College of Medicine Leadership

Dr. Brandon E. Brown is a general and interventional cardiologist with MUSC Health Heart & Vascular. A graduate of Wofford College, he earned his medical degree at The University of South Carolina School of Medicine in Columbia, SC. His internal medicine residency was completed at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem, NC, and he completed his fellowship training in cardiovascular medicine at the Gill Heart Institute at the University of Kentucky Chandler Medical Center. Dr. Brown completed an additional year of fellowship training in Interventional Cardiology at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, Virginia.

Dr. Brown has 15 years experience in cardiovascular care, with special interest in management of coronary artery disease, complex coronary intervention, and preventive cardiology. He has extensive clinical research experience and places a high priority on practicing evidence-based medicine. Dr. Brown is a member of the American College of Cardiology and board certified in both Cardiovascular Medicine and Interventional Cardiology.

When not in the office, Dr. Brown enjoys spending time with his family, listening to music, playing golf and participating in CrossFit.

Dr. Alexei DeCastro completed his family medicine residency training at McLeod Health in Florence, South Carolina in 2005. He then served in the United States Air Force in both primary care and aerospace medicine at Barksdale AFB in Shreveport, Louisiana from 2005 to 2009. He deployed to Iraq in 2008 and served as the chief physician of the intermediate care ward in the busiest trauma center of the region. He still currently serves as a flight surgeon in the USAF Reserve at Joint Base Charleston. Additionally, he completed a sports medicine fellowship at the Southern Illinois School of Medicine in 2009. He then returned to Charleston, SC with his family and worked in urgent care prior to joining MUSC in 2012.

Dr. DeCastro has extensive training in the non-operative management of musculoskeletal problems, from acute injury through rehabilitation, and is trained in the use of musculoskeletal ultrasound for diagnostic and treatment purposes. His main areas of interest are sports medicine, sports-related concussions, musculoskeletal ultrasound, and medical education. He also serves as team physician for the Charleston Battery, Charleston RiverDogs, College of Charleston athletics, SC Stingrays, and tournament physician for professional tennis with the WTA at the Volvo Car Open.

Carol Feghali-Bostwick, Ph.D., Professor and Kitty Trask Holt S.C. SmartState® Endowed Chair for Fibrosis Research in the Division of Rheumatology & Immunology, has considerable experience with training and mentoring at many levels. Dr. Feghali-Bostwick is heavily involved in all aspects of graduate education. Her successful research program investigates mechanisms of fibrosis in scleroderma. She has active collaborations with Dr. Schnapp, including a MPI R01 and has co-edited a book on lung injury with Dr. Schnapp.

Dr. Feghali-Bostwick is well-funded, with a strong track record for industry collaborative research and an intellectual property portfolio with several patents and a licensed IP of an anti-fibrotic peptide that is being developed for human clinical trials. She holds or has held many extramural leadership positions in NIH study sections, professional and scientific societies, and editorial boards. Her mentorship skills are evidenced by her K24 award and serving as Director of ARROWS, an NSF-funded initiative for advancement of women scientists at MUSC, and Co-Director of the CTSA TL1 predoctoral training program and KL2 career development program, and Director of CTSA/SCTR Workforce Development. She has received several mentoring awards including most recently the 2018 MUSC Peggy Schachte Mentor Award.

Dr. Florez received his MD from the University of Zulia in Maracaibo, Venezuela, and his PhD and MPH from the University of Miami School of Medicine. Following his initial career as Professor of Public Health Sciences and Medicine at Miami, he recently joined MUSC as Chair of the Department of Public Health Sciences at MUSC and as a member of the Endocrinology Medical Service at the Robert H. Johnson Veterans’ Administration Medical Center in Charleston.

