MAGNIFY | Alumni Board Election Results

Along with the new academic year comes the turning over of our SOMC Alumni Association Board members and the opportunity for other alumni to step into new roles that will further serve our school. Please join us in congratulating these leaders who will serve as ambassadors for the alumni family, their specific programs and the School of Medicine Columbia as a whole.

A huge thank you to our three outgoing members, Nedra Jackson, MD ('87); Jean Ann Lambert, MRC ('02); and Wallisa Vaughn, MD ('06). They each served on the Alumni Board for multiple terms, and helped to shape it into what it is today.

A NOTE FROM YOUR NEW PRESIDENT

As President of the Alumni Board, I hope to increase alumni engagement, continue to strengthen the connection between our alumni and current students and increase philanthropic support for our School of Medicine Columbia. I love the work that Holly, Paige, Bryan and Alyssa are doing to expand alumni engagement outside the Midlands through their Regional Alumni Happy Hour Tour. It's a great way to meet new alumni in your area!

Additionally, I am eager to continue working with the passionate group of individuals on our Board that represent all SOMC academic programs. The collective experience and dedication of our alumni will be invaluable as we work to fundraise, increase involvement and create lasting connections that benefit both alumni and students alike.

As we look to the exciting future and growth of our new medical school, opportunities for scholarships and initiatives that directly impact our students have never been more important than now. I encourage our alumni family to read The Garnet Microscope each month so we can all stay in the know regarding opportunities that promote support and enable us to remain steadfast ambassadors for our school's mission.

FOCUS | SOMC Alumni Out and About

This September was one for the books! We filled it with many opportunities for our alumni to engage with the school and each other, including the reemerged SOMC Alumni Tailgate in advance of the USC vs. Akron football game as well as the Pee Dee Alumnni Happy Hour in Florence, SC. Check out the highlights from these events below.

On September 21 during USC's Family Weekend, we brought back our first SOMC Alumni Tailgate in several years, and in addition to the great crowd, the Gamecocks dominated the Akron Zips, making it quite the evening experience for the garnet and black. Everyone had a grand time, and we hope that this event will be back on the calendar for good!

On September 24, Dean Harmon and the Office of Advancement made the short drive to Florence, SC to socialize with our alumni from the Pee Dee region of the state. The tropical storm held off just enough for us to enjoy a beautiful sunset on the rooftop of The Dispensary at Town Hall in downtown Florence as alumni ate, connected with one another, and received SOMC updates from the dean.

SPOTLIGHT | Doctor, scientist, teacher, mom

Anna Hoppmann was walking through the hospital ward where she was being trained as a pediatric oncologist when a young child called out to her in an urgent voice. She recognized him as a recently admitted patient and took off running toward his room, anticipating some kind of medical emergency.

But the boy who had been admitted with a life-threatening cancer diagnosis didn’t in that moment need her medical attention. He wanted her personal attention.

“He had taken all of the different plastic bins you can find in a hospital and set up his own candy store for the hospital staff, full of M&Ms and gummy worms,” Hoppmann recalled with a smile. “To him, it kind of was an emergency — the candy store was open with no customers.

“The patients under our care are children all the way through very challenging circumstances. To get to know them and help them through that journey is what I wanted to do.” Click here to read full story.

ILLUMINATE | Class Notes

CONTACT HOLLY JEFFERSON

Deadline to submit personal news is October 21.

INVEST | MD White Coat & Stethoscope Sponsorship Campaign Results

For the second year in a row, we had to increase the monetary goal for the campaign and our alumni showed up and showed out! In less than four weeks, 94 donors rallied together to raise $23,610 to provide white coats and stethoscopes for the MD Class of 2028. Students recently learned who their sponsors are and the notes of encouragement are even more impactful, as their White Coat Ceremony unfortunately has been postponed due to Hurricane Helene. We are blown away by the generosity of our alumni family and can't thank you enough!

VIEW OUR SPONSORS

BREAKTHROUGH | SOMC News

First renderings of USC's Brain Health Center unveiled

USC health science researchers play critical role in first-ever S.C. pediatric cancer report

Fierce names Kevin Bennett, Ph.D., as one of its Fierce 50 Honorees of 2024

DISCOVER | Engagement Opportunities

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