MUSC Inner Circle Magazine-Fall 2023

INNER CIRCLE THE MAGAZINE FOR MEMBERS OF THE POSSIBILITY CIRCLES

A HARMONIOUS COLLABORATION A friendship that started in church choir is the key to a transformative gift.

FALL 2023

INNER CIRCLE EDITOR Heather Perkins CREATIVE DIRECTOR Melissa Varner COPY EDITORS John Nash Melissa Varner PROJECT MANAGER Jennifer Breen CONTRIBUTORS Catherine Caroe Lilia Correa Lauren Hooker Dana Taylor Jennifer Wilson PHOTOGRAPY Zheng Chia Gary Coleman Scott Garrand Mark Jump Sarah Pack Brennan Wesley GRAPHIC DESIGN Julie Frye DIGITAL CONTENT Vivian Ivory LEADERSHIP David J. Cole, M.D., FACS MUSC President Kate Azizi Vice President for Institutional Advancement Beth Heiter Senior Director of Constituent Engagement

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Powerful ripples A message from Kate Azizi, vice president for Institutional Advancement Philanthropy is a verb A message from MUSC President David J. Cole, M.D., FACS

A harmonious collaboration

A friendship that started in church choir is the key to a transformative gift.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Rewinding the clock A life-changing treatment helped Don Campbell regain strength and coordination he thought he’d lost to Parkinson’s disease.

How do we eradicate cancer?

Hollings Cancer Center researchers answer the bold question that’s at the heart of their mission.

Race for a cure

Second MUSC Hollings Cup Regatta

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Why give to MUSC? The impact of planned giving.

22 Family matters

There’s nothing more important to Jimmy Bagwell than family. His father instilled a love of giving back in him, and how he’s setting an example for the next generation.

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Loving tribute Spiro Vallis honors his mother with a memorial scholarship that supports future nurses.

‘Our hearts knew’ After their own experience, Kate and Chris Mettler felt called to help children and families facing serious illness.

Hidden object art A living wall in the Boeing Outdoor Play Area has been transformed into an interactive play wall for children at MUSC Shawn Jenkins Children’s Hospital.

POWERFUL RIPPLES

A message from Kate Azizi, vice president for Institutional Advancement

Dear MUSC partners, We all know what happens when a stone is tossed into a pond: It creates ripples that extend much further and last much longer than the initial splash.

Last year, more than 18,000 friends like you decided to make a gift in support of MUSC’s mission. In doing so, they created powerful ripples that are changing countless lives in such meaningful ways, and will continue to do so for generations to come.

Of the funds provided last year: • More than $8 million is going into scholarship funds. In the short term, these awards will help our students pursue dreams that otherwise might be beyond their means. In the longer term, they will enable our graduates to spend the next 30, 40 or 50 years in the service of others, guiding families through some of life’s most important and consequential moments.

• Nearly $22 million will support biomedical research, enabling us to search for innovative new ways to prevent, treat and cure illnesses like cancer, heart disease, blindness, neurological problems and so many others.

• More than $12 million will help us pay for highly advanced technologies and facilities for education, patient care and research – including a new upright MRI, a new College of Pharmacy building and a new freestanding emergency department in the Sea Islands, to name a few.

• More than $11 million will create a future of hope and better health for the children we serve through MUSC Children’s Health and the MUSC Shawn Jenkins Children’s Hospital.

• $3 million was designated to endowed chairs, which will enable us to recruit, retain and support the country’s best researchers, educators and caregivers.

The list goes on and on. The point is, your giving matters. It is making a difference. It is helping us bring people into better health, which is surely one of the most precious gifts one person can offer another.

On behalf of all those your giving touches – today and those yet to come – thank you.

Kate Azizi Vice President for Institutional Advancement

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PHILANTHROPY IS A VERB

A message from MUSC President David J. Cole, M.D., FACS

Dear friend of MUSC, I am pleased to share this issue of Inner Circle, a special publication created for dedicated supporters of the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) and its life-changing mission.

Like you, I support MUSC’s work philanthropically. I understand that these gifts are offered with the hope – indeed the expectation – that they will make a positive, meaningful difference in the lives of others.

Fortunately, my career at MUSC – as president, as a surgeon, and as a researcher – gives me a unique, deeply personal view of just how powerful this impact can be.

I have seen our students go on to spend their lives caring for and in the service of others because donors like you helped to support their educations.

