Carolinas

ҹɫ�� Student Celeste Prado Honored with National Hispanic Health Foundation Scholarship

ebailey — Fri, 12 Dec 2025 19:21:04 +0000

ҹɫ�� Student Celeste Prado Honored with National Hispanic Health Foundation Scholarship ebailey Fri, 12/12/2025 - 14:21

ҹɫ�� Student Celeste Prado Honored with National Hispanic Health Foundation Scholarship

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First-year ҹɫ��-Carolinas student Celeste Prado was recently honored in Washington, DC, after receiving a National Hispanic Health Foundation (NHHF) Scholarship—an award recognizing future health professionals committed to improving Hispanic and underserved communities. Prado described the moment as “immense pride and also disbelief,” adding that the recognition reminded her “how far my family and I have come.”

Prado applied for the scholarship seeking connection with health professionals and public health leaders who share her goal of strengthening care for Hispanic communities. She said the award symbolizes far more than financial support: “It represents being seen, encouraged, and believed in at a stage of my journey when that support means everything.” She said hearing other scholars’ stories—each rooted in “family, resilience, and service”—reaffirmed her motivation for pursuing medicine.

At the 2025 Health Professional Student Scholarship Gala, Prado said the atmosphere felt “surreal,” noting that she was surrounded by individuals who have “dedicated their lives to improving health outcomes for Hispanic and Latino communities across the country.” Listening to leaders speak, she said, underscored that “being a provider extends far beyond the exam room,” and that “advocacy, policy, and representation matter just as much.”

Prado believes her path to ҹɫ�� contributed to her selection. While working in clinical research in Durham, North Carolina, she noticed how few Hispanic patients were included in studies and made it a priority to address that gap.

“Representation in research directly affects the quality of care our communities receive,” she said, adding that her focus on building trust with Spanish-speaking patients helped ensure they felt understood and included.

Looking ahead, Prado hopes to practice medicine in a way that centers cultural understanding and accessibility. “I know what it feels like to face language barriers during moments of vulnerability,” she said. “I want every patient, regardless of background, culture, or language, to feel understood and supported.” She added that her long-term goal is to serve communities that have historically felt “unseen or unheard within the healthcare system.”

Her experience at ҹɫ�� has deepened that commitment. Prado said the college’s mission to care for rural and underserved populations “aligns closely with my own values,” and that volunteer and service-learning opportunities have shown her “how impactful community-centered medicine can be.” She said the example set by faculty “who genuinely care about expanding access to healthcare” continues to reinforce her goals.

Prado also emphasized how much the recognition means to her personally. “I am truly grateful for this scholarship and for everyone who has supported me along the way,” she said. She added that volunteering alongside ҹɫ�� faculty and classmates has shown her “how deeply committed the institution is to caring for those without access to healthcare.” Above all, she hopes her achievement signals something important to others: “I want students from immigrant or underrepresented backgrounds to know there is a place for them in medicine, and that their voices and lived experiences are needed.”

Carolinas

By James Nichols -

Stacy Schmauss

ebailey — Thu, 04 Dec 2025 18:44:33 +0000

Stacy Schmauss ebailey Thu, 12/04/2025 - 13:44

Stacy Schmauss

Director for Academic and Professional Development

Department/Discipline: Center for Institutional, Faculty and Student Success

Campus: Carolinas

Email: sschmauss@carolinas.vcom.edu

Walking with Students Through the Marathon of Medical School

ebailey — Wed, 26 Nov 2025 19:50:05 +0000

Walking with Students Through the Marathon of Medical School ebailey Wed, 11/26/2025 - 14:50

Walking with Students Through the Marathon of Medical School

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If you walk into the Financial Aid office at ҹɫ��-Carolinas, chances are you’ll be greeted by the steady warmth of Jan Belton, MBA, a member of the campus community since its earliest days. As director for financial aid, Jan has guided generations of ҹɫ�� students through one of the most stressful parts of their medical journey—how to afford it—with a blend of clarity, kindness, and unwavering belief in who they’re becoming.

