The camp, held June 15-17 at 91������, showcased what it takes to become a nurse, spotlighting the fundamentals of nursing, patient safety and medical terminology. Campers were further introduced to health assessment, vital signs, and importantly, communicating and collaborating as a team. In essence, Camp Nurse Life was designed to give participants a real-life view into the world or nursing, incorporating activities in the skills and simulations areas of the 91������ School of Nursing. ��

Dr. Cindy Cross, associate dean of the 91������ College of Health Professions and chief nursing administrator, sees nursing as a calling to fulfill God’s greatest commandment to �ĜLove your neighbor as yourself,” found in Mark 12:31. ��

“Everything that makes a great nurse—compassion, presence, advocacy, and courage—flows from this commandment,” says Dr. Cross. “Nurses are neighbors honoring those in need with unwavering compassion and resilience while being steadfast in service and nursing excellence. Nursing excellence is providing the best possible care to all who needed it. Nursing excellence is a true act of love.” ��

Assistant Professor of Nursing Cindy Swaney and Dr. Cross developed the camp to help high school students who are investigating the nursing profession learn the skills involved working in the field. It’s also an opportunity for high schoolers to get a taste of college life. Students in the camp got to meet with the Office of Admission staff. They also experienced lunch in the 91������ Culinary Center, where they were joined by students attending other camps on campus.��

Before Camp Nurse Life was done, the students took a class for CPR certification, courtesy of the American Heart Association. Dr. Cross commented that learning CPR is something they can take with them and potentially save the life of a friend, a family member, or somebody they encounter in need.��

Dr. Cross and Swaney say that enrollment goals of the camp have been exceeded, and that the camp resonates with the 91������ pillar of Great Purpose.��

“In the��beginning, we only did 20 spots, and that filled up the��first��week. Every week we upgraded that number. Finally, we��had��to��cap��it at 45 because we only��have��48 seats.��So��43 out of the 45 showed up on Monday and that same 43��has continued��today,” Swaney said. “We’ve��been��concentrating on communication and teamwork. They’ve gotten to see the simulation. Everybody got a stethoscope in their bag; we’ve learned how to use the stethoscope��to hear��respirations��and we even had an experience in the emergency room.”��

“My personal goal of the camp was to make it informative,” Dr. Cross said. “They are getting a birds-eye view of what we do so they can make an informed decision if nursing is really for them.”��

Lexi Burriss, a rising senior from Pendleton, feels God has led her to pursue a nursing career. She enthusiastically recommends Camp Nurse Life to others.��

“I’ve been loving all the communication and the teamwork aspects of this,��because as a nurse, you are��going to��be caring for a patient by yourself, but maybe you need someone to help you transfer (a patient)��or you need advice from somebody,” said��Burriss. “Teamwork is a big part of��nursing��and I love how��they’reincorporating that.”��

With many family members working in healthcare, Ben Broome, a rising senior from Rock Hill, was encouraged to take part in the camp by his sister, who is a nursing major at Anderson. ��

“The sim labs have been cool to see and I learned how to give a manual blood pressure,” Broome said. “The professors and ladies running this camp have been helpful and hands-on with us trying to make sure we’re making the right decision in choosing nursing.”��

When Amelia Freel, a camper from Middleburg, Florida and a rising senior, was seeking a nursing camp, family members in the Anderson area suggested she look into what AU offered. ��

“Growing up, I �ɲ�����’t really sure what I wanted to do,” Freel said. “I learned in church that I really wanted to serve others like Christ… I wanted something where I could impact people more than just working a regular office job.”��

Dr. Cross continued, �ĜWe were so excited to see so many students come from so many different places. We hope that we have sparked an interest in them becoming nurses, and that they walk away with an understanding of what it truly means to be a nurse. Nursing to me is a calling to love and specifically love our neighbor.” ��

College of Health Professions Dean Dr. Donald Peace said, “Our inaugural Summer Nursing Bootcamp has made a significant impact, welcoming 43 enthusiastic attendees��who gained valuable insights into the nursing profession. Our dedicated nursing faculty and staff have done an outstanding job delivering an exceptional,hands-on experience that exceeded expectations and fostered meaningful connections. This initiative not only highlights the strength of our program but also positions us to identify and inspire the next generation of AU nursing students.” ��

Dr. Cross is grateful to clinical partners from AnMed and Self Regional hospitals, whose nursing staff members met with the campers to��offer insights into nurse-patient interactions not possible otherwise.��

 �ĜI’m thankful for each student who��came, each faculty member who has poured into them. And we are looking forward to doing it again next year,” Dr. Cross said.��

For details on future camps, email cswaney@andersonuniversity.edu.��

The post New Camp Introduces High Schoolers to the World of Nursing  appeared first on 91������.

