History of AOA of South Carolina's Beta Chapter
 

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 The University of South Carolina's School of Medicine is one of the most recent medical schools established in the United States. In 1975, recruitment of faculty and curriculum planning began and in 1976, the School received provisional accreditation from the Liaison Committee on Medical Education of the American Medical Association and the Association of American Medical Colleges. In February 1977, the School was granted approval for admission of the first class of 24 medical students in the fall of this year. Since 1977, the class size has tripled and currently approximately 300 medical students are enrolled in the four-year program.
  The Charter Class graduated in May on 1981, at which time the School of Medicine was fully accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education. Drs. Ronald V. Wade (OB/GYN) and Donald E. Saunders, Jr. (Cardiology/Internal Medicine) were asked by Dean Roderick MacDonald to seek the establishment a chapter of AOA at USC. In January of 1983, through their hard-work and perseverance, the Charter for the South Carolina Beta Chapter of AOA was granted. Dr. Wade was nominated at Councilor and Dr. Saunders served as the Secretary/Treasurer of the new Chapter. The first induction banquet was held in May of 1983 and inductees included members of the classes of 1981 and 1982.
  In 1986, Dr. Saunders assumed the role as Councilor and Dr. O'Neil Barrett served as Secretary/Treasurer. The Chapter received eight video tapes of "Leaders in American Medicine" donated from the AOA National archives.
  In 1994, the "Evening on Doctoring" formerly known as "The Hippocratic Oath Ceremony" was begun as an AOA student project in conjunction with the Student Government Association. It continues to serve as a venue for students to express their personal experiences during their medical education. Students describe some of their most personal moments during their pursuit of becoming a doctor. Quotes, short stories, guest speakers and musical displays are incorporated to make this a meaningful event in medical students' journey to becoming a doctor. The event has traditionally occurred the day before graduation.
  In 1999, Dr. Friedman was nominated to serve as Councilor and Dr. Derrick as Secretary/Treasurer.
  To this day, there are 301 community and faculty members and twelve students serving in the South Carolina Beta Chapter.
 
  Throughout its history, the Chapter has upheld the principles upon which the AOA organization was founded. It elects members based upon a list of the top 25% by G.P.A., involvement in student office and positions in extracurricular activities. Personal characteristics and faculty observations weigh a strong 20% in the selection process. Traits including: leadership, fairness in dealing with colleagues, compassion, integrity and service to the school and community are reviewed during the selection process. Currently, three third year medical students and nine fourth year students are elected into the organization annually.
 
  The annual induction banquet takes place the week of graduation. It is open to all members of the community, including students, residents, faculty and retirees of the medical profession. A wide variety of speakers has made this event a wonderful experience for the newly inducted students and brings together the community. The following is a list of the previous Induction Banquet Speakers:
     
  1982 Oscar A. Thorup, MD
  1983 Eugene A Stead, Jr., MD
  1984 James V. Warren, MD
  1985 H. Rawling Pratt-Thomas, MD
  1986 James R. Stallworth, MD
  1987 Robert M. Sade, MD
  1988 Edward R. Annis, MD, past presiden of AMA.
  1989 Seymore T. Swartz, MD, Professor and Chair of Surgery, University of Rochester
  1990 Edward W. Hook, MD, Professor of Medicine at UVA
  1991 G. William Bates, MD, Vice President of Greenville Hospital
  1992 Douglas McDonald, PhD, Professor of Philosophy, Furman University
  1993 J. Richard Sosnowski, MD, MUSC
  1994 Roy Menninger, MD, The Menninger Clinic
  1995 Einar W. Anderson, MD. USC
  1997 Richard Hoppmann, MD, USCSM
  1998 Jim C. Chow, MD, USCSM
  1999 B. Lewis Burnett, Jr., MD, UVA, Family Practice
  2000 Story Musgrave, MD
  2001 James Edwards, DDS
 
Awards are presented during the Induction Banquet to faculty, alumni and volunteer faculty selected by the students of AOA and the graduating class.
 
  Faculty Inductees
  1982

Oscar A. Thorup, MD

  1983 Roderick Macdonald, Jr., M.D.
  1984 C. Warren Derrick, Jr., M.D.
  1985 William L. Poteat, Ph.D.
  1986 O'Neill Barrett, Jr., M.D.
  1987 James R. Stallworth, M.D.
  1988 S. Terrell Smith, M.D.
  1989 James R. Augustine, Ph.D.
  1990 Thomas M. McCullough, M.D.
  1991 Harold I. Friedman, M.D., Ph.D.
  1992 Charles S. Bryan, M.D.
  1993 Richard A. Hoppmann, M.D.
  1994 Gerald N. Olsen, M.D.
  1995 None selected
  1996 Larry R. Faulkner, M.D.
  1997 Craig Davis, Ph.D.
  1998 Michael Shawn Stinson, M.D.
  1999 Nancy Anne Richeson, M.D.
  2000 None selected
  2001 Joshua Thornhill, M.D.
  2002 Jamee Lucas, M.D.
 
  Alumni Inductees
  1997 C. Dorn Smith, M.D., Class of 1985 USCSM
  1998 Elizabeth G. Baxley, M.D., Class of 1984 USCSM
  1999 None selected
  2000 C. Scott Lamar, M.D., Class of 1991 USCSM
  2001 March Seabrook, M.D.
 
  VOLUNTEER CLINICAL FACULTY AWARD
  1999 J. Daniel Love, Jr., M.D.
  2000 Charles N. Still, M.D.
  2001 James Wells, M.D.
  2002 O'Neil Humphries, M.D.
 
  As the Chapter continues to grow, so does its influence in the medical community. The program "Role Models for Medicine" was established in 1997 with the help of the Schools' Assistant Dean of Admissions, Dr. Robert Sabalis. This is a program in which students from high schools around the state come to learn more about medical school and a career in medicine. It is held twice annually and typically has over 200 high school students and guidance counselors attending. Participants are given a 20-30 minute lecture addressing the medical school experience and the process of becoming a physician (from high school, to college, to the four years of medical school and residency training). After lunch, the students are split into groups and attend mini-presentations given by the AOA student members. These sessions include: pathology, radiology, physiology, anatomy, suturing, and the human brain. Students receive the opportunity to ask questions of medical students and faculty throughout the day. It has become a wonderful encouraging experience for all who attend.
  In the year 2000, a desire to interact with other chapters led to the development of the Medical Jeopardy competition. The idea for the competition was founded by the AOA councilor at the Medical University of South Carolina, Dr. Gabe Virella. Questions were solicited from students and faculty for the game during the spring and compiled by a designated AOA student. The competition location varies each year from the Medical University of South Carolina to the University of South Carolina. The past participating chapters include: the Medical University of South Carolina, the University of South Carolina and the Medical College of Georgia. Three fourth-year medical students and one third-year student comprise the teams sent to the competition. In 2000, the Medical University of South Carolina won by 700 points. In 2001, the University of South Carolina won by one point. A plaque is awarded to the winner of the event and currently resides in the medical student lounge at the University of South Carolina.
  The Medical Jeopardy competition between students was such a success, that the members of the Chapter decided to challenge the faculty. In 2000, a team of three student members selects three faculty members to face in the competition. The 2001 team faced off against Drs. Gerald Olsen, Nancy Richeson, and Shawn Stinson. The students prevailed by two points. It was a terrific opportunity to have fun, learn a little and enjoy the favorite faculty of the class.
  Thank you for visiting the South Carolina Beta Chapter of AOA.
 
   
 

Contact Megan Howard at mhoward@med.sc.edu for more information.