First Black Female Physician from MUSC to Address Graduates
In an inspiring turn of events, The Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) announced that Dr. Rose Delores Gibbs, the first Black woman to graduate from its College of Medicine, has been invited to address the 2024 graduating class on May 18. MUSC anticipates about 590 candidates to receive their degrees from the University’s six colleges namely, Dental Medicine, Graduate Studies, Health Professions, Medicine, Nursing and Pharmacy.
About Dr. Rose Delores Gibbs
Dr. Gibbs, a native of Moncks Corner, South Carolina, graduated from MUSC in 1973, thereby making history. During her formative years, Gibbs was inspired by the exemplary care provided by local family physician, Dr. Walter Evans, which drove her towards the field of medicine. After completing her undergraduate degree at Fisk University in Nashville, Tennessee, she returned to Charleston to pursue her medical degree at MUSC.
Upon graduation, Gibbs completed her residency in internal medicine and an infectious diseases fellowship at Howard University Hospital. Thereafter, she earned certification in tropical medicine from Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, following which she served as a U.S. Peace Corps medical officer for two years in Sierra Leone and Liberia, Africa.
Notable Contributions
From 1980 to 1984, Gibbs held the position of Chief of Medical Operations for the Peace Corps in Washington, D.C., overseeing 5,500 volunteers across 55 countries. Later, she served as the Director of the Office of International Health at Charles R. Drew Postgraduate Medical School in Los Angeles.
Returning to her roots in the Lowcountry, Gibbs dedicated 35 years to private practice, serving the Moncks Corner community. Worth mentioning is her decade-long service running a free medical clinic in her hometown, providing necessary healthcare services to the local Hispanic community.
Dr. Gibbs has also been an instrumental figure in the MUSC alumni community, serving as a founding member and president of the MUSC Black Alumni Association, in addition to various leadership roles in the College of Medicine Alumni Association. She even led medical and spiritual missions to Roatan Island, Honduras, showcasing her dedication to community service.
Honorary Degree Conferral
Alongside the commencement ceremony, MUSC will confer an honorary degree on Kenneth (Kenny) G. Craven, a well-respected businessperson, director, philanthropist, and esteemed leader in the Lowcountry community. Craven’s contribution towards the establishment of a pediatric burn center at the MUSC Shawn Jenkins Children’s Hospital has made an indelible mark on the community and beyond.
Commencement Ceremony Details
The 194th Commencement Ceremony of MUSC is scheduled to commence at 10 a.m., Saturday, May 18, at the North Charleston Coliseum.
As MUSC prepares to celebrate another milestone in its illustrious history, it is clear that the values of community service and excellence demonstrated by alumni like Dr. Gibbs continue to inspire and mold the next generation of healthcare professionals.