I have seen patients whose lives have been saved and transformed by donor-supported research and clinical trials.

I have seen families receive the most advanced care provided by some of the top specialists in the country because private dollars helped us to bring them here and provide them with the resources and state-of-the-art facilities to do what they do best.

Every day, I am met with incontrovertible proof that giving matters. Philanthropy is a “verb,” and in our work, it transforms lives daily. I wish you could walk with me and see your investments at work in the same way. This is why we are sending this publication – to share with you how you are changing what’s possible for those we serve. I hope that you enjoy it, and that it inspires both your confidence and continued partnership.

Thank you for all you have done and continue to do for the Medical University of South Carolina.

Yours in service,

David J. Cole, M.D., FACS President, Medical University of South Carolina INNER CIRCLE

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A HARMONIOUS COLLABORATION A shared passion for changing what’s possible in resident education started with a mutual love of music and medicine.

By Lauren Hooker

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INNOVATION CIRCLE

ith Barbara Christie’s background in medical sales, volunteerism and philanthropy – and her heart for service – she knew she could make a difference. Finding the right fit was a journey that developed through a shared love of music and service to the community.

Christie had a successful career Christie’s annual in marketing for several major commitment to MUSC and her generosity in pharmaceutical companies in creating the residency research program qualifies the Boston area, developing her for our IMPACT and INNOVATION Circles expertise in surgical device sales.

In 2006, she moved to Charleston, South Carolina, to lead the marketing efforts for Darkness to Light, a nonprofit working to end the sexual abuse of children.

Upon her arrival in Charleston, she joined Grace Church Cathedral, singing in the St. Gregory Choir and serving on several committees. It was there that she met MUSC pediatric surgeon Aaron Lesher, M.D., a classically trained pianist. The two spent hours together harmonizing and developing a deep friendship based on their shared interests in music, medicine and service.

Innovation Circle member Barbara Christie and MUSC pediatric surgeon Dr. Aaron Lesher

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“As our friendship developed, Aaron and I would have deep conversations about the children he cared for, the complexity of cases he saw, and his specialization in pediatric surgery,” Christie explained.

A surgeon who treats adults is often specialized in a specific organ or part of the body.

Pediatric surgeons like Lesher must be experts in multiple organs and specialize in operating on a variety of ages and sizes, from infants to young adults.

“This gift is a real game changer for our trainees – and, ultimately, the children they’ll go on to treat.”

“One day, I asked Aaron where he saw the greatest need for me to be able to make a meaningful impact,” she said. “He filled me in on the challenges of today’s general surgery residents who want to pursue a career in pediatric surgery.”

Pediatric surgeons are among the most specialized, trained and experienced surgeons. Becoming one is a rigorous process that requires a commitment of at least seven years of advanced training after medical school.

The last step is a two-year pediatric surgery fellowship, where they gain hands-on experience.

These fellowships are highly competitive to get into, Lesher explained. A recent study found the most successful candidates are residents who have experience in both the operating room and the lab. Lesher suggested Christie invest in resident education at MUSC: Her gift could provide residents with dedicated research time,

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“In the most Barbara is giving them a competitive edge when applying for fellowships.

With help from Vera Ford, director of development, Christie created two funds: an expendable fund, which can be used right away, and an endowment, which will last forever. The expendable fund will support the start-up of the new residency research program, beginning as early as 2024. The endowment will provide the program with operating funds in perpetuity once it is up and running.

Taken together, Christie’s gift will have a major, enduring impact on resident training and patient care at MUSC, said Lesher.

“This gift is a real game changer for our trainees – and, ultimately, the children they’ll go on to treat,” he said.

For Christie, giving to MUSC came down to two things: a personal connection and confidence that her gift would make a meaningful impact. Her friendship with Lesher gave her both. “Through our conversations, I could envision how my investment will provide more meaningful training opportunities and improve patient care.”

Ultimately, Christie’s impact will be bigger than she ever imagined, Ford said. “In the most profound way, Barbara is changing lives today and for generations to come.”

The Christie family has generously supported numerous programs at MUSC, including the first endowed chair in the College of Health Professions, funding for the MUSC Health Heart & Vascular Center, and support for the MUSC Health Storm Eye Institute.

profound way, changing lives today and for generations to come. ”

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REWINDING THE CLOCK A life-changing treatment helped Don Campbell regain strength and coordination he thought he’d lost to Parkinson’s disease.

