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Nurse receives first, only endowed chair Carolyn Jenkins, Ph.D., College of Nursing professor and principal investigator for Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health 2010 (REACH 2010), became the first and only nurse in South Carolina to receive an endowed chair. The Ann Darlington Edwards Endowed Chair in Nursing was announced May 8 at the Wickliffe House.   The Ann Darlington Edwards Endowed Chair in Nursing was funded through private donations, and is named in honor of Ann Edwards, former first lady of South Carolina and MUSC, and a retired registered nurse.   “We are excited to be appointing the very first nursing endowed chair in South Carolina and are particularly pleased that it honors Mrs. Ann Edwards, whose support of the College of Nursing has been inspiring on so many levels with her many contributions to both nursing and the state,” said Gail Stuart, Ph.D., College of Nursing dean. “Yet another type of inspiration is reflected in the work of Dr. Jenkins. Her work in communities throughout this state and region gives new meaning to the notion of community partnerships, community outreach and community empowerment. With the appointment of Dr. Jenkins as South Carolina’s only endowed chair in nursing, I believe we are providing visibility and recognition not only to her work, but also to the incredible contribution all nurses make to the health of our citizens.”   Dr. Carolyn Jenkins The endowed chair position will allow Jenkins to pursue her own research, with a focus on the MUSC College of Nursing Caring for the Community Initiative, which emphasizes caring for vulnerable populations through the formation of community partnerships. Jenkins brings more than 30 years of community outreach experience to the position, including a $1 million community research project sponsored by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Eli Lilly, and The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Throughout her career, Jenkins has leveraged more than $7 million to improve community health.   As principal investigator for REACH 2010, Jenkins’ goal is to reduce racial disparities for African-Americans with diagnosed diabetes in Charleston and Georgetown counties. The million-dollar grant, funded by the CDC, is aimed at reducing diabetic disparities in the African-American community through education, activism, and outreach. Jenkins is considered a leader in the field of community outreach and diabetes research, as evidenced by her numerous awards and honors including recent recognition by the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control as the recipient of the Minority Health Distinguished Leadership Award. Jenkins also was one of 20 individuals recognized nationwide by Howard University as an Emerging Nurse Star in Health Disparities Research.   Jenkins received her nursing degree from Rutgers University, her master’s of science in nursing degree from MUSC, and her doctorate in health promotion and research from the University of South Carolina. She has devoted her career to working with communities to improve health outcomes related to diabetes and its complications, with a focus on reducing racial disparities and creating effective academic-community partnerships. Two of her major activities are the statewide South Carolina Diabetes Initiative for which she serves as the director of Outreach; and Charleston’s Enterprise/MUSC Neighborhood Health Program, which she founded in 1995. All of her projects involve individuals from the highest levels of state and local governments, professionals, students, and grass roots community residents.   “I  am truly honored to fill the Ann Darlington Edwards  endowed chair. The endowed chair will help the college, MUSC, and our community to address and reduce disparities related to diabetes and its complications. Mrs. Edwards has worked so hard to improve health for all South Carolinians and I will continue to expand research and services to improve the health of our citizens," Jenkins said.     Friday, June 10, 2006 Catalyst Online is published weekly, updated as needed and improved from time to time by the MUSC Office of Public Relations for the faculty, employees and students of the Medical University of South Carolina. Catalyst Online editor, Kim Draughn, can be reached at 792-4107 or by email, catalyst@musc.edu. Editorial copy can be submitted to Catalyst Online and to The Catalyst in print by fax, 792-6723, or by email to catalyst@musc.edu. To place an ad in The Catalyst hardcopy, call Island Publication at 849-1778, ext. 201.