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Emergency Medicine Residency Program

book_2 Learning Mode: Residential

Residency Program

See how we advance the field of Emergency Medicine by training future physician leaders.

Welcome to the Medical University of South Carolina’s Emergency Medicine Residency program!  Established in 2007, we are a three-year program with 10 residents per class. The goal when you complete this program is to become an excellent emergency medicine physician who is ready for independent practice out in the community or in the academic world.

We have a variety of paths you can take during your academic journey through our program, including global health, ultrasound, critical care, and pediatric emergency medicine - and you get to do all of this in beautiful Charleston, South Carolina. We look forward to receiving your application and feel free to reach out to any of us for questions you may have.

Should you have any particular questions, please reach out to our Program Coordinator Melanie Pigott, BA, C-TAGME at 843-876-8023 or pigott@musc.edu.

 

Residency Leadership

Jefrey Bush, M.D.
Program Director

Simon Watson, M.D.
Associate Program Director

Lindsey Jennings, M.D., MPH
Assistant Program Director

 

2025 Recruitment Season

ERAS Emergency Medicine Residency Applicants:

Thank you for your interest in our program, we greatly appreciate it! Please note, our program has opted to join Emergency Medicine’s unified interview release date encouraged by CORD & EM stakeholders. We'll notify applicants who are selected to interview on Oct. 16 in ERAS and will release interview day spots to those candidates on Oct. 17 so they may schedule a date. We will not send invites before this date, in an effort to have a more balanced invite distribution and also to help ease applicants’ anxieties during the recruitment season. Our leadership looks forward to reviewing your applications; those selected will receive an invite via Thalamus for our November and December dates. Any questions may be directed to our program coordinator, Melanie Pigott (pigott@musc.edu).

View Instagram Account

Residency Program Highlights

  • 3-year Global Health Track for EM Residents.
  • 3-year Emergency Ultrasound Academy for EM Residents.
  • Fellowships available are Peds EM, Emergency Ultrasound, Global Health, Neuro Critical Care, Critical Care, Medical Education, and soon - Telemedicine.
  • Free Membership to MUSC's Wellness Center.
  • iPhones provided by the University.
  • Annual CME credit.
  • Food stipends.
  • 3 weeks of vacation time.
  • Optional retirement program.

Visiting Student Information

We look forward to reviewing medical student applications for our visiting student program for summer of 2025.  Our available blocks will be Block 1-5 June-October.  We will accept applications via VSLO.  We will begin reviewing VSLO applications mid-April, and selected candidates will be notified directly via VSLO.  Any medical student related questions may be directed to Pam Mead (meadp@musc.edu).

Resources

In order for an application to be considered complete, during the 2025 Recruitment Season: at least two (2) of your letters should be a Standardized Letter of Evaluation (SLOE), from your home institution & an Away rotation. Any additional letter(s), including from Emergency Medicine Physicians, you'd like to add to your application will be considered. Only the two (2) SLOEs will be mandatory, however.

We have registered our Emergency Medicine Residency Program with the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS). This service uses the internet to transmit residency applications, letters of recommendation, Dean's letters, transcripts, and other supporting credentials from medical schools to Residency Program Directors. We encourage you to use the ERAS Student Workstation software provided by your Medical School.

You will complete an application and program designation list on a Student Workstation data storage device. You then deliver this data storage device to your Student Affairs, Academic Affairs, or other designated Dean's Office. At the Dean's Office, the completed electronic application and designation list are uploaded to the Dean's Office Workstation and joined with your transcripts, Dean's letter, and recommendations in an electronic file. Software at the Dean's Office Workstation transmits the files for the programs designated by you to the electronic ERAS Post Office, which then reroutes the applications to the Residency Programs of your choice.

Application Requirements:

  • ERAS Common Application Form.
  • Medical School Performance Evaluation (MSPE).
  • Medical School Transcript.
  • In order for an application to be considered complete, during the 2025 Recruitment Season: at least two (2) of your letters should be a Standardized Letter of Evaluation (SLOE). Any additional letter(s), including from Emergency Medicine Physicians, you'd like to add to your application will be considered.
  • Personal Statement (limited to one page).
  • USMLE and/or COMLEX transcripts, with first-time pass. ‘On January 26, 2022, USMLE Step 1 score reporting shifted from a three-digit score to a simple pass-fail. The USMLE program views this change as an important first step toward facilitating broader, system-wide changes to improve the transition from undergraduate to graduate medical education.’
  • A photo is strongly encouraged.

