Remembering Dr. Derrick

The field of pediatrics sustained a great loss June 5, 2022, with the passing of Dr. C. Warren Derrick Jr., at age 86.

A native South Carolinian, Dr. Derrick graduated from Wofford College in 1958. He then graduated from the Medical College of South Carolina in 1962 and completed a rotating internship at Greenville Memorial Hospital. He subsequently was inducted into the U.S. Army as a captain in the Medical Corps and stationed in Germany, serving for two years as a battalion surgeon.

Upon discharge and returning stateside in 1965, he accepted a job at Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo as a physician in the student health center for one year. In 1966, he started a two-year Pediatric residency at the University of Alabama Medical Center in Birmingham (UAB) followed by a three-year fellowship in Pediatric Infectious Disease at the Children’s Hospital of Alabama. Following completion of his fellowship, he was appointed assistant professor of Pediatrics at UAB. He rose to associate professor in 1975 and served as director of Outpatient Services at the Children’s Hospital.

After these 10 years in Birmingham, he returned to South Carolina to begin working at Sumter Pediatrics in Sumter in January 1977. Ten months later, he joined the faculty of the University of South Carolina’s fledgling medical school in Columbia as chair of the Department of Pediatrics. Dr. Derrick held this position for 29 years, growing the faculty and establishing South Carolina’s first freestanding children’s hospital. It was often said that “this was Dr. Derrick’s Medical School” and certainly, if so, then this was his Children’s Hospital.

Under his leadership, the department developed a national reputation for educational excellence and patient care. During Dr. Derrick’s career, he taught two generations of students and residents as well as mentored scores of faculty members. Even after stepping down as department chair in 2006 – the first and longest serving chairman – he remained active as an emeritus faculty member; member of the Admissions Committee; and advisor to many of the medical school’s leaders, faculty and students.

His honors were legion, including the MUSC Presidential Merit Award, William Weston Distinguished Service

Award and Order of the Palmetto (the state’s highest civilian honor, which was presented in 2006). The medical school recognized him with the Career Achievement Award in 2017 and a Luminary Leader in Medicine and Science Award in 2021. He also received distinguished alumni/service awards from the Children’s Hospital of Alabama and from Wofford College.

Memorials may be made to the C. Warren Derrick Jr. Bicentennial Scholarship, University of South Carolina School of Medicine, 6311 Garners Ferry Rd., Columbia, SC 29209, or Prisma Health Children’s Hospital–Midlands, c/o Prisma Health Midlands Foundation, 1600 Marion St., Columbia, SC 29201.

“Not only a visionary, Dr. Derrick was also a servant leader for more than 30 years and an outstanding teacher, clinician and child advocate.”

– Caughman Taylor, MD, chairman of Pediatrics, Prisma Health Children’s Hospital–Midlands

“More than any other individual, he defined excellence in pediatric healthcare for our state over a period of three decades. I have frequently heard others describe Dr. Derrick as a gifted clinician, an outstanding educator, a servant leader and a role model. His legacy will endure for many years.”

– Les Hall, MD, dean of USC School of Medicine Columbia

“Dr. Derrick, my boss for 30 years, was an excellent physician and leader. But more importantly, he was unselfish, a person of immense integrity and an individual who always would do the right thing.”

– James Stallworth, MD, professor of Pediatrics, USC School of Medicine Columbia

RESET program (continued from Page 11)

Potential patients receive a questionnaire that they, their caregivers at home and teachers complete so that the treatment team can get a better sense of presenting concerns and current level of functioning. They will also be scheduled for a half-day clinic evaluation with a team that includes a multidisciplinary assessment from a pediatric pain physician, psychologist, physical and occupational therapists.

Generally, patients take about one month to move from initial evaluation to admission, with the possibility of “prehab” if needed. A preadmission screen is conducted one week before admission to help with final preparations for the patient’s arrival. Patients are encouraged to bring equipment for leisure activities they want to re-engage in after discharge (soccer ball, dance shoes, etc.). PT and OT will incorporate proper form and strength training to set up patients for success in these activities following program completion.

“Dr. Derrick was the embodiment of all that our program is and aspires to always be. That is because of the man that he was, the love he had for the residents in our program, and the confidence he had in training people to go on to provide love, compassion and care for kids and their families.”

– Scott Carney, MD, director of Prisma Health Pediatric Residency Program in the Midlands

“Dr. Derrick’s leadership at the helm of the Department of Pediatrics at the University of South Carolina School of Medicine Columbia for 30 years is legend – for the scope of his impact, for his tenacity, for his scholarship, for his steady demeanor and for his gentle nature.”

– Robert Saul, MD, SCAAP president

“Research has consistently demonstrated this kind of program’s ability to restore function and quality of life, thus altering the rest of these patients’ lives, in a matter of weeks,” said Dr. Gamwell. “Patients who previously missed school, felt unable to engage socially and who couldn’t participate in sports or leisure activities are ideally able to return to brick-and-mortar school, have a social life, engage in leisure activities and spend less time in the doctor’s office. None of this was possible without the interdisciplinary coordination of care. It is truly an honor that our team has the opportunity to change lives for the better via the RESET program.”

For more information about this program or to refer a patient, call Dr. Gamwell at 864-522-4880

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