Dr. Rodney Reid launches DREAMS Foundation to address health and social issues
Dr. Rodney Reid retired from Dorn Veterans Affairs Medical Center as the longest serving Chief of Rheumatology in the 91-year history of the Columbia VA Health Care System (VAHCS) and the first and only African American to hold the position.
Born in 1961, in the segregated town of Salisbury, North Carolina, to Dr. Albert Reid and Catherine Shuford Reid, Dr. Rodney Reid credits his parents with his ambition, success and commitment to service by the examples they set for him early in life. Despite the challenges of a racially divided South, the Reid Family instilled a deep love of learning and self-confidence in their children.
“My parents would speak often of my grandparents’ dedication to hard work to earn money to support their families and encourage their children to become educated, despite being in a segregated society,” said Reid. “Throughout my childhood, my parents emphasized the importance of education to my sister, Dr. Yolanda Hunter, a Columbiabased dentist and owner of Northeast Family Dentistry, and me.”
Reflecting on his childhood, Dr. Reid recalls many examples that highlighted the character and work ethic of his family.
“Cars were expensive, so many family members walked to work because they had no car,” said Reid. “My paternal grandfather, Love Reid, worked loading freight cars for the railroad and walked over five miles each way to work—rain, sleet, or snow.
My maternal grandfather, Artis Shuford, worked in a rock quarry and the railroad for most of his career; and I do not recall either having a car.”
The lessons instilled in him by his father, Albert, pushed Dr. Reid to graduate from Keenan High School as valedictorian in 1979, and then enroll in Clemson University as a microbiology major where he would eventually meet his current wife, Demetra Nelson Reid.
At Clemson, Reid was one of 55 African Americans in a freshman class of more
than 2,500 students. Before that time, Clemson University had not admitted more than 40 black students in one admission cycle. Reid stuck to what he knew and exemplified leadership in- and outside the classroom. His dedication led to him receiving the Norris Medal Award, which was given to the best all-around graduating student who exemplified exceptional scholastic achievement and leadership ability.
Dr. Reid’s father, Albert, was the second African American general surgeon in the history of Columbia, South Carolina, and he inspired his son’s professional pursuits. Dr. Rodney Reid obtained his medical degree from Vanderbilt University and completed his internal medicine residency at The Cleveland Clinic. Subsequently, he moved to Houston, Texas, where he became the second African American to complete a rheumatology fellowship at Baylor College of Medicine.
Dr. Rodney Reid’s career at the Dorn VA was inspired by his commitment to the health of our nation’s heroes, as his father served our country proudly in the Korean War.
“I learned from my dad the unique set of health concerns related to the care of veteran patients and wanted to be on the front line of service for one of our most important communities,” says Reid.
During his tenure at the Columbia VAHCS, his career was marked by many accomplishments, accolades and
noteworthy recognitions. He was named the Dorn VA Man of the Year, Doctor of the Year of the Palmetto Medical, Dental, and Pharmaceutical Association, and received the University of South Carolina School of Medicine Dean’s Distinguished Service Award. Moreover, he was recognized for his long-standing commitment to medical education through support of the office of Minority Affairs and the Admissions at the UofSC School of Medicine.
After 31 years of dedicated service, Dr. Reid retired from daily patient care, but he has focused his efforts on a wider lens for greater positive impact — promoting quality medical care for the community at large. Along with his wife, Dr. Reid has founded the Demetra and Rodney Reid Educational and Medical Support (DREAMS) Foundation. Demetra, retired Vice President of Atkins Nuclear Secured and the daughter of South Carolina educators, shares the vision for a more equitable education and medical landscape.
The mission of the DREAMS Foundation is to provide gifted financial support to individuals or groups, institutions, research foundations, or non-profit establishments that support, advance, or enhance educational programs and medical research opportunities and investments. To date, the organization has supported several communitybased efforts with seed and programmatic funding and provided volunteer support.
The DREAMS Foundation has proudly gifted aid to medical research impacting cancer, women’s health and wellness, nutrition, and infant care. Additionally, the Foundation has provided support to organizations geared
toward poverty alleviation in relation to access to education and support for parent teacher partnerships in public schools. This Spring, the Foundation will launch an annual scholarship program geared towards supporting local high school seniors who display exceptional academic ability, intellectual curiosity and a need for monetary support to access higher education.
“Having been founded in honor of the legacy of our parents, we believe investing in medical research and education today will enhance the lives of tomorrow’s generation,” says Dr. Reid, who was recently appointed to the National Medical Association’s Board of Trustees.
Dr. Reid and his wife Demetra instill this legacy of academic excellence and community service in their five children. Their children Morgan Nelson Boykin (Quinton Boykin), Robert Reid and Arthur Nelson are graduates of Bennett College, Clemson University, Columbia University, The South Carolina School of Law and The University of Tennessee, respectively; while Patrick Reid and Rachel Reid attend Harvard University School of Business and Morehouse School of Medicine, respectively.
“There are so many disparities within health and education that ultimately lead to generations of inequality. I’m proud to play a role in connecting people to opportunities through my parents’ vision of the DREAMS Foundation,” says eldest daughter Morgan Nelson Boykin, who serves on the DREAMS Foundation Board of Directors. Dr. Reid maintains that his greatest joy comes from being a parent to his children and grandparent to Arlington Boykin.
