MUSC awards three new endowed chairs in the Department of Medicine

Three distinguished faculty members in the Department of Medicine at MUSC have been honored with endowed chair appointments, the highest honor the University can bestow upon a faculty member. They include Ruth Campbell, M.D., MSPH, Jyotika Fernandes, M.D., and Cassandra Salgado, M.D., MS.

Recognized for their significant contributions to their fields, the outstanding faculty who now hold these endowed chairs will continue to improve the lives of those they serve for generations to come. Endowed chairs carry prestige and honor for the chair holders, establish a legacy for the persons for whom they are named, and serve as an enduring tribute to the donors who help establish them.

Moreover, the appointments of Drs. Campbell, Fernandes, and Salgado mark a noteworthy rise in the number of female endowed chairs in the Department of Medicine. In the past year, four women, including Erin Forster, M.D., MPH, who was named the Marvin Jenkins Family Endowed Chair for IBD in January, have received this esteemed honor.

Dialysis Clinic, Inc. (DCI) Nephrology Chair

Dr. Campbell, professor in the Division of Nephrology, was appointed as the DCI Nephrology Chair. Dr. Campbell is nationally recognized for her clinical expertise and contributions in chronic kidney disease (CKD) and continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT), as well as for her work as an educator and researcher. She currently serves as the clinical director for the Division of Nephrology and medical director for the DCI West Ashley Hemodialysis Unit.

During her distinguished career, Dr. Campbell has been involved in graduate medical education and continuing medical education at national and international levels. She directed the MUSC Nephrology Fellowship Program from 2011 – 2023 and currently serves on the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) Executive Committee for Internal Medicine. Dr. Campbell's research interests focus on the progression of CKD, hypertension, and outcomes-based care delivery for CKD patients. In addition to clinical excellence, Dr. Campbell has built and maintained a strong portfolio of clinical trials and has authored 31 peer-reviewed publications, four book chapters, and 29 abstracts presented at major meetings.

“I am honored to receive the DCI Endowed Chair in the Division of Nephrology at MUSC,” said Dr. Campbell. “Nephrology patients are among the most complex in medicine, partly because their care spans multiple loci of the health care system. My academic interests include systems interactions in the medical center, trainee education, faculty development, and faculty retention. I will invest my time and the resources of this chair on these issues, with the goal of improving quality of care and safety of our patients, and career satisfaction in the physicians caring for them.” - Ruth Campbell, M.D.

Wendy and Keith S. Wellin Distinguished Endowed Chair in Endocrinology

Dr. Fernandes was appointed the first holder of the Wendy and Keith S. Wellin Distinguished Endowed Chair in Endocrinology. Dr. Fernandes, professor in the Division of Endocrinology and endocrine section chief at the Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center, specializes in endocrine neoplasia (thyroid, parathyroid, pituitary and adrenal). She leads the multidisciplinary Endocrine Neoplasia and Hormonal Disorder Clinic at Hollings Cancer Center. Under Dr. Fernandes’ leadership, the clinic has continued to thrive and expand over the past two decades and is the only one of its kind in South Carolina focused exclusively on the treatment of endocrine tumors. Dr. Fernandes maintains a substantial clinical-translational research portfolio and has served as principal investigator and/or co-principal investigator on several clinical trials involving pituitary, thyroid tumors, and diabetes.

“It is a great honor and privilege to be selected for the Wendy and Keith Wellin Endowed Chair in Endocrinology,” said Dr. Fernandes. “I am committed to utilizing this opportunity to advance the field of endocrine neoplasia. We are excited about the prospect of expanding our multidisciplinary team at the Hollings Cancer Center and working towards establishing a center of excellence in the study and treatment of these complex endocrine disorders.”

- Jyotika Fernandes, M.D.

J. Michael Kilby, M.D. Endowed Chair in Infectious Diseases

Dr. Salgado has been named the inaugural holder of the J. Michael Kilby, M.D. Endowed Chair in Infectious Diseases. Dr. Salgado is a professor of medicine and public health and director of the Division of Infectious Diseases. She is a national thought leader in hospital epidemiology, and well known for her excellence in quality improvement and exemplary ethic of service. She has served as the hospital epidemiologist and medical director of infection prevention at MUSC since 2004. Most recently, during the coronavirus pandemic, she has led our organization through hundreds of major landmark decisions with confidence and assuredness.

Mentoring students and early-stage faculty has also been a central theme throughout Dr. Salgado’s career. Her academic accomplishments are equally impressive, with significant national contributions to the field of infection prevention and control. 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 the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) and the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (SC DHEC). Today, that clinic serves over 1,200 patients annually and continues to grow.

“I am honored to be named to the J. Michael Kilby Endowed Chair in Infectious Diseases,” said Dr. Salgado. “This is special for the division as it is the very first endowed chair in our specialty at MUSC. It recognizes the legacy of a talented leader, physician, scientist and friend and I intend to honor this legacy by furthering the causes important for advancing infectious diseases.”

-Cassandra Salgado, M.D.

The selection of Drs. Campbell, Fernandes, and Salgado is a promising step towards achieving equality in women's leadership within the Department of Medicine. It also serves as a well-deserved acknowledgment of their outstanding leadership, service, and significant contributions across all mission areas at MUSC and beyond.

The Department of Medicine looks forward to celebrating these three new endowed chair appointments in the near future. In the meantime, we offer a heartfelt congratulations to Drs. Campbell, Fernandes, and Salgado on this remarkable honor, and our sincere gratitude for the generosity and kindness of the donors who made it possible.