The Collaborative approach to health care

Kate Azizi
July 06, 2021
Medical University of South Carolina
Kate Azizi

Hi, I’m Kate, the vice president for Institutional Advancement at the Medical University of South Carolina. In this role, I work with people in the community to help them learn more about MUSC’s amazing work – and, going a step further, how they can be a part of it.

Like many of you, I’m a newcomer to the area. My family and I moved here just over a year ago from Chicago, Illinois. I was drawn to MUSC because it is an academic medical center. It’s the only one in South Carolina and one of about 120 nationwide.

What does that mean? And why should you care?

Academic medical centers are different than other hospitals. They do more than just provide care. They shape it in new, better, groundbreaking ways. Where other hospitals do everything possible for their patients, academic medical centers actually change what’s possible through continual medical innovation.

This happens because at an academic medical center, education, research and patient care are fully integrated and collaborative. Progress in one area drives progress in them all.

The doctors taking care of you are more than the leading experts in their fields. They’re also teachers, training the next generation of health care professionals to be compassionate and skilled caregivers. And they’re pioneers – conducting research that leads to new treatments and innovative medical technologies.

Because of this, MUSC can provide cutting-edge technologies, resources and therapies other community hospitals may not have available. That gives you direct access to the latest medical breakthroughs and clinical trials.

This collaborative approach to health care is changing what’s possible in South Carolina and beyond. And it’s fueled by people like you, who advance MUSC’s mission through their advocacy, volunteer service, and philanthropy.

That is why Collaborative is a fitting name for this new newsletter. Every other month we’ll email you a new edition of Collaborative, highlighting medical breakthroughs and innovations happening at MUSC, news, inspiring stories and easy ways you can get involved with our lifesaving mission. I hope you’ll enjoy it!

Thanks for all you do,

Kate

Kate Azizi
Vice president for Institutional Advancement
Medical University of South Carolina