USC School of Medicine and Grand Strand Medical Center partner to expand medical education and residency training in the Palmetto State
January 20, 2015
COLUMBIA, SC – The University of South Carolina School of Medicine and Grand Strand Medical Center announcedan affiliation agreement that expands clinical training opportunities for USC medical students and establishes two medical residency programs at the Myrtle Beach hospital.
The agreement will allow USC medical students to pursue third- and fourth-year elective training at Grand Strand Medical Center in the specialty or subspecialty areas of internal medicine or surgery. Medical students often take elective courses in their later years of medical school to explore a particular interest area more in-depth.
Physicians at Grand Strand Medical Center, who are responsible for the supervision and education of USC medical students and resident physicians, will receive a clinical academic title from the School of Medicine that represents their new teaching role.
“The Grand Strand’s popularity as an international tourist destination introduces our medical students to diverse groups of patients with a wide variety of acute and chronic health conditions,” said Harris Pastides, president of the University of South Carolina. “Our partnership will expand the breadth of patient experiences afforded to USC medical students and better prepare them to be well-rounded doctors in the future.”
Beginning in July 2015, Grand Strand Medical Center will offer residency training in the areas of internal medicine and surgery. The Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education accredited both programs in fall 2014, and recruitment efforts are currently underway to fill residency positions in the first class.
“Becoming a teaching hospital is another step toward Grand Strand Medical Center’s promise to continue to provide high quality care for the Grand Strand and surrounding communities,” said Mark Sims, chief executive officer of Grand Strand Medical Center. “Our new residency programs will develop highly qualified physicians who will benefit from the expertise and training offered by our dynamic, clinical teaching faculty.”
Grand Strand’s Internal Medicine Residency Program will have 30 residents by 2017, and offer ambulatory and inpatient education as well as a simulation center designed to create a safe learning environment for residents. The hospital’s General Surgery Residency Program will have 19 residents by 2017, with each averaging more than 1,000 major surgery cases during their residency training.
