‘Whole experience was just wonderful’: Surgeon reflects on support, confidence he gained at SC State

Dr. William Long credits SC State with shaping his career and fueling his commitment to service and expanding opportunities in podiatric medicine.

ORANGEBURG, S.C. -- Dr. William Long reflects on his time at South Carolina State University with pride because the longstanding institution instilled in him a faith that he could excel at any level he chose.

The Spartanburg, S.C., native graduated from SC State in 1999 with a biology degree and never forgot the love and encouragement that Dr. Judith Salley, chair of SC State’s Department of Biological and Physical Sciences, poured into him and other students. 

Confidence, culture and preparation set the foundation

“It was just the confidence coming out of a historically Black college. I was a biology major with Dr. Salley. She always stressed to us that our degrees at SC State are just as good as any other degree. Her putting that confidence in me as I matriculated throughout my career just helped,” Long said. 

He has maintained a successful career as a podiatric surgeon who is the owner of Upstate Podiatry Group PA, a podiatry clinic specializing in foot and ankle care with eight offices across the Upstate, including Simpsonville, Spartanburg, Greer and Laurens.

Long said landing at SC State provided him with the fertile ground from which to build his skills.

“And just being around positive Black people. That was the main thing. My high school, Spartanburg High School, was probably 70 percent white. So a lot of times in my advanced classes, I’d be one of two or three Black people in the class,” he said.

Long said he was no longer considered an “exception to the rule” at SC State, where he felt welcomed and Black excellence surrounded him.

“That was amazing. That really was life transforming. My roommate was my high school valedictorian. I picked up things from him by watching his study habits. My whole experience was just wonderful, it really was,” he said. 

While at SC State, Long was also the recipient of the U.S. Coast Guard’s Minority Officer Recruiting Effort Scholarship.

“That was a full scholarship. Everything was taken care of, and that took a huge stress off my family,” he said.

Long received his Bachelor of Science degree in biology from SC State before serving eight years of active duty in the U.S. Coast Guard. While stationed in Charleston, South Carolina, Long was selected to supervise the Maritime Homeland Security Office Department in response to the horrific events of 9/11.

He later earned his Master of Arts from The Citadel and his Doctor of Podiatric Medicine from Temple University. Long completed his four-year foot and ankle residency at the University of Pennsylvania Presbyterian Medical Center before returning to the Upstate.

From student to surgeon: Giving back and leading change

It was a journey that has allowed him to give back to his community — and alma mater — in a number of ways.

“We try to donate every year. I truly believe in that. You have to lift as you climb and also remember where you came from. It was South Carolina State that provided the foundation. I always remembered what Dr. Salley said,” Long said.

“Once I transitioned into podiatry, I started working to get laws passed,” he said, including the passage of legislation that allows podiatric physicians to perform ankle surgery in South Carolina, which had been one of a few remaining states that had not allowed such procedures.

“I became the first podiatrist to do ankle surgery in South Carolina,” said Long, who is also on the American Podiatric Medical Association Board of Trustees.

The physician has worked on that national platform to increase student recruitment among historically Black colleges and universities.

Part of that effort helped land him at SC State on March 2 for a Discover Podiatric Medicine seminar, a project that introduced students to the podiatry field through a partnership between SC State and Temple University’s School of Podiatric Medicine. 

“We have a really big push to recruit now from historically Black colleges. We need to because I promise you that the majority of the Blacks that are in podiatry that are doing great graduated from an HBCU,” Long said.

“We’ve even discussed to the point where we may try to open up the first historically Black podiatric medical school. We may do this at Johnson C. Smith University. Their president, Dr. Valerie Kinloch, is open to it.

“That’s why I want to build that strong relationship at South Carolina State because that’s my alma mater. If we’re going to do a lot of things, we definitely need to pull South Carolina State in this, as well,” he said.

Long said being a podiatric surgeon provides an opportunity to make a difference in the communities he serves, particularly among African Americans, who tend to see higher amputation rates.

“I just think it’s our obligation as physicians to reach back. I’m not trying to get accolades for it. It’s about preventive medicine. I give my patients my personal cell phone. If they’re ever admitted to the hospital, or something going on, they can call me,” he said, noting that all it takes is one person to make an impact.

Investing in the future of SC State and health care

Long foresees a bright future for SC State.

“South Carolina State’s doing a great job right now. I’m loving the fact that I’m getting more mailers and things like that for donations,” the surgeon said.

“I love the fact that the campus is growing. That is a real thing. You want to have the facilities for the students, so I love seeing that. I definitely want to see more students going into medicine, specifically in podiatry, but, if not, just in medicine in general,” he said.

How will Long help support that?

 “I really think that we do better when we are seeing Black physicians as far as growth. Personally, I would love to have something where we can have scholarships for different podiatric medical schools that are specific to South Carolina State. That’ll be something that I’ll be working on,” Long said.