ERAS Emergency Medicine Residency Applicants:

Thank you for your interest in our program, we greatly appreciate it! Please note, our program has opted to join Emergency Medicine’s unified interview release date encouraged by CORD & EM stakeholders.

We will not send invites before this date, in an effort to have a more balance invite distribution and also to help ease applicants’ anxieties during the recruitment season. Our leadership looks forward to reviewing your applications; those selected will receive an invite via Thalamus, for our November and December dates. Any questions may be directed to our program coordinator, Melanie Pigott (pigott@musc.edu).

Please continue to check here for announcements and updates, and we encourage you to follow us on Instagram: musc_em 

EMRA Match Site

EM Resident Interview with Dr. Bush, in the August EMRA Medical Student Newsletter

Should you have any particular questions, please reach out to our Program Coordinator:
Melanie Pigott, BA, C-TAGME
843-876-8023
pigott@musc.edu

Visiting Student Information

We look forward to reviewing medical student applications for our visiting student program for summer of 2024.  Our available blocks will be Block 1-5 June-November.  We will accept applications via VSLO.  We will begin reviewing VSLO applications mid-April, and selected candidates will be notified directly via VSLO.  Any medical student related questions may be directed to Pam Mead (meadp@musc.edu).

Download the GME Handbook.

Salary

PGY-1 $61,010
PGY-2 $63,101
PGY-3 $65,351

Moonlighting is allowed by MUSC and by the residency program. Residents in good academic standing can begin moonlighting during the second half of their PGY2 year. We have internal moonlighting available, and residents are allowed to participate in external moonlighting throughout the community hospitals in South Carolina.

CME Allowance

PGY-1 $150
PGY-2 $200
PGY-3 $1,400 (to help offset cost of travel to SAEM academic conference, protected time for third years)

iPhone

iPhones are provided by the University for trainees.

EM Specific Benefits

We protect time during the SAEM Conference for our PGY3s to attend.
ROSH Review is provided to all residents.
USMLE Step 3 fee reimbursement, if taken by Dec. 31 of Intern year.
Resident Incentive Projects (Institutional).

Lab Coat

New residents at MUSC are provided with two new clinic lab coats. After the first year, each resident will be provided with one new lab coat at the beginning of each new year of training.

Wellness Center

Residents receive free membership to the Wellness Center. In addition, spouses are provided with a discounted yearly membership. Fees subject to change annually Wellness Center Website

In-House On-Call Meals

All residents will receive $50 per month for a meal allowance. Those residents who are scheduled for 24-hour in-house call shifts will receive an additional $15 per scheduled shift. Residents in Departments with inpatient services scheduled for home-call shifts receive an additional $2 per scheduled shift.

Leave Policy

Annual Leave of three (3) weeks, as defined by twenty-one (21) days consisting of a maximum of fifteen (15) "working days" (Mon-Fri) plus six (6) "weekend days" (Sat & Sun), with pay may be given per twelve month period, unless specifically limited as required for specialty board certification.

Sick Leave of three (3) weeks, as defined by twenty-one (21) days, (including Sat & Sun) with pay may be given per 12 months of employment.

Maternity Leave will be granted a minimum of six (6) weeks (3 weeks Annual leave & 3 weeks Sick Leave) per twelve month period. All six (6) weeks will be "paid time off" unless Annual leave and/or Sick leave was (were) used previously during the twelve month period.

Paternity Leave will be granted to the father at the time of birth or adoption in conjunction with the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA). The father will be granted a maximum of six (6) weeks paid leave (3 weeks Annual leave; 3 weeks Sick leave) per 12 month period.

Bereavement Leave of three (3) days with pay shall be given per death of an immediate family member (ie., parents, siblings, grandparents, children, or spouse). The resident may be required to make-up the time missed in accordance with the Residency Program and Board Eligibility requirements.

Professional Leave of Absence may be granted under special circumstances and will be handled on an individual case-by-case basis by the Designated Institutional Official for GME in consultation with the Residency Program Director.

Insurance

Health Insurance - The resident will receive health (including hospitalization) and dental at nominal cost. Dependents are covered at the resident's expense.

Life Insurance - If the resident participated in the South Carolina Retirement System, after one year of continuous service, the resident's beneficiary is eligible to receive a sum equal to the resident's annual salary. Additionally, if the resident elects health coverage an additional $3000 is payable to the resident's beneficiary. Optional life insurance is available at reasonable rates and the resident can elect coverage up to 3x's their annual salary (rounded).

Travel Insurance - All MUSC residents are covered by Workers' Compensation which is designed to provide benefits for individuals who have incurred medical expenses or are unable to work due to bona fide occupational injuries or illness.

