Elizabeth G. Baxley, M.D.

Dr. Elizabeth Baxley recently retired from her role as Executive Vice President for the American Board of Family Medicine, a position she held since July 2018. In this role, Baxley’s major areas of focus were on diplomat experience with the certification process, communications, and evolution of the performance
improvement activities related to family medicine certification.

Before this, Baxley was a professor of family medicine and served as the senior associate dean for academic affairs at the Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University, where her portfolio included admissions, student affairs, undergraduate medical education, student academic counseling and development, graduate medical education, continuing medical education, faculty development, the office of diversity and inclusion, and simulation programs. Her experience spans the breadth of the academic missions of a medical school, including LCME and ACGME accreditation, student recruitment; curriculum evaluation and innovation; competency assessment, clinical learning environment improvements; faculty professional development; enhancement of diversity programs; and creation of student distinction tracks.

She was also PI on a grant from the American Medical Association’s Accelerating Change in Medical Education initiative. Through this, Brody redesigned the medical school curriculum to incorporate training in patient safety, quality improvement, population health and team-based care for all medical students; created a health care system leadership distinction track for up to 10 students per class; and implemented an inter-professional fellowship program for faculty members to become health system leaders and to assist with development of the new curriculum.

Prior to moving to Greenville, Baxley spent 18 years on the faculty of the University of South Carolina School of Medicine Columbia, where she served as family medicine residency director from 1994-1998, school-wide director of faculty development from 1998-2003, and chair of the department of family and preventive medicine from 2003-2012. During this time, she also co-directed the I3 Collaborative, a regional quality improvement collaborative of primary care residency programs in South Carolina, North Carolina and Virginia. From 1987-1994 she served on faculty at AnMed Family Medicine Center and Indiana University School of Medicine. She is a graduate of Clemson University, where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Zoology. She received a Doctor of Medicine from the University of South Carolina School of Medicine. A family practice residency at Anderson Family Practice Residency, was followed by a faculty development fellowship at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine.

C. Ross Berry, MBA, CMPE, FAAMA

Ross Berry is a Chief Executive whose tested and transparent leadership creates a winning culture that drives quality outcomes, profitability and employee, patient, and physician satisfaction. Skilled in startup and turnaround environments, Berry possesses the ability to quickly identify and capitalize on opportunities that enhance operations, financial performance, and community reputation. He offers a rare combination of expertise in hospital administration, physician practice management and value based/population health management. More recently, Berry has added medical school governance to his portfolio by serving on two medical schools’ boards, one of which he serves as chairman. He is known for approaching challenges with an open mind to collaboratively design breakthrough initiatives.

A native of South Carolina, Berry attended the University of South Carolina. He graduated with a bachelor of science from Francis Marion University, formerly the University of South Carolina at Florence. Berry obtained a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Kennesaw State University in Atlanta. Committed to continuous learning, Berry has earned the professional designation of Board-Certified Medical Practice Executive (CMPE) by the American College of Medical Practice Executives (ACMPE) as well as Fellow in the American Academy of Medical Administrators (FAAMA). Berry’s pursuit of excellence has resulted in numerous awards ranging from eight-time winner of the Medical Group Management Association’s “Superior Performance Award,” J.D. Power & Associates’ “Distinguished Hospitals Inpatient Service of Excellence Award,” the Medical Group Management Association’s “Medical Practice Executive of the Year 2010” as well as the American Academy of Medical Administrator’s “Award of Excellence 2010”.

Berry’s entry into healthcare began in 1991 in Atlanta where he was employed by the American Red Cross and worked with the national team to develop the “HIV/AIDS in the Workplace” training program. He transitioned into hospital administration after accepting a position with the Hospital Corporation of America (HCA) to develop their physician enterprise in Atlanta. His hospital
experience includes tenures at Emory University Health System, PROMINA – Southern Regional Medical Center, and CEO positions with RegionalCare Hospital Partners, and South Georgia Medical Center. Berry has also served as chief executive officer of two large independent cardiovascular practices in Georgia, as well as a full-risk population health management organization specializing in Medicare Advantage (MA) in Florida.

Berry is a licensed commercial pilot with a deep interest in World War II history and aviation. He enjoys playing the guitar and holds a black belt in Chinese Go-Ju-Ryu. He is a PADI International Open Water Diver (SCUBA). Berry and his wife are the parents of three daughters.

