SC AHEC Excellence Awards: Preceptor of the Year

The South Carolina AHEC Preceptor of the Year Award recognizes unwavering commitment to health professions students’ clinical education. This award distinguishes an outstanding community-based preceptor serving South Carolina health professions students. Each year, practitioners volunteer to provide hours of clinical education to students from various professions. It is their dedication to the education of the next generation of health professionals that we honor with this award. This year’s Preceptor of the Year is Ms. Darlene Fludd, FNP. 

As a student, Ms. Fludd participated in the South Carolina Rural Interdisciplinary Program of Training (SCRIPT) with Lowcountry AHEC, and now she serves as preceptor for their students as well as students from Pee Dee AHEC. Ms. Fludd has been employed at St. James-Santee Family Health Center as a nurse practitioner since 2014 and has been very involved in health professions student training, primarily with nurse practitioner students. Every semester, she willingly and gladly volunteers to take students. She is a very caring and compassionate practitioner, providing a quality learning experience for her students. Likewise, the students thoroughly enjoy working with her. She possesses an unwavering commitment to the health professions students’ clinical education. Ms. Fludd exemplifies the very best in what it means to be an outstanding preceptor.

One of Ms. Fludd’s students explained the impact of her teaching:

As a preceptor, Mrs. Fludd demonstrates an interest and ability to teach, as well as exhibits passion in her practice area. She encourages me to expand my knowledge in rural health care and the community that she is working with. She also encourages me to participate in patient care and ask questions that involves critical thinking skills. As a preceptee, I found very fortunate have Mrs. Fludd as my preceptor.

Thank you, Ms. Fludd, for all of your hard work and dedication!