Entering medical school is a highly competitive process, and fewer than half who apply are admitted. Fewer still are able to finish.����

For those wanting to pursue a career in medicine, the cost and the rigor of medical school can be daunting. That’s why ��ҹ�糡 and AnMed, along with sponsorship from South Carolina Upstate AHEC (South Carolina Area Health Education Centers), established a partnership in 2022 which created an intensive two-week camp offering resources and advice to South Carolina undergraduate students to become better prepared to enter medical school.����

Earlier this year, the was awarded a $50,000 grant from , the philanthropy of Corporation, to support the Upstate Pre-Med Bootcamp—for the second year in a row.

The additional grant funds enabled the participants to receive stipends and assistance with the expenses associated with taking the MCAT. It also enabled the camp��to provide lunches for its participants, camp alumni volunteers, and the physicians who volunteered their time to serve on panel discussions. One of the camp organizers, Dr. Carrie Koenigstein of the ��ҹ�糡 College of Arts and Sciences, is grateful for this grant, commenting that financial constraints can prevent students from participating in opportunities like the Upstate Pre-Med Boot Camp. She commented that, even though the camp is offered to them for��free, students still lose time from their summer jobs and have to provide their own transportation and any food not covered by the camp activities.��

This year’s camp, now in its fifth year, benefited 24 college upper classmen from across South Carolina. The group represents a multiethnic population of individuals from urban and rural areas.�� ��

In its four-year existence, the��Upstate Pre-Med Boot Camp��has opened the door of medical school for many students, helping them to stand out as candidates while instilling in them much-needed confidence.��

“This camp has been eye opening, inspiring, and has fueled my fire for my career,” said Ashka Raval, a Clemson University student. “I was feeling very down about myself after the past semester, but being able to see what I fell into love with medicine for made me fall in love with it again.”��

The Upstate Pre-Med Boot Camp, which took place in May on the ��ҹ�糡 campus, offered students hands-on experiences not often encountered outside of medical school—at no cost to them.����

“Pre-Med Boot Camp was an amazing opportunity that made the dream of becoming a physician more real and attainable,” said ��ҹ�糡 student Zoe Calloway. “Keeping the camp free and accessible has greatly helped me and my peers get a taste of medicine and has deeply grown my passion for the field.”��

At this year’s camp, students shadowed AnMed medical professionals in multiple specialties, learning the day-to-day of a medical practice while working alongside other medical school-bound students.������

“This program connected me with some amazing people that I never would have met otherwise,” said Adrienne Williams from USC Beaufort. Tommy O’Quinn of Erskine College concurs, commenting, “This camp has given me both applicable skills in a medical setting and extremely valuable information about med school applications and what the next years of my life will look like as I go down the path of becoming a physician.”����

The��Upstate Pre-Med Boot Camp��gives students a realistic glimpse into the day-to-day life of a physician while offering valuable interaction all the way. Also valuable are skill-based workshops that cover suturing, reading EKGs, intubation, catheterization, joint injection, and working in the cadaver lab on the ��ҹ�糡 campus (cadaver labs are rarely encountered anywhere outside medical school).����

The camp gave Kadine Beckford of Benedict College her first hands-on medical experiences.����

“I have never shadowed, sutured, intubated or been in a cadaver lab,” Beckford said. “The camp helped me to be better prepared for and more sure of my passion and determination to pursue my dream.”��

��ҹ�糡 student Stella Miller said, “Doing the SIM lab was extremely helpful because it gave me a sense of actually being a physician interacting with a patient instead of just observing when shadowing.”��

There were also discussion panels with physicians, current med school students, and representatives from the admissions committees from the four South Carolina medical schools.������

“This camp not only helped me learn how important a physician’s life is but also helped me prep and be ready for the future,” said Khushi Jain of the University of South Carolina, whose older sister, Rashi Jain, attended the 2025 camp and came back this year helping with the camp as a volunteer.��

Logan Bamonte, who attended the 2025 camp, also returned this year to work as a camp intern. She feels the Upstate Pre-Med Bootcamp was a game changer and is happy to help other medical school-bound students.��

“This camp gave me the opportunity to connect with other pre-med students across the state and form lasting, supportive relationships. It also gave me the confidence to continue pursuing medicine when I was still considering switching paths,” Bamonte said. “I think this program is so impactful, so I was thankful to get the opportunity to return to the camp as an intern and play a role in creating a supportive environment for more students.”��

��ҹ�糡 student Emily Priest said, “I came into the experience with a fire for healthcare, but the experiences and connections have shaped my motivation into a clear direction so I can pursue my goals with confidence and the necessary tools to be successful. I would make the decision to participate again in a heartbeat and hope that many more people can share in this unique adventure.”��

