Awardees & Recognition

Dream Maker Grants

We are pleased to highlight recipients of the Dream Maker student grants awarded by the COM Office of Community Engagement.

Partnering with the Sherman House, Liz Van Swol, Katelyn DeGuzman, Chloe Emerson, Emily McGee and Hunter Gray have created an organization, Engaging The Aging. Their aim is to provide meaningful recurring activities and events for local underprivileged senior communities while growing relationships between them and our MUSC students.

Savannah Campbell and Alex Ferrer have partnered with the Dream Center Clinic in North Charleston for a project titled “Impact of Community Health Fair on Time to First Appointment for New Patients and Other Secondary Outcomes at the Dream Center Clinic.” The project aims to decrease the wait time for patients at the Dream Center Clinic utilizing community outreach events. In addition to improving access for patients, through these events they also hope to improve community understanding of common health topics by providing screenings for chronic diseases, as well as education in both English and Spanish. 

Thomas Agostini has partnered with Trident Technical College, working closely with Dr. Mary Ann Kohli who leads the local Clemente program. His project entitled “Advancing Health Engagement and Literacy Using a Bi-Directional Model in a Health Awareness Certificate” will foster deeper direct community input and updates of the Health Awareness Certificate offered through the Clemente course after it shut down during the height of the pandemic.

Partnering with Shem Creek Health Center, the team of Marissa Brock, Jonathan Ferguson and Caroline Fields are leading a project entitled “Vera’s Kindergarten Community Partnership.” Their faculty advisors on this project are Dr. Russel Blackwelder and Dr. Natalie Christian. Their project aims to combat social and community isolation as well as improve quality of life measures in residents of assisted living facilities through partnering with local youth in structured activities.

Led by Benjamin Young and Julie Dickerson, partnering with Tricounty SPEAKS (formerly known as People Against Rape). Their project entitled “Tricounty S.P.E.A.K.S Bar Education and Prevention Initiative,” aims to develop and implement safe bar initiatives to reduce drug-facilitated sexual assault.  The year-long program includes both education of bar staff as well as measures to reduce bystander apathy.

Excellence in Community Engagement Award

The student recipients of our Excellence in Community Engagement award for 2022 are Gabrielle Young and Brielle Smith. Congratulations!

Innovation Week Highlights

We are pleased to announce the inaugural winning team from Innovation Week 2022 for the COM Community Engagement start up grant! Led by Jessica Tarleton, M.D., MPH, the team will implement a new program called the Lowcountry Doula Initiative.