Aditi Bussells, PhD

Dr. Aditi Srivastav Bussells is a public health researcher who has dedicated her career to improving programs, systems, and policies that directly impact children’s health and well-being. She specializes in the topics of adverse childhood experiences (also known as childhood trauma), risk behavior prevention, health communication, and community resilience.

Born to immigrant parents from India, Dr. Bussells learned at a very young age, the importance of hard work and ensuring that everyone, regardless of their background, has access to opportunities. It was the discrimination that her family faced during 9/11,
that inspired her to pursue a career in public health.

Dr. Bussells has vast experience working with the government and non-profit sectors. As the Director of Research at the Children’s Trust of South Carolina, she led the South Carolina Adverse Childhood Experiences Initiative and KIDS COUNT South Carolina. Through these initiatives, she helped communities across South Carolina build the capacity to make data-driven decisions that benefit the health and well-being of all kids.

Currently, Dr. Bussells is working as a Senior Consultant on the federal health team at Deloitte. In this role, she works with various federal health agencies to optimize how they serve children and families. She also serves as Affiliate Faculty in the Department of Health Promotion, Education and Behavior at the University of South Carolina, teaching undergraduate public health classes.

Dr. Bussells received her Ph.D. at the University of South Carolina as a Doris Duke Foundation Fellow. She holds a master’s degree in public health from George Washington University and a bachelor’s degree in American government from the University of
Virginia. In 2020, Dr. Bussells was awarded the Columbia Business Monthly’s 30 under 35 Best and Brightest and the Hon. Jim Clyburn’s Emerging Leader in Health Equity Research Award for her work.

Dr. Bussells has always been deeply involved in the community. She was a founding partner of Resilient Richland, a county-wide initiative focused on preventing childhood trauma through training, partnership, and community engagement. She also served on the City of Columbia’s Complete Count Committee for the 2020 Census. She is a graduate of the 2021 class of Leadership Columbia and is currently a board member of Columbia Opportunity Resource.

Dr. Bussells ran for the at-large seat with the vision that Columbia can be a real destination for families to live, work, and play. By tackling the root cause of crime, bringing more family-supporting jobs to the city, and improving the city’s infrastructure, Dr. Bussells believes that Columbia can be more prosperous, vibrant, and equitable. Her victory was historic, making her the first
South Asian American woman to be elected to Columbia City Council and receiving the most votes out of any candidate running in the 2021 city council election cycle.

Dr. Bussells lives in the Historic Earlewood Neighborhood with her five-month-old son Bodhi, two dogs, and husband Louis, an Army veteran and frontline provider.

Billy Campbell

Billy Campbell has held senior leadership roles in the entertainment and travel industries. He served as the Managing Director of Royal Caribbean’s GoBe E-Commerce venture allowing the company’s four major brands to book passenger shore excursions, tours and guided activities in port destinations around
the globe (Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity, Azamara and Silverseas). He joined Royal Caribbean in 2016. Prior to joining RCL, Billy was CEO of Forbes Travel Guide (2012-2016), the leader in rating luxury properties, spas and restaurants around the world. Earlier, Campbell was President of an out-of-home marketing firm Akoo (Chicago) and helped build the 5CTV Network (a media partnership bringing China programming into the U.S. market). Currently he serves as an Advisor to Virtuoso Travel Corporation and is spearheading a partnership with the Saudi Arabian government to open the country’s travel and tourism industries.

A 20-year television programming executive spanning leadership roles at broadcast and major cable networks, Campbell served as President of Discovery Networks U.S. At Discovery, Campbell was responsible for all aspects of the domestic television division,
including programming, production, affiliate sales and marketing, advertising sales, consumer marketing, research, new media, business development and communications.

During his presidency at Discovery Networks, Campbell led Discovery Channel and TLC through double-digit ratings increases. While managing 13 channels, he oversaw the production of cable’s highest-rated natural history program of all time, Planet Earth,
which drew more than 65 million viewers to Discovery Channel over its 11-part run. Campbell also oversaw signature Discovery network series Deadliest Catch, Mythbusters, No Reservations with Anthony Bourdain, American Chopper, The World Poker Tour and Dirty Jobs.

On Campbell’s watch, Discovery Channel earned one of its highest ratings for a program with the September 11, 2005, premiere of The Flight That Fought Back. The special told the compelling story of the 33 passengers and seven crew members on United Airlines Flight 93, which was hijacked, rerouted toward Washington, D.C., and crashed in Somerset County, Pa., on September 11, 2001.

