t necessarily exactly what i wanted to do, but they were research experiences and i benefitted from it. a lesson that i learned is, don’t be picky.
Leslie Parker presents her formula for success to Phd students.
16 Lifelines Fall | Winter 2013
There is a chasm in professional
nursing known as the readiness to
practice gap. It is the disparity between
newly licensed nurses at the onset of
their career and their ability to deliver
quality and safety in patient care.
Nancy Duffy, DNP, RN, CEN, CNE,
former director of the undergraduate
program explains, “The literature
shows that a majority of nursing
faculty believe they have educated a
nurse who is ready to practice upon
graduation. Inversely, the majority
of hospital and health system nurse
executives disagree.”
A 2009 National League for Nursing
survey revealed that clinical faculty
reported that 70 percent of their
supervision time was spent evaluating
clinical skills, yet the novice nurse is
not seen as fully prepared to provide
care.
Teresa Atz, MSN, RN, assistant
professor, adds, “The gap is alarming
given the acuity, complexity and
short stays of hospitalized patients.
The third leading cause of death is
preventable medical errors. Enrollment
in Medicaid is growing and the
number of Medicare eligible seniors is
expected to double by 2030. This rise
in the number of individuals entering
the health care system increases the
potential for errors and negative health
outcomes.”
Dr. Duffy and Ms. Atz, with expertise
from Healthcare Simulation of South
Carolina, have been working to
address the readiness to practice gap.
Dr. Duffy reports, “We have developed
system-based simulations that address
care of the patient with imbedded
procedural and non-technical skills.
So far we have completed respiratory,
cardiac, endocrine and neurologic
modules with pediatric cases in
development.”
Ms. Atz explains, “With these
simulations, the student has the
opportunity to care for a veteran
with traumatic brain injury, an adult
with diabetes insipidus following
a craniotomy, and a hospitalized
child with Munchausen’s by Proxy.
The procedural skills range from
calculating and administering
intravenous medications to
responding to a situation where the
patient has pulled out a chest tube.”
These simulation modules, which
are available for purchase, are a bridge
to the readiness to practice gap. They
emphasize the nurse as a problem
solver, capable of functioning in a
complex environment and avoid the
trap of nurse as a taskmaster of purely
clinical procedures. “The College
of Nursing wants to assure that the
Accelerated BSN graduates are able to
provide safe and quality care wherever
they practice,” Dr. Duffy says.
Nancy Duffy, DNP, RN, CEN, CNE is the MUSC College of Nursing’s former undergraduate program director. She recently moved to NC to start a nursing program at Campbell University.
Teresa Atz, MSN, RN is an assistant professor in the MUSC College of Nursing.
Simulation modules are available for purchase in the laerdal SimStore.offering quality educational content and materials for users of all levels and backgrounds. also provides educators with an easy-to-use, efficient tool for delivering simulation-based curricula.
in simstore you’ll find resources for virtually every step in the simulation experience, from full curricula and stand-alone scenarios to building blocks like trends, handlers, and multimedia.
to order, visit SimStore on the web at www.laerdal.com/us/SimCenter
BriDGiNG the Gap With siMULatioNs
Simulation activities are helping bridge the practice gap.
Fall | Winter 2013 Lifelines 17
April Dove graduated from
Clemson University with a double
major in biology and psychology and
plans to follow the path of her parents,
a physician’s assistant and a nurse.
But first, she wanted to work a few
odd jobs.
“If you’ve never worked a retail
job making $6.95 an hour, you don’t
understand where those patients are
coming from,” Ms. Dove said. “I’ve
worked in retail. I’ve worked in fast-
food restaurants. I understand high
cholesterol and bad eating habits,
living penny to penny.”
She also worked one-on-one with
three children through the Carolina
Autism Project and finally wound up
at MUSC as a patient care technician
in neurosurgery. Ms. Dove cared for
one woman during the patient’s final
four months, and that experience
defined Ms. Dove’s own life. “I realized
this is where I need to be,” Ms. Dove
said. She wanted to become a nurse.
Ms. Dove felt mentally prepared for
MUSC’s intensive 16-month nursing
program but, financially, she lacked
what she needed to get started. The
nurses on her floor told her to talk
to Mardi Long, coordinator of the
Accelerated BSN program and alumni
services at the College of Nursing.
“I told Mardi, ‘I want to go to
nursing school, but I don’t have the
money to go,’” Ms. Dove said. “Mardi
said, ‘You’d be perfect.’ She arranged
for me to receive a scholarship, and
that was the end of that.”
Ms. Long called Ms. Dove “a great
ambassador for nursing,” whose
community service and leadership
made her the perfect scholarship
candidate. Ms. Dove received financial
aid from the Lettie Pate Whitehead
Foundation, a Georgia-based
nonprofit corporation that provides
scholarships to select female students
in the Southeast. The scholarships
helped about 10,000 students last
year alone, including 43 MUSC
nursing students, according to Lettie
Pate Whitehead Foundation grants
program director, Elizabeth Smith.
“Because it is need-based, what we
want to do is provide students with an
opportunity,” Ms. Smith said. “We want
to help alleviate some of their needs.”
Ms. Dove graduated from the
College of Nursing on May 17 with
several job offers. “If I didn’t get the
scholarship,” she said, “I don’t think I
would have finished nursing school.”
April dove teaches students about portion control in the Junior doctors of health program at
Meeting Street Academy.
HIGHER LEvELS OF...
Growing
MaKiNG Careers possiBLe throUGh sChoLarshipsBy Allyson Bird, Office of Development and Alumni Affairs
over the past decade, the College of Nursing has seen
tremendous growth in all of its nursing programs. the
accelerated BsN program has more than doubled its enrollment;
the phD program has grown to one of the largest in the country;
and the DNp program has flourished.
in 2013, Us News and World report recognized our online
graduate program as one of the best in the country. But we are
not resting on our laurels. rather, the College’s strategic plan
includes expectations for future growth.
Not only have we increased the number, but we also have
successfully attracted the most stellar students to our programs.
Below we introduce you to three of those students.
18 Lifelines Fall | Winter 2013
As a little girl, Cameo Green
received a “play nursing” bag
from her parents. The bag contained
a toy thermometer, blood pressure
cuff, and otoscope. She used them to
examine her closest family members
and friends. As fate would have it, this
simple child’s toy became a turning
point in her life as it planted the seed
that would blossom into a successful
nursing career.
Presently, Ms. Green works as an as-
sistant nurse manager at a hospital in
Columbia, SC. She graduated as a First
Honor Graduate with a Master of Sci-
ence in Nursing degree in May 2012
and is current-
ly enrolled in
the Doctor of
Nursing Prac-
tice Family
Nurse Practi-
tioner (DNP-
FNP) program.
She explains,
“My desire to
help others
drove my deci-
sion to pursue the DNP-FNP degree.
It will not only enable me to assess
others, but actually to treat them. I am
looking forward to having prescriptive
authority in South Carolina.”
A dynamic student, Ms. Green has
received many accolades. She was
chosen to participate in the 2013-2014
MUSC’s Presidential Scholars program,
the university’s premiere interprofes-
sional program for students. She also
was selected for MUSC’s Student Lead-
ership Society that recognizes stu-
dents who have made notable contri-
butions to the university through their
character, service and commitment
to enhancing the university environ-
ment. Ms. Green states, “It is an honor,
privilege, and reward to be selected as
a member of the Student Leadership
Society. To be selected from such an
esteemed group of my peers has been
an invaluable experience and made
me feel special. I am appreciative that
all my hard-work and perseverance
throughout my nursing education and
career has been recognized.”
For her academic pursuits, Ms.
Green has received funding through
the Herman G. Green Memorial Schol-
arship awarded by the South Carolina
Professional Association for Access
and Equity. In June 2013, she received
the Advanced Nursing Education
Expansion grant. Students who receive
this funding are committed to work-
ing in primary care in South Carolina
upon graduation and are selected
based on GPA, leadership roles, schol-
arly activities, and an essay explaining
their commitment to primary care.
Ms. Green reports, “Upon graduation,
I will be practicing in a rural, primary
care clinic for approximately one to
two years. After that, I plan to open my
own practice in the Hopkins-Eastover,
SC community. I also plan to launch
statewide initiatives to improve the
overall health of our state. I believe
we must emphasize the importance
of primary care measures within our
communities in an effort to lessen the
need for tertiary care measures.”
Ms. Green promises to maintain a
life-long partnership with the MUSC
College of Nursing. “My masters pro-
gram was one of the best experiences
of my life. The College of Nursing
equips students with the tools neces-
sary to not only pass the licensure
board, but to be successful in the clini-
cal world,” she says.
Michelle Mollica was busy
teaching full time in the RN to
BSN program at D’Youville College
in Buffalo, NY and raising her two
small children. But, she also wanted
to further her education and obtain a
PhD degree. She explains, “I’ve been
interested in research, so a PhD was
a natural fit for me. As an oncology
nurse, I wanted to make my patient’s
lives better, but found myself asking
why things
worked the
way they did,
and how I
might be able
to improve
that process.
Research gives
me the ability
to delve into
a topic and
become an expert, and really improve
the lives of cancer survivors.”
When selecting a PhD program,
she knew that attending classes in a
traditional, campus-based program
was not going to fit into her current
lifestyle. Therefore, she evaluated the
online programs and selected MUSC’s
PhD in Nursing program. “I origi-
nally chose MUSC because the online
program offers me the ability to work
in a flexible format. But once I started
the program, I realized that I feel more
connected than I probably would
have in an on-campus program. The
mentorship at MUSC is really top-
notch. The faculty have advocated and
supported me in ways that I could not
have imagined.”
A member of the 2011 PhD co-
hort, Ms. Mollica is an accomplished
student. Recently she received the
American Cancer Society Doctoral
Degree Scholarship in Cancer Nursing
that is awarded to graduate students
pursuing doctoral study in the field of
cancer nursing research, and prepar-
ing for careers as nurse scientists. An
oncology nurse for more than ten
years, Ms. Mollica’s dissertation topic is
peer navigation in African-American
breast cancer survivors. She explains,
“An African-American breast can-
cer survivor is paired with another
African-American woman complet-
ing breast cancer treatment with the
goal of increasing follow-up care and
quality of life outcomes.” Ms. Mollica’s
future goals when she completes her
degree are to continue her work in
cancer survivorship, ideally in an aca-
demic university that is aligned with a
cancer center.
Cameo Green with dr. Sabra Slaughter, MUSC chief of staff
Michelle Mollica
FULLFiLLiNG a ChiLDhooD DreaM
FosteriNG DoCtoraL eDUCatioN
Fall | Winter 2013 Lifelines 19
20 Lifelines Fall | Winter 2013
barter scholarshipThree nursing students, Brian Daigle
(ACC BSN) Elizabeth Kreuze (DNP)
and Taylor Nanney (DNP), were
awarded Mr. and Mrs. John W. Barter,
III Scholarships. Mr. and Mrs. Barter
of Kiawah Island, SC, established the
scholarship fund to recruit students
who are underrepresented in the field
of nursing.
A former Latin and science
teacher at Porter-Gaud School in
Charleston, Mr. Daigle began his
transition into nursing in fall 2013.
A graduate of Bowdoin College and
Boston University, he is proficient in
Italian and Latin, and is now tackling
Spanish and Mandarin Chinese.
He is a world-traveler and plays the
classical violin and American fiddle.
Ms. Kreuze (BSN ’13) entered
the DNP program in fall 2013. As a
student, she has presented findings
of a research project to the nursing
staff at the veteran’s Affairs Medical
Center about safe patient handling
during transfers.
Mr. Nanney completed his BSN
at Bob Jones University in May
2013 and began the DNP program
fall 2013. A medical mission trip to
Panama in 2011 was a particularly
profound experience for him and he
hopes to play a more prominent role
in the care of people in third world
countries.
elizabeth Mills scholarshipSarah Harlan, ACC BSN student,
was awarded the Elizabeth Mills
Scholarship that honors the former
dean who served from 1965 to
1969. Under her leadership the
first students graduated with
baccalaureate degrees from the
College of Nursing.
As an undergraduate, Ms. Harlan
served as philanthropy chair of her
sorority and organized six major
events for the Ronald McDonald
Charities and the Safe Home in
Laurens County. At home in Florence,
SC, she volunteered in the Neonatal
Intensive Care Unit at McLeod
Regional Medical Center and the Pee
Dee Coalition, an organization which
advocates for women and children
who are victims of abuse, assault
and battery. A second generation
nurse, Ms. Harlan’s mother is a
2002 graduate of the College’s MSN
program.
Maude callen scholarshipMary Elizabeth Jordan Bird, DNP
student, was awarded the Maude
Callen Scholarship. “Miss Maude”
was a nurse midwife who committed
herself to women and families in
Berkeley County, SC. Completing the
family nurse practitioner specialty
track, Ms. Bird hopes to practice in
a rural part of the state, be a part of
the community and promote health
across the lifespan.
HIGHER LEvELS of GIvING through Scholarshipsapproximately 84 percent of College of Nursing students receive some type of financial aid.
Beacause of donations from generous donors, the College was able to award 135 scholarships
to undergraduate and graduate students. of these, $174,884 were from private donations of
individuals to endowed scholarship funds.
scholarships help students manage their debt. since most of the students enrolled in the
accelerated Bachelor of science in Nursing (aCC BsN) degree program have previously
earned a degree in another area, and the nurses returning to earn a Master of science in
Nursing (MsN), Doctor of Nursing practice (DNp), or phD in Nursing have also attended
school, many have accumulated student debt. the average pre-admission debt of College of
Nursing students in 2012-2013 was $21,336.
please consider creating a scholarship fund to ensure the future generation of nurses.
ruth chamberlain phd alumni awardPatricia Davern Soderlund, PhD
student, received the Ruth
Chamberlain PhD Alumni Award. Ms.
Soderlund graduated from the MSN
program in the spring of 2005 as a
psychiatric nurse practitioner. She is
currently the lead nursing instructor
at Bethesda University in Anaheim, CA.
Marianne t. chitty scholarshipAlana Guziewicz, Phyllis Raynor,
and Caroline Yurchak were awarded
Marianne T. Chitty Scholarships. Mr.
Charles Chitty and Dr. Kay Chitty
endowed the Marianne T. Chitty
Nursing Scholarship fund in honor of
Mr. Chitty’s mother. “Kay and I, and
our children, loved and respected her
very much. We hope and believe that
she would be pleased and proud to
be remembered by us through this
scholarship,” Mr. Chitty remarked.
