Executive Medical Director for the Center for Telehealth James McElligott receives Marion Woodbury Leadership Award

CHARLESTON, S.C. (Dec. 18, 2024) – MUSC Health has named James McElligott, M.D., MSCR, as the 2024 recipient of the Marion Woodbury Leadership Excellence Award.

The Marion Woodbury Jr. Leadership Excellence Award is presented annually for meritorious service to a member of the MUSC Health leadership team. This award recognizes leaders who have served as role models for MUSC Health's values, with particular focus on innovations that transform MUSC Health. Named after the late Marion E. Woodbury, Jr., who spent over a decade as CEO of University Medical Associates, now known as MUSC Physicians, the award represents substantive leadership accomplishments in innovation with specific focus on those new systems, process or ways of accomplishing individual or all elements of the tripartite mission of MUSC Health.  

“I am excited to congratulate Dr. McElligott as the winner of our Marion Woodbury Jr. Leadership Award,” said Patrick J. Cawley, M.D., CEO, MUSC Health and vice president for Health Affairs, University. “This award represents a testament to his unwavering commitment to grow MUSC Health through new systems, and lead health care transformations through innovative and groundbreaking ways.”

McElligott oversees the activities of the MUSC Center for Telehealth and is co-chair of the South Carolina Telehealth Alliance. Under his leadership, the MUSC Center for Telehealth has been designated a National Center for Excellence, and the South Carolina Telehealth Alliance received the American Telemedicine Association’s 2019 President’s Award. His personal awards include the 2020 South Carolina State Champion Award for Telehealth, MUSC’s 2020 Physician of the Year Award, the 2020 MUSC Innovator Award and the 2020 Margaret Jenkins Pediatric Teaching Award.

“I am honored and humbled to receive this award and owe a huge debt of gratitude to the many care team members and leaders at MUSC who have contributed to what we have achieved to date,” said McElligott. “This award embodies the spirit of MUSC as I know it, and I am incredibly grateful to be part of an institution that I know will continue to support innovation and a persistence to improve the lives of those we serve.”

Marion Woodbury Jr. served in a number of roles during his tenure at MUSC, including chief financial officer (CFO), vice president for finance and administration; deputy executive director of hospitals and clinics; and associate hospital director. While CFO, he negotiated through political pressures and social changes and was instrumental in securing funding for the MUSC Children’s Hospital and the Ashley River Tower. Significantly, in 1991, he became the founding CEO of University Medical Associates, a position he held until his “retirement” in 2004. Upon his retirement, Marion continued as a consultant and served as special assistant to the president, Ray Greenberg, for several years. In 2009, in recognition of his hard work and dedication, Marion was awarded an honorary doctorate.