Chief among Campbell’s accomplishments at Discovery was his leadership effort to recruit Ted Koppel to the Discovery Channel for a pioneering multiyear deal in which Koppel served as managing editor for the network. Campbell also helped bring Dr. Jane
Goodall to Animal Planet and launched the Dr. Oz Show on Discovery Health Channel. Other programming successes include the premiere of The Military Channel and launching a feature documentary division which produced and aired the award winning
documentary Grizzly Man and licensed Man On Wire.

Prior to joining Discovery Networks, Campbell served as President of Miramax Television, where he led the production of Emmynominated “Project Greenlight,” a cutting-edge venture on HBO integrating film, television and the internet by creating a web community and screenplay competition. Previously, Campbell was executive vice president, CBS Entertainment and helped develop Everybody Loves Raymond and The King of Queens. Before joining CBS, Campbell served as senior vice president, drama
development at Warner Bros. Television, where he developed a series of successful and critically acclaimed dramas, including ER and Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman. Campbell began his career at ABC Entertainment in the current programming department, where he was involved in the production of the award-winning series China Beach, MacGyver, and Dynasty. Prior to joining ABC and following his college graduation, he worked as an analyst in the mergers and acquisitions department of Smith Barney, Harris Upham & Co. in New York.

A native of Greenville, S.C., Campbell is a 1982 graduate of Harvard College and a 1987 graduate of the Harvard Business School (MBA). He was a 1984-85 Rotary International Scholar at the Chinese University of Hong Kong. Campbell has served on the boards
of The National Parks Conservation Association, The Jane Goodall Institute, and Education Management Corporation. While living in Washington, D.C., he served on the Board of Trustees for the National Symphony Orchestra and the Imagination Stage. Currently he is on the Board of Arcadia Publishing, New Leaders Education and the Galapagos Conservancy. Campbell is also an Eagle Scout.

Jim Chow, MD, FACS (’85)

The son of medical missionaries, Dr. Jim Chow immigrated to the United States from North Africa when he was fourteen, settling in Columbia, S.C., where his older brother was attending the University of South Carolina. Chow also attended the University of South Carolina and then the School of Medicine Columbia, earning his Doctor of Medicine degree in 1985.

Chow went on to further his training by completing a residency in dermatology and a Wound Healing Fellowship at Vanderbilt University, followed by an Advanced Cutaneous Laser Post Fellowship at Harvard University, and a fellowship In Mohs Micrographic Surgery and Dermatologic Surgery at Johns Hopkins. He authored many papers on growth factor research and held National Institute of Health and National Cancer Institute research grants. As Clinical Associate Professor of Medicine and Surgery at the UofSC School of Medicine, he mentored many students and residents.

Chow has spent his medical career providing unparalleled care to his patients at the Columbia Skin Clinic, where he has practiced since 1991, focusing on treatment of skin cancer, reconstructive and cosmetic dermatologic surgery. He is a trained Mohs Micrographic surgeon who uses the highly effective technique to identify and remove skin cancer. He has held key positions in medical associations and served on the South Carolina Board of Medical Examiners for 15 years.

Serving his community, state, and country for thirty years in the South Carolina Air National Guard/USAF, rising to the rank of Brigadier General, Chow served in all major conflicts from 1985 to Enduring Freedom in 2015. During his service, Chow was flight surgeon for the 157th fighter squadron for many missions and worldwide deployments. Chow also became the Joint Force Headquarters Surgeon for the South Carolina National Guard after serving as the State Air Surgeon. In 2007, General Chow was assigned as the Air National Guard Assistant to the Air Combat Command Surgeon General and later to the USAF Surgeon General in Washington, D.C. He served as a liaison and advisor for health readiness for all Air National Guard units in the country. His last assignment was as Special
Assistant to the Director of the Air National Guard/USAF at the Pentagon.

In 2005, Chow established ‘Patriot Docs,’ an initiative to support wounded service members from Iraqi Freedom. He recruited specialized surgeons and trauma specialists from across the US to volunteer their time in providing the best medical care possible to
wounded warriors, resulting in more lives being saved or improved of those severely injured military personnel. He has been twice selected as the Air National Guard/USAF Medical Officer of the Year and received the Palmetto Cross for distinguished military Service. Chow’s dedication to his work in providing the best care possible to his patients, both as a civilian and as a military serviceman, has been recognized through numerous awards, including Physician of the Year by the SC Medical Association, the University of South Carolina School of Medicine Alumni of the Year, the Algernon Sidney Sullivan Award for Humanitarian Service, and the Order of the Palmetto, the state’s highest civilian honor for his service to the state.