As a public health physician-scientist with training in Endocrinology and Geriatrics, the primary goal of Dr. Florez’s research efforts is to reduce the burden of chronic diseases and promote healthier aging through the implementation of best practices for prevention and management. He has a current focus on diabetes and cardiovascular disease. He is the national and international leader of projects focused on the role of genetics, gene-environment interactions, fitness promotion and pharmacological interventions using oral hypoglycemic agents in determining outcome in pre-diabetes and diabetes care. His studies in the VA system and in Latin America have been funded by the Pan American Health Organization, the American Heart Association, the International Diabetes Foundation, the VA National Center for Health Promotion & Disease Prevention, and the Center for Disease Control Prevention (CDC), as well as the NIH. As a member of the American Diaetes Association (ADA) Professional Practice committee, he leads national efforts to develop guidelines for diabetes management in older adults.

In addition to continuing his long-term research on diabetes disease mechanisms and, he will leverage his clinical and epidemiological expertise to analyze social determinants of health including the recent COVID-19 pandemic, and their impact on chronic disease care in the VA health system. These efforts will seek to coordinate clinical and quality improvement initiatives to reduce the burden of COVID-19 in older adults, particularly those with other pre-existing disease and in long-term care settings.

Dr. Christopher Goodier joined MUSC Health's Women's Care as a maternal-fetal medicine specialist in 2016. Dr. Goodier completed his undergraduate work at Clemson University. He went on to complete his medical school, residency and fellowship at the Medical University of South Carolina. Dr. Goodier's interests include obstetric anesthesia, medical complications of pregnancy and preterm birth prevention.

Marc Heincelman, M.D., MPH, is an associate professor of medicine at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC), where he serves as director of the Division of Hospital Medicine, co-vice chair for Quality Improvement in the Department of Medicine, and associate dean for Career Advising in the College of Medicine.

He earned his undergraduate degree in rehabilitation sciences and athletic training from the University of Pittsburgh. Following a two-year Intramural Research Training Award Fellowship at the NIH, he received his medical degree from Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine in 2010. He then completed a combined internal medicine/pediatrics residency at MUSC, serving as chief resident before joining the faculty in 2015.

In addition to his clinical work, Dr. Heincelman is actively involved in both undergraduate and graduate medical education at MUSC. He previously served the College of Medicine as a Master Clinical Skills Teacher for five years and is a current member of the Academy of Medical Educators. From 2016 to 2024, Dr. Heincelman served as Department of Medicine Clerkship Director and Sub-internship Director. In 2024, he was appointed Assistant Dean for Career Advising within the College of Medicine, later advancing to Associate Dean in 2025. Nationally, he is a member of both the Alpha Omega Alpha and Gold Humanism Honor societies.

As core faculty for the internal medicine and med-peds residency programs, his educational focus includes clinical reasoning and career planning.

Dr. Heincelman’s success in education has been recognized through receipt of multiple Golden Apple Clinical Years Excellence in Teaching Awards through the MUSC College of Medicine, the Department of Medicine Michael E. Assay Teaching Award, and the MUSC Teaching Excellence Award for Educator-Mentor.

From a quality improvement and research perspective, Dr. Heincelman has his Master of Public Health in Epidemiology. With over 30 publications, his research centers on interhospital transfers, clinical decision support tools, delirium, and tele-hospitalist support to rural hospitals with the overarching goal of improving inpatient patient care while optimizing clinician efficiency. Since 2021, he has been a co-investigator on a National Telehealth Center of Excellence grant funded by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA).

Jeanne Griffin Hill, M.D. is professor of radiology and pediatrics, division director of pediatric radiology, and director of medical student education for the Department of Radiology and Radiologic Science at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston, South Carolina. Dr. Hill received her BA from Duke University and M.D. from MUSC. She completed her diagnostic radiology residency training, served as chief resident, and completed pediatric radiology fellowship training at MUSC. She is board-certified by the American Board of Radiology and has earned two certificates of added qualification in pediatric radiology.

Among her awards and honors are membership in AOA, the National Medical Honor Society, and MUSC Radiology Department Golden Apple Award for Excellence in Teaching. She was also a finalist for the MUSC College of Medicine's Clinical Golden Apple Award for Excellence in Teaching. Dr. Hill has also been named among The Best Doctors in America, 2001 to 2015, one of America's Top Radiologists, and Who's Who Among America's Teachers.

