MUSC Awards USC President Honorary Degree

CHARLESTON -- The Medical University of South Carolina recently awarded an honorary degree to University of South Carolina President Andrew A. Sorensen, Ph.D. in recognition of his distinguished career and in gratitude for his visionary leadership and determination. The degree was for Doctor of Medical Science, honoris causa.

During Sorensen's tenure as USC president, he promoted the academic ascendancy of the University in areas such as alternative fuels and nanosciences, while building critical partnerships with other institutions. A driving force in the creation of Health Sciences South Carolina, the integration of the MUSC and USC Colleges of Pharmacy, and the development of the Innovista research campus, Sorensen demonstrated remarkable vision and leadership. The bold vision of Health Sciences South Carolina inspired the Duke Endowment to invest its largest gift ever in South Carolina in order to catalyze work in health care quality, patient safety and clinical effectiveness.

Sorensen has edited published more than 100 full-length manuscripts, and presenting nearly 200 abstracts, lectures and plenary papers at academic conferences. He has held academic appointments at Lincoln University, Boston University, Cornell University, University of Rochester, University of Massachusetts at Amherst, Johns Hopkins University, University of Florida, University of Alabama, and University of South Carolina. He previously held numerous leadership positions including Dean of the School of Public Health at the University of Massachusetts, Executive Director of the AIDS Institute at Johns Hopkins, Provost of the University of Florida, and President of the University of Alabama. He has served on numerous community boards, national and international policy boards, and government advisory panels.

About MUSC

Founded in 1824 in Charleston, The Medical University of South Carolina is the oldest medical school in the South. Today, MUSC continues the tradition of excellence in education, research, and patient care. MUSC educates and trains more than 3,000 students and residents, and has nearly 11,000 employees, including 1,500 faculty members. As the largest non-federal employer in Charleston, the university and its affiliates have collective annual budgets in excess of $1.6 billion. MUSC operates a 750-bed medical center, which includes a nationally recognized Children's Hospital and a leading Institute of Psychiatry. For more information on academic information or clinical services, visit www.musc.edu or www.muschealth.com.

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