Applications for the 2027 camp will be accepted from fall 2026 through mid-January, 2027. Information about the��Upstate Pre-Med Boot Camp��and an application can be found online here.��

��

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The students spent three weeks before spring break learning about the microscopic characteristics, functions and locations of the four main tissue types found within the human body—connective, nervous, muscle and epithelium.����

Three students whose projects scored high talked about their projects.����

Colleen Heuser was drawn to display ciliated pseudostratified columnar epithelium—a tissue found in the upper respiratory tract that traps inhaled debris. Heuser’s painting on canvas represents the tissue after H&E (Hematoxylin and Eosin) staining, a technique allowing pathologists to examine tissue and identify cell types. Goblet cells are depicted as the lighter purple, oval shapes with purple dots within them and hairlike projections known as cilia.����

Heuser enjoyed tapping into her artistic side as she went to work on her project.��

“It basically connects this aspect that I personally enjoy doing and it allows me to visualize and truly understand and grasp the different components that are included in this type of cell, Heuser said.��

“It was a little out of the box,” admitted Aaliyah Thomas. Bouncing the idea off her father, she came up with a way of visualizing skeletal muscle tissue, the most common type of muscle tissue, which is responsible for our voluntary movements. She was working with her father, whom she considers to be very creative, imagining how she might demonstrate how the tissue appears. She came up with a“sweet” discovery. Examining a microscopic view, they concluded that the elongated cylindrical cells arranged in parallell bundles (fascicles) resemble Mike and Ike and Hot Tamale candies.��

“Once I saw his vision… When I saw a way to explain it to him and teach it to him, it came all together for me,” said Thomas, who wants to enter forensic pathology.��

“I like to do art in my spare time,” said Gracey (Olivia) Hefner, whose project is a sculpture depicting cortical bone tissue. Cortical bone functions as the dense, outer, hard layer which provides structural support, protection for the inner portions of the bone, and provides strength to resist various forces. “I’m a very visual person. I can remember things better if I see them physically or can recreate them physically. A lot of my assignments, I’ll draw out because it just helps me understand it better.”��

“I got a Styrofoam base and painted it black so that the wire would stand out when you look at it. Then I took some wire and made different sized rings to represent the different units of cortical bone, because they’re not all the same size, they’re different depending on where you are in the body,” Hefner said. “I would connect them with a different color wire to kind of separate out the different parts, so you would be able to see them more clearly.”��

The projects are on display through the remainder of the semester at the Holdredge Bearwood Center of ��ҹ�糡 at 3031 N. Highway 81, Anderson, South Carolina.��

The Pathologists’ Assistant program is hosted by the ��ҹ�糡 School of Clinical Laboratory Sciences.��

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The students spent three weeks before spring break learning about the microscopic characteristics, functions and locations of the four main tissue types found within the human body—connective, nervous, muscle and epithelium.����

“The thrill of watching Pathologists’ Assistant students blend art and science is electric! Their creative projects—vivid illustrations, 3D models, and artistic dissections ignite deeper understanding, spark innovation, and transform rigorous medical training into a vibrant, memorable learning adventure that celebrates both precision and imagination,” said ��ҹ�糡 College of Health Professions Dean Dr. Donald Peace. “I’m so proud of our Pathologists’ Assistant faculty with their skill to be able to encourage this form of learning.”��

Three students whose projects scored high talked about their projects.����

Colleen Heuser was drawn to display ciliated pseudostratified columnar epithelium—a tissue found in the upper respiratory tract that traps inhaled debris. Heuser’s painting on canvasrepresents the tissue after H&E (Hematoxylin and Eosin) staining, a technique allowing pathologists to examine tissue and identify cell types. Goblet cells are depicted as the lighter purple, oval shapes with purple dots within them and hairlike projections known as cilia.����

Heuser enjoyed tapping into her artistic side as she went to work on her project.��

“It basically connects this aspect that I personally enjoy doing and it allows me to visualize and truly understand and grasp the different components that are included in this type of cell, Heuser said.��

“It was a little out of the box,” admitted Aaliyah Thomas. Bouncing the idea off her father, she came up with a way of visualizing skeletal muscle tissue, the most common type of muscle tissue, which is responsible for our voluntary movements. She was working with her father, whom she considers to be very creative, imagining how she might demonstrate how the tissue appears. She came up with a “sweet” discovery. Examining a microscopic view, they concluded that the elongated cylindrical cells arranged in parallell bundles (fascicles) resemble Mike and Ike and Hot Tamale candies.��

