Inaugural Class of Residents Matched for MUSC Health’s New Internal Medicine Residency at Florence Medical Center

Florence, SC, March 15 2024 - The MUSC Health Regional Network (MUSC-RN) Graduate Medical Education (GME) program, a new initiative committed to addressing physician shortage in rural communities and underserved populations, reached a significant milestone by filling the inaugural class of the Internal Medicine residency program at MUSC Health Florence Medical Center.

“This achievement represents a critical step forward in MUSC Health’s mission to bridge the gap in rural health care,” said Tsveti Markova, MD, FAAFP, MUSC Health Chief Academic Integration Officer. “This class is the first of many to come, part of our plan to establish high-quality medical education to deliver high-quality medical care for communities across South Carolina.”

After a competitive match process, eight talented and dedicated physicians will embark on this groundbreaking journey. The inaugural class of internal medicine residents is impressive, comprising a group of three women and five men who have overcome remarkable obstacles to match with the MUSC Health program. Together, they have an impressive collective resume, including 50 scholarly activities and 13 years of clinical practice. All members are fluent in more than one language, representing proficiency in 10 different languages. Two of the new residents have not only earned medical degrees but have also attained master's degrees—one in ethics and one in public health.

"We are excited to welcome this class of Internal Medicine residents dedicated to pursuing medical excellence and share our commitment to serving the diverse health care needs of rural and underserved regions,” said Ribal Al Aridi, MD, CCD, Program Director. “We matched with individuals who understand the profound impact they can have on improving health care access and outcomes for our community.”

A key part of the match for both the residents and the program were strong connections to the area. Two members of the new class have previously lived and worked in and around Florence, while an additional three have strong familial ties here.

This is key because MUSC's goal is to train doctors who stay in South Carolina following their medical training. By investing in the education and training of physicians in Florence, the program addresses the immediate need for healthcare professionals and lays the groundwork for a sustainable health care system that will benefit the community for years.

Nationally, primary care doctors are becoming scarce. The American Association of Medical Colleges is projecting a national physician shortfall of at least 37,000 – and possibly well over 100,000 – over the next decade. This is significant, especially for South Carolina, with 27% of residents living in rural areas and have limited access to care.

The Internal Medicine Residency Program is uniquely structured to provide residents with comprehensive training tailored to the specific needs of rural and underserved populations. Through a combination of clinical experiences, community engagement initiatives, and mentorship opportunities, residents will develop the skills and expertise necessary to address the diverse healthcare needs of the communities they serve.

The Internal Medicine program at MUSC Health Florence Medical Center is proud to be accredited by the American Council on Graduate Medical Education.

MUSC is changing what's possible in the lives of countless individuals and communities across South Carolina.

About MUSC

Founded in 1824 in Charleston, MUSC is the state's only comprehensive academic health system, with a unique mission to preserve and optimize human life in South Carolina through education, research and patient care. Each year, MUSC educates more than 3,200 students in six colleges – Dental Medicine, Graduate Studies, Health Professions, Medicine, Nursing, and Pharmacy – and trains more than 900 residents and fellows in its health system. MUSC brought in more than $300 million in research funds in fiscal year 2023, leading the state overall in research funding. MUSC also leads the state in federal and National Institutes of Health funding. Learn more about our academic programs.

As the health care system of the Medical University of South Carolina, MUSC Health is dedicated to delivering the highest-quality and safest patient care while educating and training generations of outstanding health care providers and leaders to serve the people of South Carolina and beyond. Patient care is provided at 16 hospitals (includes owned or governing interest), with approximately 2,700 beds and four additional hospital locations in development, more than 350 telehealth sites and nearly 750 care locations situated in all regions of South Carolina. In 2023, for the ninth consecutive year, U.S. News & World Report named MUSC Health University Medical Center in Charleston the Number 1 hospital in South Carolina. Learn more about our patient services.

MUSC has a total enterprise annual operating budget of $5.9 billion. The nearly 26,000 MUSC family members include world-class faculty, physicians, specialty providers, scientists, students, affiliates and care team members who deliver groundbreaking education, research, and patient care.