By James T. Hammond
jhammond@scbiznews.com
Published Aug. 6, 2010

The trustees of the University of South Carolina and Greenville Hospital System University Medical Center have both approved a “foundation agreement” to expand the USC School of Medicine’s program at Greenville Memorial Hospital.

The Greenville Hospital System board voted early today, and the USC board took up the issue at its meeting this afternoon in Columbia.

“This is kind of a cool day,” said Michael Riordan, CEO of Greenville Hospital System, who came to Columbia for USC’s meeting.

The expansion plan would change the current agreement that allows third- and fourth-year medical students to be trained at GHS. The new proposal would expand the program initially to 40 students and all four years of an aspiring doctor’s medical education.

Previous coverage
USC, GHS to vote on medical school
USC, Greenville Hospital System mull medical school pact
Greenville medical campus may expand

USC board member Edward Floyd said the expansion is the most important project in his 30 years on the board.

“With the current budget crisis, this is the only way forward for the university,” Floyd said. He said the move will help all of South Carolina attract business and create jobs.

The program will have 400 students eventually, Floyd said. USC President Harris Pastides said the expansion is a response to a critical shortage of primary care physicians.

Pastides emphasized that the plan does not envision a new medical school, or even a new medical campus, as USC has had students at Greenville Memorial Hospital since 1991.

He also emphasized that the expansion will be accomplished without state taxpayer funds. The program will be funded primarily by Greenville Hospital System and by student fees.

“We can’t begin to imagine all the good things that will come from this,” said Frances Ellison, who chairs the Greenville Hospital System board.

Pastides said the next step will be the development of an accreditation document and a budget for the expanded program. He said the accreditation will be parallel plans for the Columbia and Greenville campuses.

“We definitely want to innovate,” Pastides said, indicating the academic programs on the two campuses will be different.

USC provost Michael Ameridis said the expanded medical education program in Greenville will feature innovative teaching practices, including sending students to community primary care settings earlier to expose them to patient care. The program will have a dean who will report to the provost of the university in Columbia.

Pastides also said USC will begin to explore opportunities with Palmetto Health of Columbia to increase the capacity for training doctors at the School of Medicine in Columbia.