The University of South Carolina School of Medicine was founded in 1974 with a mandate from the legislature to train primary care physicians for the state of South Carolina. In 1977, the Department of Pediatrics was established under that same mandate. With medical education as our primary focus, the department has developed a comprehensive general pediatric training program directed by academic generalists with emphasis on primary care. This primary care emphasis has lead to:

• 10-15% of our medical school graduates entering pediatric residencies each year
• one of the best ABP board pass rate in the United States
• recognition by our medical students as one of the school's premier teaching programs
• 60% of our pediatric resident graduates entering primary care practice
• the development of innovative service and educational programs such as a locum tenens program, an access to care endeavor, a private practice resident continuity program, school and community health programs, and advocacy programs.

With a faculty of 76, pediatric and med/peds resident staff totaling 31, and with our partnership with Palmetto Health Children's Hospital, we serve the midlands of South Carolina as the major pediatric referral center offering a full array of pediatric subspecialty services. Along with our emphasis on primary care education, we have major research endeavors in cancer, endocrinology and developmental pediatrics and conduct several annual CME programs including the Carolina Cup Symposium now in its 28th year.