Dr. Hill has published articles and abstracts in a variety of journals, including the American Journal of Radiology, Radiographics, Pediatric Radiology, Clinical Radiology, Pediatric Emergency Medicine, and Academic Medicine. She has received two RSNA education grants, served as an oral board examiner for the pediatric section of the American Board of Radiology and is a member of several scholarly societies including the American College of Radiology, the Radiological Society of North America, the American Roentgen Ray Society, the Society for Pediatric Radiology, and the Association of University Radiologists.

Dr. Hill is very active in the local community where she has worked in the public and private schools mentoring middle school and high school students interested in medical careers. She has served on the PTO of Charleston Catholic School, the Ashley Hall Foundation Board, and the School Improvement Council of Wando High School. In addition, her passions include general pediatric radiology and teaching medical students and residents about diagnostic radiology and pediatric imaging.

Dr. Kristen Hood Watson currently serves as Associate Dean for Clinical Education, where she oversees the clinical training experience for students in the College of Medicine. Prior to this, she served as Family Medicine Clerkship Director and Director of Medical Education for the Department of Family Medicine. Dr. Hood Watson formerly held another Dean's Office role as Assistant Dean for Resident Inclusion.

Dr. Hood Watson's passion for medical education began during residency, where she served as Chief Resident and completed the academic track, laying the foundation for a career dedicated to training future physicians. As faculty, she became actively engaged with the Society of Teachers of Family Medicine (STFM), completing the Medical Student Education Development Institute and demonstrating progressive leadership by serving as co-chair and then chair of the Conference on Medical Student Education. She further contributed to the organization's mission by serving on the steering committee for medical education. From an interdisciplinary perspective, Dr. Hood Watson has served on the Alliance for Clinical Education committee, collaborating across specialties to advance clinical teaching. This work has included a collaborative presentation at AAMC's Learn, Serve, Lead conference and serving as first author of a chapter in the Guidebook for Clerkship Directors.

Dr. Kern serves as the Senior Associate Dean for Medical Education with oversight of curriculum and assessment, program evaluation, quality improvement and accreditation, student affairs and admissions at the Charleston and AnMed medical school campuses. She also serves as the Assistant Dean for Patient Safety and Simulation with administrative oversight of the MUSC Health Care Simulation Center and the Center for Clinical Assessment and Teaching (CCAT). With 25 years of experience in medical student and interprofessional education, Dr. Kern has a strong interest in education innovation, education governance and the use of AI in teaching, learning and precision medical education.

Dr. Thomas Lewis is a clinical assistant professor of psychiatry at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC). He also completed his medical school and residency training in general psychiatry at MUSC. He then went on to complete an addiction psychiatry fellowship and a forensic psychiatry fellowship.

In his current role, Dr. Lewis is the attending physician on the addictions inpatient unit at the MUSC Institute of Psychiatry. He also serves as the forensic psychiatry fellowship director. Dr. Lewis has been recognized as an expert witness in forensic psychiatry by the South Carolina court of general sessions. He also conducts forensic evaluations and has provided psychiatric treatment to inmates within the South Carolina Department of Corrections.

Dr. Lewis is involved in organizational psychiatry. He is a South Carolina American Psychiatric Association Assembly representative and a national membership committee member. Dr. Lewis has also served as President of the South Carolina Psychiatric Association, the only state-wide association for psychiatric physicians in South Carolina, representing over 400 members.

Dr. Michael D. Moxley is an Obstetrician-Gynecologist who attended the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, VA., for both undergraduate and medical school. He completed his residency in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester, NY.

From the beginning, his career has been built on high-quality, compassionate, equitable, and respectful care for all. He ensures these values by maintaining several regional and national leadership positions. He is a member of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) Voluntary Review of Quality of Care Program and the ACOG District IV Health Equity Reflective Committee. Outside of leadership roles, Dr. Moxley continues his advocacy for patients of underserved communities as a bilingual (English, Spanish) physician volunteer in the Tricounty area and as a nationwide clinical instructor and mentor.

