MUSC - Medical University of South Carolina

06/17/2025 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 06/17/2025 06:46

(June 17, 2025) MUSC Health Lancaster Medical Center welcomes inaugural class of internal medicine resident physicians

State appropriation, private donors, community support make program possible

LANCASTER, S.C. (June 17, 2025) - MUSC Health Lancaster Medical Center will welcome its first class of eight Internal Medicine resident physicians this July, marking a significant milestone in expanding health care access and physician training for Lancaster and surrounding counties. The hospital is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) to offer postgraduate medical education, an essential step toward growing and sustaining a high-quality physician workforce for the region.

Internal Medicine residencies span three years. During this time, resident physicians will live in the community, deliver care in clinical settings and become active participants in the local health care landscape.

Launching a residency program requires a substantial upfront investment, well before federal matching funds become available. Initial expenses include dedicated clinical and educational spaces, office-based practice settings, and administrative support for trainees, and program leadership and faculty recruitment. These foundational components are vital to creating a sustainable program that attracts top-tier medical talent and ensures the continuity of care in the years to come.

This effort reflects a powerful public-private partnership. It was made possible through strategic investments by the hospital, private support from organizations such as The Duke Endowment, OceanaGold Haile Gold Mine, Comporium, and Domtar and funding from a recent state appropriation championed by members of the South Carolina General Assembly. Together, these contributions have laid the groundwork for transformational health care access and long-term physician recruitment.

"This is the largest single state appropriation ever awarded at one time to a Lancaster entity, which speaks volumes about the importance of this initiative," said Rep. Brandon Newton, R-S.C., who represents South Carolina House District 45. "As a member of the House Ways and Means Committee, I was proud that this funding was included in this year's state budget. It represents a major investment in the future of our community and in the long-term health of our region."

This historic level of support reflects a shared commitment to improving health care access across the region - support that local health care leaders greatly support.

J. Scott Broome, MHA, FACHE, chief executive officer of MUSC Health Lancaster Medical Center, emphasized the lasting impact of the residency program. "We're working on many exciting initiatives, from launching new services to developing a future hospital campus in Indian Land. But this is one of the most important efforts we've undertaken because it forms the foundation for everything else. When you have strong primary care, everything works better, from specialty services to advanced care," Broome said. "I'm incredibly thankful for the engaged stakeholders who stepped forward to invest in our communities. I especially want to recognize our donors, the South Carolina General Assembly and our local legislative delegation, whose collective leadership made this possible."

Plans are underway to launch a Family Medicine residency program, which will double the number of physicians in training and further strengthen access to primary and preventive care in the region.

MUSC Health Lancaster Medical Center was recently awarded an "A" Hospital Safety Grade by The Leapfrog Group, one of only two hospitals in the South Charlotte region to earn this top distinction.

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About MUSC

Founded in 1824 in Charleston, MUSC is the state's only comprehensive academic health system, with a mission to preserve and optimize human life in South Carolina through education, research and patient care. Each year, MUSC educates over 3,100 students in six colleges and trains 950+ residents and fellows across its health system. MUSC leads the state in federal and National Institutes of Health and research funding. For information on our academic programs, visit musc.edu.

As the health care system of the Medical University of South Carolina, MUSC Health is dedicated to delivering the highest-quality and safest patient care while educating and training generations of outstanding health care providers and leaders to serve the people of South Carolina and beyond. In 2024, for the 10th consecutive year, U.S. News & World Report named MUSC Health University Medical Center in Charleston the No. 1 hospital in South Carolina. To learn more about clinical patient services, visit muschealth.org.

MUSC has a total enterprise annual operating budget of $7.1 billion. The 31,000 MUSC members include world-class faculty, physicians, specialty providers, scientists, contract employees, affiliates and care team members who deliver groundbreaking education, research and patient care.

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