CHARLESTON (April 24, 2006) – Medical University of South Carolina officials will appoint Carolyn Jenkins, Ph.D.,APRN,FAAN The Ann Darlington Edwards Endowed Chair in Nursing on May 8, 2006 at the Wickliffe House.  This Endowed Chair, the first and only endowed chair of nursing in South Carolina, was funded through private donations, and is named in honor of Mrs. Ann Edwards, former first lady of South Carolina and MUSC, and retired nurse.  “We are excited to be appointing the very first nursing endowed chair in South Carolina and are particularly pleased that it honors the contributions of Mrs. Ann Edwards to both nursing and the state,” said Gail Stuart,

Carolyn Jenkins, Ph.D.,APRN, FAAN

Ph.D.,  Dean of the College of Nursing.

This endowed chair position will allow Dr. Jenkins to pursue her own research, with a focus on the MUSC College of Nursing Caring for the Community Initiative, which emphasizes caring for vulnerable populations through the formation of community partnerships.  Dr. Jenkins brings over 30 years of community outreach experience to this position, including a million dollar community research project sponsored by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Eli Lilly, and The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

“Dr. Jenkins represents the essence of nursing excellence.  Her work truly has improved the health of citizens across this state and is a role model for effective outreach intervention.  For this reason, as well as her ability to forge strong, collaborative community relationships, she has received state, regional and national recognition and respect” said Dean Stuart.

Dr. Jenkins currently serves as a Professor in the College of Nursing, as well as Principal Investigator for Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health 2010 (REACH 2010), an ongoing program sponsored by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, whose goal is to reduce racial disparities for African Americans with diagnosed diabetes in Charleston and Georgetown counties.

Jenkins is a leader in the field of community outreach and diabetes research, as evidenced by her numerous awards and honors including recent recognition by the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control as the recipient of the Minority Health Distinguished Leadership Award, and as one of 20 nationally recognized by Howard University as an Emerging Nurse Star in Health Disparities Research. 

Dr. Jenkins received her nursing degree from Rutgers University, and her doctorate in health promotion and research from the University of South Carolina.

Pictured left to right: Dean of the College of Nursing,
Gail W. Stuart, PhD, APRN, BC, FAAN,
Ann Darlington Edwards, Carolyn Jenkins, Ph.D., APRN, FAAN
and Raymond S. Greenberg, PhD, MD, President of MUSC.