Bunni Crawford

Bunni Crawford is a licensed real estate agent with over 30 years of experience state-wide in residential, commercial, coastal and investment properties. She is also passionate about volunteering and serves and supports countless local organizations in the Midlands.

Crawford is currently with the Bunni Crawford Team, LLC/EXP Realty, with particular expertise in high-end and architecturally distinctive homes. Crawford has had much success and garnered many accolades throughout her career. At the time of reaching the milestone, she was the youngest member on record of the Million Dollar Club through the Greater Columbia Association of Board of Realtors. She is a lifetime member of the Board of Realtors Circle of Excellence, and is a past recipient of
Columbia Business Monthly’s annual ‘One of the Most Influential Women in Columbia’ award.

Crawford is a passionate supporter of many organizations in the greater Columbia community. She currently supports the Carolina Classical Ballet, Pawmetto Lifeline, the Nickelodeon Theater, the Town Theatre, SC Philharmonic, Welvista, Transitions, Camp
Cole, the Junior League of Columbia, the American Heart Association, Hammond School, Heathwood Hall, the Palmetto Baseball League, and the City Year Columbia program. She has previously served on the boards of Keep the Midlands Beautiful, the Carolina Wildlife Center, the Workshop Theatre of South Carolina, St. Christopher’s Children, the University of South Carolina Dance Board, and the Archaeological Research Trust Board of Trustees of the South Carolina Institute of Archaeology and Anthropology.

Crawford is married to Columbia native and local attorney Lindsay Crawford. They have two children, Grayson W.H. Hart and Lindsay Crawford IV. Grayson is a graduate of Hammond School and the University of Maryland and holds a Master’s degree from
George Washington University. He is a Lieutenant in the U.S. Navy who has served in the Joint Intelligence Operations Center and the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command. Lindsay IV graduated from Washington and Lee University and the University of South Carolina
School of Law and practices law with his father at Crawford & von Keller. He is also the father of Bunni and Lindsay’s grandchildren, Lindsay V (who is the third Lindsay Crawford in a row to attend Heathwood Hall Episcopal School) and Mary Nell. Lindsay and Bunni have three dogs — Woody, Molly and Swampy — and are members of Trinity Episcopal Church in Columbia and the Gamecock Club.

Jeffrey Guy, MD

Jeffrey Guy, MD, a native of California, earned his undergraduate degree from San Diego State University where he also played baseball for San Diego State. He received his medical degree and residency training at Harvard University. While in Boston, he completed fellowships in trauma at Massachusetts General Hospital and pediatric sports medicine at Boston Children’s Hospital. He finished his training with a fellowship in
sports medicine under the direction of Drs. James Andrews and Bill Clancy at the American Sports Medicine Institute in Birmingham, Alabama.

Dr. Guy is currently an assistant professor within the Department of Orthopedic Surgery and Sports Medicine at the University of South Carolina School of Medicine Columbia and Director of the UofSC Sports Medicine Center. In addition, he serves as medical director
of the Athletic Training Education Program in the College of Education, and adjunct professor within the UofSC Arnold School of Public Health Department of Exercise Science. As medical director and team physician of the University of South Carolina Athletics, Dr. Guy oversees all of the athletic teams at the University of South Carolina. In addition to USC, he is the team physician to more than 20 Columbia area high schools, 10 area middle schools, two professional dance companies and six colleges and universities.

His interest in improving the health of athletes in the community inspired him to establish the S.M.A.R.T. program at the University of South Carolina, a community effort that reaches out to athletic programs in the greater Columbia area and provides free pre-participation physicals to schools and their student athletes. He has served as Director of the S.M.A.R.T. program since its founding in 2001.

Guy currently sits on many professional associations including The American Orthopedic Society for Sports Medicine, American Sports Medicine Institute Fellowship Society, Clinical Orthopedic Society, and the South Carolina Medical Association. He has also
presented at over 130 symposiums for professional associations including the American Orthopedic Society for Sports Medicine, South Orthopedic Association, College of Athletic Trainers Society, American College of Sports Medicine, and the National Athletic Trainers Association. In August of 2008, he was a team surgeon for the Olympic Games in Beijing, China. In 2011, he was honored by the South Carolina Medical Association with the Physician of the Year award.

Chris Jarvis, MBA, CFP

Chris Jarvis specializes in finding unconventional growth paths for business owners, professionals, and nonprofit organizations. Chris founded Giraffe University to help individuals and business elevate their impact. He proudly serves as the VP of Strategic Partnerships for Jack Canfield and is a Business Ambassador for Mindvalley.