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 91������ 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 91������ 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 91������ 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 91������ 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 91������ 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.”��

91������ 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.”��

91������ 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.��

��

The post Upstate Pre-Med Boot Camp Helps Students Gain Advantage Entering Medical School appeared first on 91������.

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 91������ at 3031 N. Highway 81, Anderson, South Carolina.��

The Pathologists’ Assistant program is hosted by the 91������ School of Clinical Laboratory Sciences.��

The post Art and Science Intersect: Creativity Displayed at Bearwood appeared first on 91������.

The Council provides advice and counsel to the Board of Governors and is responsible for electing the Board and its Chair. Through the Council’s support, the Board steers the national organization and carries out ACHE’s mission to advance its members and healthcare leadership excellence.

Dr. Peace began his term on Feb. 28, 2026, during the Council of Regents meeting held in conjunction with ACHE’s Congress on Healthcare Leadership. ��Peace will represent ACHE’s membership in Region District 2.

Board certified in healthcare management as an ACHE Fellow,��Dr. Peace serves as Dean of the College of Health Professions and Professor of Healthcare Administration and Human Services at 91������, a role he has held since 2015. With over 49 years of experience as a clinician, healthcare executive, and educator, he has served at leading institutions including Ty Cobb Memorial Hospital (now St. Mary’s-Lavonia, GA), St. Francis Hospital (Columbus, GA), Athens Regional Hospital (now Piedmont Health-Athens), Georgia Baptist Hospital (Atlanta, GA), AnMed Health, and academically at South University (Savannah, GA), and 91������ (Anderson, South Carolina).

A Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE), Dr. Peace currently serves as Regent for his second three-year term (2026-2029) (2019-2022) and on the South Carolina Chapter Board of Directors. He previously served as President of the SC Chapter of ACHE as well as multiple committees of the board. He serves the ACHE on the national level on the Editorial Board of Healthcare Executive professional publication as well as other national committees.

Dr. Peace is a Board Chair of Hospice of the Upstate, Anderson, SC and serves on the AnMed Health Ethics Committee. He recently completed ten years of service on the Anderson United Way Board where he served on multiple committees as well as Chair of the Board.

Dr. Peace holds a Ph.D. in Human Services (Health Care Administration) from Capella University, an M.S. in Administration (Health Services) from Central Michigan University, and undergraduate clinical degrees from Columbus State University and Thomas Edison State College.

About the American College of Healthcare Executives
The��American College of Healthcare Executives��is an international professional society of 53,000 healthcare executives who lead hospitals, healthcare systems and other healthcare organizations. ACHE’s mission is to advance our members and healthcare management excellence. ACHE offers its prestigious FACHE^®��credential, signifying board certification in healthcare management. ACHE’s established network of 75 chapters provides access to networking, education and career development at the local level. In addition, ACHE is known for its magazine,��Healthcare Executive, and its career development and public policy programs. Through such efforts, ACHE works toward its vision of being the preeminent professional society for leaders dedicated to improving health.��The Foundation of the American College of Healthcare Executives��was established to further advance healthcare management excellence through education and research. The Foundation of ACHE is known for its educational programs—including the annual Congress on Healthcare Leadership, which draws more than 6,000 participants—and groundbreaking research. Its publishing division, ACHE Learn, is one of the largest publishers of books and journals on health services management, including textbooks for college and university courses.

The post Dean of 91������ College of Health Professions Elected to National Council appeared first on 91������.

Pictured at the presentation of a $50,000 grant from��Power:Ed��to support the Upstate Pre-Med Bootcamp program at 91������, 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 91������, 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 91������ 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 91������ 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 91������ 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 91��������

91������ 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. 91������ 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.����

The post AnMed and 91������ Receive Grant Funding for Pre-Med Bootcamp appeared first on 91������.

