Celebrating Women's History Month: A tribute to our CHP student leaders

This Women's History Month, we proudly shine a spotlight on a select group of students who were nominated for recognition by our College of Health Professions (CHP) faculty and staff members for their outstanding leadership, dedication, and commitment to shaping the future of health care.

Vera Luther, MD
Master of Science in Health Informatics Student, Class of 2024

Dr. Vera Luther is a certified physician and infectious disease specialist in Winston Salem, North Carolina. She’s affiliated with multiple hospitals in the area, including Salem Veterans Affairs Medical Center and Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist-Lexington Medical Center and has been in practice for more than 20 years. Presently, she is seeking to get board-certified in clinical informatics and has been working towards her thesis on bias in AI.

Sydnei Fleming
Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies Student, Class of 2024

Sydnei Fleming, MUSC’s Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies Class of 2024 President, has effectively guided her class with a composed demeanor that displays both confidence and empathy towards her peers. We understand the challenges that come with being a student class president and she has handled them well.

Katelyn Terrell
Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology Student, Class of 2024

Katelyn is an exemplary student. She excels both in and out of the classroom environment and has an innate passion and desire to help individuals with communication and swallowing diagnoses. In collaboration with her classmate, Rachell Harglerode, Katelyn presented an oral presentation at a speech-language pathology state conference - quite a feat for a student, and consistently engages in classroom activities and volunteer work.

Zanna Ellison
Doctor of Physical Therapy Student, Class of 2026

Zanna has an innate passion for sustainability, agriculture accessibility, education, and food justice. She’s held multiple leadership roles and even worked in the non-profit sector before applying to physical therapy school. Zanna came to CHP with the desire to focus on populations that are often left out of the sustainability dialogue. Since being at MUSC, she’s collaborated with Student Government Association President, Nour Hijazi, on sourcing the funding to sustain free menstrual hygiene products on campus, an excellent example of a social sustainability issue.

Jennifer Williams
Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Studies Student

Jennifer is a lifelong learner and leader with experience in law and health care. She’s enrolled in both the online Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Studies program and Accelerated Executive Master of Health Administration Track in pursuit of being a “bigger voice” on matters of patient care, safety, and legal rights. She is currently a scholar with The David J. and Kathryn Cole BRIHTE Leadership Academy at MUSC, a Wellbeing Champion for MUSC Health, a liaison to the MUSC Wellness & Resiliency Program, and Founder of Divas Read Retreat - a yearly gathering of readers & authors that encourages positive self-expression through literacy.

Mackenzie Walker
Occupational Therapy Doctorate Student, Class of 2024

Mackenzie is a passionate student who continually strives for excellence in all she does. She is a leader amongst her peers and has served in many roles: supplemental instructor, CHP student ambassador, CARES Therapy Clinic board member on the Outcomes Subcommittee, and Chair of the Student Fieldwork Advisory Committee. She is an active participant in class and a supporter of her peers, fostering a community of success rather than competition. In addition to her academic accomplishments, Mackenzie has spent over 300 hours volunteering in the community, and in her final capstone semester, she’s stepped up to assist in teaching within three OTD courses. Mackenzie seeks feedback often and critically considers how to improve processes. Her efforts have made an impact on MUSC faculty and students as well as community stakeholders.

Dana Colclough
Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice Student, Class of 2025

Despite facing personal challenges during her didactic phase, including the loss of her mother, Dana managed to find success. Now, in her clinical phase, Dana continues to balance her responsibilities as a mother and student while still finding time for service and leadership. She was recently selected as the MUSC Student Representative for the South Carolina Association of Nurse Anesthesia (SCANA) Board of Directors and serves on two committees within SCANA – the Wellness Committee and Programming Committee. Additionally, her research project, which focuses on student nurse anesthetist wellness, received an award at the state annual meeting. Dana has grit and perseverance and will make an excellent CRNA!

Patricia Corbin, MS, OTR/L
Post Professional Occupational Therapy Doctorate Student, Class of 2024

Patricia is collaborating with the state of Georgia on an initiative to reduce preventable pregnancy-related complications and fatalities among women. Her capstone project informs the role of occupational therapy in health promotion, disease prevention, and social justice in working with individuals at high risk for pregnancy-related complications, premature deliveries, and maternal mortality. The state of Georgia has embraced her concept and continues to provide support for her travel and the dissemination of her ideas across the state. Patricia leads extensive educational sessions with health care providers from various fields and has been invited by the state department to serve as a key presenter at pregnancy conferences and expos. She has received substantial funding that she did not apply for but was given as a recognition of the significance of her work. She plans to use the funding to develop standardized kits that can be distributed to all women at risk.

Maggie Wilson
Master in Health Administration Student, Class of 2024

Maggie co-founded the Association for Future Healthcare Executives (AFHE^®), an internal student-run association designed to prepare students to succeed in interscholastic case competitions by developing their skills in research, critical thinking, data analysis and synthesis, strategic thinking, public speaking, and leadership through peer support and professional guidance. AFHE now invites c-suite level MUSC leaders every quarter to share their leadership perspectives and experiences with the entire MHA student body. Maggie also supports faculty with research, is a student ambassador, works in the CARES Therapy Clinic, was an Ohio State case competitor, accepted MUSC fellowship, and is respected by her peers.

Natassia Allen
Doctor of Health Administration Student, Class of 2025

Natassia is a health care professional with over 10 years of operations and financial leadership experience. She was recently promoted to chief operating officer (COO) at Beaufort Jasper Hampton Comprehensive Health Services, Inc. where she formerly served as the director of business development and operations. Natassia has been awarded multiple recognitions including the Emerging Leader Award for George Washington University's Geiger Gibson Program and the National Association of Community Health Centers. She has a passion for improving clinical outcomes, patient satisfaction, and community engagement.

Rachell Harglerode
Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology Student, Class of 2024

Rachell stands out as an honorable individual, excelling both academically and beyond the confines of the classroom. She too has a passion for aiding individuals with communication and swallowing diagnoses, which was evident in her delivery of an oral presentation at a state conference, in collaboration with her classmate, Katelyn Terrell. Rachell in an active participant in classroom activities and sets a high standard for her peers.

As we honor the past and celebrate the present, we’re proud to recognize this group of extraordinary women. Their outstanding leadership qualities serve as a testament to the essential role women play in advancing towards a more inclusive future.