Disability Insurance - Residents will receive basic disability insurance after one year of service only if health insurance is elected. Supplemental long term disability insurance is available at a competitive rate. Basic and supplemental long term disability insurance are portable and can be converted. If participating in the South Carolina Retirement System, after five years of earned service (vesting period) in the event of a disability, residents are eligible to apply for disability retirement. Should disability retirement be granted, health insurance will also be available.

Professional Liability Coverage - The resident will be covered for malpractice liability while performing duties and responsibilities in the program. The policy provides $1,200,000 per medical occurrence and the coverage will extend beyond the time in residency from incidents that occurred during their training (ie., "tail coverage").

All residents are required to attend weekly conferences, held every Thursday morning. Conference is protected time while on all rotations.

Simulation labs are held on a monthly basis and are scheduled during protected conference times.

Literature Updates and Review focus on research methods, critical appraisal, journal club, and the most current published findings. Journal club occurs outside of conference in a less formal environment, a couple times throughout the year, as well.

Trauma Case Review Conference is scheduled every third Thursday of the month at 7:00 a.m. This multidisciplinary conference will be led by a PGY-2 or PGY-3 who presents a case they participated in while rotating on the Trauma Service.

PGY-1

  • EUS Image Review, during the Emergency Ultrasound Month
  • Case Report

PGY-2

  • Case Report
  • Core Content
  • Trauma

PGY-3

  • Journal Club, with Faculty Mentor
  • Pediatric Topic
  • Core Content

Resident Ambassadors are current residents representing various backgrounds and multicultural experiences who want to answer any questions you have about what it is like to live in Charleston, be a resident at MUSC, or work within their specific department.  Feel free to contact Dr. Sarah Tobin if you have EM-specific questions. For a full list of MUSC Resident Ambassadors, visit the MUSC GME Office Ambassadors page.

PGY-1

*Adult Emergency Medicine at MUSC (6 Months)
Pediatric Emergency Medicine at MUSC (1 Month)
OB-GYN & Anesthesia Emergent Airway Response/Scholarly Activity (1 Month Split)
Cardiology (1 Month)
VA Medical Center (1 Month)
Ultrasound (1 Month)
Medical/Surgical ICU (1 Month)

PGY-2

*Adult Emergency Medicine at MUSC (8 Months)
Medical ICU (2 Month)
Pediatric ICU (1 Month)
Trauma (1 Month)

PGY-3

*Adult Emergency Medicine at MUSC (9 Months)
Pediatric Emergency Medicine at MUSC (1 Month)
Electives (2 Months)

*Adult Emergency Medicine blocks will include 2-3 longitudinal pediatric EM shifts, along with longitudinal EMS shifts.

Shifts

*ED shift hours vary slightly, depending on assigned area

PGY-1

Interns will work an average of 21 shifts per month with 17 adult shifts and approximately 2 pediatric shifts and approximately 2 EMS shifts. The responsibility of the emergency medicine intern is to orient to the ED and to learn how to manage non-urgent and urgent issues in partnership with the senior resident or attending. Interns will focus on less emergent procedures.

PGY-2

Second year residents will work an average of 20 shifts per month. The responsibility of the mid-level emergency resident is to learn how to manage multiple emergent conditions while on shift. The PGY-2 will focus on emergent procedures.

PGY-3

Third year resident will work an average of 19 shifts per month. The responsibility of senior residents is to manage their entire pod in the emergency department. The PGY-3 will oversee interns and students at all times and mid-level residents and providers as needed.

Electives

The PGY-3 curriculum includes two elective months which are chosen by the Resident, in conjunction with the Program Director.

Examples of electives include:

  • Administrative
  • Anesthesia
  • EKG
  • EMS
  • Financial Wellness
  • Global Health
  • OMFS
  • Ophthalmology
  • Orthopedics
  • Plastics
  • Research
  • Teaching
  • Ultrasound
  • Wellness EMPpowered
  • Wilderness Medicine

Additionally, Residents may pursue other [build your own] Electives, after approval by the Program Director.

Global Health Track (PGY1-3)

Established in 2018-2019, the Global Health Resident Track allows residents the opportunity to focus on global health during their Emergency Medicine Residency. Participants will remain under the mentorship of the faculty within the Division of Global Health for the longitudinal 3-year track. Faculty mentors will assist with the development of global health opportunities, global health research and scholarly projects, provide didactic teaching and mentorship for future careers in global health. Interested residents must fulfill yearly requirements, outlined in goal & objectives, and must remain in good academic standing to continue; Emergency Medicine Residency responsibilities take priority.

