Fueled by philanthropy, Point-of-Care Ultrasound Program makes waves at Children’s Hospital
Prisma Health Children’s Hospital-Midlands received an unprecedented investment in its Point-of-Care Ultrasound (POCUS) program in February – a $450,000 gift to Prisma Health Midlands Foundation from Kelly Willenberg. The gift from Willenberg, a passionate supporter of Children’s Hospital in both the Midlands and Upstate, has allowed Children’s Hospital to fast-track equipment purchases and continue to build an endowment fund for the program.
Willenberg became familiar with the program several years ago through her son-in-law, pediatric hospitalist Duncan Norton, MD, who leads the POCUS program.
“Thanks to Kelly and other donors, we’re able to equip and train our team at a much faster pace than we would otherwise,” Norton said.
New purchases include: four handheld wireless ultrasounds, a dedicated unit for pediatric rheumatology and a dedicated unit for Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, dramatically increasing the number of providers who can access POCUS to provide rapid, non-invasive care at the bedside.
Norton noted that the hospital’s focus on growing POCUS over the last three years helped attract pediatric intensivist Kris Dixon, MD, and pediatric hospitalist Kevin Weinberger, DO, who both joined the Children’s Hospital team in 2024. Willenberg met Dr. Dixon and Dr. Weinberger when she visited the hospital in December.
“I had the opportunity to hear the physicians share their vision for Children’s Hospital as a leading institution and a valuable resource for other hospitals. It was truly inspiring,” Willenberg said.
Her grandchildren, under the age of 10, four in Greenville and three in Columbia, are a driving factor in her decision to give.
“I want my grandchildren and all children to have access to the very best care. As someone immersed in the healthcare field, I understand the immense resources required to develop programs like this—resources that children’s hospitals often lack easy access to,” Kelly noted.
Having this level of philanthropic support is a dream for Children’s Hospital.
“This is the kind of gift that will impact generations of providers. It means better care for children today and in the future as more of our trainees and physicians become experts in use of POCUS,” said Caughman Taylor, MD, Senior Medical Director.
Thank you, Kelly, for your investment in Children’s Hospital.