GME Inclusive Excellence

A core mission of the College of Medicine is to create an environment that fosters cultural understanding, cultural competency, and opportunities for individuals of all backgrounds. To support our mission and our vision to become a nationally recognized model of excellence for U.S. medical schools, the GME Office and the Pathway Resources & Inclusive Mentoring and Engagement (PRIME) Division (Pathways & Inclusiveness Team | College of Medicine | MUSC) in the Dean’s Office work to enhance diversity among our students, residents, and faculty by implementing and maintaining programs designed to support individuals from underrepresented groups, including those from rural backgrounds, first-generation college students, LGBTQ+ identity, and those interested in further diversifying the physician workforce . The GME Office and Residency Program Directors work with the PRIME Division to ensure an inclusive educational environment and provide education on health equity for our residents and fellows as required by ACGME. Education in a diverse setting and practicing medicine in inclusive healthcare teams help to improve problem-solving for the complex care of our diverse patient population.

GME Inclusive Excellence Committee

The GME Inclusive Excellence Committee functions to ensure that the GME office and residency programs are aligned with the institutional commitment to inclusive education and training and that the ACGME program requirements related to health equity education are being met across all of the residency programs at MUSC. Members of the committee include residents, fellows, program directors and coordinators, GME staff, and Associate and Assistant Deans for GME and Inclusive Excellence.

Inclusive Programming for Residents & Fellows

We have increased the diversity among our trainees in the College of Medicine through programs that support residents from underrepresented groups listed below. Over the past 20 years, the percent underrepresented in medicine residents has increased from 3 percent to 12 percent in 2024.

Resident Diversity Transition Forum

All incoming residents are invited to a transition forum during their first week of residency to discuss inclusive programming and support for residents and fellows. During this forum, incoming residents meet with current residents from diverse backgrounds, members of the GME office, PRIME Division, and Residency Program Directors.

Aequitas Health, Health Equity Medical Honor Society

MUSC was one of the founding chapters of the Aequitas Health, Health Equity Medical Honor Society. New students as well as one new trainee and faculty member are inducted annually into the Honor Society to foster a community of individuals who are passionate in serving the community through health equity initiatives.

McClennan-Banks Residents & Fellows Networking Group

The College of Medicine’s underrepresented in medicine residents initiated the McClennan-Banks Resident Society, naming the organization for Dr. Alonzo C. McClennan and Nurse Anna DeCosta Banks,

who were known for the operation of the first minority hospital in Charleston, SC. The purpose for the society was to enhance diversity within the College of Medicine and connect with the Greater Charleston, SC community through service. The society was renamed the McClennan-Banks Residents and Fellows Networking Group (Resident & Fellows | College of Medicine | MUSC) to include underrepresented in medicine fellows, networking opportunities with community physicians, and community service projects. The group also serves as mentors to College of Medicine students.

Healthy PRIDE

Healthy PRIDE is a collaboration of the PRIME Division in the College of Medicine and the Departments of Surgery and Pediatrics to foster community and sense of belonging among LGBTQ+ faculty, trainees, students, staff, and allies in the college and health system. Healthy PRIDE hosts biannual networking events and discussions on topics pertinent to being queer in the healthcare professional community.

Resident Ambassadors

Residents volunteer to serve as Resident Ambassadors for the College of Medicine. These resident physicians are available to answer questions of potential resident applicants and to share their diverse experiences at MUSC. Interested individuals may contact them by email. For a list of Resident Ambassadors, please visit their website: Resident Ambassadors.

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-VSP. Unfortunately, we are not able to accept international medical students as they are not eligible for VSLO.

The program has two components: Student Engagement & Student Scholarship. For more information on the AHEAD-VSP and the list of programs which provide scholarship for students, please visit the AHEAD-VSP website. (Achieving Health Equity by Advancing Diversity (AHEAD)—Visiting Student Program | College of Medicine | MUSC)

Additional Information

For more information on Inclusive Excellence Programming in the College of Medicine and at MUSC Health, please see the following websites:

• Pathways & Inclusiveness in the College of Medicine  
• MUSC Health Office of Equity
• Office of Community Engagement
• Office of Student Engagement