Ultrasound Academy (PGY1-3)

Our residents have the option to enroll in our Ultrasound Academy, which grants them additional certification upon graduating residency. This program is headed by the EUS faculty, and will allow them to become extremely adept at using the ultrasound in the ED. We offer an advanced ultrasound elective, and residents complete a ultrasound scholarly project. We also participate in the SAEM Sonogames.

The Medical University of South Carolina’s Simulation Center is a state-of-the-art 11,000 square foot training facility featuring 14 simulation rooms. Here, with both high-fidelity manikins and models, residents can participate in a variety of programs such as Difficult Airway Lab, Central Line Courses, Acute Traumatic Life Saving Procedures, Lumbar Punctures, and more.

Our Simulation lab curriculum includes monthly dedicated time which helps to increase resident knowledge and comfort level, thereby improving the quality of delivered care and promoting patient safety.

Examples of Simulation Labs

  • Difficult Airway Lab.
  • ACLS Algorithms.
  • Cardioversion/Defibrillation/Pacing Lab.
  • Trauma Skills.
  • Vascular Lab.
  • Lumbar Puncture.
  • Cricothyrotomies.
  • Foreign Body Removal.
  • Slit Lamp.
  • Arthrocentesis/Reduction Lab.
  • OB Delivery Emergencies and Neonatal Resuscitation.
  • Procedural Sedation.

Program Year 3 Residents

Samuel Bradley, D.O.

Hometown: Agoura Hills, CA
Undergrad: University of Arizona
Medical School: AT Still School of Osteopathic Medicine Arizona
Academic Interests: Sports medicine, Ultrasound
Why MUSC: I chose MUSC because I felt at home from the first day of my audition rotation. Everyone from the hospital staff, attendings, and residents all made me feel like I was part of the team. The atmosphere and learning environment are second to none and I felt like this was the best place for me to be to continue my education.
Hobbies: Sports, snowboarding, guitar, piano, chess, dogs, trivia nights.

Madeline Cook, M.D.

Hometown: Arkadelphia, Arkansas
Undergrad: Henderson State University
Medical School: University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
Academic Interests: Everything
Why MUSC: Everyone I met on my 4th year rotation here seemed incredibly passionate about our education and providing the best care for our patients. The faculty and residents were the most welcoming I met and were truly fun to be around. Additionally, Charleston has so many beautiful areas to explore.
Hobbies: Outdoor activities with my two dogs, tennis, gym time, cooking, and trying new things.

Joseph Elfrink, M.D.

Hometown: Leopold, MO
Undergrad: Webster University
Medical School: Saint Louis University
Academic Interests: EMS- particularly rural pre-hospital care, medical education, wilderness medicine, sports medicine
Why MUSC: Exceptional faculty and leadership, 'team' feel, person-centered culture, and relentless respect among residents and faculty alike. Also, my wife likes the beach.
Hobbies: Gym, family time, sports, reading, a growing list of DIY projects, and working on launching my water sports career.

Caitlin Foley, D.O.

Hometown: Sioux City, IA
Undergrad: Minnesota State University, Mankato
Medical School: Western University of Health Sciences
Academic Interests: Sports medicine, Ultrasound
Why MUSC: On my audition rotation I fell in love with the program! The faculty and residents take pride in teaching you and you can tell they really enjoy doing it. The patient population and pathology here is excellent; I saw a wide array of rare and interesting pathology for the short month while I was here. The family-type environment is palpable (sorry Dr. Bush I stole that line from you because I really like it) where everyone wants you to succeed. Plus, calling Charleston home definitely doesn't suck!
Hobbies: Playing sports (soccer, golf, tennis, volleyball), laying on the beach with a good book, trying out new craft breweries/wineries.

Colleen Hagopian, M.D.

Hometown: Charlotte, NC
Undergrad: NC State University
Medical School: Wake Forest School of Medicine
Academic Interests: Pediatric Emergency Medicine, Ultrasound, MedEd
Why MUSC: The amazing training opportunities of the program and willingness of residents and faculty to teach and challenge each other in a supportive way. I also love living in Charleston where I get to spend my time off outdoors or trying out a new restaurant. It's hard not to be happy with great people and the beach close by.
Hobbies: Running, Hiking with my husband and dog Ranger, good coffee.

Olivia Holodnik, D.O.