“Once I saw his vision… When I saw a way to explain it to him and teach it to him, it came all together for me,” said Thomas, who wants to enter forensic pathology.��

“I like to do art in my spare time,” said Gracey (Olivia) Hefner, whose project is a sculpture depicting cortical bone tissue. Cortical bone functions as the dense, outer, hard layer which provides structural support, protection for the inner portions of the bone, and provides strength to resist various forces. “I’m a very visual person. I can remember things better if I see them physically orcan recreate them physically. A lot of my assignments, I’ll draw out because it just helps me understand it better.”��

“I got a Styrofoam base and painted it black so that the wire would stand out when you look at it. Then I took some wire and made different sized rings to represent the different units of cortical bone, because they’re not all the same size, they’re different depending on where you are in the body,” Hefner said. “I would connect them with a different color wire to kind of separate out the different parts, so you would be able to see them more clearly.”��

The projects are on display through the remainder of the semester at the Holdredge Bearwood Center of ��ҹ�糡 at 3031 N. Highway 81, Anderson, South Carolina.��

The Pathologists’ Assistant program is hosted by the ��ҹ�糡 School of Clinical Laboratory Sciences.��

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Pictured at the presentation of a $50,000 grant from��Power:Ed��to support the Upstate Pre-Med Bootcamp program at ��ҹ�糡, from left to right: Ray Jones, Thornton Kirby, Neil Grayson, Ann Skinner, Trey Simon, Dr. Renee��Mognahan, Dr. Stoney Abercrombie, Tim Self,��Gautum��Ghatnekar, Claire Gibbons, and Willie Jeffries.��

This is the second grant award from��Power:Ed��in support of this��program.��

Camp co-founder and Associate Dean of Natural Sciences at ��ҹ�糡, Dr. Carrie Koenigstein,��said, “The goal is to keep talented students from falling through the cracks. Some might realize they do not want to be physicians, so the partners can connect those students to alternate paths such as dental, physician assistant,��pharmacy��or physical therapy schools.”������

Dr. Koenigstein is proud of the project because of the connections students make.��

“Mentorship is vital to all students, but especially those who are the first in their family to strive to become a physician,” she said.��

The experience helps confirm career choices before students invest in another eight years in training,��possibly incurring��debt. Funding increases access for low-income students by providing stipends to cover out-of-pocket expenses such as travel and make up for lost wages. Students who complete the program receive ongoing career guidance and��assistance��paying for application costs, such as the MCAT.��

Participants will engage with ��ҹ�糡 faculty at the Center for Medical Simulations and access the University’s cadaver lab to��observe��and learn.��

A unique feature of the annual event is the participation of veteran physicians, current medical��students��and a dozen bootcamp alumni who encourage pre-med majors to explore opportunities.����

Nationally only 16��percent��of��freshmen��pre-med students go on to apply to medical school;��fewer��than half of those are selected. First-generation students, underrepresented��populations��and students from rural high schools are less likely to become physicians. The��AnMed and ��ҹ�糡 Pre-Med��bootcamp gives students exposure to a teaching hospital and networking introductions.����

“We appreciate this generous grant through��Power:Ed��as it helps talented students gain insight into the application process leading up to medical school, the journey to licensure and what it means to be a doctor,” said Renee Monaghan, MD,�� associate dean for the MUSC AnMed Clinical Campus. “Our alumni, many now currently in medical school or in other health-related post-graduate training, are proof that this camp is making a positive impact to the state.”����

South Carolina is expected to have a deficit of 3,000��doctors by 2030 with the greatest need: primary care physicians. Since its��inception��in 2022, the bootcamp has served attendees from 24 colleges and universities across the state.����

The grant spurred ��ҹ�糡 to��identify��nearby college pre-med advisors and invite them to form a group. Upstate AHEC will ensure advisors have up-to-date information on scholarships, fee��waivers��and resources. All four of the state’s medical schools take part in the Upstate camp.��

“Power:Ed and SC Student Loan are proud once again to support this innovative program to help diversify and strengthen the Upstate’s medical talent pipeline. It’s crucial for students to find the right career pathways for them before incurring debt,” said Power:Ed Executive Director Claire Gibbons.��

In FY 2025-26��Power:Ed��will award $1,300,000 in grants to South Carolina education and career readiness organizations. In��this its��third quarter,��Power:Ed��has awarded seven grants (including this grant to AnMed)��totaling $270,000.��Grants are administered quarterly, and the next grant funding deadline is April 1, 2026.����

About��Power:Ed��

Founded in 2019,��,��the philanthropy of��,��is dedicated to creating opportunities for South Carolina’s youth and adults by supporting low-income,��underrepresented��and first-generation students; improving access to college and degree completion; and creating pathways to quality workforce opportunities. Organizations serving middle school through post-college talent who are interested in applying for a grant or partnering with��Power:Ed, should visit��.����

About AnMed Foundation��

AnMed Foundation helps ensure that the people served by AnMed have access to quality health and medical services. Its mission is to inspire generous charitable giving that strengthens and sustains exceptional health care throughout the area. Guided by core values of compassion, innovation, integrity,��accountability��and collaboration, AnMed was named one of the nation’s “Great Community Hospitals” by Becker’s Hospital Review. Learn more at��.��

About ��ҹ�糡��

��ҹ�糡 is a “more selective,” comprehensive Christian university offering bachelor’s,��master’s��and doctoral degrees on campus and online. It is South Carolina’s largest private university. ��ҹ�糡 is the #2 private university in South Carolina, according to Niche.com, is among U.S. News and World Report’s “Best Regional Universities South,” and is on the publication’s “Best Value,” “Best Schools for Veterans,��“Best��First-Year Experience” and “Best Online Programs” lists. Anderson is a five-time Apple Distinguished School and on the honor��roll��of the prestigious Great Colleges to Work For® program.����

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The Elite Therapy Solutions Physical Therapy Student Tuition Assistance Program is designed to support ��ҹ�糡 students who are passionate about advancing their education and career in outpatient and orthopedic physical therapy. This program aims to recognize academic excellence, commitment to the field, and a drive to make a positive impact on orthopedic rehabilitation.  ��

The program is open to all ��ҹ�糡��physical��therapy students and covers the full cost of tuition for Year 3 of the ��ҹ�糡��physical��therapy program. Students will be required to work for Elite post-graduation and participate in the Elite residency program. The amount to cover third-year tuition will be dispersed directly to��AU’s��physical therapy school in the form of a forgivable loan with full forgiveness at the end of year 3 of employment.  Residents see an outpatient and orthopedic caseload and are provided with a full competitive salary, a comprehensive benefits package and student loan repayment options. Elite’s residency program has a 100% pass rate for the Orthopedic Clinical Specialist (OCS) exam. Students should apply during their first or second year.   ��

Eligibility Criteria ��

• Must be currently enrolled as a Physical Therapy student at ��ҹ�糡. ��

• Demonstrated interest in outpatient and orthopedic physical therapy through coursework, clinical experiences, or extracurricular activities. ��

• Minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. ��

• Strong record of professionalism, leadership, and community service. ��

• U.S. citizenship or permanent resident status.   ��

Selection Process ��

Applications will be reviewed by the Elite Therapy Solutions Student Committee in collaboration with ��ҹ�糡’s Physical Therapy Department. Selection will be based on academic achievement, demonstrated commitment to orthopedic physical therapy, leadership potential, and overall application quality. ��

How to Apply ��

Interested students should request information from and submit all application materials electronically to Matt Walker at mattheww@elitetherapysolutions.net with the subject line: “Elite Therapy Solutions Physical Therapy Student Tuition Assistance Program Application.” For questions or more information, contact the ��ҹ�糡 Physical Therapy Department or Elite Therapy Solutions’s Scholarship Coordinator. ��

For application you will need: ��

1. Current academic transcript. ��

1. Two letters of recommendation from a faculty member or clinical instructor. ��

1. Personal statement (500–1,000 words) describing your interest in orthopedic physical therapy, career goals, and how this scholarship will help you achieve them. ��

1. Resume highlighting relevant experiences in physical therapy, leadership, and community service. ��

About Elite Therapy Solutions ��

Elite Therapy Solutions is a leader in orthopedic rehabilitation, dedicated to fostering the next generation of physical therapists through educational support and professional development opportunities. The organization is proud to partner with ��ҹ�糡 to encourage excellence in orthopedic physical therapy.  ��

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Hope Missions’ Foot Washing Clinic officially launched recently in partnership with ��ҹ�糡 nursing majors. The idea for the clinic, according to Zoe Hale, COO of Hope Missions of the Upstate, came out of��observing��how many of the people seeking their help were coming to them on foot.��

“One of the things that poverty takes away from people are our choices, and then if you’re homeless as well, you get fewer and fewer choices, so just to have people spending one-on-one time with you and taking care of you and listening therapeutically is really important,” Hale said.��

According to Monica Morehead, MSN, RN, instructor of community health nursing and mental health nursing, the clinic is a great example of all four pillars of ��ҹ�糡—Great Academics, Great Faith, Great Hospitality, and Great Purpose—a great fit for Hope Missions as they provide a vital ministry of service and dignity.��

Each week, a different group of students would conduct the clinic on Wednesday and Friday throughout the fall semester. As the students washed the feet of Hope Missions’ guests, they had opportunities to interact with them one-on-one and, in many cases, pray for them.��

At the same time, the students learned the importance of a thorough foot assessment of individuals who may be prone to neglecting their own foot care—monitoring for��blisters, open wounds, swelling, discoloration, ill-fitting and worn-out footwear. Students practiced their therapeutic communication skills, made referrals for��additional��foot care, and provided clean socks, and occasionally new shoes.��

A priority for Hope Missions, Hale points out, is offering resources especially for their diabetic guests. She notes that often a side effect of diabetes is that people��can’t��feel their extremities and are unaware of��major issues��with their feet.��

“Foot washing is grounded in hospitality of our biblical heritage and is humbling for the giver and the receiver,” Morehead said, citing the example of Jesus in John 13:1-5 where He washed the feet of each of His disciples.��

The Foot Washing Clinic, according to Hale, benefits Hope Missions’ guests receiving needed attention and assessments, while at the same time giving the nursing students a fresh perspective on helping others who have needs further complicated by living in poverty.��

For student Gracelyn Padgett, the Foot Washing Clinic was transformational.��

“Sitting face-to-face with new friends, washing their feet, and listening to their stories opened something in me that I didn’t even know needed��opening,” Padgett said. “So often,��I’ve��learned that God leads me into places that look��scary at first glance, only��for me to realize those places are exactly where I am meant to be. Serving the guests at Hope Missions��didn’t��just touch me, it reshaped me… Jesus met the sick, the poor, and the overlooked with friendship and love. Moments like this remind me of how important it is for us to love people the same way.”��

An important takeaway for student Khoa “Alex” Pham is that although technology and procedures he and his classmates are learning are important, effectively caring for others is only complete when treatment is given out of a loving, compassionate heart.��

“Their story and their feet together can show the whole situation of what they are going through in life, and it makes us think about how we can care for them and extend more help to our guests,” Pham said. “Talking with them and being with them in that short moment allows you to learn so much about them.”��

The clinic also touched student Annaleisa Wile’s heart and changed her perspective��of the homeless, poverty and basic human rights.��

“I was blessed to have the opportunity to not only wash the feet of 10 individuals, but more importantly learn about their circumstances, hardships of homelessness, and the needs that they currently have. The foot washing clinic taught me that being homeless is not a choice, but a result of unfair circumstances to those who need the most support,” Wile said. “Without this clinical, I would not have learned to see these individuals as people who are in these circumstances not by choice and to advocate for their basic needs in whatever ways possible.”��

“The opportunity that I had to attend Hope Missions and participate in the foot washing clinic will forever hold a special place in my life,” said student Regan Powell. “Our class has been blessed to be able to act in a way that pleases God and��assists��our community. To be the hands and feet of Jesus��impacted��myself and my peers from this new involvement.”��

College of Health Professions Dean Dr. Donald Peace praised the efforts of the��School of Nursing��serving��with Hope Missions.��

“The foot washing clinic is��a both��spiritual and therapeutic service for those in need within��our community,” Dr. Peace said. “I see the foot washing��clinic ��as��an opportunity to provide profound healing,��humility��and dignity to those needing help, blending faith fundamentals with clinical care.”��

According to Hale, the students saw 93 different individuals.��

“We did a debriefing after each group just to get an understanding if there are specific conditions they observed that they were concerned about. In all, we did 26 very specific referrals as a result of having the foot clinic,” Hale said. “We found it very useful in terms of paying attention to health, but we also found it very useful in just delivering a safe setting for our guests to interact with the nurses and enjoy spending time with them.”��

“We often consider ourselves as servants of Christ and messengers of his kingdom. In this clinical, we are living out that message that the table is open for all, all are welcome, and worthy of His love and care,” Morehead said, adding that the Foot Washing Clinic fills a need for individuals with chronic and complex medical conditions to ensure their health and safety as they live unhoused. “Our feet support us and carry us everywhere. Ensuring our feet are warm, clean,��dry��and healthy is important to everyone and easily��neglected,.��This is a skin assessment that is��frequently��missed or neglected on patient admissions at the bedside in many community settings.”��

“This mission is essential to the College of Health Professions and our School of Nursing,” Dr. Peace continued. “As you can imagine, this type of service develops compassionate, holistic practitioners dedicated to community wellness.”��

