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HSSC receives state chamber's vision award Health Sciences South Carolina (HSSC), a public-private partnership between South Carolina’s research universities and largest health systems, was presented with the Palmetto Vision Award Nov. 3 at the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce’s 26th Annual Summit in Greenville. HSSC—also known as the “Collaborative”—received the award for its vision of using health sciences research to drive advances in the economic well-being and health status of South Carolina.   Current South Carolina Chamber of Commerce Chairman Mack Whittle, chairman and CEO of Carolina First, and incoming Chamber Chairman Emerson Gower, vice president, Progress Energy, presented individual awards to the leaders of HSSC’s six member organizations: James Barker, president, Clemson University; Frank Pinckney, president and CEO, Greenville Hospital System; Ray Greenberg, M.D., Ph.D., president, MUSC; Kester Freeman, CEO, Palmetto Health; Ingo Angermeier, president and CEO, Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System; and Andrew Sorensen, Ph.D., president, University of South Carolina (USC).   Whittle cited the uniqueness of the HSSC collaboration and the partners’ ability to look beyond regional boundaries to enact change.   “There’s one thing that South Carolina doesn’t lack and that’s pride; whether it’s college football teams, our history or our beautiful cities and towns,” Whittle said. “We’re also a very competitive state, and sometimes find ourselves competing with one another. Yet here is a case where the state’s top research universities and largest health systems have set aside pride and competitive differences to advance the economic well-being of our state. For their vision, Health Sciences South Carolina is recognized as the recipient of the 2005 Palmetto Vision Award.   “By pooling resources—financial, intellectual, bricks and mortar—Health Sciences South Carolina has succeeded in laying the foundation for a knowledge-based economy. Equally impressive, in just 19 months the Collaborative has established three Economic Centers of Excellence; assisted in the integration of MUSC’s and USC’s colleges of pharmacy into a stronger statewide entity with greater capacity to educate and train pharmacists; and is leading the development of three research campuses in Charleston, Columbia and Greenville. The progress being made by Health Sciences South Carolina in our state is truly amazing,”   HSSC was established in April 2004 by the Greenville Hospital System, MUSC, Palmetto Health and USC with the idea of using health sciences research to advance economic development and improve public health in the state. In May, Clemson University and Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System joined the Collaborative. Each organization pledged to invest $2 million per year for 10 years, a potential investment of $120 million. These funds are eligible for a one-to-one state match through the South Carolina Research Centers of Economic Excellence Act, also known as the Endowed Chairs Program, bringing the potential investment in health sciences research to $240 million.   South Carolina Speaker of the House Bobby Harrell helped author the Endowed Chairs Program and is an outspoken advocate.   Congratulating HSSC on the award, Harrell said, “It is gratifying to see this important piece of legislation being used exactly as it was intended, to foster economic growth through research. Health Sciences South Carolina has proved to be a tremendous catalyst for change. Their actions are helping to jumpstart the state’s all-important transformation to a knowledge-based economy. In the process, Health Sciences South Carolina is setting the stage for better paying jobs and a lower unemployment rate, two things South Carolina especially needs.”   An integral part of the HSSC vision is improving the health status of South Carolinians, an area where the state also needs help. The partners made a conscious effort to focus on clinical research that will bring new treatments and technologies to patient bedsides more quickly. HSSC is addressing immediate needs such as providing clinical training for physicians, nurses, pharmacists and other health professions in high demand and short supply.   “Health Sciences South Carolina is the right organization at the right time,” said Thornton Kirby, executive director, South Carolina Hospital Association, the state’s largest advocacy group for hospitals. “Hospitals and universities have long provided a solid economic foundation for our state. It’s exciting to see hospitals and universities working in such close partnership to transform South Carolina’s economy.”   This is only the second year for the Palmetto Vision Award, which recognizes contributions made by public-private partnerships to advance a knowledge-based economy in South Carolina. Last year’s winner was Clemson-ICAR, a research and innovation campus dedicated to advancing automotive engineering and design.     Friday, Nov. 11, 2005 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 petersnd@musc.edu or catalyst@musc.edu. To place an ad in The Catalyst hardcopy, call Community Press at 849-1778.