MUSC President, Dr. David Cole, with graduating student.

Achieving Health Equity by Advancing Diversity (AHEAD)—Visiting Student Program

Achieving Health Equity by Advancing Diversity (AHEAD) Visiting Student Program

The AHEAD Visiting Student Program (VSP) is for non-MUSC students who wish to participate in a fourth-year clinical rotation at MUSC and explore its residency programs. AHEAD-VSP is open to students from underrepresented groups, including students with disabilities, those from rural backgrounds, first-generation college students, members of the LGBTQ+ community, those from disadvantaged or marginalized backgrounds, and other students interested in diversifying the physician workforce and/or addressing healthcare disparities in the communities they serve.

The goal of this program is to recruit talented residents, who have met all requirements for visiting student rotations listed on the AAMC Visiting Students Learning Opportunities (VSLO) website, and aid MUSC in addressing healthcare disparities. Once accepted as a visiting student in the clinical rotation through VSLO, students may participate in the AHEAD Visiting Student Program.

Participants have the opportunity to meet with representatives from the College of Medicine Dean’s Office to learn more about diversity, equity, and inclusion opportunities for students and residents at MUSC. Support for travel and housing may be available to applicants through individual departments. To apply for these funds, students must first submit a completed VSLO application including the department-specific requirements listed on VSLO (please contact individual departments for more information). While gaining experience in their selected disciplines, visiting students have access to the MUSC library, Center for Academic Excellence, MUSC Wellness Center, and other student facilities, as well as to various educational programs and seminars.

The AHEAD Visiting Student Program has 2 components:

1) Student Engagement:  All visiting students from an underrepresented group in medicine or who express interest in diversifying the physician workforce and/or addressing healthcare disparities in the communities they serve are invited to participate in the AHEAD program and meet with representatives from the College of Medicine Dean’s Office and underrepresented in medicine residents to learn more about diversity, equity, and inclusion opportunities for students and residents at MUSC. 

2) Student Scholarship:  All visiting students from an underrepresented group in medicine or who express interest in diversifying the physician workforce and/or addressing healthcare disparities in the communities they serve may apply for a scholarship to support travel and housing while at MUSC, provided by the department to which the student was accepted. The department decides the number and amount of scholarships available and also decides who is awarded scholarship. See list below for departments participating in the scholarship component of AHEAD VSP. Please contact the department for more specific information on criteria for scholarship and scholarship application deadline.

VSLO opens for applications on May 1.  There is no deadline to apply for AHEAD VSP, however early application is recommended as scholarships may be awarded on a rolling basis.

Click here to apply for AHEAD VSP.

Department

Scholarships Available per Year

 Amount per Scholarship

 Contact Person

 Anesthesiology

 1

 $1,000

 Kim Bartlett, bartletk@musc.edu

 Dermatology

 1-2

 $1,000

Mark Lynch, lynchd@musc.edu

 Family Medicine

 1

 $1,000

 Sierra Goodman, goodmasi@musc.edu

 Internal Medicine

 4

 Up to $1,500

Mary Ann Snell, snellma@musc.edu

 Neurology

 1-2

 $1,000

Michael Watson, watsomic@musc.edu

 Neurosurgery

 1

 $1,000

 Carole Lavender, lavendec@musc.edu

 OB/GYN

 2

 $2,000

Andrea Shrader, shradera@musc.edu

 Orthopaedic   Surgery

 2-3

 $1,000

 Joan Graesch, graesch@musc.edu

 Otolaryngology

 1

 $1,000

 Dr. Lucinda Halstead, halstead@musc.edu

 Pediatrics

 1-2

 $1,000

 Emily McGinnis, mcginnie@musc.edu

 Psychiatry

 1-2

 ?

Mae Laroya, laroya@musc.edu

 Radiology

 1

 $1,200

Tiana Keener, keenerti@musc.edu

 Surgery

 2

 $1,000

 Kris Banks-Smalls, banksasm@musc.edu