by Kathryn Dover

Presbyterian College alumnus Dr. Harry E. Hicklin ’14, a physician specializing in cardiovascular medicine at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, recognizes that PC helped him get to where he is today.

Dr. Harry E. Hicklin ’14

“I had a great experience at PC,” Hicklin said. “I appreciated the close relationships that could be developed with the professors in a smaller environment and how easily accessible they always were if I had questions or concerns.”

During his four years at PC, Hicklin enjoyed the benefits of being at a small, liberal arts college. He majored in biology with a minor in chemistry, but he recalls that his English classes with Dr. Dean Thompson were some of the highlights of his PC experience.

“I always enjoyed my time with Dr. (Michael) Rischbieter in plant taxonomy and paleontology,” he said. “During my senior year, I took microbiology with Dr. John Inman; Dr. Inman was a wonderful mentor to me during my time at PC. I very much appreciate all that Dr. Inman and Dr. Thompson did for me during my time there.”

However, Hicklin admits that, despite his father, grandfather, and great-grandfather being PC alumni, PC was not his first choice.

“I attended the University of South Carolina for my freshman year but quickly realized that I wanted to be at a smaller school with a more close-knit environment,” he said. “I also knew that PC had a longstanding history of preparing students to be strong candidates for medical school, so it seemed like the right place for me.”

Indeed, PC prepared Hicklin for his future endeavors. After graduation, he attended medical school at the University of South Carolina School of Medicine-Greenville from 2014-2018. Then, he completed a residency in internal medicine at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem, N.C., in 2021. This position led him to being awarded a fellowship in cardiovascular disease at Wake Forest.

“In addition to meeting many great friends and making wonderful memories, my time at PC prepared me very well for medical school,” Hicklin said. “Though I was confident in my career aspirations coming into PC, the professors and coursework prepared me to be successful in achieving my early professional goals.”

Hicklin is currently finishing his second year of the cardiology fellowship and will be the Chief Cardiology Fellow for the upcoming year.

“I will finish my general cardiology fellowship in 2024 and then will stay at Wake Forest for an additional year of fellowship in interventional cardiology,” he said. “Following this, I hope to be able to stay in the area and practice in North or South Carolina.”