The $1 million grant will provide timely access to cognitive health services for people
in underserved areas of the state, help caregivers navigate local resources, and support
primary care providers in taking care of their patients.
University of South Carolina’s Brain Health has been awarded a $1 million grant by The Duke Endowment to continue the statewide expansion of its Brain Health Network in underserved areas
of the state.
USC’s Brain Health Network is a statewide network of clinics developed to provide
timely access to cognitive screenings, evaluations and community health support for
individuals with cognitive concerns or deficits. Working with HopeHealth, Lexington Medical Center and Prisma Health primary care providers, the network currently operates clinics in Columbia, Darlington,
Lexington, Seneca, Sumter and Winnsboro.
Leonardo Bonilha, MD, PhD, USC School of Medicine Columbia Senior Associate Dean for Research and
USC Brain Health Director, and Brad Cole, USC Brain Health Health Care Executive Director, are co-principal investigators
on the project titled, “Expanding Brain Health Access and Support to Rural and Underserved
SC Providers and Communities.”
USC Brain Health is revolutionizing the delivery of cognitive care by offering a new
model of care at our clinics that provides underserved populations within our state
specialized services and support.
Research, USC Brain Health Director
The USC Brain Health Network offers a unique collaborative approach for its patients
and their caregivers.
“In addition to collaborating with health systems, we collaborate with local primary
care providers and provide vital access to advanced cognitive screening and evaluation
that is coordinated with the patient’s care team. We provide support for patients
and their caregivers to access critical resources in their communities,” says Cole.
Helping primary care providers
The USC Brain Health Network clinics also benefit primary care providers.
“Primary care providers in South Carolina need help meeting the rapidly increasing
demand for diagnostics and support for people with cognitive concerns. By offering
patients direct access to these services, we are alleviating some of that burden for
primary care providers, which frees them up to spend more time with their patients,”
Bonilha says.
The need for cognitive care services in South Carolina
Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias are increasing at an alarming rate throughout
South Carolina.
South Carolina’s rapidly growing population of people aged 65 and older is expected
to reach 1.4 million by 2030. Just as age is a factor in developing Alzheimer’s disease
and other dementias, so is stroke, for which South Carolina has the seventh highest
death rate in the country, and heart disease, which is the leading cause of death
in the state.
These facts, coupled with the shortage of rural health care providers with expertise
in cognitive care, confirm the growing cognitive care crisis that South Carolina is
experiencing.
South Carolina is a neurology desert. Patients typically must wait six to nine months
to be seen by a neurologist or other specialist.
“By offering our model of care in collaboration with health systems in communities
around the state, we are reducing patient wait time down to four weeks,” says Cole.
Julius Fridriksson, USC Vice President for Research, says, “The Duke Endowment award ensures that the
USC Brain Health Network will be able to expand into communities that we know need
better access to brain health care. The award directly supports USC’s commitment to
expanding cognitive care services and support for patients, caregivers and families
statewide.”
The award directly supports USC’s commitment to expanding cognitive care services
and support for patients, caregivers and families statewide.
Jennifer McCormack, USC Assistant Vice President, Corporate and Foundation Relations, was altogether
instrumental in USC Brain Health’s receipt of The Duke Endowment award. As the proposal’s
strategy lead, she coordinated with senior leadership within both organizations to
ensure USC’s vision of pioneering efforts to bring neurological services to critically
underserved communities aligned with the Endowment’s Health Care mission.
The Brain Health Network’s highly innovative care model represents the kind of initiative
needed to address the social and healthcare implications of South Carolina’s growing,
aging population.
In serving as a bridge across USC academic and research units, and between the institution
and funders, McCormack ensures USC is well-positioned to pursue philanthropic collaborations
that have a positive and lasting impact on South Carolina communities.
USC Brain Health is a primarily state-funded program within the USC School of Medicine
Columbia.
Based in Charlotte and established in 1924 by industrialist and philanthropist James
B. Duke, The Duke Endowment is a private foundation that strengthens communities in
North Carolina and South Carolina by nurturing children, promoting health, educating
minds and enriching spirits. Since its founding, it has distributed $5 billion in
grants. The Endowment shares a name with Duke University and Duke Energy, but all
are separate organizations.
For more information, contact Nicole Carrico at nicole.carrico@uscmed.sc.edu or 803-446-3952.
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