By Melissa Varner

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on Campbell feels like a new man. He didn’t discover the Fountain of Youth, but he says it feels close. “My wife said I look 10 years younger,” Don said. “My kids have all said, ‘Dad, you look fantastic.’ I’m back to doing activities I couldn’t do before. It’s really given me back 15 years of life.”

“It” is deep brain stimulation. Neurosurgeons at MUSC Health were the first in South Carolina to offer deep brain stimulation, or DBS, as a treatment for Parkinson’s disease and other movement disorders.

Here’s how it works: A surgeon places thin metal wires in the brain and a pacemaker-like device in the chest. The device sends electrical pulses to the brain to help control some motor symptoms.

For Don, who was diagnosed with Parkinson’s 17 years ago, the results have been life changing.

Before surgery, he was taking up to 12 medications a day to help manage his symptoms. Since his surgery six months ago, Don is down to three medications a day – with a goal to get to zero.

“I like to box. I like to ride bikes. I especially like to play golf. And I was slowly losing my power and ability to do those things,” he explained. “DBS gave me the coordination and strength I needed to do them again. I almost feel like a new man.”

Don Campbell and his wife Kathy on a recent vacation in South Dakota

Innovations like deep brain stimulation are made possible through research, including the studies and clinical trials underway at the Murray Center for Research on Parkinson’s Disease and Related Disorders at MUSC, where investigators are exploring new ways to use DBS to help patients.

“Stimulation is currently very effective for motor symptoms,” explained neurologist Gonzalo Revuelta, DO, medical director of the Deep Brain Stimulation program, director of the Murray Center and Don’s doctor. “But we’re trying to see if we can use deep brain stimulation to improve speech, cognition and walking. So that’s a big push in the center right now.”

The Murray Center was established in June 2003 with a generous gift from the late William Edwards Murray, to help develop new therapies for Parkinson’s disease and similar neurological problems.

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The Murray Center’s namesake

Don and Kathy Campbell with family and friends

At the time, Revuelta says, there was just one movement disorder neurologist and one neurosurgeon recruited to start the brain stimulation program. Over the last 20 years, the center has focused on growing a team that’s dedicated to finding answers and developing innovative solutions for Parkinson’s patients. As of June 2023, the center was in the process of hiring its eighth movement disorder neurologist.

“I’m most excited about the potential for developing a new therapy for Parkinson’s disease here,” Revuelta said. “I think some of the brain stimulation approaches that we’re developing here have real promise.”

In addition to DBS, the center is studying TMS or transcranial magnetic stimulation, which MUSC researchers have already pioneered for the treatment of depression. Murray Center researchers are using it to help Parkinson’s patients who have trouble walking. They’re also studying ta-VNS, or trans auricular vagal nerve stimulation, which is currently used for treating epilepsy and depression.

The Murray Center for Research on Parkinson’s Disease and Related Disorders was established on June 27, 2003, with the generous support of the late William “Bill” Edwards Murray. Over the course of his life, Murray supported philanthropic endeavors in the fields of medicine, education, fine and performing arts, and world peace. He was twice awarded the Order of the Palmetto, the highest civilian honor awarded by the Governor of South Carolina. Before his passing, he requested that it be mentioned among his accomplishments that he had, at one point in his life, danced with Ginger Rogers.

Revuelta is thankful to William Edwards Murray and all the donors who have supported the Murray Center and made treatments like deep brain stimulation possible for patients like Don. Since his surgery, Don says he Gonzalo Revuelta, DO hasn’t had any more dyskinesias, the medical term for what he describes as “herky jerky” movements. “I walk normal, I talk normal, I function normal. And like I mentioned before, I gained 15 years of my life back.”

Don says he owes his “heroes” – Dr. Revuelta, Dr. Istvan Takacs and Dr. Vanessa Hinson – his deepest gratitude. “I think God put these people in my life to get me through this point,” Don said. “Between God and the doctors, they combined to give me a little miracle. I hope one day I can do something in return.”

Don and Kathy Campbell with their first grandchild

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Because of them, he’s able to enjoy one of life’s most precious gifts. “We just had our first grandchild, and we’re just so happy,” he said. “Of course, we think he’s the cutest grandchild in the world.”

Q.

HOW DO WE ERADICATE CANCER?

Hollings Cancer Center at the Medical University of South Carolina is one of 72 National Cancer Institute-designated cancer centers in the nation and the only one in South Carolina. Our mission is straightforward: eradicate cancer. So, how do we do it? We asked a few of our specialists to share their diverse perspectives.