“The most rewarding part of working with ҹɫ�� students is how bright and energetic they are—their intellect, courtesy and hospitality. And the thought of the healing they will bring to the world,” she reflects. “I enjoy helping students make their dreams come true and helping them live them (in some small way) by providing helpful advice, information, scholarships, or loan processing.”

To Jan, every day at ҹɫ�� is a chance to support the mission by helping a future physician step into a life of healing.

Can you share a moment when you felt especially proud of your students or colleagues?
I felt proud to be part of the formation of ҹɫ��-Carolinas when we hosted our very first Accepted Students Day in April of 2011 on the Wofford campus. The main ҹɫ�� building wasn't ready for occupancy yet and students and their families were making their decision to attend based on what they saw, who they met, and what they learned. It was a beautiful day—perfect for helping new students and families fall in love with the lovely South Carolina spring. We were organized and excited and glad to have everyone visit!

What do you enjoy doing when you’re not at work?
I'm an avid walker and a sometimes gardener. I love taking care of plants. I am a cat-lover and like having one or maybe two of them in my life.

In a few words, how would you describe the ҹɫ�� family?
Going places and doing things; bringing healing to the world.

What’s one piece of self-care advice you’d give to students entering medicine?
Treat medical school like a marathon and keep your physical, mental, spiritual, and emotional aspects well nourished. Take time every day for reflection and get plenty of sleep to rest and recharge.

In every season of ҹɫ��-Carolinas’ growth, Jan has been a constant—guiding students with expertise and compassion as they take their first steps into medicine. Her work reminds us that behind every physician’s story stands someone who believed in their future from the beginning.

Carolinas

By Lily Collins -

Student Instructors Strengthen Community Readiness Through Stop the Bleed

ebailey — Mon, 17 Nov 2025 19:17:20 +0000

Student Instructors Strengthen Community Readiness Through Stop the Bleed ebailey Mon, 11/17/2025 - 14:17

Student Instructors Strengthen Community Readiness Through Stop the Bleed

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ҹɫ��-Carolinas has continued its commitment to community service and hands-on medical education through its ongoing participation in the American College of Surgeons’ Stop the Bleed program. The nationally recognized course teaches simple, effective steps to control life-threatening bleeding, a critical skill in emergencies when minutes matter. By training ҹɫ�� students and sending them into local high schools as instructors, the College strengthens both campus readiness and community resilience.

Several student leaders have helped drive the program’s momentum this year. Brooks Prater ‘28, who had prior experience with Stop the Bleed through her work in EMS, said she was drawn to the initiative because of the community need and the passion of Kristine Lombardozzi, MD, FACS, FCCM, discipline chair and associate professor for Surgery, and Lynn Campbell, DO, discipline chair and associate professor for Emergency Medicine. They made it clear how impactful student involvement could be. Prater added that “the need is there and ҹɫ�� students are wonderful at rising to the occasion,” a sentiment that reflects the college’s culture of service.

The model depends on students who are eager to teach, eager to learn, and committed to expanding lifesaving skills in the community. Prater noted that she became an instructor through this process and now helps lead the program for the next generation of trainees. She emphasized that Stop the Bleed is built to overcome hesitation and encourage decisive action.

The true impact of Stop the Bleed is that it breaks the bystander effect and empowers people within the community to help save a life. You do not have to be a medical professional to save the life of a victim of a traumatic event — you just have to be willing to try.

Brooks Prater , ҹɫ��-Carolinas Class of 2028

The community benefits directly from these efforts. By bringing Stop the Bleed training into area high schools, ҹɫ��-Carolinas students equip teenagers, teachers, and staff with practical skills that can make a critical difference before first responders arrive. Each new instructor and each completed training session expands the number of people in the region who are prepared to act in an emergency.

