May 20, 2011
MEDICAL UNIVERSITY of SOUTH CAROLINA
Vol. 29, No. 38
INSIDE Med school grad defies all odds LEADERSHIP BANQUET
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MUSC students were honored for their commitment to the community.
TEACHING EXCELLENCE
10 Four professors were selected to receive awards for teaching methods.
5 Meet Jay 13 Kennedy Gift 15
Classifieds
T H E C ATA LY S T ONLINE http://www. musc.edu/ catalyst
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BY CINDY ABOLE
Public Relations he African proverb, “It takes a village to raise a child,” resonates in the journey of medical school graduate Kenyatta J. Frazier, M.D. Frazier’s graduation marks a culmination of years of hard work and celebration with his family and a loving “village” of teachers, neighbors, coaches and friends who’ve inspired and influenced him along the way. After all, this enthusiastic and determined young man has spent his life beating the odds. The Aiken native is the youngest of five children in a single-parent home where money was often scarce. His desire to become a physician came early—as a child he kept a box of bandages, first aid ointments and alcohol pads at the ready for any of his siblings. At Kennedy Middle School, Frazier struggled to find his place among other students and was influenced by the wrong crowds. Frazier’s six-grade school teacher Nance Dukes saw something special in Frazier. It wasn’t long for Dukes to realize that this troubled child loved reading and learning. “Despite limited resources, Kenyatta never lost his ability and strong desire to learn and get a good education,” said Dukes, whose family took Frazier, and other disadvantaged children, under their wings beyond school to instill the value of volunteering and giving back to the community. Frazier joined the Dukes family in volunteering with the Aiken Boys & Girls Club and
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Despite limited
resources, Kenyatta never lost his ability and strong desire to learn and get a good education.
Nance Dukes
What got Kenyatta Frazier through med school: God; Dr. Debra Hazen-Martin; and family, friends, classmates and playing tennis. also participated in other service learning activities. Frazier’s transition to college was nominal. He already had developed his work and studyethic during his final years at Aiken High School. He entered the University of South Carolina (USC) as an Honors College student and received tuition assistance under the school’s Opportunity Scholars Program, which provides support to firstgeneration college students. It
provided the right balance of academic support and services to freshman students in core courses like English, history and math. The program also offered academic advising, study abroad opportunities, access to workshops and mentoring. By the end of his sophomore year and several tough courses such as chemistry behind him, Frazier realized he was on his way to becoming a physician. He chose MUSC’s medicine
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program over USC and Yale School of Medicine because of its smaller class size ratio, curriculum and medical student support. Myra Haney Singleton, COM director of academics and student support, can only smile at the mention of Frazier’s name. Singleton said that Frazier has always found opportunity in adversity throughout his life. She compares Frazier’s presence at MUSC as a diamond in the rough. After much care and preparation, the diamond’s sparkle ultimately shines through, she said. “Kenyatta has grown so much throughout medical school. He’s a genuinely humble young man and never too proud to allow others to help him in whatever he does.” From the beginning, he learned to adapt to the rigors of medical school. And when he needed help in a class or to study for Step 1 of the United States Medical Licensing Exam (USMLE), Frazier See DEFIES on page 11