By Jennifer Wilson

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Q. How do we

eradicate cancer?

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Hollings Cancer Center at the Medical University of South Carolina is one of 72 National Cancer Institute-designated cancer centers in the nation and the only one in South Carolina.

Our mission is straightforward: eradicate cancer. So, how do we do it? We asked a few of our specialists to share their diverse perspectives.

By Jennifer Wilson

EARLY DETECTION: Improving early detection methods is crucial for cancer eradication. Advancements in medical imaging techniques, such as high-resolution imaging, liquid biopsies, and molecular diagnostics, can help identify cancer at its earliest stages when it is most treatable, resulting in the best outcomes.

Raymond N. DuBois, M.D., Ph.D., Director of MUSC Hollings Cancer Center Dubois is internationally known for his work studying the connection between inflammation and cancer.

His lab is currently studying how dietary fats affect the development of colon cancer.

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Eradicating cancer is a complex and ongoing challenge that requires a multi-faceted approach involving various strategies and advancements in medical research and technology. While it is difficult to predict the exact timeline or specific methods that will lead to a complete eradication of all types of cancer, there are several promising areas of progress:

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PRECISION MEDICINE: Tailoring treatment to a patient based on their genetic makeup and the specific characteristics of their cancer is a promising approach.

Precision medicine allows for personalized treatment plans, targeted therapies and the development of new drugs that can attack cancer cells more effectively while minimizing harm to healthy cells.

IMMUNOTHERAPY: Immunotherapy harnesses the power of the immune system to recognize and destroy cancer cells.

Approaches such as immune checkpoint inhibitors, CAR-T cell therapy and cancer vaccines have shown promising results in treating various types of cancer. Continued research in this field is leading to more effective immunotherapeutic approaches.

GENE EDITING AND GENE THERAPIES: Techniques like CRISPR-Cas9 have the potential to modify cancer-related genes,

correct genetic mutations, and enhance the body’s ability to fight cancer. Gene therapies aim to introduce healthy genes or modify existing genes to restore normal cellular function and inhibit cancer growth.

TARGETED THERAPIES: Advances in understanding cancer biology and the molecular pathways involved in cancer development have led to the development of targeted therapies. These drugs specifically target the molecular abnormalities driving cancer growth and other biologic changes in cancer cells, leading to more effective treatment with fewer side effects.

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND BIG DATA: Utilizing AI algorithms and big data analytics can enhance our understanding of cancer patterns, aid in early detection, optimize treatment plans and facilitate the discovery of new therapies. Machine learning algorithms can analyze vast amounts of data and identify patterns that might not be evident to human researchers.

It’s important to note that cancer is a highly complex disease, comprising numerous types and subtypes, each with its own unique challenges. Eradicating cancer completely will require a combination of these approaches plus information that has not yet been discovered, along with continuous research, collaboration, and ongoing advancements in medical science and technology. While we continue to make significant progress, it’s difficult to provide an exact timeline for the eradication of cancer, since cancer has existed since the time of dinosaurs during the Mesozoic Era over 200 million years ago.

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“I firmly believe the path to a cure lies in the laboratory, where we will develop treatments specifically designed to target and eradicate these cancers.”

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Despite advances in research, cancer is still a terrifying diagnosis. Standard treatments may work at first, but often don’t stop cancer from coming back. This is called a recurrence or recurrent cancer. It often means the cancer has spread and can carry a grim prognosis.

I firmly believe the path to a cure lies in the laboratory, where we will develop treatments specifically designed to target and eradicate these cancers.

Jezabel R. Blanco, Ph.D. Assistant Professor of Pediatrics Darby Children’s Research Institute Blanco has made it her mission to find a cure for medulloblastoma, the most common type of brain cancer found in children. Current treatments are often toxic, with lifelong side effects.

To accomplish this goal, it is crucial to use tumor models that accurately mimic tumors that continue to grow or come back after treatment. This has been challenging because there are a limited number of available biopsies. To overcome this obstacle, collaboration among scientists, physicians and families is necessary to obtain consent and expand the pool of recurrent disease samples.

Studying these samples will give us valuable insights into how these tumors work, ultimately making it possible to develop better, safer treatments. If I can find a drug that will help just one child, my research will be worth it.

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We will eradicate cancer by making a health care system that delivers the best possible care to all patients with cancer.

