MUSC Wellness Center wins three awards in HealthLinks Magazine's Best in Health 2025

For the fourth year in a row, MUSC’s Wellness Center has been voted the Best Fitness Center by Lowcountry readers in HealthLinks Magazine’s Best in Health 2025 awards. And this year, it added Best Personal Trainer and Best Exercise Program to its trophy case.

“We’re honored,” said Colby Denton, marketing director for the Wellness Center. “This isn’t just about treadmills and dumbbells. It’s about people – whether they’re recovering from injury, managing Parkinson’s disease or just trying to feel a little stronger every day. That’s why we’re here. That’s what these awards reflect.”  

What does Denton attribute the three wins to? A strong sense of community, a passionate team and programs that change lives.

Denton explained that the Wellness Center’s comprehensive approach offers something for everyone – at every level of fitness. “We really have it all – whether someone is looking to get started on a fitness journey or is a regular at the gym, he or she will appreciate the sheer variety of offerings,” Denton said, referring to the center’s 25-meter indoor pool, rooftop gym, saunas, steam rooms, group exercise classes and expert personal trainers. 

One standout in that category is Jeremiah Spires, who was named Best Personal Trainer in Charleston. Known for his endless energy and creative coaching, Spires has earned a loyal following – and not just in the gym. He also coaches for Pick It Up for Parkinson’s, a clinical pickleball program that’s gained momentum among patients and providers alike.

“Jeremiah is a stellar addition to our team. Those who meet him have nothing but positive things to say about his upbeat personality, his level of professional experience and his flexible approach to training. This is a well-deserved award,” Denton added. 

 

The center’s Rock Steady Boxing (RSB) program also caught voters’ attention, bringing in the award for Best Exercise Program. The noncontact boxing classes are designed for Parkinson’s patients – helping them to improve mobility, build strength and balance and engage confidently in activities of daily living. People at any stage of the disease are aided by RSB coaches and volunteers. 

“These programs represent the best of what we do,” Denton said. “They’re not just good workouts – they’re changing what’s possible for patients.”

For more than three decades, the MUSC Wellness Center has earned top awards, Best Of honors and public praise, serving MUSC and the Charleston community through a medically grounded approach to fitness and prevention. Executive director Dusty Jackson, a longtime leader in the health and fitness industry, guides a team focused on promoting wellness through inclusive, evidence-based programs for people of all ages and fitness levels.

“Our team is deeply committed to making this center a place where health, wellness and healing intersect,” said Jackson. “We’re proud to be recognized – but even more proud of the real impact we’re having on the lives of our members and patients.”

Jackson points to the vital role his team plays in numerous MUSC clinical initiatives that underscore that impact. For instance, in addition to RSB, the Wellness Center partners with MUSC Hollings Cancer Center on programs like Survivors’ Fit Club for breast cancer patients, Fierce Foundation Fit Club for gynecological cancer survivors and Prostate Cancer Survivors’ Strength Camp. The team also leads Rheumor Has It, a program designed for patients with rheumatological disorders. 

“We take post-rehabilitation and the journey to feeling healthy again very seriously,” he said. “Our team is also equipped to design personalized strength and exercise programs for people living with chronic conditions like diabetes, heart disease and neurological disorders.”

Jackson and Denton emphasize the importance of offering a wide range of group fitness classes to members – from cycling, Zumba and Pilates to high-intensity training, boxing, volleyball and pickleball.

With the Wellness Center now serving more than 7,000 members, many of them MUSC employees and students, as well as community members and visitors, Denton said the facility has become a hub not just for health – but a place to recharge.