Paying it forward: Gift funds annual award to honor legacy, excellence in resident education

Valerie Assey, R.N., MSN, a longtime champion of the MUSC Ryan White Clinic and an invaluable member of the MUSC Division of Infectious Diseases for the past 30 years, has made a generous gift to the Department of Medicine in honor of her late husband, Michael E. Assey, M.D., former MUSC faculty member and director of the Division of Cardiology.

The generous gift – being matched by the Department of Medicine – will provide an annual monetary award to the recipient of the Michael E. Assey Department of Medicine Attending Teaching Award. The award recognizes a Department of Medicine faculty member who has demonstrated sustained excellence in educating residents in the inpatient setting. The award, consisting of a commemorative plaque and monetary prize, will be presented at the annual Department of Medicine Awards Ceremony held each June, beginning in 2021.

The award replaces the previous Attending of the Year Award (Dr. Michael Assey Award) which was established by the department in 2007, but did not include a monetary award.

Valerie said her recent gift was spurred by her deep respect for physicians and her desire to honor faculty members who have made significant contributions to advancing patient care and training future physicians.

“Doctors give so much to their profession and I felt this gift in Michael’s honor would be a meaningful and appropriate way to recognize and promote excellence in resident education at the bedside,” Valerie said.

“Dr. Assey established a legacy as an outstanding physician whose teaching influenced the careers of countless residents,” said Ben Clyburn, M.D., professor and interim chair of the Department of Medicine. “We are grateful to Valerie Assey for her generosity toward the Department of Medicine and commitment to recognizing clinical teaching excellence.”