Born and raised in the South, Dr. Moxley understands that partnerships with hospitals, community leaders, current and future clinicians, and patients are essential to the success of healthcare systems and the communities they serve. Dr. Moxley is excited to continue providing prenatal and preventive care in the Lowcountry and is honored to care for more complicated conditions as they arise.

Cassandra Salgado, M.D., MS, is a professor of medicine and public health and serves as director of the Division of Infectious Diseases in the College of Medicine at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC). A nationally recognized leader in hospital epidemiology and infection prevention, she has been instrumental in advancing patient safety and infectious disease control at both institutional and national levels.

Since joining MUSC in 2004, Dr. Salgado has served as the institution’s hospital epidemiologist and medical director of infection prevention, playing a critical leadership role during major public health challenges, including the COVID-19 pandemic.

In 2024, she was appointed the inaugural vice chair for Wellness in the Department of Medicine, where she leads strategic initiatives to promote the well-being of faculty, staff, and trainees. She also serves as senior associate dean for Faculty Affairs, Development, and Wellness in the College of Medicine, focusing on retention, engagement, and career advancement. In addition, Dr. Salgado holds the J. Michael Kilby, M.D. Endowed Chair in Infectious Diseases.

A committed mentor, she has guided the development of early-career faculty, medical students, residents, and fellows through extensive service on mentoring committees and one-on-one advising.

Her numerous awards include the 2019 Department of Medicine Education Mentoring Award and the 2023 MUSC ARROW Advancement of Women Faculty Award.

Dr. Salgado’s scholarly work includes significant national contributions to infection prevention and control. She also serves as principal investigator for the Trident HIV/AIDS Care Coalition, supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) and the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (SC DHEC). Under her leadership, the clinic now serves over 1,200 patients annually and continues to expand.

Dr. Salgado earned her Bachelor of Arts in Chemistry and her medical degree from West Virginia University. She completed a combined residency in internal medicine and pediatrics and served as chief resident in internal medicine at West Virginia University Hospital. During her fellowship in infectious diseases, she also earned a Master of Science in Health Evaluation Sciences and Epidemiology from the University of Virginia.

Cynthia Talley, M.D., FACS is an acute care surgeon at MUSC Health who specializes in trauma surgery, emergency general surgery, and surgical critical care. Dr. Talley is highly trained and has extensive knowledge of surgical procedures and how to manage different types of injuries. Dr. Talley's philosophy is to deliver compassionate care to patients with acute illness and injury and their families. Fellowship-trained in acute care surgery, Dr. Talley is board certified in general surgery and surgical critical care and has clinical expertise in treating injuries from trauma and providing quality ICU care. Her particular niche is ultrasound-guided bedside procedures and ICU care.

Dr. Talley serves many leadership roles both at MUSC and within professional medical and surgical organizations. Dr. Talley is vice chair of education for the MUSC Department of Surgery, where she developed our future surgical leaders program. Outside the walls of MUSC, she serves on the Board of Directors for the Eastern Association for the Surgery of Trauma (EAST), is president-elect of the SC chapter of the American College of Surgeons (ACS), and chair of the Member Service Committee of the Young Fellows Association (YFA) of the ACS. In addition, Dr. Talley trains EMS, nurses, and the community regarding trauma and disaster medicine.

Dr. Talley is fellowship-trained in acute care surgery from Vanderbilt University. She completed her surgical residency at the University of Tennessee Graduate School of Medicine and her medical degree from the University of Tennessee School of Medicine. Prior to joining MUSC, she was a trauma surgeon at the University of Kentucky.

Dr. Sharee Wright is a vascular surgeon who practices all aspects of vascular and endovascular surgery. She specialized in diabetic limb salvage, aortoiliac disease, aortic aneurysms, and carotid disease. She is a graduate of the MUSC College of Medicine Department of Surgery. She completed a vascular surgery fellowship at Temple University in Philadelphia, PA. As a native of the Lowcountry, Dr. Wright is returning to her roots to service the communities she calls home. She also has a passion for teaching and interacting with the new generation medical students and residents. Her goal is to provide quality, vascular care for the patients of Charleston and surrounding counties.