Skip to main content

ELEV8 Program

ELEV8 is a year-long, cohort-based professional development program designed to support early-career College of Medicine faculty during the critical transition into academic medicine. Grounded in Self-Determination Theory, ELEV8 fosters autonomy, competence, and relatedness by equipping participants with the knowledge, skills, relationships, and institutional support needed to thrive as educators, clinicians, researchers, and scholars.

The ELEV8 Leadership Team, in partnership with PRIME (Pathway Resources & Impactful Mentoring and Engagement) and Faculty Affairs, is here to make sure you are Primed for Success!

Apply to ELEV8

The 8 Core Elements of ELEV8

ELEV8 - A year-long professional development program for early career (years 1 to 3) College of Medicine faculty with 8 Core Elements:

  • Mentorship
  • Networking
  • Career Planning
  • Professional Development
  • Scholarship
  • Health Equity
  • Community Engagement
  • Leveraging Resources

Mission

The mission of ELEV8 is to cultivate autonomy, competence, and relatedness among early-career College of Medicine faculty by providing intentional mentorship, professional development, career planning, and peer support opportunities that promote academic success, faculty retention, and a commitment to addressing health disparities and serving medically underserved communities.

About the Program

  • Develop a 5-year professional development plan.
  • Build mentoring relationships.
  • Expand professional networks.
  • Strengthen leadership and academic skills.
  • Increase scholarly productivity.
  • Advance health equity and community engagement.
  • Increase professional visibility.

  • One-year cohort
  • Up to 30 participants
  • Six development sessions
  • Mentors and peer networking
  • Welcome and closing receptions
  • CME credit offered

  • Pre-Program Assessment
  • Post-Program Impact Assessment
  • Session Evaluations after every session

  • Early-career COM faculty (years 1 to 3)
  • Department chair support
  • Protected time to participate

  • Online application
  • Professional goals
  • Health equity and community engagement statement
  • Contribution statement
  • Current CV
  • Applicant certification
  • Department chair certification

  • Encourage faculty to apply
  • Provide protected time
  • Support engagement
  • Partner to cultivate future leaders

Program Schedule

Event Session Topic Date Time / Location
Faculty Orientation Orientation Date TBD TBD
Welcome Reception Program Welcome October 6, 2026 4:30 to 6:00 p.m.
(In Person / On Campus)
Session 1 Introduction & Communications October 22, 2026 3:00 to 4:30 p.m.
(In Person / Off Campus)
Session 2 Early Career Planning December 8, 2026 4:30 to 6:00 p.m. (Virtual)
Session 3 Mentorship February 18, 2027 3:00 to 4:30 p.m.
(In Person / Off Campus)
Session 4 Research & Quality Improvement Resources April 29, 2027 4:30 to 6:00 p.m. (Virtual)
Session 5 Health Disparities & Community Engagement June 15, 2027 3:00 to 4:30 p.m.
(In Person / On Campus)
Session 6 Professional Development August 26, 2027 4:30 to 6:00 p.m. (Virtual)
Closing Reception Closing for Cohort 1 & Welcome for Cohort 2 October 7, 2027 4:30 p.m.
(In Person / On Campus)

Contact

Contact the program: com-prime@musc.edu

Meet the ELEV8 Leadership Team

Mileka Gilbert, M.D., Ph.D.

Medical Director for Health Engagement, Children's & Women's ICCE Senior Associate Dean for Engagement, College of Medicine Associate Professor, Pediatric Rheumatology
mail gilbertm@musc.edu call 843-792-5696 View Faculty Profile open_in_new View Provider Profile open_in_new

Natalie Johnson, DHA

Associate Dean, Engagement - College of Medicine
mail johnsong@musc.edu call 843-876-5070

Cassandra Salgado, M.D., MS

Senior Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs, Development & Wellness, College of Medicine Vice Chair for Wellness, Department of Medicine Director & Professor, Infectious Diseases Endowed Chair, J. Michael Kilby, M.D., in Infectious Diseases
mail salgado@musc.edu View Faculty Profile open_in_new View Provider Profile open_in_new View Research Profile open_in_new

Cassandra Salgado, M.D., MS, is a professor of medicine and public health and serves as director of the Division of Infectious Diseases in the College of Medicine at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC). A nationally recognized leader in hospital epidemiology and infection prevention, she has been instrumental in advancing patient safety and infectious disease control at both institutional and national levels.

Since joining MUSC in 2004, Dr. Salgado has served as the institution’s hospital epidemiologist and medical director of infection prevention, playing a critical leadership role during major public health challenges, including the COVID-19 pandemic.

In 2024, she was appointed the inaugural vice chair for Wellness in the Department of Medicine, where she leads strategic initiatives to promote the well-being of faculty, staff, and trainees. She also serves as senior associate dean for Faculty Affairs, Development, and Wellness in the College of Medicine, focusing on retention, engagement, and career advancement. In addition, Dr. Salgado holds the J. Michael Kilby, M.D. Endowed Chair in Infectious Diseases.

A committed mentor, she has guided the development of early-career faculty, medical students, residents, and fellows through extensive service on mentoring committees and one-on-one advising.

Her numerous awards include the 2019 Department of Medicine Education Mentoring Award and the 2023 MUSC ARROW Advancement of Women Faculty Award.

Dr. Salgado’s scholarly work includes significant national contributions to infection prevention and control. She also serves as principal investigator for the Trident HIV/AIDS Care Coalition, supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) and the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (SC DHEC). Under her leadership, the clinic now serves over 1,200 patients annually and continues to expand.

Dr. Salgado earned her Bachelor of Arts in Chemistry and her medical degree from West Virginia University. She completed a combined residency in internal medicine and pediatrics and served as chief resident in internal medicine at West Virginia University Hospital. During her fellowship in infectious diseases, she also earned a Master of Science in Health Evaluation Sciences and Epidemiology from the University of Virginia.