Ms. Guziewicz is an ACC BSN
student and has a previous degree
from the College of Charleston
(CofC). She has experience as a
research intern for the Department of
Neuroscience at CofC and MUSC.
Ms. Raynor is enrolled in the PhD
program. She has an interest in public
health nursing and is concurrently
earning certification as a psychiatric-
mental health nurse practitioner at
vanderbilt University.
Ms. Yurchak (BSN ‘12), a summa
cum laude graduate of the ACC
BSN program, enrolled in the DNP
pediatric nurse practitioner specialty
track this fall and is currently working
for Pediatric Services of America in
Colorado Springs, CO.
dorothy Johnson crews scholarship
Five students were awarded Dorothy
Johnson Crews Scholarships. Mrs.
Crews had a 43-year nursing career
while raising four children. Her
husband, Dr. Charles Crews, created
this endowed scholarship to honor
his wife who had been “his right arm
all through life.”
This year’s student recipients are
Sadie Burke (ACC BSN), Michelle
Munn (PhD), Kim Pickett (PhD),
Christina Sweatman (DNP), and
Margaret Conway-Orgel (DNP).
irene dixon scholarshipElizabeth Brockinton, MSN student,
was awarded the Irene Dixon
Scholarship. Ms. Brockinton has over
15 years of nursing experience and
is currently working at Clarendon
Healthcare Systems in Manning, SC.
helene fuld trust scholarshipLindsey Wilzbach, ACC BSN
student, was awarded the Helene
Fuld Health Trust Scholarship. Ms.
Wilzbach, a stellar student, is her class
representative to the Student Nurses
Association. Prior to her enrollment
in the College of Nursing, she
completed a Bachelor of Science in
psychology from Clemson University
and worked for Charleston Eye Care
as an ophthalmic assistant and
volunteered for the Association for
the Blind and visually Impaired.
graduate incentive scholarshipGraduate students, Simone Chinnis
(DNP) and Toshua Kennedy (PhD),
have been selected to receive a
Graduate Incentive Scholarship
through the MUSC Office of Diversity.
These scholarships are offered
to students who are historically
underrepresented in the health
professions. Recipients must also
commit to working in South Carolina
for one year following completion of
their degree.
ted and Joan halkyard scholarshipACC BSN students, Kevin McCarthy
and Lauren St. Armand, were
awarded Ted and Joan Halkyard
Scholarships. Mrs. Halkyard, a retired
nurse, stated, “It is indeed a privilege
to know that over the years we have
in some small way provided help
at critical junctures in the lives of
committed nursing students.”
Mr. McCarthy is a graduate of
Furman University where he worked
with faculty on a presentation for the
American College of Sports Medicine
Annual Meeting. At MUSC, Mr.
McCarthy has been a student leader,
participating in service activities
and the Simulated Interprofessional
Rounding Experience.
Ms. St. Armand is a Dean’s List
student who attended the College
of Charleston and is an emergency
medical technician. At CofC, she
served as an emergency medical
services volunteer and a peer
facilitator for students, assisting them
with academic and career planning,
and encouraging a healthy and
balanced lifestyle.
virginia harper scholarshipTiffany Jamerson, ACC BSN student,
was awarded the virginia L. Harper
Scholarship. Mrs. Harper and her
husband, Stiles, were generous
donors to MUSC throughout their
lives. The campus student center
is named in their honor. This
scholarship was created because their
son received excellent nursing care
while a patient at MUSC.
Ms. Jamerson is a former high
school Spanish teacher and Ameri-
Corps member. While serving with
Ameri-Corps, she was assigned to
the Center for New North Carolinians
and participated in trainings in
diversity, immigration, ESOL and
disaster preparedness. She also
provided services in schools and
medical facilities for immigrants and
refugees.
Fall | Winter 2013 Lifelines 21
22 Lifelines Fall | Winter 2013
elizabeth ann Jones scholarshipDNP student, Christina Sweatman,
received the Elizabeth Ann Jones
Scholarship. Ms. Sweatman
graduated summa cum laude from
the ACC BSN program in May 2013
as salutatorian and began working
at Roper-St. Francis in the medical-
surgical unit. She also volunteers at
the Palmetto House in Summerville.
betty kelchner scholarship Kimbi Marenakos, ACC BSN student,
was awarded the Betty Kelchner
Scholarship. Mrs. Kelchner is a
College of Nursing “Golden Grad,”
who earned her degree in 1952.
A licensed professional counselor,
Ms. Marenakos has a bachelor’s
degree from CofC and a master’s in
counseling from Webster University.
She has a broad range of experiences
but has devoted her career to serving
individuals, couples, and families.
betty M. b. kinard scholarshipMichelle Mejia, DNP student, was
awarded the Betty M. B. Kinard
Scholarship. When Dr. and Mrs.
Kinard created this scholarship, Mrs.
Kinard expressed that she would
like this award to be presented to a
“student who would be a powerful
advocate for patients.”
Ms. Mejia (BSN ‘13) also was
selected for the prestigious Robert
Wood Johnson New Careers in
Nursing Scholars Program and the
Hispanic Health Initiative Scholars
when she was an undergraduate
student.
Marianna stuart Mason scholarshipEmily Jackson, DNP student, was
awarded the Marianna Stuart Mason
Scholarship. The Mason’s created
this award to honor nurses who were
empathetic, caring, and dedicated to
improving pediatric patients’ health.
Ms. Jackson is enrolled in the
pediatric nurse practitioner track. She
speaks Spanish and hopes to work
with the Hispanic community after
completing her degree. Her personal
goal is to have a direct impact on the
care of patients from other cultures.
cecilia o. peng scholarshipThe Cecilia O. Peng Scholarship
was awarded to Katie Lichty, DNP
student. This scholarship was created
to financially assist a nurse who has
an operating room background and
is pursuing an advanced degree in
nursing.
Ms. Lichty is the main operating
room nurse at East Cooper Medical
Center in Mt. Pleasant, SC. Prior to
that she was a main operating room
nurse at Palmetto Richland Hospital
in Columbia, SC and a clinical
coordinator at the Medical University
Hospital.
robert Wood Johnson new careers in nursing recipientsSix ACC BSN degree students
have been selected for the Robert
Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF)
New Careers in Nursing (NCIN)
Scholarship. Recipients are Baylie
Coldsmith, Rena Hasegawa,
Hannah McClary, Tamesha
McKnight, Ruvy Ann Sabado, and
Robert Wolfrom.
The RWJF NCIN scholarship
program is a national program of
RWJF and the American Association
of Colleges of Nursing. The
prestigious program is designed to
help alleviate the national nursing
shortage, increase the diversity
of nursing professionals, expand
capacity in baccalaureate and
graduate nursing programs, and
enhance the pipeline of potential
nurse faculty.
nina smith scholarshipStudents Fairuz Lutz (PhD) and
Kyra Wilson (BSN) are recipients of
Nina Allsbrook Smith Scholarships.
Mrs. Smith created this scholarship
to alleviate the financial burden
associated with education,
particularly for support of divorced,
widowed, or single women
supporting a minor child or children.
Born in Barranquilla, Colombia,
Ms. Lutz is committed to research
aimed to improve the lives of
vulnerable populations, specifically
Hispanic women who are victims of
domestic abuse.
Ms. Wilson, current president of
the College of Nursing Multicultural
Student Nurses Association, has
demonstrated extraordinary
leadership and participated in student
recruitment activities and health
fairs. Ms. Wilson was selected for
the vALOR Program at the Ralph
Johnson veteran Affairs Medical
Center and is a drilling member of
the US Army Reserves.
steven stewart scholarshipThe recipients of Mr. and Mrs. Steven
Stewart Scholarships are Heidi
Alterson, DNP student, and Crystal
Graham, PhD student. The Stewarts
wanted to support nurses who will be
leaders in nursing education,
HIGHER LEvELS of GIvING through
Scholarhips
research, and practice and are
working toward their doctoral degree.
Prior to pursing her DNP, Ms.
Alterson began her nursing career
as a certified nursing aid, became
an LPN, then received an associate
degree, and earned her BSN. Her goal
is to provide the best possible care
to her patients through advanced
practice nursing.
Earning an associate degree in
nursing, then a BSN, Ms. Graham
completed her MSN at MUSC in
2011. She is currently teaching in the
nursing program at Francis Marion
University in Florence, SC and is the
first person in her family to pursue
collegiate education.
elizabeth stringfellow scholarship
Sheila Mason, Steven Schultz,
and Lori Vick have been awarded
Elizabeth Stringfellow Scholarships.
Mrs. Stringfellow established this
scholarship fund in honor of her
aunt, Mrs. Marguerite Andell. Mrs.
Andell was a College of Nursing
graduate (1913), and later became a
faculty member. Mrs. Andell began
the area’s first midwifery clinic and
educated countless nurses. Mrs.
Stringfellow shared that “my aunt was
always there for anyone who needed
her help—it is my way of giving back
for her kindness.”
Ms. Mason is a DNP student
enrolled in the pediatric nurse
practitioner track. During 2011
and 2012, she spent three weeks
serving the population of Pemba
and Northern Mozambique. In 2011,
she was invited to join round table
meetings at the Ghanaian Embassy
regarding health issues in northeast
Ghana. She hopes to play a vital role
as a leader in global health.
Mr. Schultz, ACC BSN student, is
a chiropractor and yoga instructor.
He volunteers his knowledge and
provides lectures to various
classes and labs in the nursing
undergraduate curriculum.
Ms. vick, PhD student, lives in Iowa
where she teaches nursing at a local
community college. Actively involved
in her students’ learning, she also
is dedicated to their character
development and community
involvement.
J. William thurmond scholarshipWayne Wilkins, DNP student, is
the recipient of the Dr. J. William
Thurmond Scholarship. The late
Senator Strom Thurmond initiated
this scholarship in honor of his
brother.
Mr. Wilkins began the DNP
program fall 2013 and is committed
to working with patients to achieve a
healthier lifestyle. The role of a family
nurse practitioner is a departure for
Mr. Wilkins, who originally worked in
ICU environments.
lettie pate WhiteheadThe Lettie Pate Whitehead
Foundation is a charity dedicated
to the support of women in nine
southeastern states. The foundation
provides scholarship grants to
deserving female nursing students.
The following students were
selected for a Lettie Pate Whitehead
Scholarship for the fall 2013 semester:
Heidi Atkinson, Meghan Behlmer,
Deborah Camack, Lisa Carraher,
Ellen Cary, Hannah French,
Brittany Gaskins, Candace Jaruzel,
Felicia Jenkins, Valerie Kneece,
Carley Lovell, Erin May, Madison
McMackin, Amy Osguthorpe,
Michelle Orr, Shanice Strobhart, and
Anna Williford.
Jean p. Wilson scholarshipLindsey Felkl, DNP student, received
the Jean P. Wilson Scholarship. Ms.
Felkl, a 2012 summa cum laude
graduate of the ACC BSN program,
also previously received a degree in
nutrition from Clemson University.
Ms. Felkl hopes that by becoming
a family nurse practitioner she will
be able to work together with other
health care professionals and improve
the quality of care provided in South
Carolina.
inaugural thomas J. Wiscarz scholarship Jacob Fountain, ACC BSN student,
is the first recipient of the Thomas
J. Wiscarz Scholarship. Dean Gail
Wiscarz Stuart established this
scholarship in honor of her brother,
Thomas J. Wiscarz. Mr. Wiscarz
was a great role model for someone
committed to living life, giving to
others and cultivating friendships.
Passionate for sports, he was the
timekeeper for the Chicago Bulls
during their decade of greatness.
Sadly, colon cancer took his life in
2005. While in treatment he came
in constant contact with nurses,
and especially bonded with the
male nurses who cared for him.
This scholarship is a tribute to the
generosity of friends and family and
allows him to “give back to others” for
years to come.
Mr. Fountain earned his bachelor’s
and master’s degree from The Citadel.
He is a member of the South Carolina
National Guard, and served in
Afghanistan. He was recognized with
the Meritorious Service Medal for his
outstanding commitment to mission
and superb work ethic, sustaining a
high level of job performance, and
exemplary communication skills
and situational awareness. A role
model for his peers, he has been
active in the Men in Nursing group,
and initiated an organization to
provide support to veterans’ and their
spouses in the College of Nursing.
Fall | Winter 2013 Lifelines 23
The Hilton Head Island Sunset Rotary Club supports various activities of local
non-profit organizations, donating all proceeds each year to charity. In 2013, the
club donated over $30,000 to local charities and scholarships, and delivered 100
water filters to two small villages in the jungles of Peru.
The club is also active in the Gift of Life program and Polio eradication. The 19th
Hole project, located behind the 18th green of Harbour Town Golf Links during the
RBC Heritage presented by Boeing each April (a PGA Tour golf event), is the club’s
primary fund-raiser.
On June 10, the club presented a scholarship to ACC BSN student, Stephanie
Helwig. “I am so grateful to the Sunset Rotary Club for their support of my pursuit of nursing and their generous
scholarship to aid me in this pursuit,” Ms. Helwig says. “The Rotary Club abides by a motto of ‘service over self,’ and I feel
it’s a perfect motto as well for those who are passionate about nursing. I hope to pay forward to my patients the service
and support that has been bestowed upon me.”
sUNset rotary CLUB aWarDs sChoLarship
My interest in health care began when I was a child. As the youngest, I was cared for by all five of my older family members. Perhaps in the universe’s manner of paying things forward, it has always seemed second-nature to me to care for the well-being of others in the same way that my siblings and parents cared for me. In high school in Knoxville, TN, I was a member of the National Honor Society, the Honor Committee, the Spanish Club, and I served as an ambassador for prospective students. Extracurricularly, I spent most of my time in the studio arts center and playing tennis. I won several digital media awards, as well as the women’s state championship title as a junior and senior. I graduated summa cum laude and enthusiastically accepted entrance to the University of Chicago for my undergraduate coursework. It was during my time in college that I began to carve my real path into health care. I began volunteering at the Comer Children’s Hospital and worked part-time as a research assistant for the University of Chicago Hospital system. It was in this job and my coursework for my
biology degree that I discovered my interest in health care research. When I graduated, I began looking at career opportunities. I recognized that I wasn’t solely interested in providing care to patients, but that I was also interested in investigating ways to improve health care. I moved to Charleston, SC, and accepted a position at the Hollings Cancer Center as a leukemia research coordinator. I learned the ropes of clinical trials and treatment and the clinical care of leukemia patients from around the state and helped in the process of obtaining the National Cancer Institute designation for the cancer center. I went on to coordinate clinical trials for stroke patients at MUSC, and this was where I really found my niche in nursing. I began the Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing program in January, and I really couldn’t be more pleased and excited for my future in nursing. As president of the Honor Council at MUSC, I strive to always represent the values of MUSC and to foster the development of other future nurses to do the same. I plan to apply immediately following graduation for the Doctor of Nursing Practice program as I would like to begin practice in the field of gerontology. I am also interested in obtaining my PhD so that I can practice in a research-related manner as part of my career in nursing and a lifetime of learning and improvement.
