MUSC alum reflects on 27 years of faithful service and mentorship to underserved students at Lowcountry AHEC

From a life-changing medical diagnosis that forever altered her trajectory to discovering her passion for guiding underserved youths as they choose their career paths, Diane Kennedy Mathews has overcome and accomplished much throughout her over 40-year career. 

 

Today, after celebrating her official retirement this summer, she’s looking forward to the new adventures this chapter will bring. Although the prospect of leaving behind a job and colleagues she cherished felt uncomfortable, Mathews acknowledged that it had been time for new experiences. “I loved my job and the people I worked with,” she said, “but it was time to have time to do other things.” 

 

Mathews discovered clinical laboratory science during high school when a family friend, who was just one year ahead of her, joined the profession. With her love of math and sciences, choosing health care just clicked into place. “When I was that young, I really didn’t think I wanted to touch people too much, so the clinical lab was great at the beginning,” said Mathews with a laugh. This led her to become a hematology specialist at Harper Hospital in Detroit, Michigan, before moving to Virginia for a position as laboratory manager, working side by side with a pathologist to diagnose patients. 

 

In 1993, while working in Virginia, Mathews was diagnosed with Stage II B breast cancer. “I left the job at 35 and started really fighting cancer, and 100%, that was my job every day for like a year,” said Mathews. 

 

Her diagnosis would forever change the direction of her career, from working several steps removed from patients to her calling: education. 

 

“I decided I didn’t want to go back to the laboratory, at least at first – and it turns out, ever. I felt it personally. Plus, you feel like you were saved for something – and maybe something different.” 

 

Mathews began teaching at Trident Technical College and enrolled in graduate school in the MUSC College of Health Professions, earning a Master of Science in Health Professions degree in 1997. The now-discontinued program was designed for students who had a bachelor’s degree and were already involved in teaching. Through this experience, she realized that teaching the same classes year after year wouldn’t entirely fulfill her passion for making a deeper and more meaningful impact on her students.

 

At the same time, she had another big shift in her personal life and realized that what she really wanted was a full-time position that was fulfilling and came with new challenges, where she could do something different each day. That’s when she learned about the South Carolina Area Health Education Consortium (AHEC). Her colleague Carolyn Jenkins, DrPH, R.N., a professor at the MUSC College of Nursing, recommended that Mathews meet with team members at AHEC to explore opportunities at their Hampton County office. It was exactly what she needed.

 

 

Mathews was hired the same day for the role of Continuing Education and Student coordinator. “I said, ‘I can live in Walterboro; I’ll just stay for a few months.’ But I really liked the job; I liked the interaction with students and the Lowcountry,” said Mathews. “So I thought, ‘I’m just going to stay,’ and I bought a house in 1998.”

That same year, she found renewed purpose when given the opportunity to apply for the director position and was quickly promoted to the role. In 2006, she established the continuing education consortium membership at Lowcountry AHEC, which she continued to grow over the next two decades. This fueled one of her favorite parts of the position – helping students to discover what they wanted to do and why they wanted to do it, providing resources and support to students from underserved areas. 

 

“There’s a lot of really talented, smart kids that, you know, need a little bit extra – whether it’s a scholarship or more information or just that faculty person that comes out and does a talk so they can be inspired,” said Mathews.

 

“I was raised by a single mother, and I got a scholarship, so I understand the underserved aspect of it in that sense. I think helping kids whose parents haven’t gone to school – that’s the higher interest I have and hopefully, I have the opportunity to do some kind of volunteer work in North Carolina. I’m not planning any of that, but if it comes up, I think I would.” 

 

Mathews is also proud of the legacy she left behind at Lowcountry AHEC. Among the many projects she oversaw, one of her greatest accomplishments was the building of 87 Academy Road in Walterboro, set in the center of the 12 counties AHEC serves. She worked with architects and the construction company to complete the plans, and the building was fully funded shortly after its completion in 2015. 

 

Still, she recognizes that there are many new and promising projects awaiting her in this new chapter. “Even though it was hard to leave, there are so many adventures awaiting,” she said. 

 

As she continues to acquaint herself with newfound time and opportunity, Mathews leaves high school and early college students with a piece of sage advice.

 

“Look at everything – all of the health professions, not just one or two that are popular – and try to make the opportunity to shadow people working in those professions. Just do the work to figure out what would be the best career for you before you start jumping in.”