Hometown: Rochester, NY
Undergrad: State University of New York at Geneseo
Medical School: West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine
Academic Interests: Palliative Medicine in the ED, Ultrasound
Why MUSC: I was very lucky to have the opportunity to rotate here during medical school and the people were all so welcoming, kind and had a passion for teaching! With the varied patient population, there is incredible opportunities to learn as well as explore interests within Emergency Medicine. MUSC was everything I was looking for and more in beautiful Charleston, SC.
Hobbies: Swimming, waterskiing, and hanging out with friends and family.

Parker Lewis, D.O.

Hometown: Larkspur, CO
Undergrad: Colorado State University
Medical School: Rocky Vista University
Academic Interests: Global Medicine, Disaster Medicine
Why MUSC: I chose MUSC because of the amazing people I got to know during my Sub-I rotation here! The residents, attendings, and other EM staff really went out of their way to make us feel welcome. Between that, the high quality of training, and the availability of BBQ everywhere in this city, it's tough to beat!
Hobbies: Playing basketball, working out, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, being the only Denver Nuggets fan in the state.

Justine McKittrick, M.D.

Hometown: Atlanta, Georgia
Undergrad: Pepperdine University
Medical School: Duke University School of Medicine
Academic Interests: Medical Education, Wilderness Medicine
Why MUSC: Charleston is the best city! I love being on the coast and close to family. I did my away rotation at MUSC and loved the people and workplace culture. Everyone was happy, supportive, and fun to be around, and I knew I wanted to be a part of this community!
Hobbies: Running, yoga/Pilates, traveling, boating and being out on the water, dog parks/beaches with my two pups, reading, country music.

Katherine Scarpino, D.O.

Hometown: Centerville, Ohio
Undergrad: Ohio State University
Medical School: Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine
Academic Interests: Addiction Medicine, Ultrasound
Why MUSC: I absolutely loved my interview with MUSC! Everyone was so kind, welcoming, and passionate about EM. MUSC has a ton of educational resources and ways to pursue your academic interests through the program while also giving you a work-life balance to continue your interests outside of medicine and bond with your fellow residents. Charleston is an awesome city and I am thrilled to live close to multiple beaches and avoid Midwestern winters!
Hobbies: Going to the beach, reading, playing soccer, kayaking, biking, hiking, watching sports.

Paden Vernon, M.D.

Hometown: Bardstown, KY
Undergrad: Transylvania University
Medical School: University of Kentucky: Bowling Green Campus
Academic Interests: Community EM, EMS, Sports Medicine
Why MUSC: First and foremost, the people you interact with every day make this place special. It’s a laid back atmosphere that allows you to experience both failure and success amongst colleagues you can consider friends, married perfectly with the academic rigor of a top-tier program which ultimately sets you up for success no matter your career aspirations moving forward.
Hobbies: Aviation, sports (particularly baseball), spending time outdoors.

Program Year 2 Residents

Hunter Barclay, M.D.

Hometown: Frostburg, Maryland
Undergrad: International Affairs at Marshall University
Medical School: West Virginia University School of Medicine
Academic Interests: Disaster Medicine, Pediatrics, and Medical Education
Why MUSC: Growing up in my aptly named hometown of Frostburg, I was ready to trade in my ice scraper for my beach towel. While on my audition rotation, I not only relished the warm weather but also the warm people who I met during this incredible month. I appreciated that the nurses, techs, pharmacists, and doctors work side-by-side in the pods; this fosters a strong team dynamic. The faculty is eager to teach on every shift. The patient population holds much respect for the institution. The program leadership also has a great sense of humor and genuinely cares about residents. While there are many strengths of this program, this residency not only attracts great clinicians but also top-notch humans who have fascinating life experiences and interests beyond medicine.
Hobbies: CrossFit, travel blogging, watching Survivor, attending church events, and getting lost in a good book in a coffee shop (there are many great options in Charleston).

Luke Bauknight., M.D.

Hometown: Hartwell, GA
Undergrad: University of North Georgia, Dahlonega, GA
Medical School: Mercer University School of Medicine
Academic Interests: Global Health, Critical Care
Why MUSC: Where to begin...so much to love about his program! One of the first things I noticed was how all of the residents were genuinely happy, which speaks volumes about the residency itself. Faculty are all incredibly smart and talented, and I know they care deeply about the program and it's people. Charleston is an awesome place to be as well, endless outdoor activities all year long in a beautiful location. Overall very hard to beat, and I m looking forward to these next 3 years of training!
Hobbies: Fly fishing, kayaking, camping, wakeboarding/skiing, working out, SCUBA

Allison Crecelius, D.O.