HIGHER LEvELS of GIvING through
Scholarhips
24 Lifelines Fall | Winter 2013
Mr. and Mrs. David Ritter, of St. Petersburg, Florida and Gilbert, South Carolina, endowed
the Elsie Morgan Nursing Scholarship in honor of Mr. Ritter’s mother, a 1939 graduate of
the MUSC College of Nursing.
Following her graduation, Elsie Morgan enlisted in the US Army Air Corps as a surgical
nurse. She attained the rank of Captain and traveled extensively throughout the US setting
up operating rooms at various military installations. She returned to South Carolina in
1951 and began working at the veterans Administration (vA) Hospital in Columbia, SC. Her
career as a surgical nurse at the vA spanned 25 years where she was considered one of
the most professional and caring nurses on staff. Mr. Ritter states, “Elsie Morgan’s life and
career were defined by sacrifice and service to her profession. This scholarship represents
her legacy and the opportunity for these students to perpetuate these attributes.”
The following is a thank you letter from Kara Edmond. Ms. Edmond received
the Elsie Morgan Scholarship while completing
her ACC BSN degree.
Mr. and Mrs. Ritter:
My name is Kara C. Edmond, and I am the 2013 recipient of your Elsie Morgan Endowed Nursing Scholarship. On behalf
of myself, my family and friends, I’d like to take the time to extend my sincerest gratitude for this thoughtful and life-
changing award. As a student and a future registered nurse, your generosity has not only contributed to the enrichment of
my career, but has allowed me to become better prepared to provide care to our global population. This award showcases
more than a commitment to the MUSC College of Nursing, but to all those that we as nurses will serve.
I am a 22-year old African American female who graduated from Xavier University of Louisiana in May 2012.
I graduated summa cum laude with a degree in chemistry, honors in chemistry, and minors in biology and Spanish.
My college career was heavily focused on a transition into medical school after graduation. However, after attending
a nursing summer program during my junior year of college, I fell in love with the role of the nurse. I enjoyed the direct
patient contact, the critical thinking skills the nurse was required to possess, and the large variety of career advancement
possibilities available to nursing professionals. I am honored to dedicate my time, intellect and life endeavors to the art and
science that is nursing.
Upon graduation in December 2013, I desire to become an intensive care nurse, using the technical skills and knowledge
I’ve acquired during the BSN program to help save the lives of critically ill patients. Ultimately, I hope to become a doctoral-
prepared certified registered nurse anesthetist, providing care in rural communities where anesthesiologists are less likely
to practice. I highly value the autonomy and leadership characteristics of the registered nurse, and I am committed to
enriching the provision of global health care through the advancement of the nursing profession.
Your scholarship, in particular, has allowed me to focus solely on exceling in this demanding and rigorous program.
Through the relief of financial burden that your generous award has provided, I hope to continue to achieve the highest
possible level of social and academic scholarship, and to graduate a competent new nurse ready to enrich my profession.
I thank you and your family once more for the difference your benevolence has made in my life and my nursing
education. I am honored to have received such a wonderful gift from your family. Your mother was an astounding
contributor to nursing. I hope to continue her legacy of excellence and dedication as a recipient of this magnificent award.
Thank you again!
Most Sincerely,
Kara C. Edmond
Mr. and Mrs. david ritter
Kara edmond
thaNK yoU Notes
Fall | Winter 2013 Lifelines 25
Our College of Nursing relies
on the generosity of the
many individuals, foundations and
organizations that provide us with
philanthropic support. We are pleased
to share with you the list of donors
from July 1, 2012 to June 30, 2013. We
hope that next year we may be able to
add your name to the list.
[ $25,000 + ]Alpha-1 Foundation, Inc.
Mr. David R. Clare
The Duke Endowment
Mr. & Mrs. Carl Falk, Jr.
Falk-Griffin Foundation
Helene Fuld Health Trust
Hill-Rom Company, Inc.
Estate of Florence Illing
Izant Family Foundation
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
Trident United Way
verizon Foundation
Lettie Pate Whitehead Foundation, Inc.
[ $10,000 - $24,999 ]AT&T, Inc.
Jonas Center for Nursing Excellence
Mr. & Mrs. Donald Mabe
Mr. & Mrs. Eric Peress
[ $1,000 - $9,999 ]Anadarko Petroleum Corporation
Aid to Education
Mr. Michael Bristow
Dr. Laurine Charles
Mr. Charles Chitty & Dr. Kay Chitty
Dr. David Garr & Dr. Deborah
Williamson
Knights of Columbus Council 704
Mr. & Mrs. Norman Lanier
Dr. Stephen McLeod-Bryant
Ms. Gale Messerman
The O’Brien Family Foundation, Inc.
Mr. Michael Pace
Mrs. Susan Payne
Schwab Charitable Fund
Mr. & Mrs. Samuel Steinberg
Dr. Gail Stuart
Dr. & Mrs. Morgan Stuart
Sunset Rotary Club of Hilton Head
[ $500 - $999 ]Dr. Elaine Amella
Dr. Elizabeth Bear
Mr. & Mrs. Philip Peters
Mrs. Mary Decker
Mr. James Kelechi & Dr. Teresa Kelechi
Mr. & Mrs. Stephen Schaer
Mr. & Mrs. Milan Schuler
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
[ $250 - $499 ]Mr. & Mrs. Jack Brooks
Mrs. Beverly Parsons Coons
Mr. Kevin Duffy & Dr. Nancy Duffy
Mrs. Beth Khan
Dr. & Mrs. David McCoy
Mrs. Saranel Niver
Mr. & Mrs. John Page, Jr.
Mrs. Laurie Scott
Mrs. Marie Segars
Mrs. Yolanda Simmons-Long
Mrs. Peggy Sires
Mr. Fred Thompson & Dr. Carolyn
Thiedke
Mr. & Mrs. Laurens Thomas
Mr. Derek Toth
[ $100 - $249 ]Ms. Jean Alexander
Mr. & Mrs. Andy Allen
Mr. & Mrs. Matthew Anders
Dr. Jeannette Andrews
Ask the Expert Nurse, Inc.
Ms. Winkie Atkinson
Col. & Mrs. Harry Atkinson
Dr. & Mrs. Randall Baldwin
Mrs. vivian Battat
Bechtel Foundation Matching
Gifts Program
Bechtel Group Foundation
Ms. Jennifer L. Bennett
Mr. & Mrs. Robert Biggs
Mr. & Mrs. Patrick Boltin
Mrs. Brenda Brunner-Jackson
Col. & Mrs. Jack Burwell, Jr.
Mr. & Mrs. Albert Butler, Sr.
Dr. Loretta Camarano-Kangas
Ms. Holly Carlson
Ms. Alex Caton
Dr. Theresa Chandler
Mr. & Mrs. Floyd Richard
Ms. Sherwood Coish
Dr. Brian Conner
Dr. & Mrs. Taylor Cook
Mrs. Betty Crowley
Mrs. Dorothy Dangerfield
Mr. & Mrs. Samuel Davis
Major & Mrs. Edward Davis
Mr. & Mrs. Allen Decker
Mrs. Margie Dick
Mr. & Mrs. William Dooley
Mr. & Mrs. Heinrick DuBose-Schmitt, Sr.
Ms. Annette Evans
Ms. Michelle Fennessy
Mr. & Mrs. William Forbes
Dr. Terri Fowler
Mr. & Mrs. John French, III
Mr. & Mrs. Jerry Friedner
Mr. & Mrs. Richard Fuller
Ms. Jeanine Gage
Dr. & Mrs. Charles Garrett, Jr.
Mr. & Mrs. Perry Gervais
Mr. & Mrs. Norman Harberger
Col. & Mrs. Paul Hass
Mr. & Mrs. Frederick Heyse
HIGHER LEvELS of GIvING through Generosity
26 Lifelines Fall | Winter 2013
Ms. Sandra Higelin
Mr. & Mrs. Craig Hill
Mr. & Mrs. George Hill
Ms. Catherine Hudak
Dr. & Mrs. Paul Joseph, Jr.
Mrs. Carla Kimmel
Ms. Sandra Klein
Dr. & Mrs. Richard Kline
Mrs. Phyllis LaMacchia
Ms. Glenda Landingin
Mrs. Elizabeth Limbaker
Mrs. Laurann Litchfield
Mrs. Patti Long
Mr. Alan Lopez
Ms. Pauline Louthian
Mrs. Ada Faustina Mahaffey
Ms. Janice McFaddin
Dr. & Mrs. David Moon
Mrs. Parrotte
Mr. & Mrs. James Rhoton
Ms. Mary Rinehart
Ms. Lori Robinson
Mr. & Mrs. Charles Rund
Mr. Keith Ryan
Mr. & Mrs. Matthew Schell
Dr. & Mrs. Mitchell Seal
Dr. & Mrs. William Simpson, Jr.
Mr. & Mrs. David Smith
Dr. & Mrs. Jose Soriano
Mrs. Paula Stabenau
Mr. Nirav Shah & Mrs. Elaine Stuart-Shah
Mrs. Sylvia Sunshine
Mrs. Allison Swingle
Mrs. Heather Williamson
Ms. Margaret Wilson
Mr. & Mrs. Billy Lawton
Ms. Laura Woyahn
[ $1 - $99 ]Dr. & Mrs. Stuart T. Adams
Mr. & Mrs. Robert L. Alderman
Ms. Deborah C. Ammons
Mr. & Mrs. S. Jenkins Anderson
Ms. Jane G. Anderson
Mr. & Mrs. Richard Atkinson
Mr. & Mrs. Frank E. Aydlett, Jr.
Ms. Paula T. Bailey
Mr. & Mrs. Arthur W. Bailey, Jr.
Mr. & Mrs. George J. Balabushka
Mr. & Mrs. Donald B. Barton
Mr. & Mrs. victor C. Barwick
Ms. Gwen W. Beall
Dr. Randall H. Beckett
Ms. Dene R. Bellamy
Mr. & Mrs. Cecil G. Bennett, Jr.
Dr. Robin L. Bissinger
Dr. & Mrs. Billy R. Blackwell
Mr. James Blain & Dr. Sharon Bond
Major & Mrs. William C. Boeyen
Mr. & Mrs. John R. Boolen
Mr. & Mrs. Carlton R. Bourne
Ms. Cori M. Bowker
Ms. Linda R. Bright
Mr. & Mrs. William P. Brockenfelt
Dr. & Mrs. Carroll S. Brown
Mr. & Mrs. Wayne K. Bucholz
Mr. & Mrs. John M. Burbage
Mr. & Mrs. Richard C. Burgess
Mr. & Mrs. William B. Burns
Ms. Casey L. Candy
Mr. & Mrs. Gilbert E. Caroff
Mr. & Mrs. Lowell Carroll
Mr. & Mrs. Philip J. Castengera
Mr. & Mrs. Francis R. Caulder
Mrs. Mary Ann Chitwood
Dr. & Mrs. James T. Christmas
Mr. & Mrs. Richard A. Clark
Ms. Ashley v. Clary
Mr. & Mrs. Charles Coleman
Mr. & Mrs. Michael P. Conley
Ms. Janice A. Cook
Mr. & Mrs. Carl C. Coon, Jr.
Ms. Antonia S. Corrigan
Dr. & Mrs. Eric P. Cote’
Mr. & Mrs. Henry O. Counts
Dr. & Mrs. Ralph E. Cox, Jr.
Mrs. Faye P. Croft
The Reverend & Mrs. B.M. Currin
Dr. & Mrs. Paul M. Dainer
Dr. Elizabeth C. Davenport
Ms. Martha A. Day
Mr. & Mrs. Warner H. DeHart
Mr. Thomas Dignam & Ms. Gloria Wilson
Mr. & Mrs. Kim Dillow
Mr. & Mrs. Sammie H. Dingle
Mrs. Emily DeHay Dixon
Dr. & Mrs. Lonnie R. Doles
Ms. Tracy T. Doran
Mrs. Cary P. Dowdy
Mr. David Dumas & Dr. Bonnie Dumas
Mr. & Mrs. Robert L. Dunlap
Ms. Margaret L. Dunning
Dr. Catherine O. Durham
Dr. & Mrs. Thomas B. Edmunds, Jr.
Mrs. Miriam v. Eller
Mr. & Mrs. Marion S. Ferguson
Ms. Elizabeth A. Finch
Mr. & Mrs. Donald R. Fink
Mr. & Mrs. Phillip M. Fleming
Mr. & Mrs. Steven E. Floyd
Mrs. Laura B. Fogle
Ms. Lauriston M. Fogle
Mr. Glenn Foust & Mrs. Betty Jennings
Dr. Cassie C. Frazier
Dr. & Mrs. Michael D. French
Mr. & Mrs. Donald B. Furr, Sr.
Mr. & Mrs. Christopher G. Garner
Mrs. Hope C. Gasque
Mr. Brandon P. Gates
Mr. Christophe Gerth
Mr. & Mrs. Robert F. Glenn
Ms. Jeannette C. Glenn
Mr. & Mrs. Joe B. Glover, Jr.
Mrs. Alicia P. Grant
Ms. Temisha Grayson
Ms. Amanda U. Green
Ms. Cameo A. Green
Mr. & Mrs. Franklin D. Greene
Mrs. Jamie G. Greer
Captain & Mrs. Richard L. Gregg
Mr. & Mrs. Maurice E. Halsey
Mrs. Frances J. Hancock
Mrs. Kimberly D. Harrelson
Mrs. Kimberly Y. Harris-Eaton
Ms. Alana N. Harrison
Mrs. Dorothy H. Hartley
Mr. & Mrs. David R. Hassen
Mrs. Gertrude S. Hay
Ms. Marcella T. Hickey
Ms. Mae L. Hill
Mrs. Elizabeth Ann C. Hill
Mr. & Mrs. William D. Hilton
Mr. & Mrs. Shawn Hinson
Dr. & Mrs. Roy E. Hudgens, Jr.
