Student conference promotes diversity in health care community: 12/23

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Student conference promotes diversity in health care community

As the first black woman to graduate from the College of Medicine, Deloris Gibbs, M.D., is used to blazing trails.
She shared some of her insights as the keynote speaker at the Student National Medical Association (SNMA) 2011 Region IV Conference held locally.

After getting her doctorate, Gibbs went on to join the faculty of the Morehouse School of Medicine and to serve as the chief of medical operations with the Peace Corps of Washington, D.C.

Gibbs was just one of the speakers to address the more than 150 premedical and medical students who attended the conference, sponsored by SNMA and the College of Medicine, Nov. 18 - 20.

The conference rotates each year among different SNMA chapters. The purpose of the annual regional conference is to facilitate networking and the formation of relationships within SNMA. Another goal of the conference is to promote one of the fundamental ideas of SNMA — community service.

The theme was titled, "Empowering the Community through Education and Service." Speakers, workshops, and forums were selected to focus on the attributes of community service and education. Stuart Hamilton, M.D., founder of the Eau Claire Cooperative Health Center in Columbia, was the featured speaker for the luncheon.

Two MUSC third-year students served as conference co-chairs, Jacqueline Savage and Rahim Wooley. Wooley said the event facilitates networking and community service.

"It brings together all of the schools of the region to strengthen ties to understand how to better serve the community."

The SNMA Region IV conference also gave MUSC an opportunity to recruit prospective students and residents, said Etta Pisano, M.D., dean of the College of Medicine.

During the welcome reception, Pisano encouraged the attendees to consider MUSC's excellent medical education and residency programs as they reflect on the next steps in their educational endeavors and career goals.

Friday, Dec. 23, 2011

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