Presidential Scholars

Message from the Founder

The Presidential Scholars program was one of the first efforts on this campus to bring together students from various health programs. A decade of experience has shown that working side-by-side for a year helps to engender greater respect and appreciation for other disciplines and the value of collaborative work.

- Dr. Ray Greenberg

About the Program

Dr. Raymond S. Greenberg, when he was the Provost of the Medical University of South Carolina, launched the concept of an interprofessional scholars program for MUSC. The program was intended to enrich the academic environment of the university and allow meaningful interprofessional interaction on a broad range of issues that transcend discipline and professional boundaries. A faculty planning committee designed the program with input from faculty and students on campus.

The Scholars Program is a two semester experience for approximately 50 students, joined by selected faculty scholars from each college as well as the Charleston School of Law. The program explores complex social, political, and human issues of broad interest to health care professionals and biomedical researchers in a format that maximizes student participation and interaction. A theme is chosen for each term or year of the program, focusing on health care system issues and social determinants of health.

Monthly evening sessions are held for students to learn about issues related to the program theme and to engage in interprofessional project work. Students work in interprofessional teams on a student selected and designed project. These projects relate to the year’s program theme and engage the community to improve community health and well-being. Students’ projects are showcased during Scholars Day in April. Additional scholar activities include a daylong retreat at the beginning of the year, a visit to the State Legislature, and meetings with the University President.

In 2014 when Dr. Greenberg ended his tenure as President of the University, the Board of Trustees endowed the Presidential Scholars Program in his honor. Now it is called the Dr. Raymond S. Greenberg Presidential Scholars Program.

Program Goals

• Engage in intellectually challenging and provocative dialogue on issues of broad interest to the health professions
• Develop an appreciation for other professions and understand the value of interprofessional collaboration
• Appreciate the complexities of difficult local and global human and social issues, and how these complexities are interwoven in health and health care delivery
• Gain greater insight into the nature of ongoing change and the complexity of resolving conflicting needs
• Understand and appreciate divergent views and heighten awareness of their own values and sense of social conscience in the context of their professional responsibilities and talents
• Learn to use new ideas and sources of knowledge to establish creative lifelong learning patterns

Advantages of the Presidential Scholars Program

• Individual student participants benefit by broadening their perspectives and preparation for leadership in their professions and communities. They also value the honor associated with being selected as a Scholar and the advantages of interaction with local and national experts.
• The faculty who are involved benefit by the exposure to students of different disciplines, and the engagement in issues of relevance to them as health professionals and citizens.
• The University benefits by the greater intellectual exchange and the perspectives of the students and faculty who are involved. The identification of each group as Scholar’s Program Alumni allows a long-term and creative engagement of these participants with the University.
• The greater community benefits from the greater sensitivity to social issues these students bring to their communities and MUSC’s greater involvement in issues of community interest and concern.