School of Medicine Columbia May News and Notes
Catch up on the most recent news, notes, accomplishments and more from our School of Medicine Columbia family.
Congratulations to our 2025 Discover USC Award Winners
Several School of Medicine Columbia students earned poster awards for their presentation at Discover USC 2025. This year, over 3,300 presenters, mentors, reviewers, family and friends attended the annual event.
New USC clinic tackles mental health provider shortage in rural South Carolina
The University of South Carolina School of Medicine Columbia is opening a free mental health clinic to serve rural communities in Bamberg, Calhoun, Fairfield, Orangeburg and Chester counties. Launching this summer, the student-operated, faculty-supervised clinic will offer in-person and telehealth services to those with limited access to care.
USC's medical schools work to train, retain key players in medicine
A primary care doctor is a key player in patient care, but South Carolina is facing a doctor shortage. That’s why both USC’s School of Medicine Columbia and School of Medicine Greenville are prioritizing primary care, with an emphasis on family medicine, thanks to their deans, Dr. Gerald Harmon (Columbia) and Dr. Phyllis MacGilvray (Greenville).
McConnaughy Named Director of Library Services
Roz McConnaughy, a School of Medicine Columbia Library faculty member since 2001, has been named Director of Library Services.
Match Day Success for the MD Class of 2025
On Friday, March 21, medical students at the School of Medicine Columbia, and at medical schools across the country, celebrated as they learned where they matched for their residency appointment, signifying the next step in their career in medicine.
School of Medicine Columbia breaks ground on new facility at USC Health Sciences Campus
The University of South Carolina broke ground on a facility that will redefine the future of health care education and research during a ceremony on Tuesday, Feb. 25, at the site of its new School of Medicine Columbia.
Health Watch: Flossing for heart health and reducing stroke risk
Groundbreaking study led by USC Neurology Chair Dr. Souvik Sen uncovers key connection between flossing and stroke prevention.
Med students step up to fight childhood cancer
Future Leaders in Medicine teams with Curing Kids Cancer.
Nurse anesthetist Marcia Iszard has the caretaker gene
School of Medicine Columbia assistant professor is working to increase the impact of her profession as president of the South Carolina Association of Nurse Anesthetists.
Inaugural Healthcare Continuing Education Professionals Day
January 24, 2025, marks the inaugural Healthcare Continuing Education Professionals Day. Learn more about our CME team.
The Neuroscience of Sleep
Ana Pocivavsek researches maternal sleep quality and lasting impacts on brain development and cognition
New Faculty Spotlight: Paul Toriello
From personal struggle to professional success, Paul Toriello on leading innovation and the future of technology in health care.
Velazquez Named Cancer Moonshot Scholar
University of South Carolina School of Medicine Columbia researcher Kandy Velazquez, PhD, is one of 11 early-career researchers and research teams to be named to the second cohort of Cancer Moonshot Scholars.
Bringing Hope Home: A Pharmacologist's Role in His Wife's Cancer Treatment
October is nationally recognized as Breast Cancer Awareness Month, bringing attention to a disease that will affect more than 360,000 people this year alone--a statistic deeply familiar to Randolph "Randy" Johnson, PhD, a School of Medicine Columbia alum, whose wife of 44 years, Charlyn, was diagnosed in 2008.
Grice, Kauffman win Outstanding Medical Student Poster at Prisma Research Showcase
School of Medicine Columbia second-year medical students Emma Grice and Cecily Kauffman won outstanding medical student poster at the Prisma Research Showcase in Greenville, S.C., for their project titled New Diagnosis HIV linkage to care evaluation in Southeastern United States: A retrospective cohort study.
Wenceslau Receives 2024 Pete Cala Physiology Award for Research Excellence
Camilla Ferreira Wenceslau, PhD, was the recipient of the 2024 Pete Cala Physiology Award for Research Excellence. This award honors the remarkable legacy of Pete Cala, PhD, the former chair of the Department of Physiology and Membrane Biology at the University of California, Davis.
School of Medicine Columbia Celebrates 2024 Award Recipients
Take an inside look at our 2024 Awards celebration, held on a beautiful fall evening in the courtyard of our VA campus. Seventeen individuals were recognized for their contributions to the health care field and their service to the University of South Carolina School of Medicine Columbia.
Clinical Practice Teaching Award winner: Dr. Sara Lindsey
Dr. Sara Lindsey, a clinical assistant professor of pediatrics, helps School of Medicine students prepare for bedside care by guiding them in the classroom and during their clinical rotations.
USC partners with health systems and patients to address chronic illness care across S.C.
Health science researchers from the University of South Carolina are taking a new approach to address chronic health conditions and reduce patient hardships across the state.
First renderings of USC's Brain Health Center unveiled
Forthcoming center will serve as the hub of the Brain Health Network.
Doctor, scientist, teacher, mom
Dr. Anna Hoppmann opens up about her many hats and the importance of mentorship and teamwork.
USC health science researchers play critical role in first-ever S.C. pediatric cancer report
A new report led by the state Department of Public Health provides a comprehensive look at the burden of childhood cancer in the Palmetto State over the past 25 years. University of South Carolina health science researchers played a critical role in developing the report; additional partners include the South Carolina Children’s Hospital Collaborative and the South Carolina Cancer Alliance.
Awards Event Information
Seventeen individuals will be recognized for their contributions to the health care field and their service to the University of South Carolina School of Medicine Columbia at the 2024 Alumni and Dean's Distinguished Service Awards Ceremony and Reception, which will be held on Thursday, Oct. 17, from 6-8 p.m., at the School of Medicine Columbia's VA campus in the Building 3 courtyard. Other award categories include the William C. Gillespie Staff Recognition Award and the Award for Advancement of Women in Science and Medicine.
Fierce names Kevin Bennett, Ph.D., as one of its Fierce 50 Honorees of 2024
Fierce Life Sciences and Fierce Healthcare have named Kevin Bennett, Ph.D., as one of 2024’s Fierce 50 honorees. The Fierce 50 showcases 50 individuals and companies driving advancements in medicine, fostering innovation, and shaping the future of biopharma and healthcare. Bennett has received a nomination in the “Health Equity” category.