USCB Student Bridges Nursing and Communication Through Internship
A longstanding partnership between the ƹƵ Beaufort and the Good Neighbor Medical Clinic enables nursing students to connect classroom learning with meaningful community impact. This semester, Good Neighbor Medical Clinic helped USCB achieve a milestone.
Sand Shark Arianna Pee, the first USCB student to declare a double major in Nursing and Communication Studies, combined her passions for healthcare and effective communication by completing an internship at Good Neighbor Medical Clinic.
;“I wanted to find an internship that combined both of my career interests," Pee said. "This was perfect."
A nonprofit organization serving uninsured and low-income adults in Beaufort County, Good Neighbor Medical Clinic provides free primary medical care to residents who might otherwise go without essential health services. For years, the clinic across the street from Beaufort Memorial Hospital has served as a clinical training site for USCB nursing students, offering hands-on experience in community-based healthcare while addressing critical needs across the Lowcountry.
Reflecting USCB’s growing emphasis on interdisciplinary learning, the university's partnership with Good Neighbor Medical Clinic recently expanded through Pee's internship.
Pee, an Honors Student, spent about 10 weeks working two eight-hour shifts each week at the clinic as a volunteer supporting the clinic’s development and outreach efforts. The experience provided Pee with professional exposure in a setting closely connected to her educational and professional goals.
"We are a small staff and we told Arianna, 'Welcome! It's all hands on deck,'" said Gloria Duryea, executive director of the Good Neighbor Medical Clinic.
Living on the Bluffton campus, Pee commuted about 30 minutes to the clinic on the days she worked at her internship.
“This internship was important because I eventually want to become a healthcare communications specialist after retiring from bedside nursing,” she said. “In this role, I’ll be able to promote health, educate, and advocate for patients.”
Pee said she was 'surprised to learn how much of a powerhouse Good Neighbor was to the community."
Through outreach initiatives and community partnerships, Pee gained firsthand insight into how communication supports healthcare access, patient education, and long-term sustainability. With director of development Dana Bradley, she worked on Good Neighbor Medical Clinic's annual fundraising campaign, created content for social media about diabetes education, and made social media templates for future posts from the clinic.
“Some of the most fun experiences at my internship were doing outreach with different community partners,” Pee said.
Faculty members say the internship was a natural extension of USCB’s relationship with the clinic and a strong example of cross-disciplinary collaboration.
“Balancing two demanding majors is no small task, particularly within USCB’s rigorous Bachelor of Science in Nursing program. Arianna has shown remarkable resilience, hard work and passion to reach her academic goals,” said Dr. Jo Kuehn, Assistant Professor, Assessment and Outcomes coordinator, and Program Coordinator for Nursing Honors at USCB.
Balancing two demanding majors is no small task, particularly within USCB’s rigorous Bachelor of Science in Nursing program. Pee’s academic path also reflects a broader institutional focus on communication as an essential component of healthcare. The National Communication Association recognizes the inextricable relationship between communication and saving lives.
“Effective communication is the intersection of every aspect of healthcare,” said Dr. Jayne Violette, Professor of Communication Studies. “Nursing requires vast knowledge and applied skill coupled with excellent interpersonal communication to maximize patient care outcomes."
“At USCB,” Violette added, “faculty work together to ensure that our students are comfortable, confident, competent communicators, reflecting shared best practices articulated by our respective disciplines.”
By partnering with organizations like Good Neighbor Medical Clinic, USCB continues to provide high-impact learning opportunities that prepare students to lead, serve, and innovate at the intersection of healthcare and communication.
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CW 12/17/25