Kim O’Bryant Martino: A Legacy Remembered

Kim Martino, PT class 2003
Kim Martino was a beloved member of the Physical Therapy Class of 2003 who lost her life to cancer five months after her graduation.

The Kim Martino Minority Scholarship Fund was established by the Association of Black Health Professionals, now known as the Student Diversity Leadership Council, to honor the memory of Kim O’Bryant Martino, a beloved College of Health Professions Physical Therapy student from the May 2003 Class. This loving tribute captures the vital spirit of a young woman who inspired all those around her in roles as mother, student, friend and confidant. Her life of generosity and dedication to her church, community, and profession is fondly remembered today.

Kim was a graduate of the High School of Charleston, the current site of the MUSC College of Health Professions. She attended the College of Charleston where she majored in Early Childhood Education. Not only was Kim a full-time physical therapy student at MUSC College of Health Professions during her untimely death in 2003, she was a mother and confidant to her classmates.

Criteria for the Scholarship

This scholarship is offered to an incoming, full-time, under-represented minority student as defined by the College each year (African American, Hispanic, American Indian).  Two $2,500 awards are given annually, one to a student entering a Summer Start program: Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, or Physician Assistant Studies; and one to a student entering a Fall Start program: Anesthesia for Nurses, Cardiovascular Perfusion, Health Administration, or Health and Rehabilitation Science.  Recipients are nominated by a faculty member or division director from each academic program and are selected based on their strong academic performance, leadership, and community service.