The History and Legacy of Dr. Edward E. McClaren

The Urban League of the Upstate is proud to carry Dr. Edward E. McClaren’s legacy forward. McClaren’s life’s work provided critical medical services to Black residents during an era of segregation and laid the early groundwork for equitable healthcare access in South Carolina.

Born in Abbeville County, South Carolina, Dr. McClaren earned his medical degree from Howard University. He began his career in Greenville at the Working Benevolent Hospital, one of the few facilities where Black patients could receive care at the time. In 1948, when the hospital closed, Dr. McClaren knew his patients still needed care, and a year later, he opened The McClaren Medical Shelter. Located on Wardlaw Street, this small but mighty hospital provided top-tier healthcare to African American patients who were otherwise denied admission to white-only hospitals.

This nine-room facility offered surgeries, care during childbirth, and inpatient care. In its five years of operation, the McClaren Medical Shelter treated over 1,000 in-patients, delivered over 200 infants, and performed countless surgeries. Dr. McClaren’s facility provided a level of care previously denied to Black patients in the region, drastically improving health outcomes for the community.

Today, Dr. McClaren’s legacy lives on through the work of the McClaren Institute for Health & Quality of Life, a division of the Urban League of the Upstate. The McClaren Institute focuses on addressing modern healthcare disparities by tackling the five social determinants of health: access to education, healthcare quality, neighborhood conditions, social and community contexts, and economic stability.

The Institute is housed in the historic McClaren Medical Shelter building, which our community advocates saved from demolition and preserved. This space honors Dr. McClaren’s work and serves as a hub for programs designed to improve the health outcomes for underserved communities throughout the Upstate. From scholarships to aspiring healthcare professionals to community health programs, the Institute aims to ensure everyone has access to quality healthcare.

At the Urban League of the Upstate, we are honored to continue building on Dr. McClaren’s legacy by offering initiatives that empower our future healthcare professionals. One example of these initiatives is the McClaren AHEC Scholars Program, which prepares high school students from underrepresented backgrounds for careers in healthcare. These students can engage in a thorough curriculum, hands-on learning experiences, and mentorship opportunities to help equip them to become our healthcare leaders of tomorrow.

In the words of our President and CEO, Dr. Gail Wilson Awan, “We need this group of diverse students to enter the medical field in our state—and hopefully even back home in the Upstate.”

Dr. McClaren’s commitment to his community is a powerful and inspiring reminder of the effect one person can have. The McClaren Institute and The Urban League of the Upstate are committed to continuing Dr. McClaren’s mission by promoting health equity and creating opportunities for young people to pursue their dreams.