Since launching the “war on cancer” 50 years ago, the United States has made significant progress towards curing cancer. Through advances in prevention, screening, early detection, diagnosis, treatment, and survivorship, death from cancer has decreased by nearly 30%.

However, this progress is limited by the failure to translate important scientific advances into clinical care to the patients it is intended to help. Progress is also not uniform; decreases in cancer mortality have been less in the South, and profound cancer disparities persist.

Evan Graboyes, M.D., MPH, Director, Survivorship and Cancer Outcomes Research (SCOR) Graboyes is a surgical oncologist and researcher. His work focuses on improving the access, equity and quality of care for patients with cancer.

I believe that the best way to cure cancer is by creating a health care system that delivers timely, equitable, quality care to all patients at-risk for or suffering from cancer.

“We will eradicate cancer by making a health care system that delivers the best possible care to all patients with cancer.”

To support faculty at the forefront of cancer research, contact: Debbie Bordeau, Director of Development, Hollings Cancer Center | 843-792-7694 | bordeau@musc.edu

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THE SECOND MUSC HOLLINGS CUP REGATTA, HELD SEPT. 9 IN CHARLESTON HARBOR, RAISED MORE THAN $150,000 FOR CANCER RESEARCH AT HOLLINGS CANCER CENTER.

Race

for a

CURE

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Tickets on sale now!

muscevents.org/alumniweekend2024 #MUSCAW24

WHY GIVE TO MUSC? Your will or living trust is a lasting statement of what was important to you during your lifetime. Where you direct your lifetime of earnings and savings says a great deal about you – who and what you held dear, what touched you and enriched your life, and what you want to ensure for the next generation.

We recently asked a few donors to share why they chose to give to MUSC through their wills or living trusts.

Donors who make a commitment to support MUSC’s future through their will, estate or living trust are recognized as members of MUSC’s Legacy Circle.

Their generosity and vision provide the university with the long-term financial stability needed to ensure the continued pursuit of its mission.

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In the last three years, in future gifts to Because MUSC is a worthy investment.

“Our goal is to help an aspiring physician to achieve his or her dreams. We are also mindful of all the patients that will benefit from this physician’s knowledge. Good health will add a lot of happiness to the lives of a lot of people.

In other words, this is a lot of bang for the buck.”

Julia and Delaine Robbins Legacy Circle members

LEGACY

Because we need more nurses.

“Maureen and I are pleased to be able to make a financial commitment to the MUSC College of Nursing. Providing resources to secure additional faculty members so that we can increase the number of nursing graduates is near and dear to Maureen’s and my goals to solve for nursing shortages that affect all departments in the health care industry. Nursing is overlooked by many in and out of the industry, but they are actually the backbone of health care services.”

Maureen and Patrick Marr Legacy Circle members

76 donors have committed $32,048,366 MUSC through their wills or estates.

Because MUSC saved my life.

“MUSC saved my life, and I am still grateful to this day. We have chosen to give to MUSC because our donation makes a difference, if not immediately, then years down the road. There are many worthy nonprofits, but a gift to help build a facility or a gift that helps provide lifesaving technology and treatments that continues to save lives many years down the road, is the best gift of all.”

Tina and Ricky Doscher Legacy Circle members

Giving through your will or living trust is easy to do.

Learn more at muscgiving.org/estateplanning Or start a conversation with: Dana R. Taylor, CFRE Director of Planned Giving Medical University of South Carolina 843.792.3592 | tayldana@musc.edu

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DONOR PROFILE COMPASSION CIRCLE

Q&A

FAMILY MATTERS

Jimmy Bagwell has given to MUSC for 20 years in a row! His loyal giving makes him part of both our COMPASSION and INNOVATION Circles.

There’s nothing more important to Jimmy Bagwell than family. His father instilled a love of giving back in him, and how he’s setting an example for the next generation.

What are the most important lessons you learned from your parents?

My mother and father both taught me valuable lessons.

My father was very involved in the Charleston community, and he instilled in me the importance of being involved and giving back. He also instilled in me that you have to work hard to be successful and achieve your goals. My mother taught me that if you keep your head up and always have a positive attitude, problems can be overcome.

What’s your favorite quote?

My favorite quote was voiced by Winston Churchill during the darkest days of World War II, when he gave a speech in 1941 while visiting his former school, Harrow School. In that speech, he said, “Never give in, never give in, never, never, never – in nothing, great or small, large or petty - never give in except to convictions of honor, and good sense.” We all face obstacles in life that seem insurmountable, but we have to keep going and never give up.