Carolinas

By James Nichols -

Elizabeth Cline

ebailey — Mon, 10 Nov 2025 20:08:21 +0000

Elizabeth Cline ebailey Mon, 11/10/2025 - 15:08

Elizabeth Cline, JD, PhD

Attorney; ҹɫ�� Board of Directors Vice Chairman and Member of the Executive and Finance Committee

Campuses: Virginia, Auburn, Carolinas, Louisiana

Matthew Cannon

ebailey — Mon, 10 Nov 2025 18:21:02 +0000

Matthew Cannon ebailey Mon, 11/10/2025 - 13:21

Matthew Cannon, DO, FACOFP

Dean for the Carolinas Campus and Senior Dean for all four ҹɫ�� Campuses

Ex Officio

Campus: Carolinas

Humanitarian Physician Dr. Tom Catena Shares His Story with ҹɫ��-Carolinas Students

ebailey — Mon, 10 Nov 2025 16:02:16 +0000

Humanitarian Physician Dr. Tom Catena Shares His Story with ҹɫ��-Carolinas Students ebailey Mon, 11/10/2025 - 11:02

Humanitarian Physician Dr. Tom Catena Shares His Story with ҹɫ��-Carolinas Students

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Before sunrise each day, Tom Catena, MD, begins his morning with prayer in a small chapel in the Nuba Mountains of Sudan, then walks to Mother of Mercy Hospital where hundreds of patients await the care of the region’s only doctor.

Speaking to ҹɫ��-Carolinas students on Nov. 3, during a rare visit away from Africa, he offered an unfiltered account of what it means to practice medicine when resources are scarce but compassion is not. He brought with him a message that reflected the college’s own mission: that medicine, at its heart, is an act of service.

Dr. Catena is the only full-time physician for more than three million people in the remote and war-torn Nuba Mountains of Sudan. Since 2008, he has served as medical director and surgeon at Mother of Mercy Hospital, which he helped establish. Working without reliable infrastructure, he provides surgical, obstetric, and primary care under conditions few physicians will ever experience.

In his talk at ҹɫ��-Carolinas, Dr. Catena described the extraordinary demands of practicing medicine in an area with no running water, limited electricity, and scarce medical supplies. After his morning prayer, his days include hospital rounds during which he sees hundreds of patients across maternity, pediatric, and surgical wards. He frequently performs procedures ranging from cesarean deliveries to complex orthopedic and abdominal surgeries and remains on call through the night.

Dr. Catena emphasized that it is faith, commitment, and adaptability—not equipment—that sustain his work. A devout Catholic, he said his faith is what enables him to remain in Sudan despite the daily hardships and isolation. “Without my Catholic faith, I would not be there now,” he said. “The work is too difficult. My faith undergirds everything I do from the start of the day to the end of the night.”

He also reflected on how his vocation has evolved from practicing medicine to training others. In addition to serving patients, Dr. Catena oversees the education of local clinical officers, nurses, and medical interns. “Unless you’re leaving part of yourself behind and sharing those skills with other people, you’re just running in place,” he said.

Dr. Catena’s message to ҹɫ��-Carolinas students was clear: medicine is a calling that demands humility, perseverance, and purpose. He reminded them that the same qualities needed to serve in Sudan—faith, compassion, and a willingness to adapt—are equally vital to serving rural and underserved populations closer to home.

ҹɫ��-Carolinas Dean Matthew Cannon, DO, FACOFP, said the visit exemplified the college’s mission. “Dr. Catena’s example shows what it truly means to dedicate one’s life to service,” Cannon said. “His commitment to caring for others under extreme conditions challenges all of us to think about how we can better serve our own communities.”

Dr. Catena’s story resonated deeply with students preparing for careers in osteopathic medicine, many of whom will serve in medically underserved regions of the United States. His life’s work, grounded in faith and service, stands as a reminder that the heart of medicine lies not in technology or comfort, but in compassion, endurance, and devotion to others.

About Dr. Catena

A native of New York and a former U.S. Navy physician, Dr. Catena trained in family medicine before beginning missionary work in Africa more than two decades ago. What began as a one-year commitment in Kenya grew into a lifelong vocation of medical service. In 2008, he moved to Sudan to help establish Mother of Mercy Hospital, where he has remained through years of civil conflict and humanitarian crises.

