Independence Day and Acts of Courage

First, a personal confession. I find American history fascinating. My wife tells me that my personal reading list never contains works of fiction. I explain that I’ll never have time to read all of the amazing stories that are true!

As we pause in the next few days to celebrate Independence Day, I can’t help but draw a few comparisons between the founding of our country and the start of our new medical school, the USC School of Medicine Greenville. And while I’ll be the first to admit that no shots were fired, and perhaps the ideals of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness that created the greatest democracy the world has ever known may be an order of magnitude or two higher, indulge me for a moment.

First came the visionaries. As Dean Jerry Youkey and others have noted in this blog and in a variety of settings, the USC School of Medicine Greenville began as a dream.  Building a medical school takes dedication, perseverance, and an incredible commitment of time and resources. No armies were assembled, but faculty members were hired, practicing physicians were engaged, opponents were appeased, and health care professionals from all disciplines were asked to become a part of something larger than just an extended network of hospitals here in Greenville.

Students of history remain awed by the fact that not only were the rebellious colonists successful at forming a new country, but the brightest minds amongst them produced the foundational elements of a society that continues to blossom generations later.  And this year at the USC School of Medicine Greenville, we encountered our first class of medical students—the pioneers among a new generation of clinicians who are engaged in an educational process that few schools in the country can match.

I have the pleasure of working closely with six of these students this summer. All of them are engaged in internships—some in the Greenville Healthcare Simulation Center and others in the Department of Anesthesiology. Without a doubt, I am witnessing firsthand what can be accomplished by some of the best and brightest minds in the country.

Students and “sim” baby

Working on projects that we expected to last for months, these students are completing assignments in a matter of days. Having worked with many of these students over the past year, I know that their entire class is equally capable. These students have easily transitioned from the domain of student to teacher, from recipients of information to analysts of data, from readers of information to consultants on quality. When we discuss transforming health care here in Greenville, this is what it’s all about.

As the 4th of July approaches, we’ll pause to celebrate the bravery and wisdom that created a path to our present. To the Class of 2016: we applaud your intellectual curiosity, your amazing talents, and know that we all look forward to seeing the generations of clinicians who will be inspired by your courageous journey.

Dr. Rob Morgan, Medical Director, Greenville Healhcare Simulation Center