Hometown: St. Louis, MO
Undergrad: Rockhurst University
Medical School: Kansas City University
Academic interests: PEM
Why MUSC: Great people, plus the city ain't too shabby.
Hobbies: True crime podcasts, reading thriller/horror novels, and being an awesome dog mom.

Allie Dennis, M.D.

Hometown: Annapolis, MD
Undergrad: University of Georgia
Medical School: Virginia Commonwealth University
Academic Interests: sports med, global health, ultrasound
Why MUSC: the supportive and fun community, great program culture, approachable and enthusiastic leadership & the location is tough to beat
Hobbies: Watersports, camping, yoga, reading, cooking, gardening

Brandon Keithley, D.O.

Hometown: Warrenton, VA
Undergrad: Christopher Newport University
Medical School: Rocky Vista University
Academic Interests: Ultrasound
Why MUSC: When I visited, the people here were very down to earth and made me feel right at home. It’s genuinely a community that cares about their residents and their development, both as physicians and as individuals. There is a great mix of personalities that creates such a fun and welcoming environment for education. Also, the city of Charleston sells itself. Between the beach, the great food, and the warm weather, there are plenty of opportunities to enjoy life outside of the hospital!
Hobbies: Getting outdoors, relaxing at the beach, golf, live music, cooking, trying new restaurants/craft breweries, traveling.

Drew Merideth, D.O.

Hometown: East Moline, IL
Undergrad: Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville
Medical School: AT Still University School of Osteopathic Medicine in Arizona
Academic Interests: EMS, Wilderness medicine
Why MUSC: I had a great experience during my sub I working with faculty and residents. I knew the training would be high quality and the city is fantastic.
Hobbies: Hiking, camping, fishing, video games, movies, sports.

Bobby Penev, D.O.

Hometown: Pittsburgh, PA
Undergrad: University of Pittsburgh
Medical School: Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine-Philadelphia Campus
Academic Interests: EMS, AI quality improvement projects
Why MUSC: Outstanding work culture, on-shift and off-shift teaching/didactics, high patient acuity, Charleston is a great city.
Hobbies: Playing guitar, Facetiming friends, fitness.

Stephen Rhode, M.D.

Hometown: Bryn Mawr, PA
Undergrad: Northwestern University
Medical School: Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Temple University
Academic Interests: Ultrasound, EMS, Wilderness Medicine
Why MUSC: I chose MUSC because I wanted world-class residency training in one of the most beautiful cities in America. The warm weather, pristine beaches, and friendly people make day-to-day life amazing and help balance the intensity of the emergency room!
Hobbies: Surfing, Fishing, Fitness

Katherine Rodriguez, M.D.

Hometown: Cincinnati, OH
Undergrad: Miami University Oxford, OH
Medical School: Northeast Ohio Medical University
Academic Interests: Education and Global Health
Why MUSC: I chose MUSC because everyone was so welcoming and supportive of one other on my away rotation! It’s also great to be in warmer weather and by the beach!
Hobbies: Playing with my puppy Ollie, amateur tennis player, going to new restaurants.

Christeena Twal, M.D.

Hometown: Amman, Jordan
Undergrad: Oakland University, MI.
Major: Biomedical Sciences
Medical School: Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine, MI
Academic Interests: Global Medicine
Why MUSC: MUSC's Emergency Medicine program combines excellent clinical training with a strong focus on resident well-being. From my time as a visiting med student, it was immediately evident how important building a good culture was to the program leadership. I love being able to get off of a shift and walk around town or hitting the beach on a day off!!
Hobbies: Playing any sport (especially soccer), crashing into trees while mountain biking with my fiancé, beach time, new adventures and thrill-seeking activities, sampling delicious cuisines (sampling.. devouring.. same thing, right?), and sometimes just doing absolutely nothing.

Program Year 1 Interns

Joshua Clark, M.D.

Hometown: Asheville, N.C.
Undergrad: Wheaton College (Illinois)
Medical School: MUSC
Why MUSC: At MUSC you get to take care of various patient populations, ranging from transplant and LVAD patients to high acuity trauma and medically complex cases. Additionally, the entire team of ED staff are among the best that I've seen and genuinely make every shift fun. The residents are happy, caring, and good at what they do, which speaks volumes to the culture here. The faculty and leadership come from a wide range of backgrounds and truly care about the wellbeing, education, and success of the residents. I am confident that the people and training here are second to none. Lastly, Charleston is an incredible city with countless outdoor activities (mediocre waves), great food, and good people!
Hobbies: Fly fishing, Sailing, Surfing, Wood Working, Volleyball

Graham Jamison, M.D.

