Gail Lott (left) and James Edinger, DO, stand in front of the VCOM-Carolinas main building, which now bears their names.
VCOM-Carolinas has named its main educational building in honor of a transformational $8 million gift from G. Gail Lott, MEd, and James R. Edinger, DO. The gift, made possible by the donation of the couple’s beachfront home, marks the largest gift in the college’s history. Their generosity will significantly enhance the college’s ability to provide high-quality medical education at its Carolinas campus.
“This gift of their beachfront house is not just a property donation; it's an investment in people, education, and healthier communities,” said John G. Rocovich Jr., chairman of the VCOM Board of Directors, during the June naming ceremony.
The couple had esteemed careers at Orangeburg Regional Hospital, where they met in 1981. Lott—a native of Blackville, South Carolina, a small, rural agricultural community—had a remarkable 40-year career at the hospital, where she served as supervisor of the Blood Bank, Donor Center, and Transfusion Services. During her time there, she demonstrated unwavering commitment to patient care and clinical excellence.
“We are thrilled to support VCOM-Carolinas in its mission to educate future physicians,” said Edinger. “This investment reflects our belief in the transformative power of education and our dedication to empowering health care professionals to serve our community with excellence.”
Dr. Edinger, originally from Reading, Pa., earned his undergraduate degree from Albright College in 1973 and his medical degree from Des Moines University College of Osteopathic Medicine in 1976. He completed a rotating osteopathic internship at Metropolitan Hospital in Philadelphia and a four-year residency in diagnostic radiology at Duke University Medical Center, becoming the first DO to train at Duke in any specialty.
Certified by the American Board of Radiology, Edinger practiced as a diagnostic radiologist at Orangeburg Regional Hospital from 1981 to 1998, reading a lifetime of images during those 17 years. He also served for 10 years on the South Carolina Board of Medical Examiners, contributing to the advancement of medical standards and professional oversight in the state.
The couple shares a deep commitment to rural health care and underserved communities in South Carolina. Though now retired, they remain passionate about improving medical education and health outcomes in the state.
This remarkable couple approaches everything they do with passion and purpose—their love of the outdoors and hiking, their devotion to animals and nature, and their enthusiastic pursuit of building an extensive collection of bronze sculptures. Their home reflects their love of art and antiques, and their gift reflects their belief in accessible healthcare.
“We are thrilled to support VCOM-Carolinas in its mission to educate future physicians,” said Edinger. “This investment reflects our belief in the transformative power of education and our dedication to empowering health care professionals to serve our community with excellence.”
“This gift is more than a financial contribution,” said Dr. Matthew Cannon, dean of VCOM-Carolinas. “It is a profound investment in our medical students, in our graduates who practice medicine in South Carolina, and in improving access to health care across the state.”
Their donation will establish:
- The G. Gail Lott, MEd, and James R. Edinger, DO Educational Building, a 70,000-square-foot facility on VCOM’s 20-acre campus in downtown Spartanburg. The building includes lecture halls, a state-of-the-art anatomy lab, physical exam and osteopathic manipulative medicine training labs, a library, and student study and lounge spaces. The Simulation and Technology Center features high-fidelity human simulators, standardized patient rooms, surgical and ICU suites, radiology simulation, and more.
- The G. Gail Lott, MEd, and James R. Edinger, DO Endowed Scholarship Fund, which will provide four need-based scholarships annually to South Carolina students committed to practicing in rural or medically underserved areas.
- The G. Gail Lott, MEd, and James R. Edinger, DO Educational Building and Campus Beautification Endowment Fund, which will support ongoing maintenance and aesthetic improvements to the campus.
- The G. Gail Lott, MEd, and James R. Edinger, DO Nutrition Endowed Fund, which will support nutrition education, research, and public health initiatives addressing issues such as obesity and diabetes.
Lott and Edinger are dedicated philanthropists, making significant gifts to other communities that matter to them. They established a scholarship fund for medical students affiliated with Park Road Presbyterian Church in Wyomissing, Pennsylvania, and contributed to the Dr. Reed P. Rice Fund at Duke University in honor of the former head of gastrointestinal radiology.
“Giving back to others has been ingrained in my husband and me by our parents,” said Lott. “Jim and I have been deeply blessed, and we believe in giving back while we are still living. “We are both very frugal and conservative, which has allowed us to be generous with our blessings.”
“This gift is more than a financial contribution,” said Dr. Matthew Cannon, dean of VCOM-Carolinas. “It is a profound investment in our medical students, in our graduates who practice medicine in South Carolina, and in improving access to health care across the state.”
Dr. Dixie Tooke-Rawlins, president of VCOM, also expressed her gratitude: “Your names will forever be woven into the identity of our medical school—on the building that bears your names, in the lives of students who otherwise may not have had a path to a medical degree, and in the countless patients who will one day be cared for by the doctors trained in these halls.”
The couple’s legacy of leadership, education, and service will inspire future generations of health care professionals. Their generosity will help VCOM-Carolinas continue its mission to educate physicians who serve in rural and underserved communities across South Carolina.
