Medical University of South Carolina
Contact Information
Education and Research:
The Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) is at the forefront of research with over $200 million in grants and contracts. Novel techniques in infection control, marine biomedicine, bacterial fuel cell technology and waste product management are emerging from MUSC’s labs. Our Environmental Microbiologist, Dr Harold May is creating fuel from bacteria while Dr Michael Schmidt’s lab is studying the antimicrobial qualities of copper, brass and bronze.
Environmental microbiology focuses on the role of microorganisms in the synthesis and degradation of natural and anthropogenic compounds, and on the interactions of microbes with the physical environment and other organisms. The microbial cycling of chemicals, toxic and otherwise, is crucial for the stability of healthy ecosystems. Dr. May’s research is focused on the biodegradation of hazardous (toxic) and non-hazardous waste and on the generation of energy from biomass. The laboratory has studied in depth the anaerobic dechlorination of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and other persistent organic pollutants (POPs) In addition to collaboration with other MUSC faculty, this lab works with researchers from the University of Maryland Biotechnology Institute (Center of Marine Biotechnology), the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute, and SINTEF of Norway. Recently this lab investigated the ability of select microorganisms to generate electricity in a fuel cell supplied with plant biomass.
Hospital Acquired Infections (HAI) are a huge problem: approximately 5% of the patients admitted to US hospitals will acquire an infection. Dr. Schmidt is leading a team of infectious disease specialists and engineers to evaluate the antimicrobial effects of metallic copper for its ability to reduce colonization rates and infection. In a related project, in collaboration with the laboratories of Drs. Feigley and Kahn at the University of South Carolina. Dr. Schmidt is evaluating the effectiveness of copper to reduce the microbial burden associated with heat exchangers used to condition indoor air. Dr. Schmidt is also the principal investigator of the Sustainable Universities Initiative for MUSC working with U of South Carolina and Clemson. The goal of this project is to educate students to provide models for sustainable design and operations within each institution by creating an environment in which faculty, staff and students of the Universities understand the interactions among the three E's, environmental protection, economic stability and social equity.
In collaboration with the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, the College of Charleston’s Grice Lab and the National Ocean Service's Center for Coastal Environmental Health and Biomolecular Research, MUSC’s Marine Biomedicine and Environmental Sciences Center is investigating the interrelationships of the marine environment and human health.
Campus Operations:
Two MUSC buildings have been outfitted with a renewable source of energy: The Anderson House uses a geothermal system for climate control and our administrative building uses a heat wheel to increase the efficiency of the cooling and heating system. The University recently signed a Performance Contract with Ameresco with a goal to save $2.5 million and an 8-year payback. Under the contract, Ameresco engineers are providing installation, modification, and maintenance of existing and/or new energy and water-related equipment and systems. In the first phase, lighting, boiler controls, fume hoods, air-conditioning and heating equipment are being upgraded. Water conservation projects have been implemented with the installation of water efficient toilets, shower heads, sterilizers and dishwashing equipment.
We are breaking ground this summer on the Bioengineering Building and are getting ready to begin construction on the Drug Discovery Building: our first two LEED Certified, Silver buildings on campus. Plug-in stations for ambulances and service vehicles have been installed to reduce carbon emissions on campus during idle times. Bio-diesel is being used in the recycling truck and in several grounds vehicles. Public Safety officers use bicycles and rechargeable battery operated vehicles for patrolling campus.
Purchasing promotes environmentally preferable products. All in-house stationary and business card orders are printed on recycled content paper; housekeeping is using green cleaning products and entryway systems; vendors are encouraged to reuse packaging.
Grounds contribution to the sustainability effort is through the use of environmentally preferable pest control, organic fertilizer and efficient irrigation; we are also in the process of establishing an Arboretum with South Carolina indigenous plants.
Asbestos control, chemical and refrigerant management policies are in place. Scavenging systems are available for anesthesia management. MUSC’s Reusable Office Supply Exchange, run by the Sustainability Program has a constant flow of activity: office clean-outs generate donations and shoppers are delighted to find FREE supplies.
The Recycling Program at MUSC utilizes over 1200 bins distributed around campus to collect paper, plastic, glass and steel; cardboard is compacted and also recycled. Other items collected and recycled include medical products, rechargeable batteries, radiology film, ink toner cartridges, mercury compounds, pallets, scrap metal, restaurant grease, techno waste, magazines, books and newspapers and yard waste. 511 tons of office fiber, 481 tons of cardboard and 16.2 tons of plastic, aluminum, glass and steel were recycled in 2008 resulting in a 25% diversion of our waste from the landfill.
Administration and Finance:
As a demonstration of his firm commitment to the sustainability effort, Dr Ray Greenberg, MUSC president has signed the President’s Climate Commitment; the Sustainability Program on campus now includes, in addition to the Sustainability Officer, a staff of five full time and two part time employees who handle the campus recycling operations as well as any sustainable projects and recommendations. MUSC’s sustainability officer, Christine Cooley serves on the City of Charleston’s Green Committee and has implemented several sustainable policies and projects for the City. She is a steering committee member of the College and University Recycling Council of the National Recycling Coalition and an Executive Committee member of the local Sierra Club.
Our community service infrastructure, the “MUSC Gives Back” program, is just one of the campus organizations that coordinate students, faculty and staff participation in various community service opportunities. In 2008, 966 student volunteers donated 16,257 hours to over 108 Lowcountry agencies.
MUSC supports local agriculture with a weekly Farmer’s market: a third location was added a few months ago to serve all areas of campus.
Over 1000 employees use the free park-and-ride service established two years ago with the Charleston Area Regional Transportation Authority reducing commuter traffic by 10%.
We offer a range of Distance Education options. Three or more video teleconferences (VTC) are set up every week for board meetings, research discussions, or any meetings where participants are spread over the state, nation, or world. We are currently working on two international programs. One with China to discuss health care related issues, the other with Saudi Arabia to deliver writing instruction from our Center for Academic Excellence. The Colleges of Health Professions and Nursing offer online Masters and Doctoral degrees. The College of Pharmacy is using live, synchronous video daily to connect the campuses in Charleston and Columbia. Likewise the College of Graduate Studies uses live synchronous video several times a week to connect Bioengineering students on the MUSC campus with Clemson.
The high volume (60,000 monthly) of faxes led to the development and implementation of MyFax. Because of the security and privacy requirements in the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), the bulk of this sensitive patient information still must be transmitted via fax. Our Information Technology department came up with the MyFax solution to this problem. In the three years since the new system’s implementation, not only has this measure resulted in a significant reduction of energy and paper use but once they become electronic files, the faxes can be searched by number, patient last name, or other criteria, taking a process that used to require hours or even days down to one minute or less.
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