In partnership with affiliated hospitals and health-related state agencies, the School of Medicine participates in a wide variety of community and statewide outreach programs.

HIV/AIDS Outreach

The Midlands Care Consortium provides comprehensive medical and support services for financially needy HIV patients in the Midlands. Operated by the School of Medicine, led by Dr. Helmut Albrecht, MD, for more than 15 years, the Ryan White HIV/AIDS clinic now serves more than 1,200 men and women in the Midlands area. Assistance with basic needs, including food and housing assistance is also provided. The program was created by the Department of Internal Medicine with federal Ryan White funding in cooperation with the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control, Palmetto AIDS Life Support Services, Palmetto Health Richland and the Columbia Free Medical Clinic.

The Department of Pediatrics HIV/AIDS Program is the only health care program in the Midlands providing comprehensive care to children affected with HIV/AIDS. The program is co-sponsored by the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control and the South Carolina AIDS Consortium.

Pediatric and Teen Care

Palmetto Children’s Clinic provides regular primary care (a “medical home”) for chronically ill and disabled children from low-income families in the Midlands. The program is a partnership with the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control and Palmetto Health Richland)

The Department of Surgery, through the South Carolina Center for Cleft Palate and Cranofacial Disorders, provides diagnosis and treatment for infants and children with facial congenital anomalies. The Center is a joint project with the School of Public Health and the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control.

The Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Teen Clinic, in partnership with Palmetto Health Richland, implements a team approach to meet both the medical and social needs of teenage mothers.

The Medically Fragile Children’s Program, a Palmetto Health Richland program supported by the School of Medicine, provides all-inclusive care to children with severe disabilities from low-income families in the Midlands.

Care for the Elderly

The Senior Mentoring Program pairs medical students with community elders. It’s a wonderful opportunity for students to build lasting relationships with the community’s most seasoned citizens, and for completion of a variety of assignments, such as taking medical histories and monitoring blood pressures.

Palmetto SeniorCare, a Palmetto Health Richland and School of Medicine collaborative effort, provides all-inclusive care to low-income elderly patients in the Midlands.