This SCETV special documentary reviews the life and accomplishments of Dr. Hilla Sheriff, MD and includes interviews, photos, footage and commentary of her peers. Born in South Carolina, Hilla dreamed early on of becoming a doctor. At the age of 19, she was one of 3 women enrolled at the Medical College of Charleston where she received her M.D. in 1926. She trained further as a resident in pediatrics and upon returning in 1929, she went into private practice in pediatrics in Spartanburg, South Carolina.
It was quite a time to start a medical practice as The Great Depression of 1929 worsened the health prospects for many, particularly for the marginalized and those in the rural South. As diseases like pellagra, malaria, diphtheria, smallpox, syphilis, and whooping cough were spreading among the poor and in the mill communities, Dr. Sheriff was called to action. She included a nutritionist in her roving program for the poor in the Upstate, and with improved diet, sanitation and vaccination against diseases, she was able to improve the lot of countless families.
The numbers for maternal death rates in South Carolina was one of the worst in the nation, and the infant mortality rate was very high. Roosevelt’s New Deal in 1941, earmarked money for maternal and child health care throughout the state, including that for handicapped children. To meet the needs of the rural South, Dr. Sheriff expanded the midwife program with training of the midwives conducted at Penn Center on Helena Island by Maude Callen, Certified Nurse Midwife. During her career, Dr. Sheriff instigated improvements to pre- and postnatal maternity care, including family planning practices in the latter. As of 1974, the high maternal mortality rate had been substantially reduced. While the infant mortality rate had dropped somewhat, more was needed and to do this, Dr. Sheriff started the first neonatal care unit specifically for preemies in South Carolina.
Her positions included being a Health Officer in Spartanburg County and being the Director of the Board of Health's Division of Maternal and Child Health in Columbia, South Carolina. She became one of the most respected medical officials in the twentieth century, achieving many awards for her accomplishments. Dr. Sheriff and her husband never had children, but she considered herself "Mama to everyone."
Side Notes
- Saving Mom - Palmetto Perspectives, March 20, 2025. South Carolina ranks eighth nationally for maternal mortality. These deaths can result from complications related to pregnancy or its management.
- Pregnancy and Postpartum Health in South Carolina 2020. South Carolina ranks 8th highest for maternal mortality in the United States. The state’s Pregnancy-Related Mortality Ratio for 2020 was 32.3 pregnancy-related deaths per 100,000 live births with majority occurring in the post-partum period.
- The South Carolina Maternal Morbidity and Mortality Review Committee results 2025 (SCMMMRC)
