Diversity & Inclusion

Thank you for your interest in the MUSC College of Health Professions (CHP) Diversity and Inclusion initiatives. Our institution has demonstrated a sincere commitment to serving the needs and confronting the challenges facing the Charleston community and beyond. Within the college, we have a Diversity and Inclusion Committee made up of faculty, staff, and students. The committee's charge is to provide leadership in the recruitment and retention of diverse faculty, staff, and students. They also work to make CHP's culture and climate an inclusive and supportive environment for all those who work, learn, and visit the college.

Students also have an opportunity to take a leadership role in our inclusion efforts through the CHP BEACONS Student Council. The council is a student-led organization bringing awareness to health disparities, providing service and advocacy to underserved communities in the Charleston area, and promoting a sense of student belonging within the college. Through interdisciplinary collaboration, the CHP BEACONS Student Council encourages future health care professionals to engage in the diverse culture of health care today.

The college has also implemented several pathway programs that offer students educational opportunities to learn more about the health professions and promote a diversified health care workforce. The college does not exclude any students on the basis of age, color, disability, citizenship status, ethnicity, gender identify, gender expression, national origin (including ancestry), parenting status, pregnancy, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, veteran or military status, or any other protected category under applicable local, state, and federal law.

The college offers regular information sessions and conducts campus tours for interested parties. Please contact us for additional information about the College of Health Professions or the MUSC enterprise.

College Diversity Committee

College Diversity Committee Members

Co-Chairs

Cindy Dodds, Ph.D. (Faculty)
Associate Professor, PT Division
doddscb@musc.edu

Erica Martino, MPH, LMSW (Staff)
Associate Director for Student Diversity and Community Outreach
College of Health Professions, Office of Student Engagement
martinoe@musc.edu

Members

Jesse Dean, Ph.D. (Faculty)
Associate Professor, PT Division, CHP
deaje@musc.edu

Tony Eisenhart (Staff)
Director of Information Technology, CEDAR Research Core
Senior Information Resource Consultant
eisenhaj@musc.edu

Danielle Feerst, OTR/L (Staff)
Research Coordinator
daf52@musc.edu

Lori-Ann Ferraro, PhD, MA, CCC-SLP (Faculty)
Assistant Professor, SLP Division
ferrarlo@musc.edu

Dave Fitzgerald, Ph.D. (Faculty)
Associate Dean for Student Affairs
Associate Professor, CVP Program
fitzgerd@musc.edu

Ellis Goodwin (Student)
2nd Year CHP Student
Doctor of Physical Therapy
goodwell@musc.edu

Katrina Grant (Staff)
HR Manager
grankatr@musc.edu

Sandy Hanebrink (OT Program Alumni)
Disability Advocate
sandy.hanebrink@touchthefuture.us

Zahi Jurdi, DHA (Faculty)
Assistant Professor and Director, MHA Division
jurdi@musc.edu

Dante Pelzer, Ph.D. (Faculty)
Assistant Professor, Academic Affairs
Office of Student Programs and Student Diversity
pelzerd@musc.edu

Tom Smith, Ph.D. (Faculty)
Professor and Chair, Academic Affairs
Director, Center of Academic Excellence
smithtg@musc.edu

Jami Tham (Student)
2nd Year CHP Student
Doctor of Physical Therapy
thammorr@musc.edu

Katie Weas (Staff)
Business Manager
Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, CHP
weask@musc.edu

Resources

Message from the Associate Director of Student Diversity & Community Outreach

The College of Health Professions strives to provide an environment where all students feel welcomed, valued, and included regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, religion, socioeconomic status, disability, and other identifying qualities. We strive to provide opportunities to engage in constructive dialogue and create meaningful and genuine engagement, encouraging all students to own their unique identities and be their authentic selves. These are essential occasions for us to challenge our biases and gain awareness of others' lived experiences. Our events are thoughtfully implemented based on students' needs with the overall goal of enhancing the academic curriculum's cultural components. We hope that students will be able to use what they learn through these experiences to become culturally competent clinicians who provide high-quality healthcare for their patients throughout their professional careers.

Erica Martino, MPH, LMSW

Associate Director for Student Diversity & Community Outreach