Jarvis is the author of sixteen books, including 10 financial and practice management books for physicians and bestsellers, GiraffeMONEY: See Better Paths to Elevated Wealth and 6 Secrets to Leveraging Success: A Guide for Entrepreneurs, Family Offices,
and Their Trusted Advisors.

Jarvis has consulted with over 1,000 businesses and professional practices in the last 25 years. He has delivered over 200 continuing education seminars and been published in over 100 professional magazines. Jarvis has appeared on Bloomberg Television, A&E, and BRAVO, and he has been published in Entrepreneur magazine multiple times and been quoted in The Wall Street Journal and Los Angeles Business Journal.

Jarvis has an honor’s degree in applied mathematics from the University of Rhode Island and a Master’s in Business in Administration, with a concentration in entrepreneurial studies and finance, from the Anderson School at UCLA. Jarvis sits on the boards of the IC2 Institute at the University of Texas-Austin, National Coalition for Safe Schools, and a number of innovative start-ups.

Nancy Kress, RN - Emerita DEAC Member

Nancy Kress is a longtime supporter of the University of South Carolina School of Medicine Columbia, having served on the School’s Partnership Board for eight years and as a founding and current member of the SOMC Library Circle of Friends.

Kress recently established two endowment funds at the SOMC – the Jack and Miriam Webb Vision Research Fund and the Jack and Miriam Webb Vision Research Symposium Fund. Both funds were established to support basic science research related to retinitis pigmentosa and other similar eye diseases for the purpose of improving current therapies and treatments and advancing the understanding of such diseases. She also recently gifted the School of Medicine Columbia Library with a Clarus mobile glassboard for the second floor. The glassboard is multi-sided with tempered safety writing glass that never ghosts nor stains with markers. Highly popular with students, the glassboard can be easily rolled to different areas of the library and used for both group and individual study. Over the years, Kress also has hosted multiple high profile events for the Partnership Board and for past deans of the medical school.

A strong advocate for the dance community in Columbia, Kress is presently serving on the South Carolina Ballet Board of Directors and served two terms as president in the past 14 years. She currently is serving on the USC Board of Dance and served three terms as vice president in the past 12 years.

Kress is a registered nurse who graduated from the Columbia Hospital School of Nursing. She and her husband owned Serologicals, Inc., a world-wide antibody laboratory, with corporate locations in Columbia and across the state of South Carolina.

Elisabeth Phillips

Elisabeth Phillips grew up in Paducah, Ky., and has lived in Greenville and Columbia, S.C., for over 30 years. She holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Civil Engineering from Missouri University of Science & Technology. After working several years as a structural and site planning engineer, she focused on raising her now adult children, Arden (Atlanta) and Crawford (Charlotte). She was a volunteer at her children’s schools in Richland School District 1, including president of both PTSO and band boosters.

An active member at Shandon Baptist Church, Elisabeth has served as Women’s Ministry Coordinator, Sunday School co-director, and started a Columbia-based Clemson University Moms In Prayer Group in her home. She is a sustaining member of the Junior League of Columbia; previously she was a member of the Junior League of Greenville as well.

In 2011, Elisabeth founded and began operating a small business, Cozy Chair, an upholstery services company as a creative outlet for her skills in handwork, design and planning. Today, she works part-time as a social media marketing specialist for REI Automation, Inc.

Elisabeth serves on several boards related to her passion for community service. She served on Prisma Health Greenville’s Medical Experience Academy (MedEx) Advancement Council. MedEx is a one-of-a-kind program developed to help high school and college students explore and experience various health care careers. She also serves on the board for the Prisma Health Midlands Foundation Cancer Institute-Columbia and the Gregg Park Neighborhood Board. She is Public Image Chair and on the Membership Team for the Rotary Club of Forest Acres in Columbia.

Elisabeth enjoys spending time with her family, traveling with her husband Grant, and entertaining in her home.

Grant Phillips

Grant Phillips became President of REI Automation, Inc. with the acquisition of the stock in the South Carolina-based company in January of 1999. Since that time Grant has guided the companies’ organic business growth, including responsibility for profit-loss, organizational direction, and developing a company culture with kindness as a cornerstone. REI was incorporated in 1990 as a mechanical design house and had three full-time employees at that time. The company now operates from an 8-acre campus
in Columbia, South Carolina with a staff of 80 engineers, technicians and support staff.