The Hope Missions staff is thankful for this partnership with ��ҹ�糡 and looks forward to seeing this partnership continue to bless their guests and the students. Hope Missions’ website is��.��

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According to Pathologists’ Assistant Program Director and Assistant Professor Julie Bostick MHS, PA (ASCP) CM, HTL, since the program launched in 2022, there have been 15 graduates, all of whom were successfully placed in jobs. She adds that 13 students are in the second year of clinical rotations across the U.S., and an additional fourteen students are currently in the first didactic year on the Bearwood campus, home of the School of Clinical and Laboratory Sciences.��

“Completion of a successful site visit in April of 2025 allowed the accreditors to experience the great hospitality that AU has to offer its students. They saw firsthand evidence of the great academics presented to our students, as well as the great purpose our Path A program guides our students toward,” Bostick said. “It is the prayer of our program that, through our team’s great faith in Jesus, our students will leave better than when they began and seeds that have been planted at AU will grow and flourish in their careers.”��

Bostick praised faculty and staff members Amy Nelson, Hannah Reilly, Vanessa Furtick, Nenna Igwe and Katie Wolfe-Burleson for their role in this accreditation achievement. ��

Dean of the ��ҹ�糡 College of Health Professions and Professor of Health Care Administration and Human Services, Dr. Donald Peace, said, “I am profoundly pleased with Professor Julie Bostick and her team’s masterful navigation of NAACLS accreditation, culminating in five-year initial approval for our Pathologists’ Assistant program. Their patience and deep grasp of this accreditation organizations rules and regulations have yielded this triumphant milestone.”��

The Pathologists’ Assistant program is offered through the ��ҹ�糡 College of Health Professions. Details about the program can be found online here.��

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Each year, ��ҹ�糡 and AnMed team up to help students better prepare for successful medical careers and at the same time help fill the demand for new physicians.����

Statistically, fewer than half of students aiming for medical school make it, and beyond that, not all finish. For those who qualify, cost can still be a daunting obstacle. With that in mind, ��ҹ�糡 and AnMed, along with sponsorship from South Carolina Upstate AHEC (South Carolina Area Health Education Centers) established a partnership in 2022 to create a two-week camp offering resources and advice to South Carolina undergraduate students to become better prepared for medical school.����

The AnMed Pre-Med Boot Camp offers students hands-on experiences not often encountered outside of medical school.������

The Pre-Med Boot Camp is an intensive two weeks devoted to preparing students for the realities of medical school, at zero cost to them. The Pre-Med Boot Camp received new support this year from Power:Ed—a $52,000 grant to help support the program.��

“This grant is really going to make a difference to these students and ultimately to the state of South Carolina,” said Dr. Renee Monaghan of the AnMed Foundation.��

This year’s camp took place during May on the ��ҹ�糡 campus and in the facilities of AnMed. During May, 24 students came from all over South Carolina—from ��ҹ�糡 and other institutions—to shadow AnMed medical professionals in multiple specialties, learning the day-to-day of a medical practice while working alongside other medical school-bound students.����

Ryan Ireland, a rising senior Biology major at ��ҹ�糡, says the shadowing opportunities exceeded his expectations.����

“They have been very in depth. It’s showed me more closely what that career path would be like or what certain specialties would be like,” Ireland said. “This week I shadowed family medicine and emergency medicine, and, especially with emergency medicine, I’m taking a liking to that—even shadowing one shift.”��

“It’s getting a lot harder for students to find shadowing opportunities because hospitals have become stricter and doctors are less willing,” said Elise Quartaro, a rising senior at the University of South Carolina majoring in Neuroscience. “Having these opportunities for shadowing and then just being in an environment where you’re around people who have the same career goals as you, and you can exchange advice and tips—that’s very helpful,”����

The camp also offered hands-on skill-based workshops covering suturing, reading EKGs, intubation, catheterization, joint injection, and working in the cadaver lab on the ��ҹ�糡 campus (cadaver labs are rarely encountered anywhere outside medical school). ��

Growing up in Orangeburg, JaShayla Seawright lived next door to her pediatrician. She loves children, loves her work at a child development center and wants to be a pediatrician herself someday. She found out about the Pre-Med Bootcamp at Anderson through her involvement in the Health Professional Society.��

“It’s been amazing,” said Seawright, a Biology major from South Carolina State University. “The days go by fast and it’s really allowing me to get experience on how I’ll be doing something every day.”��

The son of a rehabilitation doctor, Jack Vogenitz has been working as an EMT. Vogenitz, a student at Erskine College, is considering either oncology or emergency medicine. He appreciates the rigor of the Pre-Med Bootcamp, but at the same time, the attention given to each camp participant.��

“It’s very organized and in depth,” Vogenitz said. “They’re really investing in us and encouraging us and they’re also willing to tell us the hard truths, too… But at the same time they are encouraging.”��

Mark Quarterman, a rising senior at Clemson University and the son of dermatologist, envisions not only being a physician who cares about his patients but also being a community leader. He feels he has benefited from the variety of experiences offered at the Pre-Med Bootcamp.��

“I’ve honestly loved it. It’s been a great experience, not only getting a variety of learning different techniques I didn’t know before or seeing different doctors, but also just networking with these different pre-med students,” Quarterman said.��

Growing up in a rural area, Emalee Mann remembered hours of car rides to visit specialists—a factor that helped her consider a medical career.��

“For me, I’ve seen the access to care from my perspective in a rural community… It’s hard when your zip code really determines the kind of care you get,” said Mann, a rising junior at Clemson University majoring in Biomedical Engineering.����

Reflecting on the Pre-Med Bootcamp, Mann commented, “Everyone across this camp has encouraged me. I think remembering to enjoy the process as well and not being overwhelmed by it has been one of my biggest takeaways thus far.”����

The panels with physicians were a high point of Pre-Med Bootcamp for Tremayne Ansani. The panelists, he feels, have been helpful in “how they view medicine, how they view being in a private practice versus academia medicine, how they view the residency process and just also just all the advice that they’ve given towards medical school applications, what being a doctor is like.”��

Ansani, a Neuroscience graduate from the University of South Carolina, continued, “From a young age I started to recognize a lot of health disparities in underserved communities and part of the Black community… The U.S. is such a diverse population from region to region, from area to area… Diversity is important… Having these diverse perspectives and also to have complete holistic care that’s personalized for everyone.”��

Growing up with chronic back pain, Catherine Nardella became inspired by the doctors who treated her. She knew she wanted to be that kind of physician one day, but had misgivings about the Pre-Med Bootcamp at first. A few days into the camp, she started to feel she was hitting her stride.��

“It’s been a lot better than I anticipated,” said Nardella, a rising senior at ��ҹ�糡 majoring in Biochemistry. ”I’m finding that I’m a lot more comfortable in these situations than I used to be.”��

The camp also provided MCAT (Medical College Admission Test) preparation sessions and intensive interview sessions to prepare for next steps. There were also discussion panels with physicians, current med school students, and representatives from the admissions committees from the four South Carolina medical schools.����

The AnMed Pre-Med Boot Camp takes place annually in May. Information about the camp and an application can be found online here.��

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The American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE) named Dr. Donald Peace of the ��ҹ�糡 College of Health Professions to their Editorial Board. 

Peace, who serves as dean of the College of Health Professions, completed his three-year term as Regent for South Carolina to the Board of Governors of this organization in March, 2023.

The Healthcare Executive Editorial Board is composed of up to 15 ACHE members, healthcare executives, consultants and university program faculty. The members are appointed by the Board of Governors upon nomination by the ACHE Chair. The term of service is three years and is staggered. 

This committee is part of the Customer Voice/Requirements decision advisory group whose function is to provide ACHE staff with insight into key requirements for relevant content, valuable features and effective delivery of key programs, products and services. The insights of the committee will be shared with the decision advisory group (i.e. customer pillar) via an annual report. 

Specifically, the Healthcare Executive Editorial Board: 

• Gives direction in the development of future editorial calendars. 
• Provides feedback on the editorial quality of the magazine and its relevance to its readership. 
• Offers the names of potential authors and resources. 
• Recommends specific topics or lines of analysis within an issue. 
• Suggests new features or editorial innovations. 
• Evaluates the competitive position of the magazine in relationship to other publications. 

For more than 85 years, the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE) has focused on one mission—advancing leaders and the field of healthcare leadership excellence. ACHE is the professional home to more than 48,000 healthcare executives who are committed to integrity, lifelong learning, leadership and diversity and inclusion. 

With today’s rapidly-changing healthcare environment, ACHE remains more committed than ever to being the preeminent professional society leaders can count on to help them gain valuable knowledge to improve health for their patients and their communities. In addition, through an established network of 76 chapters, members have access to networking, education and career development at the local level. Members also can earn the prestigious, gold standard FACHE® credential, signaling board certification in healthcare management.

