Distinguished Young Alumni Award

Christopher E. Gainey, MD, FACEP, FAEMS '12

Christopher E. Gainey, MD, FACEP, FAEMS, spent his youth growing up in the Lowcountry of South Carolina before moving to Columbia as an undergraduate at the University of South Carolina, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Biological Sciences in 2008. Dr. Gainey continued his medical education at the UofSC School of Medicine Columbia, earning his Doctor of Medicine in 2012.

Dr. Gainey completed residency training in emergency medicine at Palmetto Health Richland in 2015, as well as fellowships in emergency medicine and simulation medicine in 2017. He is currently medical director of the Prisma Health-UofSC School of Medicine Simulation Center and program director of the Simulation Medicine Fellowship.

Dr. Gainey is dedicated to training the next generation of health care providers as a clinical assistant professor with the School of Medicine and as a faculty member for the Prisma Health-UofSC School of Medicine Emergency Medicine Residency and EMS Fellowship programs. In 2019, he was named director of Medical Student Education and serves as the clerkship director for third- and fourth-year medical students, pediatric emergency medicine and Sim-emergency medicine rotations.

Dr. Gainey also serves as medical director for EMS Education and Training Programs with the State Fire Academy and Midlands Technical College.

He has been recognized for his work as Attending of the Year for Prisma Health Emergency Medicine, received the Presidential Citation from the Neurocritical Care Society, and received the Residency Academic Excellence Award two times from the South Carolina College of Emergency Physicians.

Dr. Gainey and his wife, Amelia, live in Columbia.

Distinguished Master’s Alumni Award

Jeffrey S. Boswell, DNAP, MNA, CRNA, '04

Jeffrey S. Boswell, DNAP, MNA, CRNA earned his Master of Nursing Anesthesia Practice from the University of South Carolina School of Medicine Columbia in 2004. Boswell went on to earn his Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice from Midwestern University in 2021.

Upon completion of his doctoral degree, Dr. Boswell has practiced at Aiken Regional Medical Centers in Aiken, South Carolina, initially as a staff CRNA. He was named chief cardiothoracic and vascular CRNA in 2008 and became manager of the anesthesia department in 2016. Dr. Boswell also serves as an adjunct faculty member for the School of Medicine’s CRNA program. His colleagues describe him as someone with a great command of knowledge in his field.

Dr. Boswell’s professional interests include management of difficult and complex airways, procedural ultrasound, regional anesthesia, enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS), opioid reduction strategies, and anesthesia for cardiovascular and thoracic surgery. Dr. Boswell has been recognized by the South Carolina Association of Nurse Anesthetists for his research work focused on pain management during cardiac surgery while decreasing use of opioids.

Among his other interests are professional public speaking and clinical and didactic instruction, and is dedicated to improving student experiences. Dr. Boswell was influential in helping to expand experiential opportunities for UofSC CRNA students by adding a clinical rotation within his department.

Dr. Boswell and his wife, Mary, have two teenagers, Garrett and Caroline. He enjoys teaching, playing guitar, outdoor activities, and woodworking.

Distinguished Genetic Counseling Alumni Award

Ginger Hocutt, MS, CGC, '13

Ginger Hocutt, MS, CGC, received her Bachelor of Science degree in Microbiology in 2009 and earned her Master of Genetics in 2011 from North Carolina State University. She furthered her education by attaining a master’s degree in Genetic Counseling from the University of South Carolina School of Medicine Columbia in 2013. She was honored with the S. Robert Young Outstanding Genetic Counselor award, named in honor of the program’s founding director and presented to a graduate who performed in an exemplary manner in every facet of their professional education.

Hocutt is a clinical instructor in the Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine, providing reproductive genetic counseling services for a variety of indications including preconception, advanced maternal age, mosaic embryos, family and pregnancy history concerns, and ultrasound anomalies.

She serves as a co-lead supervisor for genetic counseling trainees for the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and the University of South Carolina genetic counseling training programs. She is also the genetic counselor liaison for the UNC Fetal Care program.

