In September 2024, Urban League of the Upstate shared the story of Dr. Edward E. McClaren, whose work expanded healthcare access for Black residents of Greenville during segregation. Born in Abbeville County and educated at Howard University, he practiced at the Working Benevolent Hospital before establishing the McClaren Medical Shelter on Wardlaw Street in 1949.
Care When Access Was Denied
The ULUS account described a nine-room facility offering surgery, childbirth services, and inpatient care. It reported more than 1,000 inpatients treated and more than 200 babies delivered over five years. Those figures are preserved here as reported in the original historical account.
Carrying the Legacy Forward
The update connected the preservation of the Medical Shelter with the McClaren Institute for Health & Quality of Life. It highlighted community health programs and the McClaren AHEC Scholars pathway as ways to build on that legacy: helping people access resources while introducing students from underrepresented backgrounds to healthcare careers, learning experiences, and mentors.
Image from the original Urban League of the Upstate article
This story reflects ULUS’s published update from September 26, 2024. For current opportunities and availability, contact ULUS.
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