Wedding & Event Venue Near Orangeburg, SC.

By now, I hope you’ve heard the exciting news about our impending agreement with the Regional Medical Center (tRMC) in Orangeburg to begin a new relationship in which MUSC Health would assume oversight of all tRMC hospital operations and associated ambulatory practices.

After appropriate due diligence, and with the overwhelming support of county officials and state legislators, trustees voted unanimously earlier this month to finalize a long-term lease and operations agreement.

MUSC was invited by the state legislature and elected officials of Orangeburg and Calhoun counties to consider new approaches, following the establishment of Proviso 23.6 of the South Carolina General Appropriations Bill for Fiscal Year 2022-2023, which states that “the Medical University of South Carolina and the Medical University Hospital Authority shall partner with the Regional Medical Center in Orangeburg for research and improved access to care in rural and underserved communities experiencing chronic disease.”

Why are we moving forward with this Regional Medical Center agreement? Briefly, it is the right thing to do, and, we are the right organization to do it. Without this partnership and agreement, tRMC is at risk. Together, however, we can build on each organization’s strengths and ensure continued high-quality local care and access to the best that MUSC can offer for the greater Orangeburg region.

We’re very close to the finalization of this agreement, and there has been an incredible amount of work taking place in a very short amount of time to make this transition happen as smoothly as possible. I am extremely proud of our MUSC family members across the enterprise who, once again, have been given a complex set of factors and challenges and have swiftly risen to the occasion to follow through on our belief that the best care is local and with high connectivity to the care, research and education that only MUSC can provide, to those we serve.

In the days ahead, please join me in welcoming our Orangeburg area colleagues and team members into the MUSC fold and celebrating another health care win for the citizens of our state.

Yours in service,

David J. Cole, M.D., FACS, President, MUSC

Values in Action

On March 30 at noon, previous winners of the President’s Values in Action Awards will be celebrated when we unveil a special monument in their honor, in the green space behind the Colbert Education Center and Library, near the Drug Discovery Building, on the Charleston campus. Going forward, future award winners will also be recognized as part of this permanent tribute to the outstanding people who go above and beyond in personifying MUSC’s five values: collaboration, compassion, innovation, integrity and respect.

This event is open for any member of the MUSC family to attend, and I hope to see many of you there in support of all of the awardees who have been recognized since 2016. It’s also a great opportunity to learn more about this recognition and rewards program and meet individuals from myriad areas of the enterprise.

And just in case you missed it – please take a moment to watch this video highlighting the moments when we surprised the 2022 winners this past November. If you haven’t already, I hope you’ll consider nominating someone in your sphere during the 2023 cycle.

Research Spotlight

For many of us in health care, we’ve heard some version (and varying attributions) of the “River Story,” which essentially highlights the need to address the root cause of a health issue. The most significant part of the story arrives at its end, when the reader or listener realizes that until the individuals who are constantly rescuing people from the river, despite continuous advancements in their tools and processes, get upstream to figure out why people are jumping in, the people in need of rescue will just keep coming, with no end in sight.

The innovative research I want to highlight today reminds me of this parable, as explained by the author of a recent MUSC news piece:

“Behavior can be thought of as a car moving through an intersection after stopping at a traffic light. For the car to move forward, the brake must be released, and the gas pedal must be pressed. In the past, addiction research has largely focused on the gas pedal, identifying brain regions and circuits that promote reward-seeking behavior in hazardous contexts. However, this approach fails to address a major component of addiction – the inability to stop risky behavior from happening in the first place.

Researchers at MUSC recognized the importance of identifying these behavior-braking circuits and wanted to know why they were faulty in addiction.”

Read more

Giving with Purpose

The totals are in, and LOWVELO22 riders raised more than $427,000! LOWVELO is an annual fundraising ride that rallies the community around one cause – funding lifesaving cancer research at Hollings Cancer Center.

On Nov. 5, a record 891 cyclists rode in the 2022 event – including 328 MUSC researchers, physicians, faculty and staff members and students. Thank you for going above and beyond to change what’s possible in cancer care.

Every rider-raised dollar goes directly to cancer research at Hollings. Fundraising events like LOWVELO make it possible to fund pilot projects that help our researchers to apply for larger grants from the National Institutes of Health.

Money raised through LOWVELO has already supported groundbreaking research projects at Hollings, like making CAR-T-cell therapy safer and more effective.

Learn more about LOWVELO's impact.

From Kathy

At the end of January, Dave and I were honored to participate in the first MUSC “all alumni” awards banquet to recognize some of our remarkable alumni. It was a wonderful evening, and I was so pleased to take part in the event. Near or far, I consider the MUSC family part of my family, and as Dave said at the event, we are so very grateful for the vision, leadership and commitment that these individuals demonstrate every day.

