Madeline Brooks
palmettoreport@gmail.com

(Rock Hill, S.C.) — The only staff psychiatrist at Winthrop University has recently left the school, which could leave some students without affordable access to healthcare or medication.

Jackie Concodora, director of health and counseling services at Winthrop, said the resignation of Dr. Aiko McGlynn came as a surprise.

“We were greatly distressed by Dr. McGlynn’s resignation because of the interruption in care for our students,” said Concodora. “York County has very few psychiatrists and it is a significant issue for the entire community.”

Concodora did not wish to state the reason for McGlynn’s departure.

While the health and counseling department looks to hire a replacement, its therapists are trying to give students referrals to other nearby psychiatrists, according to Dr. Gretchen Baldwin, a counselor at Winthrop.

However, this could be problematic, because new patients often must wait weeks to be seen by a new doctor.

“It’s horrible,” said Mackenzie Sprott, a sophomore exercise science major from Mount Pleasant, S.C. “These students need their prescriptions.”

Cost is another concern, considering students were only required to pay $20 per visit to the in-house psychiatrist.

According to Amwell, a website that specializes in connecting doctors and patients, a visit to a psychiatrist can cost hundreds of dollars for an initial consultation and around $100 for each following visit.

“I told my parents about what happened and they said they just couldn’t afford it,” said Erika Roth, a junior mass communication major from Lexington, S.C. “I have no idea what I’m going to do when my prescription runs out.”

In the meantime, according to Concodora, students are being referred to either the Saluda Counseling Center in Rock Hill or the Catawba Community Mental Health Center, which offers services in York, Chester and Lancaster counties.

Concodora said her department is also actively looking for another provider in order to have a new contact for Winthrop students.