CARES Clinic earns S.C. Governor’s Volunteer Award

CHARLESTON, SC – May 17, 2011 – The Community Aid, Relief, Education and Support Clinic (CARES) has earned the 2011 South Carolina Governor’s Volunteer Award for the Volunteer Group category.  The award was presented by Governor Nikki Haley and the South Carolina Association for Volunteer Administration at the S.C. State House on Monday.The Medical University of South Carolina student-run free clinic, initiated by first- and second-year medical students, and Wanda Gonsalves, M.D., MUSC Family Medicine, provides preventive and primary care to uninsured patients regardless of race, ethnicity, religion, immigration or socioeconomic status. Students are responsible for the overall management of the clinic and daily operations.

Above Photo: MUSC’s Dr. Wanda Gonsalves (with award), Governor Nikki Haley (right of Dr. Gonsavles) and CARES students at the State House on Monday.

These annual awards recognize volunteers who have provided exceptional service to their communities.  The selection committee, made up of volunteer administrators representing various areas, reviewed 81 nominations in the eight categories.

The CARES Clinic operates in conjunction with East Cooper Community Outreach, which is an organization established to help folks in the community find needed resources. Other organizations that support the clinic include the Medical Society of South Carolina, the Association of American Medical Colleges, MUSC Family Medicine, the MUSC Yes Campaign, the Christ Our King Catholic Church and the Commonwealth Financial Group. The clinic is located at 1145 Six Mile Road in Mount Pleasant.

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 approximately 1,500 faculty members. As the largest non-federal employer in Charleston, the university and its affiliates have collective annual budgets in excess of $1.7 billion. MUSC operates a 750-bed medical center, which includes a nationally recognized Children’s Hospital, the Ashley River Tower (cardiovascular, digestive disease, and surgical oncology), and a leading Institute of Psychiatry. For more information on academic information or clinical services, visit www.musc.edu. For more information on hospital patient services, visit www.muschealth.com.