Mrs. Miriam M. Hunter
Ms. Janice J. Hutson
Mr. Michael D. Iorio
Mr. & Mrs. Stanley A. Jackson
Mr. & Mrs. George Jenkins
Mr. & Mrs. Harry N. Jett, Jr.
Ms. Ellen Jordan
Mr. & Mrs. Robert C. Jordan
Mr. & Mrs. Conrad H. Juchartz
Mrs. Irene L. Judson-Morris
Mr. & Mrs. Kenton L. Keller
Mr. & Mrs. Jack T. Kelley
Mr. & Mrs. Benjamin E. Kelly, III
Ms. Bridget E. Kenny
Mr. & Mrs. Abbie Keyes
Mr. & Mrs. Bob C. Kicklighter
Dr. & Mrs. Gary C. Kimsey
Fall | Winter 2013 Lifelines 27
Ms. virginia King
Mr. & Mrs. R. Andrew King, Jr.
Ms. Ting Ting Hsieh Kinser
Mr. & Mrs. Blair A. Knapp
Ms. Sheryl A. Knauss
Mr. & Mrs. John G. Knox, III
Mr. & Mrs. Manfred Kollitz
Mr. & Mrs. James L. LaFrage, Jr.
Ms. Kathrine L. Lambright
Mrs. Lisa M. Langdale
Ms. Joan Lapolla
Ms. Kristin M. Larson
Mrs. Elizabeth L. Lawandales
Mr. & Mrs. Joseph E. Lee
Mrs. Ann W. Lee
Mr. & Mrs. David G. Lightsey
Ms. Ashley I. Long
Mrs. Ruth P. Lukoski
Ms. Molly M. Lussier
Mrs. Nancy S. Lynn
Mr. Steven M. Mackin
Ms. Mary Lynne Magnus
Mr. & Mrs. Wayne Magwood
Mr. Robert L. Magwood, Jr. &
Dr. Gayenell S. Magwood
Mr. & Mrs. Raymond A. Manning
Mr. & Mrs. Richard L. Marks
Mr. & Mrs. Ivan J. Martin
Dr. & Mrs. Robert A. Martin
Ms. Colleen K. Mayo
Ms. Senovia B. Mays
Mrs. Pamela L. McAuliffe
Mr. & Mrs. Eldon E. McDaniel
Ms. Gennifer G. McDermott
Mr. & Mrs. Benjamin F. McGuckin, Jr.
Mrs. Helen A. McInnis
Mr. & Mrs. Gene E. Meyer
Ms. Ericka R. Middleton
Mr. & Mrs. William C. Moody, Jr.
Ms. Janice M. Moore
Mr. & Mrs. Herbert C. Moore
Mrs. Carol R. Morrissey
Mr. & Mrs. Randy Myers
Mrs. Sarah W. Newton
Mr. & Mrs. Ralph M. O’Neal
Mr. & Mrs. Charles A. Oliver
The P&G Fund of Greater
Cincinnati Foundation
Dr. & Mrs. R. Dale Padgett
Mr. & Mrs. Ronald D. Padgett
Mr. & Mrs. Joseph E. Park, Sr.
Mrs. Rosanne W. Pate
Mr. & Mrs. Alan M. Perano
Ms. Kathleen A. Peterson
Piedmont Health
Mrs. Martha D. Pike
Mrs. Christel G. Platt
Mr. & Mrs. Christopher Plavney
Mr. & Mrs. Walter Pollack
Ms. Kim M. Poulakis
Mrs. Cheryl M. Pratt
The Procter & Gamble Fund
Mr. Stephen E. Proctor
Mrs. Betty S. Quiat
Mr. & Mrs. Matthew Raines
Mr. & Mrs. Russell H. Raisig
Ms. Jennifer L. Ramsey
Mr. & Mrs. Edward D. Reed
Mr. & Mrs. Richard H. Reeves
Mr. & Mrs. Devohn D. Rhame
Ms. Angela B. Richards
Mr. & Mrs. Robert Righter
Ms. June Roberts
Mr. & Mrs. John S. Rodenberg
Mr. & Mrs. Raymond P. Rushton
Ms. JoAnne I. Rutherford
Mr. & Mrs. Scott P. Sampson
Mr. & Mrs. Randy Sechrest
Ms. Amy A. Shore
Mr. & Mrs. James R. Shores
Lt. & Mrs. Franklin M. Shuler
Ms. Florence M. Simmons
Mr. & Mrs. Clark P. Smith, Jr.
Dr. Gerald Smolen & Dr. Dianne Smolen
Ms. Susan A. Sparks
Mrs. Marie H. Springs
Ms. Catherine Coker Stoner
Mrs. Jane M. Stretch
Dr. Sally D. Stroud
Ms. virginia E. Sullivan
Ms. Diane I. Taylor
Dr. & Mrs. James T. Taylor, Jr.
Ms. Sandra K. Thames
Ms. Linda J. Thomas
Mr. & Mrs. Randy Toler
Mrs. Lucy W. Turner
Dr. & Mrs. Wiley H. Turner
Mr. & Mrs. A. W. Turner, Jr.
Ms. Carol A. Tuzo
Mr. & Mrs. Rodney N. Tyler
Mr. & Mrs. Albert D. Tyler
Mrs. Carolyn H. van Cleef
Ms. Jennifer N. Walker
Ms. Joyce W. Walker
Ms. Patricia M. Wark
Ms. P. A. Warner
Ms. Joycelyn W. Weaver
Dr. Frances C. Welch
Mr. & Mrs. Ronald J. West
Mrs. Carol A. Whelan
Mr. & Mrs. Robert A. White
Mr. & Mrs. Joel Whitesell
Dr. & Mrs. Philip C. Wilkins
Mr. Adrian Williams & Dr. Tiffany Williams
Mr. & Mrs. Edward C. Williams
Mr. & Mrs. Edward C. Williams
Mrs. Callie H. Williamson
Mr. & Mrs. Harry L. Wolfe
Mr. & Mrs. Dan Yarborough
28 Lifelines Fall | Winter 2013
Higher levels of givingWHY GIvepeople give to the College of nursing for many reasons. alumni give to support their alma mater. Grateful patients give to show their appreciation for a nurse who cared for them. Many times, people give to honor the memory of a loved one. But, in the end, the best reason for making a gift to the MUsC College of nursing is this: every one of the 4.7 million people now living in south Carolina – and many more outside the state – will one day require the care of a highly skilled nurse. and educating those nurses is what we do best.
WHeRe to GIveyou can designate your gift any way you wish. the College has established more than 70 funds to support a wide range of scholarships, research projects, education programs, campus renovations and other priorities, some of which are highlighted under the “giving” tab at our website www.musc.edu/nursing. or, if you wish, you may establish a new fund to meet your very specific philanthropic goals. for example, some people choose to set up a scholarship fund to benefit students interested in a specific field of nursing. or, you can make a gift to our unrestricted fund, which helps the College meet unforeseen needs and opportunities as they emerge. if you are not sure how you would like to designate your gift, please feel free to contact us by phone toll free at (800) 810-6872 or by email at [email protected] .
BeNefItS of GIvINGJust one word: iMpaCt! your generosity allows us to provide outstanding community outreach programs, cutting edge research and innovative teaching that will produce highly competent bedside nurses, advanced-practice nurses, nursing faculty and health-policy leaders.
HoW to GIveto make an online donation, visit www.musc.edu/giving. or you may mail your donation to:MUsC foundation18 Bee street, MsC 450Charleston, sC 29425
please make sure to designate your gift for the College of nursing in the “for” line at the bottom of your check. for more information, please contact Laurie scott, Director of Development at the MUsC College of nursing, at:phone: (843) 792-8421toll free: (800) 810-6872 (MUsC)email: [email protected]
Fall | Winter 2013 Lifelines 29
Globalization is a strategic priority for MUSC. Faculty, staff, students, and alumni are actively
engaged in collaborative global partnerships in the areas of education, public health, clinical care,
and research.
Millions of individuals and families around the world live in extreme poverty. These individuals
struggle daily to provide food for their families and have little to no access to health care. In the pages
that follow, you will read how members of the College of Nursing are donating their time and expertise
to lend a helping hand to several such impoverished communities around the world.
Globalization: Spanning Countries & Culture
30 Lifelines Fall | Winter 2013
nicaragUaIn March 2013, a group of College of Nursing students were
among 28 medical and non-medical volunteers who spent
a week in the Chinandega province of Nicaragua treating
more than 800 patients in five clinic sites. The nursing
students worked in the triage station performing the initial
health interview to gather the patient’s chief complaints,
assess their vital signs and administer medication for
parasites. Zachary Davis Childress, one of our Accelerated
BSN students, shares his experience with Lifelines.
The day after arriving in Managua, Nicaragua, our group set out
on a three to four hour bus trip to Chinandega, which lies in the
northwest corner of the country. We boarded the 1980’s US school
bus that had no air conditioning or seat belts and set out on our
journey. As we made our way out of the capital, we had our first
glimpse of the tin roof structures that people called home. Poverty
in Nicaragua is inescapable as it is one of the poorest countries in
the western hemisphere. Just as dramatic as the poverty was the
view of the countryside from the bus. Cone shaped volcanoes rose
endlessly into the clouds behind fields littered with plastic bags and
other debris. After several hours of bouncing up and down on the
innersprings of our hot, sweaty, black vinyl bus seats we made it to
our destination in Chinandega.
The first day at the clinic was organized chaos. Although we
were well prepared about what we would see at the clinic, the
shear number of people seeking care was awe inspiring and
intimidating at the same time. After an hour or two in triage, I
started to feel comfortable with the job at hand. At that moment I
recognized that I was fulfilling a life long goal to help underserved
populations in developing nations. I was overwhelmed with a
sense of accomplishment and peace within myself. It felt great to
put my years of experience living in a Spanish speaking country
and my studies in developmental politics to use in a way that
betters the human experience for so many people. I triaged about
40 people that day. This experience quickly built my confidence in
taking vital signs and health histories from a variety of patients.
Each of the next five days was similar to the last. We started
each morning by making the one to two-hour journey on the same
1980’s bus to get to the village that we would be serving that day.
Driving to different villages daily ensured that we were able to see
a lot of the country. We quickly learned that a moving bus was a
liberia: carter center prograM revieWIn April, the Carter Center held their Second
Annual Mental Health Liberia Program Review.
Issues related to Liberian policy, training, outcomes
management, stigma reduction, family support,
and fundraising
were discussed.
As part of the
meeting, Dean
Gail Stuart,
PhD, RN, FAAN,
presented her
ideas on a
future Mental
Health Liberian
Leadership Academy to provide for the
sustainability of this program. She returned to
Liberia in October to continue her work on this
important global project.
happy bus, because the wind that rushed through the open windows was
the only relief that we got from the 100-degree weather.
The pop-up clinics were in buildings that didn’t have much more than
a roof and walls. I only remember running water at one of the clinics.
Other villages relied on well water for their drinking needs. When the well
ran dry, there were no stores within miles where you could buy bottled
water. Water insecurity was a major issue in rural Nicaragua and its
residents often suffered from chronic dehydration, kidney pain and illness
related to an unclean water supply. Since unsafe water is the root cause
of many of the health issues that we encountered, it would be beneficial
to have a mission trip that focused solely on providing safe drinking
water. Other health issues that we assessed included muscle pain related
to a strenuous agrarian lifestyle and fungal/parasitic infections related to
the heat, humidity and unsanitary conditions.
That week we treated over 800 people who would normally not have
had access to care. Interacting with the Nicaraguan people was the most
rewarding aspect of the trip. We learned so much from the locals that
week. From honing our assessment skills to learning medical Spanish,
we each gained skills that will be especially valuable in our home state
where the Hispanic population is growing and in need of providers who
understand their individualized needs.
I have already been researching where to go next. I’m not sure if my
next medical trip will be to Nicaragua, Vietnam or India. But what I do
know is, there will be another.
chinaIn July, Dean Gail Stuart, PhD, RN, FAAN and
Robin Bissinger, PhD, APRN, NNP-BC, FAAN,
associate dean for academics, traveled to Suqian
and Nanjing, China to meet with hospital officials
for a series of personal exchanges and discussions
about nursing. At Suqian Hospital they were
greeted by the hospital’s president, Dr. Qin Wang,
and vice president, Mr. Jintian Fan.
More than 300 Chinese nurses attended a
presentation by Drs. Stuart and Bissinger that
included topics such as the changing roles of
nurses, advanced nursing careers, and nursing
education in the US.
Dr. Dehua Zang, director of the nursing
department, believes the visit enhanced mutual
understanding and friendship, and provided a
platform for future exchanges and academic options.
Left to right: College of Nursing students Kyra Wilson, Zach Childress and Allison roble enjoy the breeze off the coast of Nicaragua.
Students traveled to Nicaragua with the Palmetto Medical initiative.
dean Stuart with Mrs. rosalynn Carter.
Gail Stuart and robin Bissinger spent time in both Suqian and Nanjing, meeting with hospital officials, nurses and physicians as they explored
aspects of their health care delivery system.
32 Lifelines Fall | Winter 2013
belize Medical MissionsCollege of Nursing alumnus, Amanda (Geise)
Whisnant, CPNP, (MSN ‘05) is the medical
director for International Servants, a non-profit
mission that provides services to those in need in
Belize. Ms. Whisnant’s husband, Paul Whisnant,
is founder and CEO of International Servants.
Each year Ms. Whisnant leads medical teams
to Belize that are comprised of 25 to 30 medical
volunteers from the US, ranging from nurses
and technicians to physician assistants, nurse
practitioners and medical doctors. These teams
treat thousands of patients in urban areas and
remote jungle villages.
Ms. Whisnant reports, “My two years at the
College of Nursing were two of the best years
of my life.
I look back
with fond
memories,
especially
when I
think of the
faculty and
their tireless
dedication to
training their
students.
They instilled
in me the
desire to
help others
less fortunate than myself, and to provide
health care for the precious children of the
underdeveloped world. It is a joy to do my job
as the Belize medical director. Nothing is more
rewarding than caring for a needy child who
would otherwise receive no medical care. It is
my hope that other students and alumni who
read this article will be inspired to do the same,
to give back, to give freely of their services when
they can, to make a difference in this world…one
precious life at a time.”
