Pre-Med Student Makes Impact at College of Charleston

Jamie Silverman wants to be a doctor – not just any doctor, a pediatric doctor. The Honors College public health major has been working toward her goal since high school. 

In fact, the summer before she came to the College, the Alpharetta, Georgia–native became a certified nurse assistant.

“It was 9-to-5 for four weeks, including a week of clinicals and written and hands-on exams,” explains Silverman, who used her credentials to work the following summer at the Children’s Wellness Center in Atlanta. 

Ready to take the next step in pursuing her medical degree, Silverman came to the College excited about the small class sizes and the opportunity to build lasting relationships with her professors, but she worried about a competitive atmosphere. To her delight, she found quite the opposite – supportive and encouraging classmates and faculty. 

Sadly, in the spring of her sophomore year, Silverman’s mother, Hindy Silverman, was diagnosed with colon cancer. For much of the remaining spring semester, Silverman was in a fog. 

“My mom is my person; she’s someone I truly look up to,” she says. “My mom exudes total kindness.” 

Thanks to the support of faculty and classmates along with scholarships – namely the Laura S. Griffin Health Educator Scholarship and Boykin Scholarship, which pushed her to work harder on her academics – Silverman was able to push through her emotional distress. That semester, she got all As, which made her realize that nothing can hold her back. 

Sandra Craig, instructor of chemistry, was one of the faculty members who supported Silverman during this difficult period. 

“Jamie was a student in both of my organic chemistry courses,” says Craig. “She was a joy to teach! I enjoyed her facial expressions and gestures when she did not understand the subject matter and appreciated the verbal questions as other students most likely had the same question. 

“Jamie has a beautiful spirit,” she adds. “She has been through so much over the last year and still she rises to every academic occasion striving for excellence. Every semester I wish I had 15 students like her!” 

While Silverman has completed the organic chemistry courses needed for her studies, she and Craig continue to have “girl time” in Craig’s office on Mondays and Wednesdays.

“I will miss her when she graduates,” says Craig. “I’m so proud of her. Soon she will be Dr. Jamie Silverman.” 

Another important professor for Silverman is Leslie Hart, associate professor of public health. At her mother’s urging, the summer going into her junior year, Silverman studied epidemiology with Hart in Barcelona, Spain. 

“I was incredibly fortunate and honored to witness Dr. Hart talk about her passions,” she says. “I loved experiencing her energy, plus she was an excellent mentor and guide.” 

For Hart, the feeling is mutual. 

“I feel incredibly lucky to have shared both classroom and study abroad experiences with Jamie,” says Hart. “Her intelligence is only outshined by her warmth and kindness, making an unforgettable impact on everyone she meets. Jamie is exuberant, compassionate and endlessly curious, embodying everything we hope for in our students.” 

In gratitude for the outpouring of support she received, Silverman decided to channel her energy into something positive. She became a Zumba instructor. She serves as a School of Health Sciences student ambassador, where she takes part in admissions events and shares about health sciences and her work as a pre-med student. 

She also became an active member of the Charleston Fellows top-scholars program within the Honors College. Initially she served as vice president, where she focused on volunteer events, like making dog blankets for the Charleston Animal Society.

“Creating activities for the Charleston Fellows is a great way to build community and introduce different experiences and directions that can be taken,” says Silverman, who now serves as the Charleston Fellows president.

In this role, she hopes to make an impact and surround herself with people who will motivate her, all with the goal of giving back, like so many have given to her.

“My parents have always pushed two pieces of advice on my brothers and me,” says Silverman. “The first: The easiest thing you can ever do is be kind. And the second: Attitude is everything, pick a good one.”

 Silverman has taken her parent’s words to heart and is certainly making a positive impact at the College.