Medicine alumna, health disparities champion to speak at May 21 MUSC Commencement

Aundrea E. Loftley, M.D., an MUSC College of Medicine alumna and advocate for health disparities related to diabetes and other endocrine disorders, will address the graduating class of 2022 during MUSC’s 193rd Commencement on May 21.

The Commencement ceremony will take place at 10 a.m. at the North Charleston Coliseum, 5001 Coliseum Drive in North Charleston.

Approximately 726 candidates are expected to receive their degrees from MUSC’s six colleges: Dental Medicine, Graduate Studies, Health Professions, Medicine, Nursing and Pharmacy.

Loftley was nominated to serve as Commencement speaker by students due to her strong passion and dedication to teaching and precepting. Her nomination was later approved by members of the Commencement Committee as well as MUSC leadership.

Graduating pharmacy student and MUSC Student Government Association president Elizabeth Davis serves on this year’s Commencement Committee and was among many students who supported Loftley’s nomination to address the graduating class.

“We are very excited and pleased to have such a strong MUSC figure speak at Commencement,” she said.

Originally from Columbia, South Carolina, Loftley is an assistant professor of medicine and endocrinology and serves as vice  chair for diversity and inclusion in the Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolic Diseases in the Department of Medicine. She is a graduate of the College of Charleston and went on to complete her medical school training in 2010, her internal medicine residency in 2013 and an endocrinology fellowship in 2015, all at MUSC.

Upon completing her fellowship, Loftley established the first outpatient endocrinology practice for McLeod Physician Associates at McLeod Regional Medical Center in Florence. Board certified in internal medicine and endocrinology, she previously worked as the area health education center physician preceptor and residency program physician preceptor for McLeod Regional Medical Center.In 2018, she returned to MUSC and the adult clinical services team in the Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolic Diseases. Loftley is a master clinical skills teacher for the College of Medicine and associate program director for the internal medicine residency program.

In 2019, she was part of a clinical team awarded a $1.28 million Duke Endowment grant to create a joint endocrine and obstetric clinic model to improve health outcomes for pregnant mothers diagnosed with diabetes. Combining her clinical work, community outreach interests and educational experiences led Loftley to be named vice chair for diversity in the Department of Medicine in 2021.

Loftley is an active member in several professional, scientific and national societies, including the Academy of Medical Educators, the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists, the Endocrine Society and the American Medical Association. Locally, she is a member of the Diabetes Initiative of South Carolina and Diabetes Free S.C. as well as an academic editor for the Journal of Diabetes and Clinical Research. Among other honors, Loftley was awarded an Excellence in Healthcare Top Performer Award by Professional Research Consultants.

In addition to Loftley’s address, two South Carolina state representatives will receive honorary degrees during the May 21 ceremony.

• Rep. William G. “Bill” Herbkersman (District 118), an eco–developer and community leader who collaborated to provide COVID-19 testing and vaccination statewide, for his continued support to elevate cancer care in South Carolina: Doctor of Humane Letters, honoris causa.
• Rep. J. Gary Simrill (District 46), S.C. House majority leader and an advocate for South Carolina colleges and universities serving on the Ways and Means Higher Education Subcommittee: Doctor of Humane Letters, honoris causa.