Grant grew up in Little Rock, Ark., and still maintains a love for Arkansas Razorback sports, even while rooting for Clemson University, where both of his children graduated. He received a Bachelors of Science in Mechanical Engineering and a Masters of Science in Engineering Management from Missouri University of Science and Technology in Rolla, Mo., where he met his wife of 33 years, Elisabeth Larson Phillips.

His early career development was in manufacturing with GE Aircraft Engines (Cincinnati, Ohio), GE Gas Turbines (Greenville, S.C.), and Goodrich Aerospace (Hodges, S.C.) with roles as manufacturing engineer, quality engineer, project manager and operations manager. This background has served him well as REI Automation supports manufacturers with the development of factory automation solutions, such as assembly lines and robotic cells.

Grant and his business partner, Paul Brown, have grown REI Automation into one of the largest factory automation companies in the United States. In 2019, REI became part of the HAHN Group, based in Frankfurt, Germany. HAHN has 1800 employees in 26 locations around the world. Grant continued to operate as President and CEO until October 1, 2023, when he became the CEO of the North American Operation for United Robotics Group, URG Inc.

Phillips and Brown developed other related businesses over the past 20+ years, including REI Nuclear LLC, which was acquired in 2018 by GE Hitachi for whom REI Automation continues to build equipment to dismantle nuclear power plants globally.

Grant is involved with the Columbia, S.C., community as a deacon, teacher and member of various committees at Shandon Baptist Church. He also serves on the Boy Scouts Indian Waters Council advisory board and is former Scoutmaster for Troop 10 in Columbia. He also serves on the Industry Advisory Board of the Electrical Engineering department at the University of South Carolina.

Matthew Roberts

Representing health care providers and life sciences companies has been a critical mission at Nexsen Pruet for six decades. Matthew Roberts’ dedication to continuing that tradition is why firm leadership selected him to chair the firm’s Health Care Practice Group. Roberts has assisted providers in virtually every aspect of the health care business. He is also very involved with clients operating in the life sciences industry, advising them on issues related to governance, strategic planning, compliance, corporate and transaction matters.

Typically, his health care engagements are focused on: healthcare affiliations and joint ventures; physician/hospital relationships; managed care issues; stark/anti-kickback laws; general compliance matters; health care contracts and board governance. Roberts has set up single service agreements, developed integrated physician networks and established other collaborative arrangements between health care providers, including PHOs, IPAs, ACOs, and CINs. He also has experience advising provider clients on value-based care issues.

Roberts collaborates with clients to create and implement strategic plans and has extensive experience advising clients on affiliations, joint ventures, and purchase and sale of businesses. He also advises health care provider, and life sciences boards on
matters including executive compensation, conflict of interest policies and board involvement in compliance and quality-related issues. Roberts works with health care and life sciences clients on ways to minimize their exposure compliance risk caused by the myriad of regulatory requirements found in the health care industry and to create a “culture of compliance” implemented on a system-wide basis. Roberts routinely works with providers to assist them in resolving payment and billing disputes with various
types of payors. This includes negotiating managed care agreements and dealing with disputes with payors.

Roberts earned his undergraduate degree in International Relations, magna cum laude, from the University of South Carolina, where he was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. He earned his law degree from the University of South Carolina School of Law, where he
was a member of the South Carolina Law Review and of the Order of the Wig and Robe. He is an active member of the American Health Lawyers Association.

His community and professional organizations include: SCBIO Board Member, 2020; Healthy Learners - Board Member, Chairman (2016-2020); Carolina Children’s Home - Board Member; The Free Medical Clinic - Board Member; South Carolina Bar - Health Law Section; North Carolina Bar Association - Health Law Section; Vice Chair, Business Law & Governance Practice Group, American Health Lawyers Association (2016-2018); American Bar Association; Health Care Compliance Association; Healthcare Financial
Managers Association (NC/SC).

Roberts is an avid photographer and has traveled extensively with his camera in hand. His walls and desk are filled with images from his travels and of his family. His contributions to the Midlands community include years of service on various community boards including: Healthy Learners, Carolina Children’s Home, the Free Medical Clinic, the American Heart Association, and Trustus Theatre. In recognition of service to children’s initiatives he received the 2010 In All Things Charity Award from the Sisters of Charity Health System. Matthew and his wife have one daughter.

