MUSC Foundation receives $500K for new transplant program in Lancaster

The Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) Foundation has received a $500,000 commitment from Founders Federal Credit Union for MUSC Health’s new transplant program in Lancaster, South Carolina.

The MUSC Health Transplant Program‐Mid‐Carolinas launched in late March at MUSC Health Lancaster Medical Center. It is MUSC Health’s second transplant program in South Carolina and one of just three statewide. The Mid‐Carolinas program currently offers complete care for patients undergoing kidney transplantation.

According to the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS), more than 1,300 South Carolinians are waiting for a lifesaving kidney.  

“I cannot emphasize enough the need for a kidney transplant program in this region,” said MUSC Health Lancaster Division CEO J. Scott Broome. “Transplant improves survivability for patients with chronic kidney disease and end‐stage renal disease and is underutilized in South Carolina as a treatment option. We are grateful to Founders Federal Credit Union for their generous assistance in making this program possible. This program will save lives.”

In 2021, MUSC Health surgeons in Charleston performed 410 kidney transplants, making it one of the top 10 centers in the country. As part of an integrated health system, the Mid‐Carolinas program can offer patients access to the same level of quality care they would receive in Charleston, without the burden and cost of traveling long distances for the many visits required before, during and after transplants.

“Founders is proud to invest in MUSC’s transplant program in Lancaster and excited about the services it will provide to the Piedmont region of South Carolina,” said Founders President and CEO Bruce Brumfield. “We are committed to this community. When we saw the way MUSC came into Lancaster with this shared commitment, we knew they would be a great partner. We knew right away they wanted to take care of people in this area and the surrounding areas. Being able to offer this state‐of‐the‐art medical care will be a game changer to this area and to its people.”