You might be wondering why I called it the first – traditionally, individual alumni award ceremonies have been held annually by each college, and while these events will continue at the college level, part of being OneMUSC is celebrating together, across the university and all of its disciplines, whenever possible. I can’t wait to see how this event grows as we continue to celebrate our amazing alumni.

The 11 men and women who were honored promote a standard of professionalism, compassion and expertise that our students can aspire to as well as the impact of an MUSC education. What a treat to be in the presence of such impactful and influential people!

In Case You Missed It

Carter's Longevity: As the nation prepares to say goodbye to Jimmy Carter, an MUSC aging expert talks about longevity – and why she’s worried about today’s younger people.

Warning Strokes: American Heart Association tells doctors to treat TIAs as emergencies. MUSC Health expert explains what the transient attacks mean in terms of major stroke risk.

Mannogram: This month in "Trust Me, I Know a Doctor," Bryce gets a mammogram and writes about the experience. Click at your own peril.

Earthquake Impact: Thriving community of Turkish faculty and students at MUSC is grateful for support in aftermath of earthquake.

Cancer Research: MUSC Hollings Cancer Center is investing in its scientists' research, providing pilot grants to help projects to get started.

From Coat to Coat: From the operating room to the board room, we take a behind-the-scenes look at the life of MUSC President David Cole.

Fetter Collaboration: A Stand Up 2 Cancer grant will help to ensure that Fetter Health Care patients at risk of lung cancer get the screenings they need.

Stone Center: People in pain from kidney stones are getting fast relief through a special center at MUSC Health. “It definitely has been a godsend,” says one patient.

Research and Clinical: Katherine Chetta, M.D., and Mindy Engevik, Ph.D., are working together on necrotizing enterocolitis.

Obesity Medications: Medications that can help people to lose remarkable amounts of weight have a clear upside – but that’s not the whole story.

The plan is to replace its galvanized pipes with PVC pipes and new water meters.

ORANGEBURG, S.C. — Aging pipes are at the center of a water line replacement project in the town of Norway.

Town leaders say they have some of the oldest water lines in the state.

“Sometimes you don’t even wanna wash your meat in the water. The way it smell and the color of the water,” said one resident.

The town of Norway is working on replacing the water lines on Harrison Avenue. The plan is to replace its galvanized pipes with PVC pipes and new water meters.

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One lifelong resident, who chose to remain anonymous, says aging pipes have affected both the quality and pressure of their water.

“It’s bad. Sometimes it’s worse. Real bad. You can’t really wash your white clothes in it because it’s rusty. Even the one on the outside is rusty. You’re getting smells. It’s terrible,” they said.

Other residents say although they haven’t been personally affected by issues, they still support the project.

“Well that should be a good idea cause I’m sure they have rusty pipes. I’m sure of that but personally no we never had any problem. The water flows really good really, in my opinion,” said resident Sandra Pascascio.

Norway town officials have said its water lines have been in the ground for more than 100 years.

The $900,000 project is being made possible by a grant from the Lower Savannah Council of Governments.

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Mayor Pro Tem Greg Covington says the town is trying to catch up on its audits so it can qualify for additional federal funding for other projects.

“Our hands are tied until we get our audits caught up. Once we get those caught up then we can start qualifying for new water lines and some new projects with some federal money but it’s got to lean toward rural America it can’t go to these big cities,” said Covington.

The town is expected to start the project sometime this month.