Kelly Scott Hynes Morris, MD-PhD (’92, ’96)

Dr. Kelly Hynes Morris is a board-certified ophthalmologist who was born and raised in Columbia. She is the first MD-PhD recipient from the UofSC School of Medicine Columbia. She completed her PhD in Biomedical Science specializing in anatomy, her research focusing on osteoinduction, and went on to received her MD from the SOMC in 1996. She completed her residency at the Medical College of Georgia in 2000.

After working in a group setting, she opened her private practice, 20!20 Vision, in 2006. She serves on the board of the Shandon Neighborhood Council and is a member of the American Academy of Ophthalmology. She enjoys spending time with her husband Jim, her children Christopher and Caroline. Travel and adventure are her passion.

Lurlene I. Scott, MRC, CRC, SVRC (’02)

Lurlene Scott is the supervising vocational rehabilitation counselor for the Charleston’s Veteran Affairs Vocational Rehabilitation & Employment Office. She is a native of Tennessee, where she joined the Army in 1976. Fifteen years later, she was discharged at Ft. Jackson, S.C., as a disabled Gulf War veteran. South Carolina became her home. Her military background, interest in the veteran community, but lack of education led to employment with the Department of Veteran Affairs as a secretary, and pursuit of a formal education.

Scott received her Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology at Coker College and a Masters in Rehabilitation Counseling at the University of South Carolina School of Medicine Columbia. She received National Certification as a rehabilitation counselor in 2008. In 2017, she was awarded an Honorary Doctorate in Christian Humanities from Body of Christ Ministry, School of the Great Commission. She is trained and experienced in counseling individuals and families with various physical, and mental disabilities. She works to facilitate care by utilizing various assessments and intervention techniques to assess their needs.

Scott has been employed with the VA for 25 years, where she pursued her degree, and worked full time. Prior to receiving her degree she worked in various other positions within the VA, to include claims processing, working with homeless veterans, consulting, and quality assurance. She is immensely grateful for the opportunity to continue to serve veterans and give back to the community. Forever to Thee.

Scott Spann, MD (’86)

Dr. Scott Spann began his college career at Auburn University on a scholarship and joined the swimming team. While swimming at Auburn, Spann was named SEC Swimmer of the Year twice, was the Auburn Athlete of the Year, won three individual NCAA titles, and won swimming’s Kiputh Award as the Most Valuable National
Swimmer.

He transferred to the University of Texas at Austin in 1978 after his sophomore year. He was on the swimming team for UT as well, taking Texas to its first national championship as captain his senior year, while also capturing four NCAA titles for individual and relay swimming events.

After graduating from UT in 1982, Spann attended the University of South Carolina School of Medicine Columbia, and received his Doctor of Medicine in 1986. While at UofSC, he was selected as president of the State Student Section of the American Medical Association.

Spann completed a partnership and orthopedic residency at the Oschner Foundation in New Orleans, La., (1986-1991) and concurrently enlisted with the U.S. Army Medical Corps, retiring with honorable discharge as a Major. Following his residency, Scott completed a fellowship in spine surgery in Atlanta, Ga. (1991-1992). He opened his first private practice in Knoxville, Tenn., following his fellowship in Atlanta and was elected Chairman of Orthopedics of the largest hospital system in East Tennessee by his third year. Eventually, he and Frank Noyes began the Spine Care Institute in Cincinnati, Ohio, where “he participated in some of the FDA trials to bring new spinal products to market, upon which a great deal of all subsequent technology has been built.”

Spann and his family relocated to Austin, Texas in 1997, where he then founded Westlake Orthopedics. He is also one of the initial founders of Westlake Hospital.

In 2010, Spann founded ScottSpannMD.com through which he provides programming and presentations to inform and educate the public and other healthcare practitioners about medical, health, and wellness issues.

Darrin Thomas

Darrin Thomas is a native of Florence, S.C., and currently resides in Columbia. Thomas is a graduate of the University Of South Carolina’s Darla Moore School of Business where he received his undergraduate degree in marketing and management. Prior to his entrepreneurial career, Xerox Corporation employed Thomas as a Marketing Representative in Greenville, S.C.

In 1991 Thomas and his former partners Rod Terry and Gerry McCants, founded Black Pages USA, Inc. then Thomas-McCants Media, Inc. and are known throughout the market as Black Pages USA. Black Pages USA promotes minority businesses and provides a print or internet reference guide for consumers, major corporations and the like, who want to take advantage of services and products offered by minority businesses. They also host “Black Expo,” an event designed to give both minority owned businesses and major corporations the opportunity to reach minority consumers in five southeastern markets. Since that time, Thomas has formed Thomas Media Group, LLC headquartered in Columbia, S.C., focusing on publishing Black Pages directories and hosting Black Expos
in Florida and South Carolina. Thomas Media Group operates four offices in the Southeastern United States.