“My triplet grandsons Left to right: James, John, George and Jimmy Bagwell

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What are you most proud of?

I am most proud of my family. My wife, Penny, and I have been married for 53 years and we enjoy a wonderful life together. I don’t know where I would be today had it not been for her support. Our only child, Will, is married to another wonderful partner, Bessie, and they have triplet boys who just turned 20 years old and are great young men. There is nothing more important than family and I cherish every moment spent with them.

Why do you give to the MUSC Foundation?

I support the children’s hospital because it has had such a positive impact on the lives of so many children and their families in South Carolina. My triplet grandsons may not have survived if not for MUSC Children’s Hospital. They were born at 27 weeks, weighing approximately two pounds at birth, and spent three months in the NICU. Penny and I visited them every day and there were times we left the hospital in tears from seeing these fragile babies. Because of the incredible nurses and doctors in the NICU, they not only survived, but they are also healthy, bright college students.

What drew you to MUSC?

In 1986, while serving as president of the Rotary Club of Mount Pleasant, I was contacted by Alfred Pinckney of the Rotary Club of Charleston, asking me to assist him in beginning a program to help children with heart defects who lived in countries that hadn’t the resources to help them. We met with then MUSC President Jim Edwards, asking him if MUSC would be interested in partnering with us in this endeavor. President Edwards worked out a way to do this and that was when the Rotary “Gift of Life” program was born. I chaired the program for five years and saw firsthand the miracles performed by the doctors and nurses at MUSC Children’s Hospital. The program

Penny and Jimmy Bagwell

“I support the children’s hospital because it has had such a positive impact on the lives of so many children and their families in South Carolina.” eventually brought 140 children from around the world to South Carolina for life-saving heart surgery. Then in 2003 my grandsons were born prematurely at MUSC and I again witnessed the miracles being performed at MUSC. The Gift of Life program brought me to MUSC but the saving of my grandsons’ lives cemented the relationship for me.

may not have survived if not for MUSC Children’s Hospital.”

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DONOR PROFILE IMPACT CIRCLE

LOVING TRIBUTE Spiro Vallis honors his mother with a memorial scholarship that supports future nurses.

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limpia “Bia” Vallis fled her home in Antwerp, Belgium, for the safety of the United States during World War I. After eventually settling in Charleston, South Carolina, she took a position as an executive secretary in the MUSC Department of Surgery, a job she truly loved.

Upon her passing, Bia’s son, Spiro, thought about a meaningful way to honor her memory at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC). He decided to create a new merit-based scholarship that would support students in the MUSC College of Nursing.

Vallis took two pathways to create his scholarship. First, he worked with the MUSC Office of Planned Giving to make a gift through his estate plans. At the end of his lifetime, this gift will create an endowed scholarship fund that will exist in perpetuity. Additionally, because he wanted to put his gifts to work immediately, he also decided to make annual contributions to provide scholarship support until his planned gift is realized.

The first Olimpia “Bia” Vallis Nursing Scholarship was awarded in 2019 to Samantha Bernstein, then an incoming Ph.D. student. Four more scholarships have been awarded since then. The College of Nursing has prioritized the creation of new scholarships for all its programs as a way of lowering barriers to the profession of nursing.

Ph.D. scholarships are a special priority, because nursing schools need more faculty to boost student enrollment and stem the growing nursing shortage.

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Spiro Vallis, left, with his scholarship recipient Samantha Bernstein, and friend Phyllis Moseley

“It’s hard to put into words just how his gift changes my life and the lives of all future expectant mothers I will treat.”

Thanks to a lot of hard work and Through his will, the Vallis Scholarship’s financial Spiro Vallis will leave a generous future gift to the assistance, Bernstein today is Olimpia “Bia” Vallis Nursing an obstetric nurse and faculty Scholarship at MUSC. His planned gift, along with his member at the Massachusetts annual support of the scholarship, General Hospital (MGH) makes him a member of both our LEGACY and IMPACT Institute of Health Professions Circles. in Boston, where she teaches nursing and conducts research.

Currently, she’s studying the workplace conditions of nurses in rural hospitals and why it matters to patient care.

Bernstein was overwhelmed that someone she had never met would want to support her education. “Mr. Vallis’s generosity is just incredible,” she said at the time of her award.

“It’s hard to put into words just how his gift changes my life and the lives of all future expectant mothers I will treat.”