Carolinas

By James Nichols -

Faces of Care: ҹɫ�� Students Bring Healing and Hope to Punta Cana

ebailey — Thu, 30 Oct 2025 19:15:24 +0000

Faces of Care: ҹɫ�� Students Bring Healing and Hope to Punta Cana ebailey Thu, 10/30/2025 - 15:15

Faces of Care: ҹɫ�� Students Bring Healing and Hope to Punta Cana

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What happens when dozens of future physicians, guided by faculty and local partners, come together with one goal—to make healthcare accessible for all? The answer unfolded in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, where a ҹɫ�� team spent a week providing care, connection, and hope to hundreds of underserved residents.

The team included 40 second-year medical students from the Virginia and Carolinas campuses, several upper-level students from other ҹɫ�� campuses, six U.S. physicians, four Dominican physicians, a pharmacist, five staff members, and one volunteer.

The group provided care to residents in five underserved villages and at two clinics: the Veron Clinic and the Oscar de la Renta Pediatric Clinic. In total, the team served more than 650 patients, including a large Haitian population, and filled over 1,500 prescriptions. Clinical activities ranged from family medicine and pediatrics to obstetrics and osteopathic manipulative medicine (OMM).

The outreach was coordinated through ҹɫ��’s ongoing partnership with the Punta Cana Foundation, which managed local logistics and interpretation services. Medicines not used during the trip were donated to the Oscar de la Renta Clinic to support ongoing care for area residents. Ensuring sustainable and ongoing care for communities is a key part of ҹɫ��’s international outreach efforts.

For the students, the trip provided both hands-on clinical training and a deeper sense of purpose. Alyssa Levien '28 described it as “one of the most humbling and transformative experiences of my life.” She said the patients’ resilience and gratitude “reminded me that medicine extends beyond medications and procedures, and how powerful it is just to be present, listen, and help in whatever way you can.” The experience, she added, strengthened her commitment to serving vulnerable populations and reinforced her belief that “healing is a shared journey.”

O'Neal Best ‘28, found the trip reaffirmed her commitment to pediatrics. After caring for a young boy during a clinic visit, she was struck by the mother’s gratitude for what seemed like a routine checkup. “It made me realize how much of an impact we can have, even through small acts,” she said, reflecting on the difference basic healthcare can make in underserved communities.

For Maile Carroll'28, one patient encounter underscored the human connection behind medicine. After treating a woman suffering from sciatica and diabetes, Carroll recalled, “When her visit was complete, she began to cry and gave me a heartfelt hug. That moment reminded me why I wanted to become a doctor in the first place—to help, to heal, and to connect.”

International outreach remains a cornerstone of ҹɫ��’s mission to prepare globally minded, community-focused physicians who serve rural and medically underserved populations at home and abroad.

outreach

Carolinas

By James Nichols -

Rainer Blickle

ebailey — Thu, 23 Oct 2025 14:20:35 +0000

Rainer Blickle ebailey Thu, 10/23/2025 - 10:20

Rainer Blickle

Vice President of SEW-EURODRIVE

Campus: Carolinas

Grant Warren

ebailey — Tue, 07 Oct 2025 12:45:41 +0000

Grant Warren ebailey Tue, 10/07/2025 - 08:45

Grant Warren

Laboratory Assistant

Department/Discipline: Biomedical Affairs and Research

Campus: Carolinas

Email: gwarren@carolinas.vcom.edu

Carolinas

ҹɫ���� Student Celeste Prado Honored with National Hispanic Health Foundation Scholarship

Stacy Schmauss

Walking with Students Through the Marathon of Medical School

Student Instructors Strengthen Community Readiness Through Stop the Bleed

Elizabeth Cline

Matthew Cannon

Humanitarian Physician Dr. Tom Catena Shares His Story with ҹɫ����-Carolinas Students

Faces of Care: ҹɫ���� Students Bring Healing and Hope to Punta Cana

Rainer Blickle

Grant Warren

ҹɫ�� Student Celeste Prado Honored with National Hispanic Health Foundation Scholarship

Humanitarian Physician Dr. Tom Catena Shares His Story with ҹɫ��-Carolinas Students

Faces of Care: ҹɫ�� Students Bring Healing and Hope to Punta Cana