Hometown: Birmingham, Ala.
Undergrad: Pepperdine University
Medical School: University of South Alabama
Why MUSC: Great program, great city, great people
Hobbies: Parenting, woodworking, cooking, grilling

Katherine Sanders, M.D.

Hometown: Beaufort, S.C.
Undergrad: University of South Carolina
Medical School: Medical University of South Carolina
Why MUSC: MUSC has a wide variety of staff and strong simulation and ultrasound training. I enjoyed all of the people in the department both in and out of work. I want to eventually work in the Lowcountry, so familiarizing myself with this population was a top priority for me. Charleston is pretty amazing too!
Hobbies: Spending time with friends and family, going on the river, taking my dogs to the beach, and cooking

Aili Shahidpour, M.D.

Hometown: Aiken, S.C.
Undergrad: College of Charleston
Medical School: MUSC
Why MUSC: As a student at MUSC, I loved all the faculty and staff I worked with in the ED. I also enjoyed working with the patient population that MUSC treats. Not to sound cliche, but I just love the people! And you can't beat living in Charleston!
Hobbies: Adventuring with my dogs, Pilates, baking, traveling

Adrianna Soucy, D.O.

Hometown: Getzville, N.Y.
Undergrad: St. John Fisher University
Medical School: Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine - Carolinas Campus
Why MUSC: Ever since moving to South Carolina for medical school, I have loved living here. Then I was lucky to do an away rotation at MUSC's emergency department during my fourth year. I thoroughly enjoyed my experiences with the program, learning more about emergency medicine on shift, at the weekly didactic sessions, and resident-led simulations. Additionally, I was impressed by all the cool, down-to-earth people I had the pleasure of working with! Overall, I felt this program was a great fit for me, on top of Charleston being my favorite city to explore.
Hobbies: Traveling, skiing, reading, painting

Hunter Summey, M.D.

Hometown: Greenville, S.C.      
Undergrad: University of South Carolina- Upstate
Medical School: University of South Carolina School of Medicine- Greenville
Why MUSC: The people I met while on my away rotation as a 4th year student were incredibly welcoming and truly seemed to enjoy working at MUSC. The faculty were supportive and truly seemed to enjoy teaching students and residents. I knew that if I came to MUSC I would be challenged and developed into a quality Emergency Medicine physician. And lastly, the city of Charleston has always been a special place for me and my family. We have been visiting here for years and have always hoped to find a way to live here and the combination of a great program and a great city made for the perfect opportunity!
Hobbies: Cooking new recipes, playing baseball, taking Fantasy Football way too seriously, letting the Dallas Cowboys ruin my Sundays, tennis, spending time with wife and kids.

Sarah Tobin, D.O.

Hometown: Walterboro, S.C.
Undergrad: University of South Carolina Beaufort
Medical School: Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine - Carolinas Campus
Why MUSC: You'll hear that you can learn emergency medicine anywhere at any program, and that's true. However, my experience with MUSC was like no other. First, the people here are some of the most welcoming I've ever experienced. The learning opportunities are second to none. Plus, the varied patient population and pathology helps me feel that I will be well prepared by the time I finish training. I am constantly learning, and I am grateful. I am excited to spend my training at MUSC!
Hobbies: Video games; trying new foods; hanging with my fiancé, dogs, and cat; reading

Nolan Wengert, D.O.

Hometown: Des Moines, Iowa
Undergrad: Iowa State University
Medical School: Marian University COM
Academic Interests: Global Health, Addiction Med, Ultrasound, AI in Medicine
Why MUSC: Having grown up in the Midwest, I was eager for a new adventure. Charleston/MUSC has the perfect mix of big city energy and small-town charm, amazing food, stunning beaches, tons of nature, top-notch training, endless resources, and the kindest people. The residents were the happiest I met along the interview trail and the faculty were super laid-back/funny. I couldn’t be happier to be here, and I’m so excited for the next three years!
Hobbies: Running, lifting, sports, hiking, camping, chilling on the beach, live music, drinks with friends, and traveling. Hoping to add kite surfing here soon.

Katelyn Fritsche, M.D.

Hometown: Phoenixville, Penn.
Undergrad: University of South Carolina
Medical School: MUSC
Why MUSC: The people! It makes such a difference when you love coming to work every day because you adore who you work with. They inspire me to learn and be a better person in every aspect!
Hobbies: Skiing, running, eating

Ashley Girvin, M.D.