To the right is just one of Ms. Whisnant’s
amazing stories of how she is using her nursing
expertise to help save the lives of the vulnerable
population in Belize.
heilin’s storya father and mother brought their little girl, Heilin, to
the clinic because she had been run over by a car a
few months prior and this was her third cast that the
Belizean doctors had applied to her arm. the father
was concerned about his daughter because her skin
was starting to smell and he was worried her skin was
becoming infected. sure enough her skin was infected,
borderline gangrene. the wounds were cleaned and
she was given some oral antibiotics to help with the
skin infection, but her arm was too severely fractured
and mangled. she needed a complicated orthopaedic
surgery that wasn’t available in Belize. i promised her
father that when i returned home i would try to find a
way to bring his little girl to the Us to get the surgery
she needed to save her arm and save her life.
i spent months working to arrange for Heilin to
be brought to Dallas, tX for the surgery to repair her
arm. Heilin’s mom shares, “i was happy, surprised, and
absolutely relieved when i got to the Us. it’s unbeliev-
able to know that we’re able to come for Heilin to have
this surgery. i’m extremely happy and grateful to have
this opportunity. We didn’t have the funds in Belize
and without international servants, we would not have
received the treatment she needed.”
post surgery, Heilin is doing well. the important part
is that doing things like this opens the hearts of the
people in that village. When they see Heilin now, they
don’t see a little girl, they see a miracle.
Amanda Whisnant (pictured right) with heilin and her mother.
Fall | Winter 2013 Lifelines 33
Around the College
After more than 13 years as president of MUSC, Raymond
S. Greenberg, MD, PhD, stepped down at the end of August
to become executive vice chancellor for health affairs at
The University of Texas System. While a national search
is underway to find his replacement, the MUSC Board of
Trustees unanimously appointed Mark S. Sothmann, PhD to
serve as the interim president.
During his tenure at the helm of MUSC, Dr. Greenberg was
instrumental in the growth and expansion of the university
and medical center, increased research funding, established
community partnerships that medically provide help to
underserved populations, developed statewide partnerships
with other universities, hospitals and businesses to improve
the health of South Carolina residents and numerous other
efforts.
“Dr. Greenberg was a particularly strong advocate for our
College of Nursing,” Dean Gail Stuart noted. “He opened the
doors for us to innovate in our teaching technologies, expand
our programs of study and fuel our research initiatives. Most importantly his vision for the future provided the stimulus
for the renovation of our building that is currently underway. I speak for all of our faculty and staff in saying that he will be
missed greatly but we wish him great success in his new role.”
sayiNG GooDBye to Dr. GreeNBerG
V
Governor Nikki haley declared August 9th ray Greenberg day.
The Jonas Center for Nursing Excellence selected the College
of Nursing to participate in the 2013-2015 Jonas Nurse Leaders
Scholar Program by awarding a $20,000 grant to support two
DNP scholars.
The Jonas Nurse Leaders Scholar
Program was created in 2008 to support the
educational development of new nursing
faculty and stimulate models for joint faculty
appointments between schools of nursing
and clinical affiliates. The grants, made
through institutional awards, also prepare
doctoral candidates to help students address
the needs of future patients—from dealing
with comorbidities and chronic illnesses to
providing culturally competent care.
Carrie Cormack, MSN, APRN, CPNP-BC
and Amy Williams, MSN, APRN, CPNP-PC,
both DNP students and CON instructors,
were selected as the College of Nursing’s
Jonas Scholars.
The Jonas Nurse Leaders Scholars at
Medical University of South Carolina is made possible by a
grant from the Jonas Center for Nursing Excellence funded by
the Jonas Family Fund.
tWo FaCULty joiN eLite joNas NUrse LeaDers
V Cormack
Williams
34 Lifelines Fall | Winter 2013
vana collaboration eXtendedThe veterans Affairs Nursing Academy
(vANA) was established in 2007 as a five-
year pilot program to facilitate stronger and
mutually beneficial partnerships between
the Department of veterans Affairs and the
College of Nursing. vANA incentivized the
development of new models of academic
partnerships based on strong and trusting
relationships, shared faculty and trainees,
innovation in education and patient care,
and an emphasis on scholarship and inquiry.
Financial support from the vA central
office ended August 31, 2013, necessitating
a transition to local sustainment of the
partnership that has been extended for three
years.
ANursingAcademyV
Sachin Patel, MSc, asked his eight
students a question at the end of their
programming internship: “Who was your
best friend?”
Without pausing or cracking a smile, they
replied in unison: “Google.”
For two months the students in the MUSC
Medical Apps Internship program at the
College of Nursing learned how to develop and market mo-
bile phone applications that would help doctors and patients
manage their health care.
They transformed from high school and college students
to CEOs, chief financial officers and company presidents.
They developed mobile phone apps based on ideas con-
ceived by MUSC researchers: one for young women to track
their workouts, another app that reminds patients to take
their medication and a third that tracks a patient’s medical
history and delivers the information to physicians.
Jennifer Jackson came to the program with experience.
She sits at the top of her class at voorhees College and al-
ready owns a recording studio.
“I was pretty confident coming in here, but when Sachin
told us what to do the first day, I was like, ‘Oh my gosh,’”
Jackson said. “He threw us to the wolves, but I appreciate it
and now have a better understanding of the direction I want
to go.”
Mr. Patel is the director of systems
architecture of the Technology Applications Center for
Healthful Lifestyles (TACHL), an MUSC program that uses
technology to improve health care, and director of technol-
ogy in the College of Nursing. He spent an hour each day
with the students, many of whom never had worked a nine
to five shift before this program. Mr. Patel said he gave them
just enough knowledge to get to the next steps—if they used
Google and YouTube tutorials to help along the way.
“Everyone’s getting on Sachin,” said Christian White, a
16-year-old rising senior at the Governor’s School. “But, for
real, he’s a pretty dope guy.”
“I guess that’s good,” Mr. Patel said.
Gifts from corporate and individual donors, including
AT&T, helped make the program possible. Pamela Lackey,
AT&T’s president for South Carolina, encouraged the stu-
dents to stay in touch as they head to the working world.
“This kind of program represents the type of transforma-
tion that we need in the public education system in South
Carolina,” Ms. Lackey said. “That is, students are solving real-
world problems.”
Adaya Sturkey, a rising senior at the South Carolina Gov-
ernor’s School, served as CEO on her project, the medical
history tracker, after realizing that she struggled with the
programming side of the job.
“The biggest thing I took away was that if you don’t know
how to do something, hire someone who does,” Ms. Sturkey
said. “That was really hard for me, because I like being the
smartest person in the room. But I think I speak for everyone
when I say that we’re taking home friendships as well.”
The internship program grew from collaboration between
former MUSC President Ray Greenberg, MD, PhD and Gov-
ernor’s School President Murray Brockman, PhD.
“We wanted to promote more minorities going into tech
fields,” Dr. Greenberg said. “Charleston could become a
national, if not international center for students to develop
their own companies.”
Drs. Greenberg and Brockman left the eight selected
students in the care of Mr. Patel and Tom Finnegan, a bio-
technology entrepreneur and investor who leads MUSC’s
Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship. Mr. Finnegan
said several students barely spoke for the first few weeks but
“left thinking like business people,” with an understanding of
leadership, marketing and competition research.
Looking to the group at a graduation reception, he re-
minded them of another lesson. “When you’re successful,
you do what?” Mr. Finnegan asked.
In unison, they responded: “You give back.”
MUsC iNterNship MaKes stUDeNts thiNK LiKe eNtrepreNeUrs
V
Patel
Fall | Winter 2013 Lifelines 35
instructor Sachin Patel (center) works with Joshua Goodwin and Michelle frasier in the MUSC Summer entrepreneurial and Medical Apps internship Program.
former MUSC President ray Greenberg joins sponsors from At&t, internship instructors Sachin Patel and tom finnegan and graduates of the first MUSC Summer
entrepreneurial and Medical Apps internship Program.
The College of Nursing continues to offer faculty and students the opportunity to interact
with national nursing leaders on a one-on-one basis.
During PhD Residency Week, held in July, the College welcomed Beth Collins Sharp, PhD,
RN, senior advisor for Women’s Health and Gender Research, and senior advisor for Nursing
at the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ). In both roles, she works with
intramural activities, contributing to standing and peer review committees and engaging
stakeholder groups. She holds a strong identity as a nurse but is a true believer in multi-
disciplinary teams.
Below is an interview with Dr. Collins Sharp in which she discusses the changing role of
nurses that is excerpted from the AHRQ publication, Research Activities.
Around the College
36 Lifelines Fall | Winter 2013
> What role do you see nurses playing in health care research?Nurses affect so many aspects of health care in addition to direct clinical care—quality measurement, data collection for clinical trials, insurance coverage review, health and insurance hot lines, patient education classes, and many others. In many of these roles, we hold certification or additional training.
> Why are nurse researchers so critical in developing health services research? We bring an on-the-ground perspective—a reality check—to studies. Ideally, nurses are involved from the beginning as questions are developed through to the end when the research gets put into practice. We’re often the clinicians collecting data and documenting care or implementing the intervention. We can identify problems during pilot studies or run-in periods in the research protocols. After all, we are experienced with clinical protocols. And, of course, when the study is complete, we’re often doing much of the patient education.
> As the health care system undergoes transformation, how will the role of the nurses change? As the number of advanced practice and doctorally-prepared nurses grows, the interest in designing studies and being principal investigators grows. Nursing research used to focus mostly on nursing education studies and then on psychosocial questions. So there’s a lot of methodological expertise in qualitative methods and evaluation. I see nurses having an increasing presence on multidisciplinary teams in co-investigator and principal investigator roles. But probably the biggest stimulus of transformation is the Institute of Medicine’s (IOM) 2011 report, The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health.
> What’s changed since the IOM report on the future of nursing was published? Donna Shalala (former secretary of HHS and current president of the University of Miami) said, “The report is really about the future of health care in our country. It points out that nurses are going to have a critical role in that future, especially in producing safe, quality care and coverage for all patients in our health care system.”
The report resonated with several sections of the health care industry and they recognize that the report is actionable. The RWJ Foundation and AARP collaborated to create an initiative called the Future of Nursing Campaign for Action. So far, over 80 organizations have become involved in this initiative. Another change has been the passage of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). There are provisions that speak about both registered nurses and nurse practitioners.
> Do you think the Affordable Care Act will help advance nursing practice? Calling out nurse practitioners in legislation helps the health care industry take note and look at policies that incorporate advanced nursing practice.
> How are the views of nurses reflected in the work at AHRQ?I’ve always loved that AHRQ has a multidisciplinary atmosphere where teamwork is more than talk. It’s real. When I think about AHRQ’s portfolios, they reflect important areas of transformation and there’s a place for nursing in all of them. > What are your goals for integrating nurses’ expertise at AHRQ? As senior advisor for nursing, I look for intersections with AHRQ where the nursing perspective can be helpful and areas to promote AHRQ to nursing stakeholders. I have two big goals. One is to have nurses on every technical expert and peer review panel and similar groups where the business of that group involves nursing stakeholders. Second I want to promote the use of AHRQ products by nurses. Nurses are not only the largest segment of health services, we are integrated throughout the system, most especially with patients. Our unique perspective can have real impact. I don’t think we have consistently engaged the nursing perspective or leveraged the opportunities that are available by partnering with nurse stakeholders.
Citation: The changing role of nurses: Research Activities, December 2012, No. 388. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Rockville, MD. www.ahrq.gov/news/newsletters/researchactivities/12dec/1212RA1.html
NUrse LeaDers share expertise
V
The Changing Role of Nurses
In May 2013, Charleston was chosen as one of 19 nationally funded veterans Health Administration (vHA)
Centers of Innovation (COIN). The vHA initiated the COIN program to promote innovative research,
facilitate partnerships and collaboration across disciplines, and increase the impact of health services
research on the health and health care of veterans.
Charleston’s COIN is the Health Equity and Rural Outreach Innovation Center (HEROIC). HEROIC’s
mission is to improve access and equity in health care for all veterans by eliminating geographic, racial/
ethnic, and gender-based disparities. HEROIC focuses on three areas of research: health equity, access to
care, and rural health.
An important role of the COIN initiative is to facilitate productive partnerships between researchers and those who
implement valid findings. Toward this end, HEROIC has sought out a diverse team of partners to help test and disseminate
interventions, improve methodologies for analyzing health equity data, develop an equity report card using vHA
administrative data, and refine metrics for measuring access to care. The College of Nursing is among the HEROIC’s partners.
Charlene Pope, PhD, MPH, CNM, FAAN, associate professor and chief nurse for research at the Ralph H. Johnson
vA Medical Center, leads the Implementation/Partner Research Core in the new COIN. She relates, “HEROIC’s talented
and multidisciplinary team of health services researchers are positioned well to advance knowledge and dissemination
of interventions that reduce disparities and have tremendous impact on the quality of health care available to veterans
nationwide.” She further explains, “The greatest asset of our current program is our dynamic group of interdisciplinary
researchers dedicated to eliminating disparities. We expect to continue facilitating a collaborative, multidisciplinary research
environment where different views and perspectives bring balance and insight to our research. As such, we welcome new
opportunities for collaboration with nurse researchers interested in improving the access and equity of health care for all
veterans.”
For the third annual Janelle Othersen visiting Professorship on July 24, 2013, the College of Nursing welcomed Donna K.
Hathaway, PhD, FAAN. Dr. Hathaway is a university distinguished professor in the Department of Advanced Practice and
Doctoral Studies at the University of Tennessee Health Sciences Center.
During her visit, Dr. Hathaway presented, “Pinnacles, pitfalls and lessons learned from a research career,” to College
of Nursing research faculty. She concluded the day by giving a campus-wide presentation titled, “Finding your way in a
changing health care environment.”
Dr. Hathaway has held a variety of clinical positions working primarily in post surgical units and has taught in all levels of
nursing schools. Her research, which examines quality of life and biobehavioral outcomes following organ transplantation,
has been funded since the late 1980’s
and is widely published in professional
journals. As part of this program of
research, Dr. Hathaway has been
the sponsor of several K-awards and
minority supplements. In addition,
she has mentored numerous pre- and
post-doctoral nurses, as well as pre-
and post-doctoral transplant research
fellows.