Thomas is also the CEO of Greek Traditions. Since its beginning in 1988, Greek Traditions focuses on quality products and clothing for the Divine 9 Fraternities and Sororities. Launched originally as an event vendor, the business has grown to include ecommerce
to help give customers continued access to our extensive catalog of products.

Their goal is to provide high quality products in a professional manner while ensuring tasteful and respectful representation of each organization. Thomas has been recognized on the local, regional and national levels for his professionalism, service and
product line by many of the fraternities and sororities served by Greek Traditions.

Thomas received several notable state and local awards in recognition of his accomplishments including: The Boy Scouts Indian Waters Council, Whitney M. Young, Jr. Service Award, for his volunteer service in implementing scouting opportunities for lowincome and disadvantaged youth; The Columbia Chamber of Commerce - 1997 Minority Small Business Person of the Year; The South Carolina Small Business Administration – 1997 South Carolina Minority Business Person of the Year; The University of South Carolina – Darla Moore School of Business – 1998 Distinguished Young Alumnus Award; The South Carolina Business Network - 1998 Entrepreneur of the Year; The Silver Beaver Award – Boy Scouts of America – highest honor that is bestowed upon a volunteer by the local council; The 1999 Blue Chip Enterprise Award – given annually by Mass Mutual, Inc. and the U. S. Chamber of Commerce for companies that succeed against the odds; The BB&T Bank 2000 Trailblazer Award finalist; The BB&T Bank 2001 Trailblazer Award recipient; The 1999 SC Alumni Brother of the Year – Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.; The 2001 Charles Green Award recipient – Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.; 2004 State Newspaper “Top Twenty under Forty” - recognized as one of the top twenty individuals under the age of forty in the midlands region of South Carolina; 2004 Graduate -Tuck School of Business (Dartmouth College) – Executive Business Program; 2008 Liberty Fellowship Class – recognized as one of the future leaders of South Carolina; 2008 Male Image Award – Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc.; 2008 Black Alumni of the Year – University of South Carolina.

Thomas currently serves on the Dominion Energy Environmental Justice Board and the Columbia Museum of Art Board of Directors. He is a life member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., Savannah Chapter-National Association of Guardsmen, Alpha Iota Boule-Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity, and serves as Vice President of Diversity – Area 5 Southern Region as well as the National Multi Cultural Markets committee – Boy Scouts of America. He is also a Vigil Honor member of Santee Lodge 116 – Order of the Arrow.

Thomas is an active member of Francis Burns United Methodist Church and is married to Kela Evans Thomas, formerly of Orangeburg, S.C. They have three sons, Todd Asher, Garrison Ervin and Quaidrin Lide. He accredits his success to his faith in God, the love of his family and the principle of relationship building.

Bhavna Vasudeva

A self-described “humanities person” who enjoys reading and writing, Bhavna Vasudeva majored in advertising and public relations with a minor in marketing and earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree from the University of South Carolina. She and her husband Raj, a physician, have deep ties to the UofSC School of Medicine Columbia, as he was a faculty member for 13 years at the school before going into private practice
in his field of gastroenterology.

Vasudeva has served on the boards of both the school’s Medical Women’s Group and the University Women’s Club, holding several positions to include president. She’s worked with UofSC’s specialty clinics, the Columbia Medical Society Auxiliary and served in the Junior League of Columbia and the Richland Memorial Foundation, the S.C. Art Foundation, the Heathwood Hall Episcopal School, Edventure Council, the S.C. Board of Realtors, the National Association of Realtors, the Homeowner’s Association of Enclave Community, the Atrium Villa Association Board in Seabrook, the Comaxiam IT Solutions Board, as well as the Palmetto Health Foundation Cancer Board. She is currently on the Governor’s Mansion Foundation Board, the State Museum board, the chair of the Diversity Committee at Red Cross, the chair of the Colon Cancer Center Advisory Board for UofSC, and on the UofSC Research Foundation Board.

Vasudeva and her husband Raj (married in 1992) have two sons, both of whom completed their undergraduate degrees at UofSC. The oldest son is an attorney, and the younger son will be entering graduate school soon. Her commitment to her state, education and her strong ties to her home country have been an integral facet of a unique initiative now taking shape at UofSC: CarolIndia.