Hometown: Greenville, S.C.
Undergrad: Clemson University
Medical school: MUSC
Why MUSC: After my sub-internship at MUSC and several subsequent away-rotations, I realized how much I value the people and culture at MUSC. The faculty, fellows, staff, and residents cultivate a supportive environment that challenges me every single shift. The beautiful weather and ample sunshine were pretty hard to pass on, too!
Hobbies: Running, surfing, cycling, anything outside in the sunshine

Ultrasound Division

Ryan Barnes, D.O.
Director, Emergency Ultrasound Division

Aalap Shah, M.D., FACEP, FPD-AEMUS
Director, Emergency Ultrasound Fellowship

Earl Quinn Cummings V, M.D.
Director, Resident Ultrasound Education

Cynthia Oliva, M.D., RDCS, RDMS
Director, Ultrasound-Guided IV Program
Core Ultrasound Faculty

Matthew Moake, M.D., Ph.D.
Director, Pediatric Emergency Ultrasound

Christopher Stem, M.D.
Core Ultrasound Faculty, Pediatric Emergency Medicine

Bradley Presley, M.D., RDMS
Core Ultrasound Faculty (VA Emergency Department)

About Emergency Ultrasound

Emergency Ultrasound (EUS) is an integral part of patient care and residency training in the Medical University of South Carolina’s Department of Emergency Medicine. All Division Faculty are Fellowship-trained in Emergency Ultrasound. The core features of the EUS program include a high-quality educational program, an Emergency Ultrasound fellowship, and continuous quality management.

Education

In our Department, there are 32 EM Attendings with general EUS privileges. These ultrasound-savvy attending physicians are also eager to train the next generation of EM providers. Every EM resident at MUSC receives extensive training in all facets of EUS, beginning with a month-long rotation that focuses on the core applications laid out in the 2016 ACEP Emergency Ultrasound Guidelines (Trauma, Intrauterine Pregnancy, AAA, Cardiac, Biliary, Urinary Tract, DVT, Soft-tissue/musculoskeletal, Thoracic, Ocular, and Procedural Guidance). A minimum of 150 scans are completed during this rotation.

You may learn more about the rotation by going to the MUSC EUS Rotation Page.

Our residents have the option to enroll in our Ultrasound Academy, which grants them additional certification upon graduating residency. This program is headed by the EUS faculty, and will allow them to become extremely adept at using the ultrasound in the ED. We offer an advanced ultrasound elective, and residents complete a ultrasound scholarly project. We also participate in the SAEM Sonogames, SAEM Website.

A fourth year medical student elective (EMED 854: Emergency Ultrasound) is also offered.

In addition to the formal rotations, lectures dedicated to EUS occur throughout the academic year. Weekly EUS conference is conducted to review recent EUS studies, discuss relevant EUS literature, and provide expanded education in point-of-care ultrasound. These conferences, which occur on Wednesdays from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm, are open to all EM providers.

Our Emergency Department currently has three Sonosite X-Porte machines and two Zonare machines. Each machine has a full complement of probes and wireless uploads to a Q-path workflow solution.

We maintain an extensive education website which is free and open access. On the site, you will find a large quantity of high-quality content including narrated lectures, image/video galleries, cases, administrative tools, EUS articles, and much more.

You may access the site at Emergency Ultrasound Teaching.

Emergency Ultrasound Fellowship

An Emergency Ultrasound Fellowship was established in 2013, and meets the Emergency Ultrasound Fellowship Guidelines (PDF), as specified by ACEP. The fellowship program earned Emergency Ultrasonography Fellowship Accreditation Council (EUFAC) accreditation in April 2021. Fellows completing our program who have satisfied the graduation requirements are eligible to sit for the Advanced EM Ultrasonography focused practice designation certification exam (FPD-AEMUS).

We accept one-two EUS Fellows each year, and provide a robust training experience that prepares the Fellow to lead an EUS program. The Fellowship focuses on the design and implementation of educational programs for Faculty and Residents, clinical aspects of running an EUS program (QA/QI, machine purchase, credentialing, privileging, etc.), EUS research, and the development of an effective coding and billing workflow.

You may learn more about the fellowship by visiting our Fellowship Website and NRMP.

Continuous Quality Management

A robust QA/QI system has been created to ensure competency and high quality scanning in the ED. We use Qpath to review and provide feedback on all scans submitted for QA by faculty and residents. The Ultrasound Division of the MUSC Department of Emergency Medicine recently became one of the first 3 Emergency Ultrasound programs in the entire nation to receive accreditation approval through ACEP’s “Clinical Ultrasound Accreditation Program (CUAP)”.