“This scholarship isn’t just helping me,” she continued. “It is helping the students I will teach, the patients I will treat, and it is helping fund the next generation of nursing research.”

DONOR PROFILE TRANSFORMATION CIRCLE

“OUR HEARTS KNEW” After their own experience with MUSC’s Children’s Hospital, Transformation Circle members Kate and Chris Mettler knew in their hearts that they wanted to support other children and families.

What is your earliest memory of giving back?

Kate: My mother led a group of volunteers who operated a gift shop that dedicated 100% of its proceeds to Dayton Children’s Hospital. From first grade on I would walk from school to the gift shop at lunchtime a couple days a week to spend that hour helping my mother set out merchandise and watch her creatively operate this very lovely store.

My mother devoted probably 25 hours a week for 20+ years as a volunteer to try to maximize the store’s annual donation to the children’s hospital. She loved it!

Chris: As a young child, I vividly remember my father providing free legal services to a variety of our community members in South Florida who could not otherwise afford legal help. The joy my father felt by helping others made a meaningful mark on me.

What keeps you awake at night?

Cam and Grady Mettler

Chris and Kate Mettler

veloped. We saw firsthand the amazing medical care and support that MUSC professionals were providing not only to our children but also to so many other children from all parts of South Carolina.

During those two weeks we witnessed families dealing with very significant and challenging health situations.

Chris: Later, we learned about their vision for creating a comprehensive pediatric palliative care program at MUSC, and our hearts knew immediately that this was something we wanted to support. We had not previously understood

that pediatric palliative care services are not generally covered by insurance policies or public funds. Private charitable support is the lifeline for a children’s hospital to be able offer palliative support to children and their families.

What’s the most important value you think people should hold?

Chris: Empathy and kindness are an even tie.

Kate: Agreed. All other worthy values generally fall into place easily if we can just exhibit empathy and kindness daily.

Kate: We share the fear that our society as a whole seems to be showing a tendency to increasingly place themselves before others. We worry that exhibiting empathy for others could become the exception and not the rule.

WHAT IS PEDIATRIC PALLIATIVE CARE?

What drew you to MUSC?

Thanks to the Mettlers’ generosity, the pediatric palliative care team has grown by two members. “Their gift has been transformative for our program in several ways,” said Conrad Williams, M.D., pediatric palliative care program director. “In partnership with MUSC leadership, the Mettlers’ gift has allowed us to hire a social worker and a full-time grief and bereavement specialist to support our children’s families.

Kate: Our twin sons were born at MUSC Children’s Hospital in 2011 at 33 weeks. They were healthy but spent two weeks in the hospital as their lungs matured and their ability to swallow de-

Palliative care is specialty medical care for a child living with a serious illness. At MUSC, a specialized team of pediatric palliative care nurses, physicians, chaplains and Child Life specialists work with the primary care team to ease suffering and support children and families throughout the care journey.

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Celebrating scholarship donors The MUSC College of Medicine celebrated the donors who made scholarships possible for 350 students in 2023. The annual Scholars and Benefactors Celebration brunch was held at the Harbour Club at WestEdge in April.

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CONTACT US We would love to hear from you!

If you are interested in sharing your giving story, please reach out to us.

Heather Perkins Assistant Director of Donor Relations perkinsh@musc.edu | 843-792-4803 Giving.musc.edu

Office of Institutional Advancement 268 Calhoun Street MSC 182 Charleston, SC 29425

Hidden object art

A

living wall in the Boeing Outdoor Play Area has been transformed into an interactive play wall for children at MUSC Shawn Jenkins Children’s Hospital. In keeping with the “Lowcountry landscapes” theme of the seventh floor, the wall now features a rainbow-bright mural of a familiar scene: A Great Blue Heron surveying a Lowcountry marsh at sunset.

Sunset Song is the original work of award-winning artist and South Carolina native, Kirkland Smith. The wall, made of recycled and donated plastic toys from the community, is four feet high and 20 feet long.

Children are welcome to touch and play with the wall, and rearrange objects along the bottom with magnets. They can also hunt for hidden objects.

Sunset Song is part of the MUSC Arts in Healing art collection. Arts in Healing, which is supported philanthropically, uses art as a tool to improve mood, reduce stress and bring comfort. Each piece of art is thoughtfully curated with this goal in mind.

Non-Profit Organization U.S. Postage

PAID

Charleston, S.C. Permit #254