Furman University: A Cutting-Edge Approach to Medical Education
“Who wants to go first?” Dr. Paul Siffri ’92, an orthopedic surgeon with Prisma Health, posed the question, holding an arthroscope and a motorized shaver. He wasn’t addressing fellow surgeons, but a group of eight eager Furman University undergraduates. These students, part of the university’s Healthcare Today Engaged Learning Community, were about to experience something truly exceptional: practicing minimally invasive orthopedic procedures on an actual cadaveric knee at the Hawkins Foundation Bioskills Lab in Greenville, South Carolina.
The opportunity is a testament to Furman University’s commitment to providing unparalleled experiential learning opportunities. For students like Avery Columbus ’29, Hunter Kuhnell ’29, Danielle Buccini ’29, and Anna Kate Bailey ’29, observing Dr. Siffri demonstrate arthroscopy instruments was just the beginning.
A Unique Hands-on Experience
Biology major Amelia Cowart ’27, president of HOSA-Future Health Professionals at Furman, was among the first to step up. Having shadowed medical professionals before, this was her first chance to actively participate. “That’s a unique experience not many other universities offer to undergrads,” she remarked. The initial shock of manipulating the pinhead-sized camera and removing damaged tissue quickly gave way to excitement.
“I’m doing something successfully that surgeons do in their everyday lives,” Cowart exclaimed. “That was absolutely exciting.” Cowart, who has fast-tracked early acceptance to medical school through the Furman University-University of South Carolina School of Medicine Greenville Direct Entry Program, found the experience reaffirmed her passion and boosted her confidence.
“Meeting doctors and hearing about their lives, and their work, has been comforting,” she added. “If they’re out there doing this, we can do it too.”
The Healthcare Today Engaged Learning Community
Furman’s first-year students can immerse themselves in interdisciplinary topics through Learning Communities, connecting with faculty, staff, alumni, and community partners. The Healthcare Today program specifically enrolls students in a First-Year Writing seminar focused on a medical topic, fostering a community of students with a shared interest in medicine. This extends beyond the classroom with real-world perspectives from healthcare professionals at partners like Prisma Health System.
This innovative approach contributes to Furman’s impressive medical school acceptance rates – currently 100% for seniors applying in the 2025-2026 academic year, significantly above the national average.
Preparing Future Healthcare Leaders
T.J. Banisaukas, director of pre-professional advising and chief health careers advisor, explains, “This program is designed to expose them to a breadth of healthcare fields, but no matter what type of medicine you go into the competencies and skill often overlap.”
Dr. Siffri was impressed by the students’ enthusiasm and fearlessness. He emphasized that these qualities are crucial, especially in the competitive world of medical school. “You have to love what you do,” he told them. “When I’m interviewing you, I want to know if you can take care of my patients, and I care about your enthusiasm and integrity.”
Students engaged Dr. Siffri in discussions about burnout prevention, the pros and cons of hospital systems versus private practice, and his own journey into medicine. He shared his background, having studied biology at Furman before attending the Medical University of South Carolina, emphasizing his desire to give back to the institution that laid his foundation.
Avery Columbus, a health science and Spanish major from Boston, reflected, “It was inspiring to see an alumnus so successful and loving his career. It was nothing like what I’d ever expect to do coming in as a first-year undergraduate student, and it’s a reminder that even though our courses might be rigorous, people do make it and it’s a rewarding track to be on.”
Furman University
3300 Poinsett Highway
Greenville, SC 29613
864.294.2000
Furman University does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, pregnancy, disability, age, religion, veteran status, or any other characteristic or status protected by applicable local, state, or federal law in admission, treatment, or access to, or employment in, its programs and activities.