The Elite Therapy Solutions Physical Therapy Student Tuition Assistance Program is designed to support 91������ 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 91��������physical��therapy students and covers the full cost of tuition for Year 3 of the 91��������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 91������. ��

• 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 91������’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 91������ 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 91������ to encourage excellence in orthopedic physical therapy.  ��

The post Tuition Assistance Program for 91������ Students Pursuing Orthopedic Physical Therapy  appeared first on 91������.

Hope Missions’ Foot Washing Clinic officially launched recently in partnership with 91������ 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 91������—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 91������ and looks forward to seeing this partnership continue to bless their guests and the students. Hope Missions’ website is��.��

The post Feet First: Nursing Majors Provide Compassionate Care for Hope Missions Guests appeared first on 91������.

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 91������ 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 91������ College of Health Professions. Details about the program can be found online here.��

The post Pathologists’ Assistant Program Receives NAACLS Accreditation appeared first on 91������.

Each year, 91������ 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, 91������ 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 91������ campus and in the facilities of AnMed. During May, 24 students came from all over South Carolina—from 91������ 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 91������, 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 91������ 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 91������ 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.��

The post Pre Med Bootcamp at 91������ Prepares Future Physicians to Meet Growing Need appeared first on 91������.

Powell, who graduated from the 91������ College of Arts and Sciences with her BS in biology and a minor in biomedical sciences, came to Anderson from her hometown of Johnsonville, South Carolina.��

Powell credits her parents for inspiring her career path, particularly her dad, who has worked in various areas of healthcare. She recalls when she was in high school having a conversation with one of her cousins who graduated from AU and currently teaches at Westside High School in Anderson.����

“She loved it and talked so highly about it, so I told my parents ‘Let me try Anderson. Let me go do a tour there.’ We went up one weekend and I just absolutely fell in love with it,” Powell said. “Coming from a small town, I graduated with 68 people, I think, and so having a smaller class size was really one of the reasons I chose to go there. I wanted to have a more personal relationship with my professors. I also grew up in church, so I knew the Christian atmosphere of it was something I wanted to do.”��

Powell initially investigated the possibility of entering medical school to become a forensic pathologist but felt that a four-year program �ɲ�����’t right for her. She then heard that the 91������ College of Health Professions was establishing the School of Clinical Laboratory Science, which houses the new��Pathologists’ Assistant program. She felt led to enroll.��

“I’ve always wanted to look at the pathologist side of the medical world. I started looking into it and was liking what I was hearing—it’s a two-year program, there’s surgical pathology, you can do autopsies, you can teach—there are a lot of possibilities with the career itself,” Powell said. “I decided this is what I want to do, so I shadowed the medical examiner for Anderson County and then I shadowed a surgical pathologist at AnMed. I just fell in love with it and figured out that’s what I wanted to do. Ever since then, I’ve been on that goal… When I shadowed the surgical pathologist at AnMed I just fell in love with it. I’ve always loved being in the lab so I think I’m going to do something like that with it.”��

Powell feels that her undergraduate program at Anderson prepared her well for the Pathologists’ Assistant program and meshes well with the courses she’s now taking.��

“I took anatomy and physiology in my undergrad and had to take another anatomy in this program now. It was a lot more in depth because as a pathologists’ assistant you’ve got to know your anatomy well, but it prepared me for that and then this next semester we’re taking micro and immunology.”��

Powell also feels blessed to learn from Dr. Nnenna Igwe, who directs the AU College of Health Professions’ Cadaver Lab, in both her undergraduate and graduate studies.����

“Not a lot of undergraduate degrees have cadaver labs, so that lab being at Anderson is super helpful and just solidifying that this is what I want to do for the rest of my life. Dr. Igwe has been a big inspiration. We’ve all learned from her and she’s an amazing teacher.”��

With more coursework and clinicals down the road, Powell is considering whether to go into hospital work but is open to various opportunities.����

Outside of her classes, Powell enjoys hanging out with her friends and going to athletic events.��

“It’s overall a great family atmosphere. Lots of relationships I’ve formed over the years—that’s my biggest thing,” said Powell, adding that she also leads a group of high school girls at Concord Baptist Church, which she attends.��

“Most of my time is either spent at school or it’s spent at church,” she said. “Other than that, just hobby wise, I love going to downtown Anderson, looking at the shops and going to the coffee shops.”��

“Chloe is an amazing student,” said Professor Julie Bostick. “She loves AU and is doing very well in our program.”��

The post Biology Graduate Continues Professional Path at Anderson appeared first on 91������.