Dr Vicki Tatum

Dr. Tatum is a native South Carolinian, born in Anderson, SC. She has lived in many places in North and South Carolina and a few in Virginia. Her father, Jack Tatum, worked in the textile industry after graduating from Clemson University. When Dr. Tatum was 12 years old, she had her braces put on and her love for dentistry began. From that age, she knew she wanted to be a dentist and never strayed from that goal. During high school in Rutherfordton, NC, Vicki was nominated for The North Carolina School of Science and Math (NCSSM). She was chosen to go there and be a part of the first graduating class of this new, innovative, public boarding school. Upon graduating from NCSSM, she received a full academic scholarship to attend Wofford College. She matriculated from Wofford with a BS in Math, graduating Summa Cum Laude and was chosen for Phi Beta Kappa. Two weeks after graduation she entered The Medical University of SC (MUSC). Starting in the summer of 1986, Vicki entered the Class of 1990, College of Dental Medicine, MUSC. She graduated from there second in her class and was chosen for Omicron Kappa Upsilon (OKU). After graduation from Dental School, Dr. Tatum decided to attend Emory University for a 1-year general practice residency. She was trying to make a decision about whether to go into practice as a general dentist or an oral surgeon. After the year at Emory, spending much time working in the hospital and with the oral surgery residents, she decided to go into private practice as a general dentist.