Dr. Hathaway is well-known for
her leadership and advocacy in creating
innovational nursing education programs, building interprofessional experiences for students and faculty, and incorporating
principles of quality improvement and patient safety in health professions education.
proFessorship series BriNGs NUrse researCher
V
CharLestoN seLeCteD va CeNter oF iNNovatioN
V
Left to right: dr. donna hathaway, Mrs. Janelle othersen, dr. h. Biemann othersen and dean Gail Stuart.
Pope
Fall | Winter 2013 Lifelines 37
ncin grantees leading cultural shifts*Increasing diversity is a major goal of the Robert Wood
Johnson Foundation New Careers in Nursing (RWJF NCIN)
program and one of the key strategies to eliminate health
disparities.
A 2012 evaluation conducted by Educational Testing
Service (ETS) to assess the impact of the RWJF NCIN
scholarships revealed noteworthy trends in cultural
change at grantee institutions. According to the ETS report,
“increased diversity was the most commonly-cited change
in culture and impact of the RWJF scholarship program.”
Colleges and schools of nursing reported that after receiving
NCIN grants and support, not only were they recruiting
and enrolling more students from groups traditionally
underrepresented in nursing (including men), but had also
made changes that contributed to more inclusive learning
environments for individuals from those groups.
Twenty-eight percent of South Carolina’s population is
African-American, (the largest minority group in the state)
but only 11 percent of the state’s registered nurse workforce
is African-American. Latinos comprise five percent of the
state’s population but less than one percent of the registered
nurse workforce. In response to these statistics, the Medical
University of South Carolina (MUSC), a five-time NCIN
grantee, developed a unique recruiting plan to work toward
having their nursing student population reflect the state’s
demographics.
Nancy Duffy, DNP, RN, CEN, CNE, former MUSC
director of undergraduate programs and NCIN program
liaison, and her colleagues asked scholars to reach out to
their communities and identify individuals interested in
careers in health care and invite them to the college to visit
the nursing school facilities. Inviting interested potential
students to spend a day visiting simulation labs and learning
about the nursing profession has helped MUSC recruit more
diverse scholars in the last year.
“Scholars are just reaching into their community to
do this. I can’t do this all alone and so far students have
embraced the idea and identified potential applicants for us,”
said Duffy.
“We have dramatically changed our plan in how we
approach diversity,” Duffy said. “Diversity has taken a
strategic front and center focus in our college. We realized
that several concepts were present in all programs but a
unified, integrated approach was necessary. We revised
the philosophy and mission to emphasize health equity
and cultural effectiveness as the underpinnings for each
program of study. We are now enhancing courses across
the college to strengthen cohesiveness and attention to
these concepts.”
It is this understanding of the importance of cultural
competence and promoting equity that will lead to
significant culture change and increase recruitment and
retention of diverse students.
* Reprinted from the Robert Wood Johnson New Careers in Nursing newsletter, Fast Track, July 2013.
eMBraCiNG Diversity
V
Around the College
38 Lifelines Fall | Winter 2013
MUsc college of nUrsing diversity stateMent
the College of Nursing is committed to
embracing and drawing from the unique
voices, experiences, and perspectives of
our students, faculty, staff, and volunteers
in all that we do. our commitment to
diversity, health equity and inclusion
informs and empowers us to reflect and
effectively serve all of our constituents.
Male nurses group organizes, gives back to communityAccording to the US Census Bureau the number of male nurses has more than tripled since the 1970s from about 2.7 percent
of registered nurses to 9.6 percent in 2011. Currently, about 12 percent of College of Nursing students are male. This summer,
the College increased the number of male tenure track faculty to five with the addtion of Kahlil Demonbreun, DNP, RNC-OB,
WHNP-BC, ANP-BC.
Last year, faculty members Berry Anderson, PhD, RN and Brian Conner PhD, RN, CNE became the inaugural president
and vice-president of a newly established MUSC group called Men in Nursing. They established this group in an effort to
facilitate professional growth in practice and education, and to support and inform the community. The local Men in Nursing
group is modeled after the American Assembly for Men in Nursing with hopes of joining the national organization in the
near future. Currently the local group has 55 members including faculty, staff and students at MUSC.
Social events and group participation in community projects are planned throughout the year. “The young students have
such a positive opinion of nursing and men as nurses. I was so happy to see this in the next generation,” said Dr. Anderson.
In early May, Drs. Anderson and Conner joined students, Matt Bogart, Matt Couture, Kevin McCarthy, Adam Miller, Matt
Morris, Michael Occhipinti, and Taylor Roberts to contribute their talents to building a home in North Charleston for Habitat
for Humanity.
The Men in Nursing group meets every month on campus with evening social events at local restaurants planned every
three months. To join the local Men in Nursing group, contact Dr. Berry Anderson at [email protected].
cultural competence workshopOn April 29, cultural competence expert Marianne R. Jeffreys, EdD, RN, facilitated
a workshop titled, “Enhancing cultural competence education throughout the
curriculum,” for College of Nursing faculty with the goal of developing skills to
identify and implement cultural competence content in course objectives, course
content, learning activities, and learning outcomes.
Workshop coordinator and College of Nursing instructor, Tiffany Williams, DNP,
APRN, CPNP-PC, was impressed with Dr. Jeffreys’ tool set and exercise strategies
for integrating cultural competency into the nursing curriculum. “The small group
sessions forced me to think deeper about purposeful ways to incorporate cultural
competence in my nursing courses,” Dr. Williams said.
Dr. Jeffreys’ grant-funded research, consultations, publications, and professional
presentations encompass the topics of cultural competence, nontraditional
students, student retention and achievement, self-efficacy, teaching, curriculum
and psychometrics.
“I had a great day on the Men in Nursing Habitat for Humanities
build. I left the Habitat build inspired to continue to give back to the community by
volunteering time and energy to those who need it most.
I hope this is a tradition we as an organization can continue.”
- Michael Occhipinti, Accelerated BSN student
Left to right: tiffany Williams, Marianne Jeffreys and Gail Stuart.
Left to right: Michael occhipinti; Matthew Couture; Adam Miller; roberts taylor; Matthew Bogart; Stephen Morris; Brian Conner, assistant professor; Kevin McCarthy; and Berry Anderson, assistant professor.
Fall | Winter 2013 Lifelines 39
By Allyson Bird,Office of Development and Alumni Affairs
Eleven high school juniors and seniors from Johns Island
gathered in the lobby of the MUSC Health Care Simulation
Lab, where Shannon Bright Smith, DNP, RN, ACNS-BC,
CGRN, asked what they wanted to do as adults.
Without pausing, they answered: An engineer for Boeing.
An obstetrician. A cosmetic chemist.
Dr. Smith, instructor in the College of Nursing, grew up in
rural Walterboro, one of 13 children, and put herself through
nursing school and onto her doctoral degree while working.
“You can do and be anything you want,” she told the
students. Smith encouraged them to call her if they needed
help along their own academic journeys.
Senior Savaisha Boykin shook her head. “That’s the best
speech I’ve ever heard!”
velvett Simmons had more practical concerns: “Do you
get to wear scrubs?” she asked.
The girls and their classmates belong to the MUSC Teen
Health Leadership program at St. John’s High School, a
group that launched five years ago in a partnership between
the MUSC College of Nursing, the MUSC Medical Library,
St. John’s and Communities in Schools. The program,
which grew from the College of Nursing’s Hispanic Health
Initiative, aims to increase health literacy and leadership
and to promote health careers among minority students.
The students’ success in this program correlates with the
rest of their lives, according to their counselor, Derek Toth.
Each student in the Teen Health Leadership is a stand-out
athlete and a dedicated volunteer.
“The only students at St. John’s who have been accepted
to college so far are in this group,” Mr. Toth said.
Deborah Williamson, DHA, MSN, RN, associate dean
for practice in the College of Nursing, said that only one
student in the Teen Health Leadership program in the
past five years did not attend college after graduation. She
recently received an email from one graduate now studying
in Paris.
Dr. Williamson said students hold the key to healthier
families simply by knowing how to navigate the resources
available to them.
“In those families, it is the teen who understands the
internet,” Dr. Williamson said.
The students choose an outreach project each year to
present in their community and deliver just outside of
Washington at the National Library of Medicine, which
provides $60,000 each year for the program. The group
meets every Wednesday after school to work on a brochure
and a video in preparation for that presentation.
This year they tossed around three ideas: West Nile virus,
self-esteem and autism. They chose autism, a topic that
directly affects students in their school, even though their
classmates know little about it.
Lidia Ojeda, a junior, joined the Teen Health Leadership
program last year with low expectations.
“I thought it was going to be a not very fun thing,” she
said. “But when I came to the meeting, it was really fun. We
get to do a lot of work in teams.”
When the students toured the simulation lab, they
observed a model operating room and a mannequin with
eyes that open and shut and pupils that dilate. They learned
how to properly take his pulse.
But their work in the Teen Health Leadership program
moves beyond the clinic and into the community. They
share their research at local libraries, health clinics and
sporting events.
When they meet someone, they shake hands with a
confident grip. When addressing strangers, they make eye
contact and speak with authority. They intend to succeed,
and they also plan to bring home the benefits of their
education.
Seniors Ashley Freeman and LaTarsha Green, brought a
similar health leadership program to younger students at
nearby Haut Gap Middle School, not only to educate them,
but “to make the transition from middle to high school
easier,” Ms. Green said.
Ms. Freeman said last year, when the group researched
cancer, she encouraged her own father to get regular
prostate screenings.
“It has helped me when people say they’re having
problems with health,” she said. “I can refer them to a place.”
teeN heaLth LeaDers set exaMpLe For CLassMates, CoMMUNity
V
Students from the teen health Leadership Program observe in the Simulation Lab.
Around the College
40 Lifelines Fall | Winter 2013
The right thing to do.The right time to do it.
Changing What’s Possiblein Nursing Education
www.musc.edu/nursing
At a time when competition for the best and brightest students is at an all time high, scholarships play a vital role in helping the College of Nursing attract the best nursing candidates. Of the current nursing students, over 80 percent qualify for financial
aid. Whether you contribute to a scholarship fund or an endowed chair, you are providing the College with the critical
resources it needs to faithfully execute its mission.
For more information on giving to the MUSC College of Nursing, visit www.musc.edu/giving or call Laurie Scott at (843) 792-8421.
Give a gift that will bring a lifetime of benefits.
smith receives outstanding clinician awardEpilepsy can strike at any age, but it is the
very young and the very old who are the most
vulnerable. For the stricken children, Georgette
“Gigi” Smith, PhD, APRN, CPNP-PC, associate
professor and director of graduate programs, is
their champion.
Dr. Smith has devoted more than two-thirds
of her 28 years as a professional to children with epilepsy and their
parents at MUSC. Her care extends beyond the clinic and hospital
settings into the community in a tireless effort to ensure quality of
life and best outcomes for her patients. Together with a pediatrician
specializing in developmental disabilities, they developed a
neurobehavioral clinic to see children with autism, behavioral
disorders and epilepsy, which has been favorably received by
caregivers. She also has been involved in the establishment of
MUSC’s Comprehensive Epilepsy Center, which the National
Association of Epilepsy Centers has designated as a Level 4 facility,
the highest classification possible. She is a role model for clinicians,
possessing the expertise and compassion that sets her apart from
others.
Beyond those admirable qualities, however, she is a staunch
advocate for her patients and their families. She closely follows her
patients over the years, working with families through changes
in treatment, accessing educational and medical resources, and
comforting caregivers if events take a tragic turn. “It is this devotion
that truly epitomizes her unparalleled clinical excellence,” says one
colleague.
Dr. Smith’s commitment to her profession and to her patients has
not gone unnoticed. She has earned a nationwide reputation as an
expert clinician in pediatric epilepsy. She has assisted in developing
the non-profit South Carolina Advocates for Epilepsy that provides
education, support and leisure activities for families living with
epilepsy. In addition she was appointed to serve on the South
Carolina Study Committee to Develop a Statewide Comprehensive
Service Delivery System for Persons with Epilepsy. She continues to
advocate for quality of life for persons living with epilepsy and their
families through her advocacy and education work in the state with
lay organizations, professional organizations and schools. Due to
her clinical expertise, she has been appointed to various professional
committees in the American Epilepsy Society, including the
Professionals in Epilepsy Care Committee, Education Council, and
Nursing Research Special Interest Group.
Dr. Smith constantly goes above and beyond her professional
obligations in order for her patients and their families to have a
rewarding life. She truly is their champion, and in recognition of her
efforts, MUSC Foundation presented her the award for Outstanding
Clinician during fall Faculty Convocation ceremonies.
FaCULty aWarDs & reCoGNitioN
V
cormack receives teaching excellence award for developing teacher
On the academic side, Carrie
Cormack, MSN, RN, CPNP, is
both a teacher and a student.
She is an instructor in the
College of Nursing while also
pursuing her Doctor of Nursing
Practice degree.
Professionally, she is a
certified pediatric nurse practitioner at Pattison’s
Academy for Comprehensive Education, a
local charter school for children with multiple
disabilities. Most importantly, however, she is
a mother with small children. Any one of these
pursuits would be challenging, but together they
are indeed daunting. Yet, succeed she does.
Teresa Kelechi, PhD, GCNS-BC, CWCN,
FAAN, professor and department chair, states,
“She is very skilled at fusing the academic side of
learning with the art of nursing, especially the art
of caring for children with severe and multiple
disabilities.”
Ms. Cormack also is skilled at combining a
student’s role with that of a teacher, Dr. Kelechi
adds, “allowing her to experience the life of a
student and having an appreciation for what the
student goes through.” As a result, current and
former students offer praise for her enthusiasm,
unwavering support and genuine interest in
helping them succeed.
That same level of dedication carries over to
her duties at Pattison’s Academy, where she leads
in-service sessions for the faculty on how to
care for the children in their care. “There is not
a person who works harder or is as dedicated as
Carrie Cormack,” states Stevie Ward, a teacher at
the school. “She has devoted her life to helping
educate and assist others.”
Ms. Cormack continually demonstrates a desire
to improve not only her own life, but the lives of
others. For her many contributions, the MUSC
Foundation presented her with the Teaching
Excellence Award for Developing Teacher during
fall Faculty Convocation ceremonies.
Focus on Faculty
42 Lifelines Fall | Winter 2013
duffy departs, conner appointed undergraduate program director
After nine years as director of the
undergraduate program, Nancy
Duffy, DNP, RN, CEN, CNE said
farewell on September 30 to relocate
to North Carolina where she will
open a new nursing program.