Through The Foundation of The American College of Healthcare Executives, excellence is advanced with ongoing research and education, including the annual Congress on Healthcare Leadership. Each year more than 4,000 participants gather to benefit from groundbreaking research and thought leadership, policy updates, and actionable innovations championed by their peers. The Foundation’s publishing division, Health Administration Press (HAP), is one of the largest publishers of books and journals on health services management, including textbooks for college and university courses. ACHE is also known for its magazine, Healthcare Executive.

ACHE is committed to educating, engaging and inspiring our members as they lead and serve hospitals, healthcare organizations and systems will never waver.

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The Pathologists’ Assistant program in the ��ҹ�糡 College of Health Professions, the first such program in the state and one of few in North America, is now a reality.

The Master of Medical Science in Pathologists’ Assistant (MMSPA) degree is only the sixteenth such program in North America.

The ��ҹ�糡 College of Health Professions sought to establish a pathologists’ assistant program following a request from a local clinical pathologist at a regional hospital stating that an urgent need exists for pathologists’ assistants.

Pathologists’ assistants work in the anatomic pathology laboratory of hospitals—the laboratory preparation of tissue samples, including comprehensive macroscopic examination of surgical tissues and postmortem examinations for final diagnosis by a pathologist. Additional work settings are pathology and dermatological labs and medical examiner’s offices.

According to Derek Nelson, who is the program’s director and the chair of the new School of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, becoming a pathologists’ assistant can be an attractive option for someone who has a desire to enter healthcare, without the extra expense and years of required education of other medical professions.

“Unfortunately with inflation and just the cost of education, it’s such a huge burden to bear, and most medical students are coming out with half a million dollars in student loan debt; then you’ve got to think about residencies as well,” Nelson said. “You’re working full time, but you’re not making what you would make as a physician. So you have to kind of calculate that into what you’re losing when it comes to your yearly salary.”

While pathologists’ assistants’ income isn’t as high as that of many physicians, Nelson says that the two-year accelerated program can lead to a job with a six figure salary. He adds that typical hours for pathologists’ assistants allow for a better work-life balance.

Aubrey Chinners loved sports and thought that, aside from playing, he could see himself in a healthcare role supporting athletics, like maybe an orthopedic surgeon. Following a year of medical school, he had a change of heart, but working alongside a pathologists’ assistant at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC), he started considering furthering his career in that setting. A doctor he worked with at MUSC knew about the new program ��ҹ�糡 was developing.

“When she heard about that program she let me know, and that’s why I was heavily considering this route, because before Anderson there were very few programs in the country,” Chinners said. “It’s kind of God’s plan in a way.”

Coming from a Criminal Justice background, Elizabeth Velandia entered the program after six years working as a death investigation specialist at the Georgia Bureau of Investigation medical examiner’s office. When she was going through school, she had never heard of pathologists’ assistants. One of her colleagues mentioned that career possibility. After she graduates, Velandia is open to opportunities outside of law enforcement—possibly in a surgical technician department of a hospital.

“I just want to be open because I feel like I may enjoy the surgical path more than forensics, Velandia said. “It’s nice being here in a program, you kind of have that flexibility that you know you all you can do surgical pathology, and then you can do forensic as well. But right now I’m open to just being able to complete this program and become a PA (pathologists’ assistant).”

Nelson feels that the program has gotten off to a great start. Work on preparing the Holdredge Bearwood Center, located off campus, is nearly complete and on campus there are facilities such as a cadaver lab to give Pathologists’ Assistant students what they need to be prepared for jobs in healthcare. Nelson points out that there are advantages to not being directly linked to a hospital, including competition with residents and physicians for tissue samples to study. He added that equipment such as the Anatomage table provides a digital platform for examining the tissue of a virtual cadaver. Many pathologists’ assistant programs do not have an Anatomage table, Nelson noted.

“The students can also access (the Anatomage) from home as well, so they can practice,” Nelson said. “We can create exams, quizzes, and they can quiz themselves, too. So I think that’s one of the great tools.”

“All of the faculty and staff, we’re just focused on just the PA program itself,” Nelson said. “We’re not trying to run a residency program and do a bunch of other things, we are just here for them. So I think that’s a really big positive for them as well.”

Chinners said, “I think overall it’s been a great experience, and I’ve been happy to be a part of that first group and maybe make things better for the groups to come after.”

“It’s an accelerated program… I knew it was going to be hard and difficult, and you’re getting a lot of material crammed into such a short amount of time,” Velandia said. “If we can get more people into this program, I think it would just be great.”

The ��ҹ�糡 College of Health Professions is where cutting-edge science and biblical compassion come together to meet the healthcare needs of the twenty-first century. Details about its programs can be found online.

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