Distinguished Faculty Service Award

In no year has the university been able to see in more stark relief the daily commitment to MUSC’s clinical mission exhibited by Cassandra D. Salagado, M.D., M.S., FIDSA, FSHEA, whose expertise has been critical to the institution’s COVID-19 response. She has served as the hospital epidemiologist and medical director of infection prevention at MUSC since 2004 and has been making decisions every day in a composed, calm, trustworthy fashion to keep our community safe. She has persisted in this momentous year, working harder and longer than ever to help us respond well to the pandemic we face.

In addition to her collaborations in this critical role, Salgado led the Division of Infectious Diseases as interim director from 2015-2016 during a different period of painful transition. Her leadership in that interim role led to her appointment as director of the division four years ago.

Before joining MUSC in 2004, Salgado earned her medical degree and completed a residency in internal medicine at West Virginia University School of Medicine. She also completed a fellowship in infectious diseases at the University of Virginia Health Systems.

During her career, Salgado has been a mentor for graduate students, medical students, residents, fellows, and junior faculty. She contributes across the continuum of medical education, including service for a decade as director for the infectious diseases fellowship program. And her contributions as a teacher have been recognized by learners and peers through the Department of Education Mentoring Award, the Division of Infectious Diseases Teaching Award, and the College of Medicine’s Teacher of the Month Award. One of the best ways to understand how effective she is as a teacher, one only needs to look at the dozens of mentees who have honored her indirectly through their numerous successful grant applications, publications, and presentations. As one of her mentees explained, learning with and from her is learning from a “national thought leader in hospital epidemiology.”

Indeed, Salgado is an academic-clinician thought leader, demonstrated by her authorship of many peer-reviewed publications, two textbooks, nine book chapters, and range of invited and peer-reviewed presentations at international, national, and regional scientific meetings. But perhaps the best demonstration of her leadership is her work as PI to fund the work of the Trident HIV/AIDS Care Coalition through HRSA and SC DHEC. Today, that clinic serves over 1,200 patients annually and continues to grow.

Two ideas come across strongly among those who nominated Salgado. First, weaving through her career is the thread of service to others—patients, students, mentees, colleagues. Second, what becomes apparent when learning about Salgado’s work is that she is a servant and a leader, she is reasonable and steadfast, she drives progress and reaches consensus—and she balances these often competing demands day and night. For these and other reasons, the Medical University of South Carolina Foundation is honored to bestow the Distinguished Faculty Service Award upon Cassandra D. Salgado, M.D., on August 18, 2020.

For a full list of the 2020 Faculty Awards & Recognition Award Recipients please visit here.