Baseball is back with the return of spring training, and this week our hosts talk with Paul Gross, a recently retired broadcast meteorologist who is a weather consultant for the Detroit Tigers. They discuss how weather impacts baseball, from lightning safety rules to the precise timing of a rain forecast, including a dramatic situation in a game between the Tigers and Red Sox. Paul also shared a unique story from his consulting during the 2005 MLB All-Star Game. About the Across the Sky podcast The weekly weather podcast is hosted on a rotation by the Lee Weather team: Matt Holiner of Lee Enterprises' Midwest group in Chicago, Kirsten Lang of the Tulsa World in Oklahoma, Joe Martucci of the Press of Atlantic City, N.J., and Sean Sublette of the Richmond Times-Dispatch in Virginia. Chapters: (0:00:02) - Advising Sports Teams on Weather Conditions (0:05:36) - Forecasting Weather for a Baseball Team (0:10:42) - Weather and Sports (0:18:16) - The Benefits of Advanced Weather Technology (0:23:34) - Weather's Impact on Sports Decisions (0:30:48) - Weather Consideration in Major League Baseball Chapter Summaries: (0:00:02) - Advising Sports Teams on Weather Conditions (6 Minutes) Across the Sky', a national Lee Enterprises weather podcast, is hosted by meteorologists Sean Sublette in Richmond, Joe Martucci in Atlantic City and Matt Holiner in Chicago. This episode discusses the winter storms that have recently been plaguing the Midwest, and how the weather in the upcoming weeks is expected to be mild with snow expected to return next week. They also bring on a guest, Paul Gross, a recently retired broadcast meteorologist who has been consulting for the Detroit Tigers and other big-name sports teams for a while now. (0:05:36) - Forecasting Weather for a Baseball Team (5 Minutes) The conversation focuses on the protocols for forecasting lightning and calling or pausing a game as a result. It is explained that the safety of the players and the field conditions must be taken into account, as well as the safety of everyone in the stadium. An example is given of a situation which occurred during a game, when a severe thunderstorm was taking a direct bead on the ballpark and the umpire refused to stop the game. A discussion follows on the protocols for lightning and how they have changed over the years, with insight from the Paul's experience advising the Tigers. (0:10:42) - Weather and Sports (8 Minutes) This chapter of the Across the Sky podcast covers the significance of lightning and how it can be a major weather killer, yet often flies under the radar due to lack of media coverage. The conversation then transitions to the importance of time when it comes to the weather in relation to sports games and the preparation that goes into playing a game. It is noted that the decision to start the game is often up to the home team general manager. The conversation then delves into a situation in which the Detroit Tigers had a game in Boston, but with a massive rain area approaching the game was started despite the fact that it was unlikely to be completed. (0:18:16) - The Benefits of Advanced Weather Technology (5 Minutes) This conversation is about a unique experience involving the weather at the 2005 Major League Baseball All-Star Game. Paul Gross recounts how, as a season ticket holder, he and his family had purchased tickets for the game, and a cousin from Chicago had come in to join them. The weather forecast was mostly dry, but the commissioner of baseball, who was a bit of a nervous type when it came to the weather, asked the speaker to stay with him during the game. As the game progressed, the speaker was able to track a few showers on radar. (0:23:34) - Weather's Impact on Sports Decisions (7 Minutes) The conversation focuses on weather's impact on the game of baseball, particularly the flight of the ball in different weather conditions. The speaker talks about his experience with Michigan football and a game they played in Colorado where they were at risk of being affected by a tropical storm. They also discuss the Detroit Lions and their playing both inside and outside and the impact of weather on their games and practices. The speaker talks about the high stakes of the information he provides and how it can affect the outcome of games. Lastly, they talk about whether decision makers ever ask the speaker what he would do in a high stakes situation' (0:30:48) - Weather Consideration in Major League Baseball (12 Minutes) Matt Holiner shared his experience of working as a meteorologist for the Cincinnati Reds and his comparison of the different mentalities between football and baseball when it comes to forecasting weather. Matt discussed how teams will wait for two or three hours until they make the call to cancel a game due to inclement weather and how he had to communicate with the grounds crew and operations manager but not the players. He also shared that football has a higher threshold for what they will tolerate weather-wise and will play in almost any condition, while baseball has a lower threshold and will typically only play if the field is not deemed dangerous. Shownotes generated by Podium.page.

Dr. Damon Brown Crawford is a man of service.

He serves as senior director at Chick-fil-A in Orangeburg and is also a pastor at the World Faith Center church in Orangeburg, 593 Neeses Highway.

In addition, he is the author of a scholarly work titled, "The effects of leadership organizational culture on employee performance resulting in high turnover, low morale and decreased productivity."

Crawford earned a culinary arts and culinary management degree from The Art Institute of Charleston an MBA from Claflin University and a doctorate in leadership from Liberty University. A native of Charleston, he was raised in Orangeburg.

Crawford says he loves to help people.

"I love to help build people spiritually and socially to impact their communities and family. Currently, I'm partnering with local universities and colleges to train in leadership and establish internship programs," he said.

Crawford says there is a need to impact the community to see a brighter tomorrow.

"It is important to serve in the community so that we can make a difference and have a lasting impression on children and adults to pursue their dreams and goals, maximize and fulfill their purpose, making a difference in our world today," Crawford said. "Leadership is about influence and it's about turning lives around to support their dreams and goals."

He continued: "I enjoy serving and representing Orangeburg in a positive manner. I am also working on several other books to help build and develop leadership skills.

"I operated and owned Fish-N-Chips (seafood restaurant) where we sold various types of fish, developing my entrepreneurial skills in the community. We are establishing internships with OC Tech, Claflin and SC State University to help develop and educate students with a hands-on approach to help prepare them for their careers," he said.

