Inaugural Education Innovation Advocates named

The Office of Innovation at the Medical University of South Carolina, in collaboration with the Office of the Provost, has announced the inaugural class of Education Innovation Advocates. The group is composed of at least one faculty member from each college at MUSC and representatives from Academic Affairs and MUSC Libraries. Candidates were selected via an application process and approved by their respective deans or chairs.

Members of the inaugural class include:

• Fabio Piola Rizzante, D.D.S., Ph.D., College of Dental Medicine
• Tammy Loucks, MPH, DrPH, College of Graduate Studies
• Gretchen Seif, Ph.D., Division of Physical Therapy, College of Health Professions
• Joe Blumer, Ph.D., College of Medicine
• Aalap Shah, M.D., College of Medicine
• Dawn Terzulli, DNP, R.N., College of Nursing
• Jennifer Wisniewski, Pharm.D., College of Pharmacy
• Christine Andresen, MLS, MSIT, Academic Affairs

“We're thrilled to have these individuals as the first inaugural class of Education Innovation Advocates,” said Jesse Goodwin, Ph.D., chief innovation officer. “I'm excited to see what they accomplish over the upcoming year and to further support advancing a culture of innovation within each college."

Each member will fill a one-year role, with the potential to renew for up to three years, in support of education innovation. The program is a colleague-to-colleague initiative designed to encourage the MUSC faculty to “think big,” re-imagining the learning experience while furthering a culture of innovation around MUSC. Advocates will also be expected to serve as liaisons to connect their own faculties and students.

“The intent of this program is to foster education innovation,” said Lisa Saladin, PT, Ph.D., executive vice president of Academic Affairs and provost. “Within the educational objectives of our strategic plan, we have to re-imagine the learning experience to optimize the educational value.”

The selected faculty members will receive a sponsorship to attend a conference or workshop to inspire them on innovative pedagogy in higher education and funding from the Office of Innovation to help with the completion of goals established and approved by the Education Innovation Cabinet. 

“The Education Innovation Advocate program is a unique and exciting opportunity for our faculty to grow education innovation in the six colleges and the Academic Affairs Faculty,” said Gigi Smith, Ph.D “The advocates will have meetings with key MUSC groups across campus to promote collaboration and further support for faculty education innovation.”