Six first-year Honors students are part of the 12th cohort of the Accelerated Undergraduate to M.D. program. Miles Britton, Joseph George, Nikhil Giddaluri, Muskaan Judge, Kavya Patel and Saanvi Sooda are participating in this “fast track” program in the South Carolina Honors College.
What it is
The highly selective academic program allows students to receive their undergraduate
degree from the Honors College, immediately followed by their medical degree from
the University of South Carolina Kay and C. Edward Floyd, M.D. School of Medicine.
Students complete all pre-medicine and Honors degree requirements in three years,
in addition to a significant research and thesis component. They begin medical school
during the fourth year of the program.
Candidates are invited to apply after they have submitted applications to the university
and the Honors College. After a rigorous review, which includes an additional application
and interview with the Floyd School of Medicine, selected students accept their seat
in the cohort prior to their first semester on campus. The Accelerated Undergraduate
to M.D. program is amongst the most rigorous and challenging undergraduate programs
at the university.
Meet the 2026 Cohort
Miles Britton
Miles Britton, from Conover, North Carolina, was drawn to the field of medicine because
of his grandmother, her career as a physician and dementia diagnosis. He volunteered
at a local community hospital in an effort to follow in her footsteps. “In the E.R.,
patients suffering from dementia always hit me the hardest, reminding me of my grandmother
and giving me a deeper sense of responsibility physicians carry during their patient’s
most vulnerable moments,” he shared. He worked closely with a rural family physician
and was impressed with his decorum, how he greeted each patient by name, managed an
array of cases and frequently went above and beyond to be there for them. This showed
him that even in busy settings you can still know the person behind the chart.
Miles is still exploring his plans after medical school, with current interests in
surgery and research to develop a better understanding of the policies surrounding
the field. “Over the next seven years, I look forward to continuing my passion for
learning and remaining open to the areas of medicine that interest me the most.”
Joseph George
Joseph George, from Fort Mill, South Carolina, fully committed to the idea of a career
in medicine during the summer before his sophomore year of high school when he decided
to shadow an E.R. doctor. “I was permitted 40 hours to shadow. That is 40 hours to
decide whether being a doctor was, at the very least, worth considering. And it was,”
he said. During his experience, he was able to see testing and diagnostics happen
in real time. He also admired the pace of the environment and practitioners’ abilities
to solve problems quickly, but the patient interactions and impactful relationship
building is what he adored.
After medical school, Joseph plans to stay in South Carolina, conduct research and
contribute to the progression of scientific advancements in medicine. While cardiology
is his interest, he is looking forward to using the next seven years to explore.
Nikhil Giddaluri
Nikhil Giddaluri, from Chattanooga, Tennessee, discovered a passion for interacting
with others and understanding their unique perspectives. During a class trip to Cuba
his junior year of high school, he noticed the lack of accessible healthcare in the
country. In tandem, he observed how local physicians showed a significant amount of
care to their patients, understanding that a routine appointment could be life changing.
He shared, “I always knew in the back of my mind that I wanted to be a physician.
However, this experience showed the necessity of compassionate professionals.” After
this, he realized he wanted to be that person; the one who serves their community
by showing care and empathy for each patient.
While Nikhil considers his future plans, he is currently interested in oncology because
it is constantly evolving. “I like continuous learning and the rapid pace of new research
in oncology makes it an incredibly appealing field,” he said. He is excited to explore
the different options at the University of South Carolina before making his final
decision.
Muskaan Judge
Muskaan Judge, from Sumter, South Carolina, has always been interested in the why,
how and biological processes of the human body. “Consequently, medicine has always
intrigued me for its wonderful blend of science, art and humanity,” she said. Prior
to enrolling at the university, she volunteered with Prisma Health and witnessed the
struggles of those navigating chronic illnesses, barriers to specialty care and the
realities of socioeconomic disparities. Her experiences volunteering, and later in
research and job shadowing, influenced her current ambition to bridge the gap in the
accessibility of healthcare.
In the Accelerated Undergraduate to M.D. program, Muskaan is excited to explore various
specialties. “Regardless of my decision, I am determined to become a service-oriented,
compassionate physician and be in a position to advocate for equitable access on a
broader scale.”
Kavya Patel
Kavya Patel, from Simpsonville, South Carolina, became interested in a career in medicine
when her mother introduced her to the Circle of Willis. While flipping through an
old textbook from her time training to be a CT/MRI technologist, she stopped to show
Kavya what may be described as a tangle of arteries. However, Kavya traced the image
to find that it formed a perfect circle. “I felt fascinated by the complexity of the
human body. It was as if I was looking at a whole new world, and that feeling never
left,” she said. As she got older and started to explore the medical profession, other
conversations, often related to biology, began to stand out. Kavya found herself learning
about communities living with health disparities and mistrust of research that excluded
them or misrepresented their experiences. From learning to seeing it for herself during
her EMT clinicals, this is what truly drew her to a career in medicine.
Kavya hopes to treat not just the person, but their circumstances too. She is excited
to join this cohort and explore different specialties during medical school. “I am
very drawn to neuroscience and eager to conduct research throughout undergraduate
and medical school.”
Saanvi Sooda
Saanvi Sooda, from Glen Allen, Virginia, notes that her interest in medicine stems
from an unlikely place: her part-time job as a dining room server in a senior living
home. She grew close with the residents, learned their usual orders, and listened
to the stories from their past. Over time, she began to see a change in some of the
residents she had come to know. “Residents who once approached me with a hug had forgotten
my face and now stared at me blankly,” she shared. Observing their health decline
called her closer to the field of medicine, and it is her hope that she can assist
in the care and rehabilitation of others like them.
Saanvi will be the first physician in her family. After medical school, her goal is
to practice in the Midlands. Her summers spent in India have also shown her the difference
of healthcare in marginalized communities. It is because of this she also intends
to assist underserved and rural communities, improving the accessibility of healthcare.
Only Honors students are eligible for the Accelerated Undergraduate to M.D. program
and are invited to apply during their senior year of high school. Anyone interested
in learning more should contact Elizabeth Leverette, M.Ed., the Accelerated Undergraduate to M.D. program manager.
