Dr. Amanda Davis’ trajectory to Vice Chair of the SCMA’s Board of Directors started in 2018, when she became a representative for District 1. She had been involved with the Anderson County Medical Society since 2010, where she met the late Dr. Marshall Meadors.
Dr. Meadors knew Dr. Davis’ strengths and asked her to consider a leadership role with the SCMA.
“Like so many other people, I admired Dr. Meadors greatly,” said Dr. Davis. “His direct ask shifted my interest not only toward the SCMA, but to what was going on at the state level as well.”
“Until SCMA, I would not have described myself as a political person,” she added. “Now that I have experienced just how much legislation involves healthcare, I wish I had paid attention earlier. I’m impressed by how the SCMA responds to legislative policy and contributes its own vision to help doctors and patients.”
Each board member’s path to discovering how they fit into a group of impressive peers and what they bring to the SCMA is unique.
“As someone on the younger side and female, I was slightly intimidated at first,” said Dr. Davis. “I took in the wisdom around me. I came out of my introverted shell as I learned from wonderful mentors. I’m still learning, but I know how I can contribute.”
Dr. Davis prefers one-on-one conversations with people before and after board meetings rather than speaking a great deal in the big boardroom, she said.
Like all board members, her level of activism ebbs and flows with her work life and family life. She might write letters to members of the legislature during ebbs, and then, when her level of activism flows, she may attend legislative events to help the SCMA advance views.
“My role on the board is never overwhelming because the SCMA team, especially Holly Pisarik, is so strong and because so many other doctors contribute,” Dr. Davis explained.
She cherishes the opportunity to work with doctors with other specialties and differing opinions.
“A huge strength of the SCMA is that people from a variety of specialties come together,” said Dr. Davis. “We don’t all agree. We often have different political backgrounds, but we talk, we sometimes argue respectfully, and we come to solutions that help patients and doctors in South Carolina.”
A family medicine physician, Dr. Davis has been affiliated with the AnMed Medical Center in Anderson for 15 years.
Her commitment to patient care fuels her.
“I will always be there for my patients, whether they are going through hard times like losing a family member of celebrating their journey to better health and wellbeing,” said Dr. Davis. “There can be so much despair and lack of connectivity in the world, I want to be a bridge for them — a person to connect with and to advocate for them when they need me most.”
AT-A-GLANCE
Amanda S. Davis, MD
District 1
Medical Education: Medical College of Georgia
Internship: Lancaster General Hospital
Residency: Lancaster General Hospital
Certifications: American Board of Family Medicine
Learn More:
scmedical.org/about/leadership