Upon her departure, Brian Conner,
PhD, RN, CNE, assumed the role of
director of the undergraduate program.
Over the span of his nursing career, Dr. Conner has
served in a number of leadership and management
positions including director of critical care, nursing
supervisor, administrator of a multi-physician
pediatric practice, director of quality improvement
and community outreach, and nursing consultant.
He received a PhD in Nursing from MUSC, a Masters
in Nursing with a specialty in health care education
and a Bachelor of Science degree from the University
of Phoenix.
Williams attends prestigious development programsTiffany Williams, DNP, APRN, CPNP-PC, instructor,
continued to hone her skills this summer. In June,
she participated in the Robert Wood Johnson
Foundation’s New Connections Seventh Annual
Symposium that was held in Princeton, NJ. The
symposium was designed to increase the visibility
and enhance the skill sets of New Connections
grantees and potential applicants who are early
to midcareer researchers from historically
underrepresented groups.
After a brief visit home, Dr. Williams traveled to
Brooklyn, NY for the NIH funded PRIDE Summer
Institute at SUNY Downstate Medical Center in July.
PRIDE’s aim is to broaden the demographic profile of
cardiovascular health disparities research by train-
ing junior scientists from underrepresented minority
backgrounds and those with disabilities.
Magwood attends genetics instituteGayenell Magwood, PhD, RN, associate
professor, attended the highly competitive and
prestigious Summer Genetics Institute (SGI) at
the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda,
MD held in June.
Sponsored by the National Institute of
Nursing Research, the one-month intensive
research training program provides participants with a
foundation in molecular genetics appropriate for use in research
and clinical practice. The program increases the research
capability among graduate students and faculty and develops
and expands clinical practice in genetics among clinicians.
Administered by the Foundation for Advanced Education in
the Sciences as one of its Specialty Bio-Trac programs, the SGI
features lectures and hands-on laboratory training.
bond inducted as acnM fellowSharon M. Bond, PhD, CNM, FACNM, associate professor, was
inducted as a Fellow in the American College of Nurse-Midwives
(ACNM) during the association’s 58th annual meeting that was
held this summer in Nashville, TN.
A limited number of midwives
are selected for this highly coveted
distinction each year. Fellowship
in the American College of Nurse-
Midwives (FACNM) is an honor
bestowed upon those midwives
whose demonstrated leadership,
clinical excellence, outstanding
scholarship, and professional
achievement have merited special
recognition both within and
outside the midwifery profession.
The ACNM Fellowship program
was established in 1994 and there
have been 204 ACNM members
thus far inducted.
Sharon Bond (pictured left) was inducted as a fellow into the
ACNM in June 2013.
Fall | Winter 2013 Lifelines 43
Teresa W. Atz, MSN, RN joined the
College of Nursing as an assistant
professor. Ms. Atz began her career at
MUSC as a research nurse for pediatric
cardiology at MUSC Children’s Hospital
working with the National Institutes of
Health/National Heart, Lung, and Blood
Institute’s Pediatric Heart Network. Her research interest
focuses on parents of pediatric research participants,
specifically their transition experiences after the conclusion
of their child’s clinical trial. Ms. Atz received a Bachelor of
Science in Nursing from Salem State College and a Master
of Science in Nursing with a specialty in nursing education
from MUSC where she is currently a PhD candidate.
Kathleen Cartmell, PhD was appointed
assistant professor and a junior research
scientist in the College. She has
expertise in mixed methods research,
public health intervention strategies
and cancer survivorship. Her primary
research interests are to identify optimal
strategies for the implementation and dissemination of
effective public health interventions and to develop and test
interventions to enhance the delivery of patient-centered
cancer care. She is currently the principle investigator on
a statewide project funded by the South Carolina Cancer
Alliance to disseminate patient-centered standards of
cancer care. She received her undergraduate degree from
the College of Charleston, a master’s degree in public health
from the Emory University Rollins School of Public Health
and a PhD in Health and Rehabilitation Sciences from the
MUSC College of Health Professions.
The College welcomed Kahlil
Demonbreun, DNP, RNC-OB, WHNP-
BC, ANP-BC, as an instructor and
women’s health nurse practitioner. He
earned his bachelors degree, as well as
a Master of Science in Nursing from the
University of South Carolina. In 2012, he
received a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree from MUSC.
Dr. Demonbreun holds board certifications as a women’s
health nurse practitioner, an adult nurse practitioner, and
an inpatient obstetric nurse. Active on both a state and
national level, Dr. Demonbreun serves on the American
Association of Nurse Practitioners State Advisory Sub
Policy Committee, the South Carolina Board of Nursing’s
Advanced Practice Committee, the South Carolina Nurses
Associations Advanced Practice Registered Nurse chapter,
and is an item writer for the Women’s Health Care Nurse
Practitioner national certification exam with the National
Certification Corporation. His clinical practice includes
primary care, obstetric, gynecologic, and prenatal care of
women across the lifespan. Dr. Demonbreun is dedicated
to clinical education and received the 2013 South Carolina
Area Health Education Consortium Preceptor of the Year.
Elizabeth Harmon, DNP, RN, CCRN,
joined the faculty as an instructor in
the DNP program. An American Nurses
Credentialing Center (ANCC) certified
family nurse practitioner, Dr. Harmon’s
interests include adherence issues
and primary care. During her master’s
program she was awarded a Rural Health Fellowship
and she continues to work with rural and underserved
populations. She maintains a clinical practice at Palmetto
Primary Care. Dr. Harmon earned a Bachelors of Science in
Nursing degree from Indiana University of Pennsylvania,
and both a Master of Science in Nursing and a Doctor of
Nursing Practice from MUSC.
Shannon Hudson, PhD, RN, CCRN
was appointed as an instructor and a
junior research scientist. In addition to
her role in the College, Dr. Hudson has
received funding to work with the Care
Coordination Institute where she is being
trained in Healthcare Lean Six Sigma and
has achieved her Lean Six Sigma Green Belt. She is certified
as a pediatric critical care nurse through the American
Association of Critical-Care Nurses. She received a Bachelor
of Science in Nursing from the University of North Florida
and a PhD in Nursing from MUSC. Dr. Hudson’s research
interests center on the care of children with medical
complexity and in rural disparities in access to care among
children with medical complexity.
Whitney Smith, MSN, APRN, ANP-C
joined the faculty as an instructor in the
Doctor of Nursing Practice program.
She earned a Bachelor of Arts in biology
from the University of South Florida,
and a Bachelor of Science and Master
of Science in Nursing from MUSC. She
is certified by ANCC as an adult nurse practitioner, and
has experience in geriatric medicine, primary care, and
women’s health. Her interests include chronic illness
management, age related illnesses, and wellness promotion.
NeW FaCULty
V
Focus on Faculty
44 Lifelines Fall | Winter 2013
After 35 years of training the
next generation of nurses,
Peggy Spain, MSN, APRN,
FNP-BC retired from her faculty
role in August. During her
tenure in the College of Nursing
she witnessed many changes.
She recounted some of those
changes and shared her fondest
memories with Lifelines.
What are some of the transitions you’ve witnessed in the programs and students in the College of Nursing? i came to the College of nursing in January 1978 and taught in the fundamentals of nursing Department, teaching the initial nursing courses for the sophomore nursing students in our baccalaureate program. at that time, Bsn students entered as freshman, living at the alumni House, taking their first year’s classes at the College of Charleston and starting their clinical courses sophomore year. there were very few married or male students. By the early 1980s, we transitioned to a sophomore entry with students taking their final three years of coursework here. over the next decade, this would change again when students completed all of their basic and social sciences at another college, then entered our program as juniors to earn their nursing degree. Demographics also changed with students entering the program often older with more married and male students. students lived off-campus as student housing was no longer available. finally, this program evolved into the current accelerated curriculum.
How did your role change over the years? in the mid 1990s, i joined other faculty to “retool” as we called it and entered the family nurse practitioner program. During that time, i completed my clinical hours in a rural setting, commuting several hours each way. this experience helped me appreciate the importance of this role for primary health care in south Carolina and allowed me to expand my nursing practice in a more independent way. Later, i served as faculty in the family nurse practitioner track.
What are some of your fondest memories?My fondest memories have been the rich relationships that i have developed with colleagues and students over the years. i often celebrate birthdays and special events with my original fundamental colleagues. We have given countless bridal and baby showers for our children and ourselves. My fondest practice memories include an interdisciplinary practice in an elderly apartment building from 1998 to 2002, and my many years at MUsC employee Health services. Both sites provided wonderful opportunities for np student learning and interprofessional collaboration. i feel honored to have spent my life teaching students of all levels about my passion. i have been blessed to see my many students and my children achieve their professional goals. some of my former students are now taking over the leadership of the Dnp courses and i believe this program will continue to grow in strength under the direction of these very experienced and talented nurse practitioners. Wherever i travel in the Carolinas and to conferences, i frequently encounter my former students and i am proud of their many professional accomplishments.
What are your plans for retirement?i am looking forward to spending more time with my grandchildren and other family members. i will stay active in nursing practice, but on a less demanding scale. My husband and i are anticipating more travel and leisure time. We will begin with a late september trip to Hawaii and a stop in the Grand Canyon on our way back east. and perhaps, another trip to spain may be in
our future plans as well.
reFLeCtioNs oN a reWarDiNG Career
V
Left to right: faculty members Barbara edlund, Peggy Spain and Ann hollerbach.
Peggy (left) and Ann hollerbach taught a fundementals of nursing class in the late 1970s.
Peggy looks forward to spending time with her family.
Fall | Winter 2013 Lifelines 45
Student Spotlight
raynor selected for minority fellowshipThe National Advisory Committee of the Substance
Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s
(SAMHSA) Minority Fellowship Program (MFP) with the
American Nurses Association (ANA) appointed Phyllis
Raynor, PhD student, to this fellowship for the 2013-
2014 academic year.
The purpose of the Minority Fellowship Program
(MFP) is to reduce health disparities and improve health care outcomes of
racially and ethnically diverse populations by increasing the number of
culturally competent behavioral health professionals available to under-
served populations in the public and private nonprofit sectors. The MFP
closely aligns with the Affordable Care Act and SAMHSA’s Eight Strategic
Initiatives by addressing the current and projected behavioral health
workforce shortages and the need to train providers on recovery-based
practices. About 120 MFP Fellows are trained in an average year.
Ms. Raynor is actively working towards becoming a public health
nurse scientist focusing on research, prevention, public advocacy, and
health promotion initiatives for low-income minority families affected
by substance use disorders (SUD). She is concurrently pursuing both
her PhD in Nursing, and advanced practice certification as a psychiatric
mental health nurse practitioner at vanderbilt University. Her disserta-
tion research is focused on the development of self-care interventions for
parents recovering from SUD with a goal of improving their long-term
recovery outcomes and the health outcomes of their children.
As a former state level nurse consultant partnering with school
nurses in all school districts in South Carolina, Ms. Raynor was part of a
school nurse leadership team that addressed alcohol and drug misuse in
schools. She also witnessed the devastating effects of addiction for nurses
involved in substance misuse situations while serving as a practice con-
sultant for the South Carolina Board of Nursing. She explains, “One of the
top violations against the Nurse Practice Act involves narcotics misuse.”
In addition to these professional roles, Ms. Raynor has volunteered as
a recovery support advocate, nurse educator, and health consultant for
over 13 years in a faith-based community support program collaborat-
ing with various community and faith leaders to assist recovering adults
(many of whom are parents) affected by SUD. She is a current member of
the Board of Advisors for three residential faith-based recovery support
community centers for adult men and women recovering from SUD.
“I am thrilled to have this wonderful opportunity awarded to me by the
SAMHSA MFP,” Ms. Raynor said. “It would not have been possible without
the tremendous support I have received from all of the MUSC nursing
faculty who continue to guide and keep me abreast of enriching pro-
grams like the SAMHSA MFP that foster my long-term research career.
I am looking forward to the additional training in my field, and the sup-
portive peer and professional network with multidisciplinary leaders who
share my commitment and passion for eliminating health disparities and
improving the lives of vulnerable families affected by mental health and
substance use disorders. I am truly grateful.”
stUDeNt aCCoLaDes
V
Mcdevitt elected president of student professional society
Katie McDevitt, Acclerated
BSN student, has been
elected president of MUSC’s
Student Interprofessional
Society (SIPS).
SIPS is a campus-wide
student group dedicated to
promoting the concept of interprofessional
education on campus, in the community,
and in practice after graduation. As future
health care professionals, students at MUSC
are expected to collaborate successfully
with a wide spectrum of people outside
their specialty. SIPS coordinates a variety
of community service and social events
designed to help students of all six MUSC
colleges learn from, with, and about each
other. Through such interaction, it is hoped to
improve interprofessional collaboration and
thus patient care and outcomes. Membership
is open to all students.
student to student mentoring leads to marriageWhen new students begin the Accelerated
BSN program, they have hundreds of ques-
tions that often are best answered student to
student.
When Ashley Gallman, Class of December
2013, arrived on campus he was assigned
Ellen Cary, Class of May 2013, as his men-
tor. Less than a year later, the two became
engaged and were married in August.
Currently Mrs. Gallman is working on a
pediatric unit at MUHA and enrolled in the
DNP program. Mr. Gallman will graduate in
December and hopes to secure a position in a
local ICU unit.
46 Lifelines Fall | Winter 2013
students see redCollege of Nursing Accelerated BSN students
and the College of Health Professions anesthe-
sia for nurses (AFN) program nurses teamed
up for a summer blood drive with the Ameri-
can Red Cross on July 17. The blood drive was
a huge success with 40 units of blood donated,
surpassing their goal of 30 units.
Aaron Waters (ACC BSN ’08) and current
AFN student, led the effort and worked closely
with Michael Occhipinti, College of Nursing
Student Government Association President
and Laney Purser, College of Nursing Student
Nurses Association President.
“Since the AFN students and BSN students
are enrolled as full-time students during the
summer, and there was no official sponsor for
a blood drive at MUSC during the summer, our
collaboration made perfect sense,” Mr. Waters
said.
“The Red Cross had issued an emergency
request for blood donation to avert a shortage.
