Washington, D.C., November 3, 2001 - In honor of its commitment to community service and community health, the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) received the Outstanding Community Service Award from the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) at the Association's annual meeting in Washington, D.C.

The Outstanding Community Service Award, established in 1993, recognizes exceptional community service programs that go beyond the historical role of academic medicine to reach communities whose needs are not being met through the traditional health care delivery system. MUSC received this award for their Healthy South Carolina Initiative, a comprehensive service campaign that began in 1997.

The Healthy South Carolina Initiative funds over 20 community projects and programs, many of which focus on the health of vulnerable populations. All programs build partnerships and work across disciplinary boundaries. Some examples of these community service programs are:

· The Union Heights Clinic in Charleston is a state-of-the-art primary care facility, established as a partnership between MUSC and the local community. The clinic provides primary care services, operates a reading program and houses police officers, counselors and social workers.

· MUSC Gives Back is a volunteer program in which medical school students serve at over 200 local agencies in the Charleston area. At one of the agencies, Crisis Ministries Homeless Shelter, students provide an evening clinic to shelter residents.

· Partners in Wellness is an educational collaboration between MUSC and South Carolina's six Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). Developed to promote early detection of diabetes and hypertension, the program has since turned into a for-credit course offered at several of the partner schools. The program also helps recruit minority students into the health professions.

· The Mobile Dental Van provides dental care in predominantly under-served areas while educating dental school students and faculty about community dental needs. The van, operated by dental students, travels to local schools and communities to perform oral examinations, and deliver preventive education and treatment.

"MUSC's service partnerships have established essential health programs that are improving the lives of residents across the entire state," said AAMC President Jordan J. Cohen, M.D. "The Healthy South Carolina Initiative serves as an example of the contribution a medical school can make to its community."

Medical schools and teaching hospitals provide health care resources to the more than 70 million uninsured and underinsured Americans. In 1999, teaching hospitals spent over $4.5 billion caring for the uninsured. For more information about the role medical schools and teaching hospitals play in caring for the uninsured, visit www.aamc.org/uninsured.

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The Association of American Medical Colleges represents the 125 accredited U.S. medical schools; the 16 accredited Canadian medical schools; some 400 major teaching hospitals, including 74 Veterans Administration medical centers; 91 academic and professional societies representing nearly 88,000 faculty members; and the nation's 67,000 medical students and 102,000 residents. Additional information about the AAMC and U.S. medical schools and teaching hospitals is available at www.aamc.org/newsroom.

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The Association of American Medical Colleges is a not-for-profit association representing all 129 accredited U.S. and 17 accredited Canadian medical schools; nearly 400 major teaching hospitals and health systems, including 68 Department of Veterans Affairs medical centers; and 94 academic and scientific societies. Through these institutions and organizations, the AAMC represents 109,000 faculty members, 67,000 medical students, and 104,000 resident physicians. Additional information about the AAMC and U.S. medical schools and teaching hospitals is available at www.aamc.org/newsroom.

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