FINANCE

Patients can view statements online Patients may view their University Medical Associates  and/or Carolina Family Care statements online by visiting and registering with http://musc.bhawk.com. Patients also may access via MUSC’s new Web site, click on Patients & Care Providers, then Billing and then “Pay our UMA bills online.” Feb. 27

Donation creates elite endowed chair MUSC has one of only two international ophthalmology chairs in the country thanks to a large gift from longtime Storm Eye Institute patient and donor Bruce G. Pratt, DVM. March 20

NSF announces $20M research award to S.C. The National Science Foundation (NSF) awarded South Carolina $20 million to establish a statewide alliance in the field of tissue biofabrication, which could lead to the production of human organs. July 31

Giving sets new record, bucks national trends Donations to MUSC grew to $70.9 million in gifts and pledges during fiscal year 2009, defying national trends and setting a new record in philanthropic giving to the university. Aug. 7

MUSC awarded almost $29M in stimulus funds MUSC successfully competed for and was awarded $28.7 million in economic stimulus funding through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Oct. 9

GROWTH
East Cooper clinic welcomes patients, MUSC employees As neighborhoods develop farther from the main campus, the Department of Family Medicine extended its reach to make medical care accessible and convenient to MUSC employees and patients who live in these outlying areas. Feb. 6

New scanner adapts to overweight patients Research involving 200 patients at Ashley River Tower began using the new Siemens Somatom Definition AS 128-slice CT scanner. Feb. 20

New MUSC cellular therapy center expands, improves transplants A new and unique facility at MUSC uses a patient’s own cells to perform life-saving procedures while erasing the problem of rejection and reducing the need for full organ transplants. March 27

Cardiac Rehabilitation settles into new space Heart patients who exercise to help recover from surgery and former patients who seek to maintain better health have access to a bigger, better MUSC Cardiac Rehabilitation facility. June 12

PEOPLE
‘I fully expected to die’ It was supposed to be a trip typical of the ones fourth-year medical students take when searching for medical residency program positions across the country. But for Andrew Jamison, 26, the trip to the Big Apple to interview for a residency spot ended Jan. 15 in the freezing cold water of New York’s Hudson River. Jan. 30

More than $175,000 raised to help employees The MUSC Employee Furlough Relief Fund raised $175, 829.48 in gifts and pledges, which will be distributed to furloughed employees who make less than $40,000 per year, according to university officials. Feb. 6

Board approves renaming building for first provost MUSC Board of Trustees voted to name its education center and library in memory of the school’s first provost and vice president of academic affairs, James W. Colbert Jr., M.D. The dedication was held April 10. April 3

Interim dean accepts permanent position The College of Health Professions officially named Lisa Saladin, Ph.D., as its executive associate dean and chair of the Department of Health Professions. Saladin had been serving as the interim dean since July 2008. July 3

Closing the Gap wins two national Health Information Awards Closing The Gap in Healthcare Inc., a program established by MUSC alumnus and faculty member Thaddeus Bell, M.D., was the winner of a silver and bronze award in the 16th Annual National Health Information Awards. Aug. 7

New chair poised to steer division's growth At a low-key July 1 event, John S. Ikonomidis,  M.D., Ph.D., as if on cue, stepped forward into the spotlight to officially take the reigns of leadership from his mentor and long-time surgery division chief and chairman Fred Crawford, M.D. Ikonomidis is MUSC’s new chief of cardiothoracic surgery and Horace G. Smithy Professor of Surgery. Sept. 25

Children's support agency honors MUSC pediatric professor Helping And Lending Outreach Support Inc., a Charleston agency serving abused and neglected children, honored Sara Schuh, M.D., with the Eve Spratt Award for her lifetime of work on behalf of abused and neglected children in a ceremony Oct. 1. Oct. 23

SERVICE
Women speak up on health blog What began as a way to alert visitors and employees to the various services offered by the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and the Perinatal Service Line has blossomed into a repository and forum on important women’s health information. Jan. 16

MUSC aids rare sea turtle suffering from head injury Myrtle was swimming along, minding his own business when something badly banged up his head last fall. The 6-pound Kemp’s Ridley turtle would have died without his rescue and treatment by MUSC and the Sea Turtle Hospital of the South Carolina Aquarium in Charleston. March 27

Hospital food moves to order-on-demand Sizzling chicken, beef or vegetable fajitas served with a tossed salad and angel food cake or sherbet for dessert. These and other meals can be enjoyed anytime by patients in MUSC’s Ashley River Tower. April 10

MUSC selected as state lead center of excellence Chosen among the nation's top institutions for neurological care, MUSC will serve as the state's lead in the Sarah Jane Brain Project. June 5

Click to keep flu at bay MUSC students and employees with flu-like illnesses can  assess their symptoms without leaving home. Visit http://www.musc.edu/h1n1. Oct. 9

New device treats complicated tumors Radiation Oncology and Neurosciences now have a non-invasive device that will allow them to treat patients with benign and malignant tumors in the head and neck using a precise dose of radiation. Nov. 20

QUALITY
Hospitals seeks to eliminate preventable infections In an effort to reduce avoidable deaths, patient harm and health care costs, all 65 acute care hospitals in South Carolina have agreed to work toward eliminating preventable health-care-associated infections (HAIs) to improve patient care and safely reduce associated costs. Feb. 27

Hollings Cancer Center awarded cancer institute designation The Hollings Cancer Center attained National Cancer Institute designation, a distinction held by only 63 other cancer centers in the United States, and the only such institution in the state. March 6

Program receives statewide recycling award MUSC’s Sustainability Program was named the 2008 Outstanding College or University Waste Reduction and Recycling Program by the S. C. Department of Health and Environmental Control on March 3. March 27

Dining services to undergo renovation MUSC Dietary Services started its multi-phased renovation of its cafeteria and dining room. The renovation reflects MUSC and Sodexo’s effort to improve food service for MUSC employees, students, patients and visitors. May 1

HCC receives accreditation for breast cancer program MUSC's Hollings Cancer Center received accreditation from the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers. Oct. 30

Obituaries
William Hazzard Barnwell II, M.D., a retired MUSC cardiologist and professor, died Feb. 6. Feb. 13

Ronald Lee Ford, known as “Big Man” to all of his co-workers, died May 5.  He worked as a kitchen technician at MUSC. May 22

James Ward Jr., a lifelong learner, teacher and physician, passed away at age 74 May 28 in Charleston.
July 3

Ralph F. Hirschmann, Ph.D., former university professor of biomedical research at MUSC, passed away due to kidney disease on June 20 in Worcester, Pa. July 10

Rebecca Mays, a retired MUSC employee and community supporter, lost her battle with Lou Gehrig’s disease on July 6. July 24

Debra Lynn Brown, a retired MUSC employee and administrative assistant with 20 years experience working in numerous departments, died Sept. 21. Oct. 2

Friday, Dec. 18, 2009