For the School of Medicine Greenville’s Class of 2026, it was a big day that marked the official transition from medical students to physicians.  

At a convocation ceremony held May 7, graduates took the Hippocratic Oath and were hooded, signifying their transition to the medical profession.

“Convocation at SOMG is a time of celebration for students, their families, and friends,” said Dean Phyllis MacGilvray. “The Class of 2026 has navigated remarkable achievements, unexpected challenges, and defining milestones. Through hard work, innovative research, and unwavering service to their community, they are already bringing meaningful change to healthcare. Time and time again, they supported each other, and our greater community — from answering questions and helping patients feel safe during the measles outbreak to providing free, compassionate care to hundreds of uninsured and underinsured families at the RAM clinic — and the future of medicine is as bright as ever.”

“The Class of 2026,” said Dean MacGilvray, “will carry the values of our school into every exam room, research lab, and community they touch, and in doing so, they will help transform the future of healthcare in our state and beyond.”

The University of South Carolina School of Medicine Greenville opened to its inaugural class of students in July, 2012. The school was created specifically to help address a shortage of physicians, including here in South Carolina.

The school has since graduated 858 doctors, to help fill this gap.  

This year’s graduates are ready to contribute. Maddie Guest will be helping patients starting at the beginning of July, when she begins her residency training in internal medicine at Prisma Health Greenville. “I care a lot about this community, and I am excited to grow here and begin caring for a patient population where I call home,” said Guest.  

Guest, who is from Greenville, also looks forward to implementing the tenants of lifestyle medicine she learned at SOMG to help patients be as healthy as they can.  

From COVID to measles to Hurricane Helene, this class has been through so much and is prepared to take the next step in their medical-career journey, said Elsa Meyer, SOMG Class of 2026 President.  

“We are going all over the country (for residency training) across 26 states — from California to South Carolina,” said Meyer, who matched in residency in anesthesiology at Mount Sinai Morningside in New York City and plans to keep in touch with her fellow graduates. “It is a bit surreal we are finally here.”

The class also honored Michael Campanelli, a dedicated medical student at the University of South Carolina School of Medicine Greenville who passed away from cancer shortly before graduating with his Class of 2026 peers. “May his memory live in how you practice medicine, with compassion,” said Reverend Dr. Anne Garner.  

“This is a big day,” said Dr. Leah Robinson, Robinson, SOMG Associate Dean for Student Affairs, “today we celebrate the remarkable events of the 10th graduating class of the School of Medicine Greenville.” 

“You rose through every challenge,” Dr. Robinson told the Class of 2026.