McLeod Health Clarendon doctor awarded

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McLeod Health physician Dr. Clarence Coker was recently honored with the 2018 Pioneer Award from the South Carolina Office of Rural Health. The award was presented at the 22nd-Annual Rural Health Conference in Myrtle Beach on Oct. 10.

The Pioneer Award was established by SCORH in 1998, the inaugural year of its rural health conference. It is to acknowledge and recognize individuals who have spent their careers, their life's work, serving one community.

Dr. Coker began his career in medicine more than 51 years ago in Manning. He received a degree in Ceramic Engineering from Clemson University and then went on to serve his country in the U.S. Army, which led him to a career in medicine. Dr. Coker attended the Medical College of South Carolina, now the Medical University of South Carolina, where he studied Internal Medicine. Upon graduation, he moved straight to Manning and set up his practice, where he currently still sees patients.

"Dr. Coker is a living example of the McLeod Health mission and epitomizes the McLeod Health four core values in all that he does. The Value of Caring, the Value of Integrity, the Value of Quality and the Value of the Person. Dr. Coker has contributed 51 years of serving patients and the community. We are honored by his commitment," said Rachel Gainey, McLeod Health Clarendon administrator.

From the beginning, he strongly believed in the importance of building a personal relationship with his patients. In fact, Dr. Coker has seen many of his patients through their childhood, adolescence, adulthood and now even as senior adults. He remains incredibly committed to his work and describes himself as a "rural person"; he just feels most comfortable in a rural area. When not seeing patients, Dr. Coker enjoys serving in his church, especially singing in the choir; gardening; rooting for his Clemson Tigers; and spending time with his wife and their five children and 20 grandchildren.