Since 1911, Anderson University has served as a monument to cutting-edge excellence in faith-based academics and service. From being the first university in South Carolina to have a female president to its landmark Mobile Learning Initiative, the story of Anderson University is one of innovation.
Now, Anderson is continuing the legacy of visionary leadership with the establishment of its Bearwood Campus, home to South Carolina’s only Pathologist’s Assistant program. Anderson University acquired the facility, formerly known as the Bearwood Ambulatory Surgery Center, from Dr. Terry Holdredge and his wife, Susan Holdredge. All four of their children attended AU. The property has since been updated into a state-of-the-art learning facility, including classrooms and labs.
“When the Holdredges built the center, they not only wanted it to be functional, but also wished for it to be a beautiful, relaxing and uplifting space for the enjoyment and inspiration of both patients and staff. In the process, they made it something of a work of art employing imported woods, superior finishes, architectural enhancements, and religious art,” said Anderson University President Evans Whitaker. “For decades, Dr. Terry Holdredge and his staff expertly served patients in one of the most beautiful medical facilities in the world.
“We are delighted that, in a very real way, the legacy of Dr. Holdredge and his practice will be permanently honored in this special property that bears his and Mrs. Holdredge’s personal design touches and remains a place focused on healthcare,” he said.
Following a nationwide shortage of pathologist’s assistants, Anderson University evolved its offerings to meet the need. The University adapted the Bearwood Campus to house its new Pathologists’ Assistant program, the first in the state of South Carolina and one of only 17 in North America.
“The Pathologists’ Assistant role is a vital yet often overlooked program within the healthcare environment of care. These highly skilled individuals play a crucial role in the accurate diagnosis and treatment of diseases, bridging the gap between clinical medicine and laboratory science. Pathologists’ Assistants are responsible for a wide range of tasks, including examination of tissue specimens, performing autopsies and assisting pathologists in interpreting microscopic findings. Their work directly impacts patient care,” said the dean of the Anderson University College of Health Professions, Dr. Donald Peace. Anderson boasts new, cutting-edge facilities for pathologists’ assistants’ training at its Bearwood Campus. The College of Health Professions already possesses a lab for human dissection that is available to students in relevant disciplines, the only lab of its kind available to undergraduate students in the state of South Carolina.
But now, with the acquisition of Bearwood, pathology students have convenient access to a unique digital lab, where they can gain insight into the human body without having to schedule time in the traditional cadaver lab. Pathologists’ Assistant students also have access to the gross lab at the Bearwood Campus, where students utilize animal organs to study surgical pathology. The gross lab is equipped with a cryostat, a highly expensive piece of technology that enables students to prepare samples for microscopic analysis quickly.
In the next year, program faculty are working to implement simulation learning experiences for their students using virtual reality (VR.) With the technology available in the Anderson University Maker Space, students can enter the human body and examine organ systems in VR. With these innovative opportunities for hands-on learning, Anderson University’s Pathologists’ Assistant program graduates will be prepared for anything they encounter on the job.
These innovative facilities and programs are key to the University’s goal of accreditation from the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Science (NAACLS.) According to Dr. Julie Bostick, the program’s director, because of Anderson’s accreditation status, graduates will become board-certified before taking their first job in the field, helping them stand out from candidates from other universities who often wait to achieve certification on the job.
“We learn hands-on… where things are and how they relate to one another in the human body,” Dr. Bostick said. “God’s creativity becomes apparent through human nature.”
State-of-the-art facilities are not the only factor for student success. Dr. Bostick also said faculty and staff at the Bearwood Campus are integral to the program and that their relationships with students set them apart from other institutions. Students learn embryology and anatomy and, in their second year, complete their rotations through a review course that prepares them for exams. The way faculty members care for their students is another way Anderson is at the forefront of innovation. Like all AU programs, the Pathologists’ Assistant program is focused on instructing the whole student; they not only know the material, but they are also prepared to fulfill their calling.
Students are already noticing the benefits of Anderson’s program. Currently, 100 percent of students who have graduated from the program have passed their board certification exams.
From pioneering programs to visionary faculty, the Pathologists’ Assistant program at Anderson University’s Bearwood Campus is already making a difference. When Anderson University faculty and staff saw a need in the community for comprehensive pathology education, they stepped up to meet it without hesitation. Because of their service, the city of Anderson, the state of South Carolina and the entire nation are better equipped to nurture humanity through the Cross.
As Anderson continues to educate future leaders and difference-makers, it establishes a legacy of innovation that is sure to continue for generations to come.