Crawford says it is important to be a positive role model because it shapes young men for the better.

"I believe as a man, period, it is important to be an example to all walks of life helping others to become the leaders of tomorrow. Entrepreneurs are needed, leaders are needed every day and my passion is to help develop and prepare men and women with the quality principles needed to make a difference," he said.

Baseball is back with the return of spring training, and this week our hosts talk with Paul Gross, a recently retired broadcast meteorologist who is a weather consultant for the Detroit Tigers. They discuss how weather impacts baseball, from lightning safety rules to the precise timing of a rain forecast, including a dramatic situation in a game between the Tigers and Red Sox. Paul also shared a unique story from his consulting during the 2005 MLB All-Star Game. About the Across the Sky podcast The weekly weather podcast is hosted on a rotation by the Lee Weather team: Matt Holiner of Lee Enterprises' Midwest group in Chicago, Kirsten Lang of the Tulsa World in Oklahoma, Joe Martucci of the Press of Atlantic City, N.J., and Sean Sublette of the Richmond Times-Dispatch in Virginia. Chapters: (0:00:02) - Advising Sports Teams on Weather Conditions (0:05:36) - Forecasting Weather for a Baseball Team (0:10:42) - Weather and Sports (0:18:16) - The Benefits of Advanced Weather Technology (0:23:34) - Weather's Impact on Sports Decisions (0:30:48) - Weather Consideration in Major League Baseball Chapter Summaries: (0:00:02) - Advising Sports Teams on Weather Conditions (6 Minutes) Across the Sky', a national Lee Enterprises weather podcast, is hosted by meteorologists Sean Sublette in Richmond, Joe Martucci in Atlantic City and Matt Holiner in Chicago. This episode discusses the winter storms that have recently been plaguing the Midwest, and how the weather in the upcoming weeks is expected to be mild with snow expected to return next week. They also bring on a guest, Paul Gross, a recently retired broadcast meteorologist who has been consulting for the Detroit Tigers and other big-name sports teams for a while now. (0:05:36) - Forecasting Weather for a Baseball Team (5 Minutes) The conversation focuses on the protocols for forecasting lightning and calling or pausing a game as a result. It is explained that the safety of the players and the field conditions must be taken into account, as well as the safety of everyone in the stadium. An example is given of a situation which occurred during a game, when a severe thunderstorm was taking a direct bead on the ballpark and the umpire refused to stop the game. A discussion follows on the protocols for lightning and how they have changed over the years, with insight from the Paul's experience advising the Tigers. (0:10:42) - Weather and Sports (8 Minutes) This chapter of the Across the Sky podcast covers the significance of lightning and how it can be a major weather killer, yet often flies under the radar due to lack of media coverage. The conversation then transitions to the importance of time when it comes to the weather in relation to sports games and the preparation that goes into playing a game. It is noted that the decision to start the game is often up to the home team general manager. The conversation then delves into a situation in which the Detroit Tigers had a game in Boston, but with a massive rain area approaching the game was started despite the fact that it was unlikely to be completed. (0:18:16) - The Benefits of Advanced Weather Technology (5 Minutes) This conversation is about a unique experience involving the weather at the 2005 Major League Baseball All-Star Game. Paul Gross recounts how, as a season ticket holder, he and his family had purchased tickets for the game, and a cousin from Chicago had come in to join them. The weather forecast was mostly dry, but the commissioner of baseball, who was a bit of a nervous type when it came to the weather, asked the speaker to stay with him during the game. As the game progressed, the speaker was able to track a few showers on radar. (0:23:34) - Weather's Impact on Sports Decisions (7 Minutes) The conversation focuses on weather's impact on the game of baseball, particularly the flight of the ball in different weather conditions. The speaker talks about his experience with Michigan football and a game they played in Colorado where they were at risk of being affected by a tropical storm. They also discuss the Detroit Lions and their playing both inside and outside and the impact of weather on their games and practices. The speaker talks about the high stakes of the information he provides and how it can affect the outcome of games. Lastly, they talk about whether decision makers ever ask the speaker what he would do in a high stakes situation' (0:30:48) - Weather Consideration in Major League Baseball (12 Minutes) Matt Holiner shared his experience of working as a meteorologist for the Cincinnati Reds and his comparison of the different mentalities between football and baseball when it comes to forecasting weather. Matt discussed how teams will wait for two or three hours until they make the call to cancel a game due to inclement weather and how he had to communicate with the grounds crew and operations manager but not the players. He also shared that football has a higher threshold for what they will tolerate weather-wise and will play in almost any condition, while baseball has a lower threshold and will typically only play if the field is not deemed dangerous. Shownotes generated by Podium.page.