A new program at the University of South Carolina School of Medicine, Columbia, is offering recognition to leaders in the medical and scientific community for legacies of service, leadership and efforts to promote diversity, equality and inclusion.
The Luminary Leaders in Medicine and Science Recognition program honored its inaugural class with seven members during a virtual ceremony on February 18.
“In 2019, the Committee on Women in Science and Medicine accurately noted that virtually all of the images on display at the school depicted white men,” said the dean of the Les Hall School of Medicine in a press release. “Although these individuals made notable contributions to the School of Medicine, they argued that many women and people from different racial backgrounds also deserved to be honored. I totally agreed with them, and the Luminary Leaders in Medicine and Science initiative is a consequence of these conversations. “
The members of the inaugural class are:
- Raymond P. Bynoe, trauma surgeon at Prisma Health-Richland at Prisma Health-Richland
- Everett Dargan, a retired physician from Columbia and a faculty member of the School of Medicine
- Everlyn Hall-Baker, the first African American to attend Medical School
- Carol McMahon, associate dean of Diversity and Inclusion at the Medical School
- Lurlene Scott, retired vocational rehabilitation counselor from the Department of Veterans Affairs
- Alvin F. Wells, rheumatologist and international speaker
- Patricia Witherspoon, assistant program director at Prisma Health and faculty member of the School of Medicine
The school held the ceremony in February to recognize individuals during Black History Month. During the tribute, plaques in honor of each of the students were discovered.
Five more individuals will be recognized later this year, and the school will select several new inducements each year, according to the statement.
“We would like to congratulate our inaugural honorees,” said Hall. “Your images and stories, which will be displayed on our recognition wall and seen by our students each day when they enter our building, will serve as an inspiration and guide for them as they pursue their dreams.”