John Whitcomb, director and chief academic nursing officer of the Clemson University School of Nursing, has been appointed to the South Carolina Board of Nursing by Governor Henry McMaster. Whitcomb appeared before the Senate Medical Affairs Committee for a confirmation hearing on April 4. His confirmation will be presented to the entire Senate in the coming weeks.
As part of the South Carolina Department of Labor and Labor Licensing Regulation (LLR), the South Carolina Board of Nursing prioritizes public health and safety by ensuring the safe and ethical practice of nursing statewide. In his role on the board, Whitcomb will respresent South Carolina’s 3rd Congressional District.
According to Leslie Hossfeld, dean of the College of Behavioral, Social and Health Sciences (CBSHS), Whitcomb is an exceptional leader whose career contributions to the field of nursing and dedication to the development of competent nursing professionals make him an excellent fit for this position.
“Dr. Whitcomb is a valuable asset to the School of Nursing and CBSHS, and his extensive experience and expertise will help elevate the Board of Nursing’s important work across our state,” said Hossfeld. “I am confident he will make a positive difference in the lives of South Carolina nursing professionals and the communities they serve through his position on this esteemed board.”
Prior to his appointment to the board, Whitcomb served on the Board of Nursing’s Investigational Review Committee (IRC) for seven years. The IRC reviews cases of misconduct in professional nursing and determines if disciplinary action is necessary. He also serves as chair of the South Carolina Deans and Directors Nursing Education Council that comprises 46 registered nursing (RN) programs throughout the state. Additionally, South Carolina has 20 licensed practical nursing (LPN) programs. The Board of Nursing supervises all 66 academic programs along with practicing LPNs, RNs and advanced practice registered nurses (APRN) across the state.
Whitcomb said his time with the IRC and knowledge of the Board of Nursing’s goverance over academic nursing programs inspired him to pursue a seat on the board.
“It is an honor and a privilege to serve my state and my profession in this role – and to represent the School of Nursing, CBSHS and Clemson University in a new, meaningful way,” said Whitcomb. “I look forward to drawing from my past experiences, knowledge and understanding of the nursing profession to advance the board’s mission to protect the public through the practice of safe and ethical nursing.”
Whitcomb earned a Ph.D. in nursing from the University of San Diego and a master’s degree in in critical care nursing, nursing administration and health services from Marymount University. He earned a bachelor’s degree in nursing from the Medical University of South Carolina.
He is a 26-year veteran of the United States Navy where he served as a hospital corpsman and Navy nurse before retiring as a commander in 2009. He has served as a specialty advisor to the Surgeon General in critical care nursing and a trauma training officer for the White House Medical Unit.
Whitcomb has been with the University since 2009 and is the first male nurse in the Clemson School of Nursing – and the only male nurse in the state of South Carolina – to hold this position.
The School of Nursing is a part of the College of Behavioral, Social and Health Sciences. Established in July 2016, CBSHS is a 21st-century, land-grant college that combines work in seven disciplines – communication; nursing; parks, recreation and tourism management; political science; psychology; public health sciences; sociology, anthropology and criminal justice – to further its mission of “building people and communities” in South Carolina and beyond.
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