Blood donation provides health care profes-
sionals with a valuable resource for saving
lives in our community. A single pint of blood
can save up to three lives,” Ms.Purser said.
fountain wins national essay contestIn March 2013, Jacob Fountain, Accelerated BSN student, won
the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation New Careers in Nurs-
ing “What do you believe about nursing?” essay contest. This
national essay contest asks nursing students to share a personal
story about why they want to become a nurse, what they have
learned, who inspired them or what they want to contribute
to the profession. Below is Mr. Fountain’s response of why he
dreamed of becoming a nurse.
personal philosophy of nursing by Jacob Fountain
“one turns to me his appealing eyes—poor boy!
i never knew you. yet i think i could not refuse
this moment to die for you, if that would save you.”
-Walt Whitman, from The Wound-Dresser
Nursing is the ultimate culmination of art and science. As nurses,
we must be diligent students, learning the manifestations of disease
and how to treat their effects on the body, while simultaneously
comforting our patient, and judiciously advocating on their behalf.
Nursing blends together seemly diverse areas, the extremely
technical psychomotor tasks with the art of quick complex
clinical judgment. I believe that nurses must strive to be the most
competent, sound and greatest clinicians they can be, not for their
own personal gain, but because they want to provide the greatest
level of care for their patients.
Walt Whitman served as a nurse during the Civil War, and his
quote reveals the great empathy he had for the young soldiers for
whom he cared. This empathy for our patients is one of nursing’s
greatest strengths, and most taxing elements. We try to do
everything in our power to help our patients, while balancing our
own lives and responsibilities. Nurses are inextricably linked to
our patients in a complex caregiver relationship, where we try to
support our clients and their families, while still maintaining our
professional demeanor and composure. I believe the values of a
great nurse are compassion, diligence, integrity and selfless service.
We are compelled to be a pillar of strength for all of our patients,
to the elderly man who realizes he has a terminal cancer, to the
Vietnam veteran still trapped within the prison of his own mind.
Nursing is the perfect venue for me to continue my own service
to others. As a soldier I felt compassion for fellow service members
regardless of personal differences, as a nurse cares for their patients
without hesitation. This dedication to others by service was an
important value stressed to me throughout my time in the military,
and will continue to be a guiding principle in my nursing career.
Fall | Winter 2013 Lifelines 47
Student Spotlight
the College of Nursing recognized 12 first honor graduates during commencement exercises in May 2013. the honor is presented to students who have maintained a perfect 4.0 cumulative grade point average. Congratulations to the following graduates.
Meagan Denise Kirkley, ACC BSN
Mary Reames Rinehart, MSN
Kathleen Laird Brown, DNP
Donna G. Buist, DNP
Diana Cizmadija, DNP
Sara Kramer-Wallace, DNP
Evelyn Dannette Porter, DNP
Kristen McDaniel Poston, DNP
Anna Derrick Smith, DNP
Amber Lee Watson, DNP
Kate Imperial White, DNP
“As a BSN alumna I appreciated the level of professionalism and support offered by the
faculty and staff at MUSC. This combined with the University’s excellent reputation were key
factors in my decision to attend MUSC.”- SARA KRAMER-WALLACE, DNP GRADUATE
“I looked for a program that would give me the opportunity to enhance my career as well as allow me to continue to work while going back to school. MUSC was a perfect fit because of the online combined program of a MSN and DNP degree. I was able to continue working and living in Ohio and at the same time finish my master’s and doctoral degree in eight semesters.”- DIANA CIzMADIJA,
DNP GRADUATE
May 2013Convocation
“I knew the DNP degree would help me develop my ability to improve the overall
health of South Carolinians.”- ANNA SMITH,
DNP GRADUATE
Fall | Winter 2013 Lifelines 49
[ 1958 ]Eunice Driggers Fuller, Diploma ‘58,
and husband had a wonderful day
representing
the class
of 1958 at
their 55th
reunion at
Golden Grad
Day on May
16, 2013.
[ 1958 ]Laura Jo Grissom Summey, N’61,
reports with great sadness that her
son, Reverend Charles E. Summey,
Jr., passed away on July 27, 2013 in
Simpsonville, SC.
[ 1982 ]Ginger Breedlove, CNM ’82, was
installed as the 26th president of the
American College of Nurse-Midwives
(ACNM). After serving one year as
president-elect, she will serve a three
year term as ACNM president. Dr.
Breedlove is a professor of graduate
nursing at the Eleanor Wade Custer
School of Nursing at Shenandoah
University in Winchester, vA.
Exciting changes came to Susan
Walker Wise’s, BSN ’82 in 2013.
After more than 15 years of letting
her nursing
license
expired to
raise four
children,
the state
of virginia
reinstated her
licence this
past spring.
Although she
loved being a mom, she is looking
forward to working as an RN again.
More good news came on May
24, 2013, when Mrs. Wise and her
husband, David, became grandparents
for the first time. She says grandson
Orion David is a joy to be around.
[ 1986 ]Suzanne Prevost,
MSN ’86, is the
new dean of the
University of
Alabama’s Capstone
College of Nursing
in Tuscaloosa. Dr.
Prevost was formerly the associate
dean for practice and community
engagement and a nursing professor
at the University of Kentucky College
of Nursing, a position she held since
2008.
[ 2007 ]Katherine Miller,
MSN ’07, has been
appointed chief
nursing officer at
Clarendon Health
in Manning, SC. Ms.
Miller was also a
recipient of the Palmetto Gold in 2008.
[ 2008 ] Since graduating Marc Jasek, MSN
’08, served for four years as a primary
care clinic director for a population
of about 7,500 active duty sailors,
marines and their family members
at Camp Kinser, Okinawa, Japan.
While there he established the first
patient centered medical home on
the island, and became interested in
sexual assault nurse examination.
After training, he became one of the
leading examiners on the island. In
July 2012, he transferred back to the
US and is currently stationed at the
Naval Hospital Pensacola where he
is assigned primarily to the Internal
Medicine Clinic, but also rotates
through other primary care clinics
including family medicine and
pediatrics. In September, he was
promoted to full Commander—a big
milestone for his 24 years of military
service.
[ 2009 ]Caroline Mitchell, BSN ‘09 was
accepted into Florida Gulf Coast
University’s CRNA program and will
begin in January 2014.
[ 2010 ]Michael Bachmeyer, BSN ’10, has
been accepted into the nursing
anesthesia program at the University
of South Carolina in Columbia.
Amy Painter, MSN ’10, is working as
the aerodigestive nurse practitioner
and coordinator at Children’s
Healthcare of Atlanta where she is
helping to start a new interdisciplinary
division to care for children that have
diseases crossing between their GI,
pulmonary, and ENT systems.
[ 2011 ]Danielle Nowakowski, BSN ’11,
received a DAISY Award in February
and was recognized for nursing
excellence due to her compassion,
caring, and genuine warmth.
Elizabeth Roehner, BSN ’11, was
recognized for her nursing excellence
by receiving a DAISY Award for
her remarkable compassion and
professionalism.
[ 2012 ]Jessica Chepa, MSN ’12, is working
at Coastal vascular and vein Center
in Charleston where she cares for
patients with PAD, carotid stenosis,
aortic aneurysms, end stage renal
disease, venous disease, and
numerous post-amputation patients.
CLass Notes
V
Alumni Connections
50 Lifelines Fall | Winter 2013
The high volume of amputations
performed by her practice each year
prompted her to become co-chair of
the Lowcountry Chapter of Save a Leg,
Save a Life Foundation (SALSAL). As
co-chair, Ms. Chepa hopes to bring
awareness to the community and
develop the Lowcountry Chapter into
a huge asset for SALSAL. In addition to
her work with SALSAL, she continues
to stay involved with the College of
Nursing by serving as a preceptor for
nurse practitioner students.
In September Ashleigh McCall,
BSN ’12, completed a RN residency
program at the Ralph H. Johnson vA
Medical Center in Charleston and is
now a permanent, full-time nurse on
the medical/surgical floor.
[ 2013 ]Hayne Clifton, BSN ’13, is working in
the MICU at Palmetto Health Richland
in Columbia, SC.
April Dove, BSN ’13, is working
at Palmetto Health Baptist on a
progressive care unit with telemetry.
Ms. Dove was found to be a match
to a woman in need of a bone
marrow transplant and donated bone
marrow through a new process called
apheresis. She reports, “I definitely
think this a good way to start my
nursing career.”
Michelle Mejia, BSN ’13, is currently
enrolled in the College of Nursing’s
Doctor of Nursing Practice program
and was also hired on the Meduflex
team.
[ passages ]Jean Boyd O’Neal Cashion, ‘47
June 18, 2013 | Florence, SC
Mildred Lundy Jones, ‘48
May 29, 2013 | Conway, SC
Mildred Wall Weber, ‘48
August 17, 2013 | Anderson, SC
Allison Cantley Simmons, ‘61
August 6, 2013 | Kingstree, SC
Send us your news
you make us proud so let us share your achievements and accomplishments
—personal or professional— in Lifelines.
send us an update—whether it is about a new job, a promotion, an award or even a new family member—
and we would love to include it in our next issue.
send news and photos to:(include your name, degree and class year)
jo smith, Lifelines editorMUsC College of Nursing
99 jonathan Lucas st., MsC 160Charleston, sC 29425
or via the web at www.bit.ly/CoN-class
Fall | Winter 2013 Lifelines 51
I worked in the nursing profession for 52 years and have always been
thankful that I graduated from the Medical College of South Carolina
(MCSC)*. It has been a most rewarding life. I am the ninth of eleven
children, and was married for 61 years to Eddie Adeimy. I have three
daughters, nine grandchildren, 14 great grandchildren, and one great-
great grandchild. I now live in a continuing care community in Laurinburg,
NC and serve as chair of the Health Care Committee.
I entered nursing school at the MCSC in January 1941, graduated in
March 1943, passed state boards in October 1943, but did not complete
all of my services until January 1944. War was declared in December 1941
and that changed many things. Our classes were “stepped-up” as there
were rumors of drafting nurses. Miss Andell decided to push us all through
theory in two years so that if we were drafted we would not have to come back for any classes.
The advances in medicine over the years have been miraculous. When I entered nursing school the country was still recovering
from the Great Depression. If my memory serves me, there was no tuition charged, I only had to buy my books and uniforms that
included black hose and black shoes.
Miss Andell was the director of nursing. Miss Chamberlain was the educational director, while Miss McDowell served as the
nursing arts instructor. Miss Chamberlain was our “guiding star.” She lectured us on how to conduct ourselves at all times. Miss
McDowell would peep around the screens on the wards to check to see how well we were following her instructions.
During our “preliminary” period we lived in the main Nursing Home. Miss
Andell, Miss Chamberlain, and Miss McDowell all lived on the first floor, while
we lived on the second and third floors. Our study hours were from 7 to 9
pm. You could have heard a pin drop during that time. We could not make or
receive phone calls or anything during our study period.
The first six months were intense with nursing arts and other classes.
We walked across the street to the Medical College for many of our classes.
After these six months, we were periodically assigned to the different
services – three months on medical, three months on surgical, three months
on obstetrics, etc. If we were on night duty, we moved to night quarters.
We worked from 9 pm until 7 am, seven days a week for three months and
there were no nights off. For day duty, we worked 10 hours, but either had a
morning or afternoon break. We never had a whole day off, but we had one
afternoon off a week. Bed check was at 10 pm. Once a month we were entitled to an 11 pm bed check. At the time we thought
nothing of these hours and the fact that our labor was paying our way through school.
There were no disposables. We boiled our needles and checked them for spurs. We made our IV packs and autoclaved them. We
washed, powdered and packaged gloves to be sterilized. Our solutions were autoclaved, mixed with glucose, etc. all at the bedside.
To give a pre-op, the solution was boiled in a spoon over a little burner. Sulfa drugs were the treatment of choice. I didn’t give my
first dose of penicillin until after I became a registered nurse. It was in use in the early 40’s but only available to the military.
I spent a lot of my time in school in the clinics at the Medical College. Dr. Rasmussen taught us anatomy and Dr. Eddie Parker
taught us bandaging. I made a perfect score of 100 on all anatomy tests, but only a 75 on bandaging. I am left-handed and Dr.
Parker and I could not agree! There was no recovery room. If a patient needed oxygen, a tent was placed over the bed. During this
time I watched as the piles were driven to build the new Roper Hospital and Baruch Auditorium. At graduation I received an award
for being the “most practical nurse” in my class.
After reading my story, I am sure you will have to agree that I have been very blessed during these 90 years.
* The Medical College of South Carolina became MUSC in 1969.
the Way We Were 70 years aGonursing school memories of a 1943 MUsc grad by Eleanor Shealy Adeimy
eleanor (Shealy) Adeimy, diploma ’43, (pictured right) enjoyed getting reacquainted with old friends and classmates when she traveled
with her daughters, Nancy and dorothy, to Charleston to attend the Golden Grads festivities during this year’s commencement exercises.
Alumni Connections
“Over the years, we have always been proud of our mother’s
excellent nursing skills and great common sense advice. Even now
my husband tells me to “call your mother–she’ll know what to do.”
- DoRotHy tAyloR
52 Lifelines Fall | Winter 2013
~ Golden Grads 2013 ~ Celebrating, reuniting and inducting our distinguished alumni who graduated 50 years ago.
4th floor
5th floor
Backside of building
Lobbyrenovated building
scheduled to Re-open
January 2015!
The College of Nursing Renovation is well
under way!
Lead "architect"
Office bathroom
Fall | Winter 2013 Lifelines 55
“No person was ever honored for what he received, but for what he gave.”
- Calvin Coolidge
Lines of Life
Only one obstacle stood between tiffany Williams and her doctoral degree: Paying to put herself and her teenage daughter through college at the same time.
today, thanks to a scholarship, tiffany holds a Doctor of nursing Practice degree from the MUSC College of nursing and works as an instructor in the same building where she once studied. She brings to her students 22 years of experience in pediatric nursing and a passion for working with obesity prevention, teen parenting and special-needs patient care.
the MUSC College of nursing has provided South Carolina with the finest education, research and medical care since 1883. the college relies on scholarships to ensure that it attracts top students like tiffany.
a Charitable Gift annuity (CGa) provides a fixed income, plus valuable tax savings. Funding a scholarship with a CGa also helps ensure that the most qualified students, no matter their financial circumstances, attend the College of nursing.
For more information on supporting students like tiffany with a charitable gift annuity, please contact laurie Scott at [email protected] or (843) 792-8421.
Make a gift that helps one person help Many
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