Student Enrichment & Community Outreach

BEACONS Student Council

The Belonging, Engagement, Advocacy, Community, Outreach, Networking, and Service (BEACONS) Student Council

BEACONS is a student-led organization within the College of Health Professions (CHP) bringing awareness to health disparities, providing service and advocacy to medically vulnerable 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 field of health care today.

The BEACONS Student Council meetings are used to discuss upcoming events and activities as well as to serve as a time for engaging presentations, constructive dialogue, service, and/or advocacy work.

The BEACONS Student Council Executive Board offers leadership opportunities for current CHP students who are seeking to exert leadership capabilities. The following list outlines leadership opportunities available within the council each academic year.

• President
• Vice President
• Secretary
• Treasurer
• Marketing Chair
• Volunteer & Service Chair

The CHP BEACONS Student Council events and activities are open to all CHP students. If you are interested in joining the CHP BEACONS Student Council or learning more about it, please contact the BEACONS Student Council Advisor, Erica Martino, at martinoe@musc.edu.

Prospective Student Pathway Programs 

The College of Health Professions (CHP) pathway programs aim to support students interested in pursuing a career in the health professions. Programs focus on assisting students to become competitive applicants for graduate health professions programs through academic enrichment, clinical exposure, and mentorship. The Office of Student Enrichment and Community Outreach is excited to offer two pathway program opportunities for students.

South Carolina AHEC Summer Careers Academy

The South Carolina Area Health Education Consortium (South Carolina AHEC) presents the Summer Careers Academy in collaboration with the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) Colleges of Nursing, Dental Medicine, Medicine, and Health Professions. The Academy is a one-week summer program designed to help students, especially from rural and disadvantaged backgrounds prepare for entry into health professions education programs in South Carolina.

Participating programs from the CHP include:

• Occupational Therapy (OT)
• Physician Assistant (PA)
• Physical Therapy (PT)

All applicants must be a South Carolina resident or enrolled in a South Carolina school, college or university and meet other eligibility requirements. Academy Fellows will participate in a week of clinical and educational sessions on the MUSC campus. Housing and meals are provided, and fellows will receive a stipend upon successful completion of the Academy. More program information and application details are available on the South Carolina AHEC website.

Health Professions Exploration Program (HPEP)

The Health Professions Exploration Program (HPEP) is a mentoring program for high school and undergraduate college students interested in the health professions. The program identifies a current College of Health Professions student to serve as a mentor for a high school or undergraduate student. Program sessions are held once or twice a month on Saturdays. During the sessions, student participants are provided opportunities to learn about health professions, receive information that will assist with preparation to graduate school, and engage in activities that support career planning and professional development.

CHP Programs Represented

• Cardiovascular Perfusion
• Health Administration
• Occupational Therapy
• Physical Therapy
• Physician Assistant Studies
• Speech-Language Pathology

Program Eligibility

• Must be a high school or an undergraduate college student. Note: The minimum age for program participation is 16. High school students may be 15 at the time of the application, however, must have turned 16 by the start of the program in December.
• Must be interested in or open to learning about the health professions.
• Must be able to commit to participating in program sessions on Saturdays.

Application Requirements

• Program application
• Unofficial Transcript (for college student applicants)
• Most recent report card (for high school student applicants)
• Resume
• Personal Statement Essay

Program Dates

• December 12, 2025, to April 11, 2026
• Note: Program orientation will take place in December and the program sessions will begin in January.

Applications are currently being accepted for the Fall 2025- Spring 2026 program. Access the program application.

The program application will close on November 5th. For questions about the program or application, please email Erica Martino at martinoe@musc.edu.