SWAGÊÓƵ

SWAGÊÓƵPartners with Samaritan Health Clinic to Provide Expanded Primary Care Services in Pickens County, SC

When Hurricane Helene ravaged the southeastern United States, media attention and relief efforts largely focused on the devastation in major cities like Asheville, North Carolina. But for the small, rural town of Burnsville, less than an hour away, the damage was just as severe, if not worse.

In the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, our community has been left reeling. The storm's destruction has been far-reaching, with lives tragically lost and thousands of homes and businesses severely damaged. The road to recovery will be long and filled with challenges, as we confront the reality of rebuilding both physical spaces and the spirits of those affected. Amidst the devastation, the SWAGÊÓƵfamily is humbled and deeply grateful for the ways we have been able to assist, providing relief in the face of such overwhelming loss.

The VCOM-Carolinas campus was filled with excitement and vibrant colors as 151 participants rallied for the VIVA! Color Run 2024 on Saturday, August 17! Runners, walkers and dancers of all ages and fitness levels from the SWAGÊÓƵcommunity, St. Luke’s and beyond joined forces for a morning of fun, fitness and philanthropy. The event successfully brought together not only SWAGÊÓƵand St. Luke’s members but also participants from the broader Spartanburg community. 

Gwenn Jackson, MD, VCOM-Louisiana's OB/GYN discipline chair, recently returned from a transformative medical mission trip to Chembolet, Kenya. This community of 6,000 in northwest Kenya welcomed Dr. Jackson and her medical team as they provided crucial medical care over the course of a week.

Both Amar Mukhtar, DO, and Sonul Gulati, DO, are first-generation medical students whose families hail from different parts of the globe: Dr. Mukhtar’s family is from Sudan, and Dr. Gulati’s family is from India. VCOM’s commitment to international outreach was a key part of their experience as students, and now they are paying that commitment forward through their MedDreams Foundation. 

You might be able to imagine how it feels to see the USNS Comfort anchored in a harbor, especially if you live in a part of the world that requires the services it provides. With a length of 894 feet, the ship is only a few feet shorter than the R.M.S. Queen Elizabeth 2. Stood on its end, the ship would tower over the Golden Gate Bridge and the Space Needle. In short: It’s big. Painted white, with large red crosses, it certainly makes an impression.