MUSC Golden Graduates

When Lynne Jenkinson started her nursing career in 1974, it was a vastly different field. The technology, the procedures and even the ways nurses interacted with their patients were all undergoing transformation.

“When I first graduated from MUSC, we were still counting [IV] drops,” she said. “And then came the machines. You just dialed up what you wanted, and it took care of it for you.”

She also recalls charting and writing doctor’s orders by hand, a skill that came in handy during a computer shutdown that happened just before she retired. “They sent us to help the new nurses take verbal orders … because most of them had never done that before,” she said with a chuckle.

Jenkinson wasn’t alone in reflecting on how much has changed. At MUSC’s Golden Graduate reunion in October, she joined 35 fellow alumni from the Class of 1974 to celebrate five decades of progress and shared memories. Representing the Colleges of Nursing, Medicine and Dental Medicine, attendees reconnected over campus tours, a welcome reception, a dinner celebration and a heartfelt memorial for classmates no longer with them.

“The people we’ve gotten to meet and see, it’s been really joyous,” said Samuel Drake, M.D., who drove to Charleston from Florida to attend.

The times, they are a' changin’

Computers and medical advancements aren’t the only things that have changed since this class walked across the commencement stage in 1974 – the Medical University of South Carolina has changed dramatically, too.

Alumni marveled at the transformation: new buildings, expanded programs and MUSC’s consistently rising rankings in U.S. News & World Report. For many, these changes are not just statistics, but a reflection of how their alma mater has evolved into a leader in health care and education.

“It’s changed tremendously,” said James A. Rivers, D.M.D., a proud alumnus and College of Dental Medicine professor of 30 years. And he’s right. MUSC today is almost unrecognizable from the campus of 1974 – but in the best way possible.

Yet, as MUSC has risen, so has the cost of higher education. At reunion events, both MUSC President David J. Cole, M.D., FACS, and College of Medicine Dean Terrence Steyer, M.D., shared their concerns about the financial challenges faced by today’s students – and MUSC’s commitment to prioritize scholarships for current and future students.

“When you were in school, tuition was about $1,000,” Steyer said, turning to the alumni. “Today, medical school tuition is $36,000 a year.” Add skyrocketing rent in Charleston and inflation, and you’ve got students starting their careers under the weight of significant debt.

“MUSC’s commitment to producing top-tier health care professionals remains unwavering,” Cole said. “Our mission is to make sure that future generations of students continue to thrive, regardless of financial barriers.”

On remembering what’s important

Though change was a big theme of the reunion, alumni also spoke a lot about the core values that have stayed consistent from the time they were students 50 years ago.

Jenkinson pointed out two things that have been a constant for her: the need to master the basics and the importance of balancing career and family.

Her MUSC education provided the solid foundation she needed, and even as the health care landscape changed, Jenkinson always returned to those core values of mastering the basics and balancing her career with family life.

“Learn the basics and you can do whatever you want from there,” she said.

For her, that included raising her family.

“My family was just as important to me as my nursing,” she said. “You must decide where you want to put your time. I know some of my classmates became administrators and head nurses and lots of other things. But most of the time when I looked at those jobs, I had small children. I said, ‘No, Mommy’s not going to get up at 3 a.m. when you’re tucked into bed and be gone in the middle of the night.’”

That’s a value that hasn’t changed for her even years after retirement. Now she serves as a nanny for her grandchildren while her daughter works.

“I never regretted that a bit,” she said.

This sentiment is shared by many of the Golden Graduates at the reunion, who also reflected on the enduring importance of balancing career and family, mastering the basics and nurturing the relationships that shape our lives. As Rivers eloquently put it, “A successful career has a start and finish, but life is a continuous process. Everything else may change, but the memories – and the friendships formed – live on forever.”

The next Golden Graduates reunion for the Class of 1975 will take place during Alumni Weekend 2025!

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