About
Dr. Angel Rochester completed her undergraduate studies at the University of Florida, earning a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry. She initially pursued a career in chemistry before transitioning to medicine. Her interest in both science and leadership led her to earn a Master of Business Administration from the University of South Carolina. During this time, she was also awarded a patent for textile innovation.
Dr. Rochester later earned her medical degree from the Medical University of South Carolina College of Medicine in 2003. She completed the Emergency Medicine Residency Program at Carolinas Medical Center in 2006.
Since completing her residency, Dr. Rochester has practiced in Greenville. She currently serves as the System Medical Director for Quality for the Department of Emergency Medicine at Prisma Health Upstate. In this role, she has been actively involved in advancing stroke, trauma, and cardiac care initiatives across the health system.
With a strong commitment to patient care and emergency medicine, Dr. Rochester’s additional professional interests include stroke care and women’s health.
How their research is transforming health care
Healthcare research is an essential, multifaceted journey, composed of both large transformative leaps and incremental steps. Regardless of the path taken, research has the power to make a profound difference in the lives of communities and individuals. Currently, I am focused on improving women's health and reproductive care through the Emergency Department (ED).
Reproductive health remains an uneven and complex landscape for women, often difficult to navigate due to socio-economic, cultural, and system barriers.
One of the key interventions in my research is to educate emergency medicine physicians—who, for many women of reproductive age, may be the only point of contact with the healthcare system. By equipping these physicians with the knowledge and skills necessary to address reproductive health concerns regardless of the presenting complaint. Together, we can create a more supportive, informed, and accessible environment for women and their reproductive healthcare. The goal is not only to improve the quality of care and to empower women, giving them control over their own healthcare decisions and pathways. I was awarded a grant from Prisma OBGYN to advance education in contraception for emergency medicine for 2026.
Currently, I have a scoping review article (with USCCOMG medical students) and a case report (with Gastroenterology Fellows) that has been submitted for publication. As a SOARing Mentor for USCCOMG, we have presented Prisma Health Education and Research Institute Showcases, which we won one of two. I am eager to become involved with Clemson student research.
Health research keywords
Women’s Health, Reproductive Health, Contraception