Distinguished Doctorate Alumni Award

Sadiye Amcaoglu Rieder, PhD, '11

Sadiye A. Rieder, PhD, is an industry immunologist with expertise in immune regulation in autoimmunity and inflammation. She received her doctoral degree in Biomedical Sciences from the University of South Carolina School of Medicine Columbia in 2011. She completed her postdoctoral training at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, where she worked on T cell and T regulatory cell biology.

Dr. Rieder launched her industry career at Medimmune, where she led preclinical programs and helped develop cutting edge technologies for drug discovery. She then moved to Viela Bio and was a key player in building the early preclinical pipeline. In her current role as Associate Director of Research at Horizon Therapeutics, Rieder leads development of multiple preclinical programs aimed at bringing solutions to high unmet need diseases.

Dr. Rieder has conducted innovative research and published several high-impact papers. She served as vice president and president of the Washington D.C. chapter of Graduate Women in Science, a global organization dedicated to the empowerment of girls and women in science. Dr. Rieder now serves as the industry representative on the Committee on the Status of Women (CSOW) for the American Association of Immunologists.

In addition to her scientific accomplishments, she has great passion for communicating science clearly, working closely with multidisciplinary colleagues and leading teams to reach a scientific goal. She cares immensely about training the new generation of scientists and is a role model for her colleagues and students.

Distinguished Physician Alumni Award

Mary Beth Poston, MD, MSCR, FACP, '99

Mary Beth Poston, MD, MSCR, FACP, is an associate professor of clinical internal medicine at Prisma Health-UofSC School of Medicine Columbia. She received both her bachelor and master's degrees in Animal and Food Industries from Clemson University. She went on to earn her medical degree from the University of South Carolina School of Medicine Columbia in 1999.

Dr. Poston completed her internal medicine residency at Palmetto Health Richland. She then completed an academic general internal medicine fellowship and earned a Master of Science in Clinical Research at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston.

As an educator focused on pushing her students to excellence, Dr. Poston is the program director of the Internal Medicine Residency program for the UofSC School of Medicine. Her additional interests include ultrasound in medical education and increasing physical activity in primary care. Dr. Poston is a Fellow of the American College of Physicians and currently serves as governor for the organization’s South Carolina chapter. Among her many accolades, she has been recognized by the ACP and the Society of General Internal Medicine for her dedication to teaching.

Dr. Poston is recognized by her peers as a role model and mentor for her residents and for her leadership in developing the next generation of physicians.

Alumni Association Honorary Life Membership Award

Tan J. Platt, MD

Tan J. Platt, MD, is recognized as one of the most outstanding and accomplished physicians and clinical educators to serve at the University of South Carolina School of Medicine Columbia.

After completing his medical degree at Columbia University and residency training in Colorado, Dr. Platt began his medical career as a rural family physician in South Dakota with the National Health Service Corps, followed by private practice in New York, New York.

Dr. Platt came to the UofSC School of Medicine in 1986, serving in multiple roles including associate professor, vice chair and clinical director in the Department of Family and Preventive Medicine.

His influence extended beyond his role as a physician to the patients and families he cared for and to the colleagues with whom he worked, the students and residents he taught, and with fellow citizens he represented.

He also served as medical director for the South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, committed to ensuring South Carolinians received access to high-quality medical care. Dr. Platt served on the South Carolina Developmental Disabilities Council, the South Carolina Autism Medical Advisory Committee, and the Department of Disability and Special Needs Collaborative Advisory Committee. He served for 20 years as medical director of the Babcock Center and the Epworth Children’s Home, as well as the Burton Center and CHESCO.

The South Carolina Academy of Family Physicians, of which Dr. Platt was a long-time member and for which he served as its president, in 2010 honored him as “Physician of the Year.”

Dr. Platt passed away at age 73 on August 19, 2020. His selfless devotion to duty has elevated the quality of health for thousands of South Carolina’s citizens. His dedication to duty and service to others will continue to serve as an inspiration in the years to come.