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Emergency Medicine Residency

Program Overview

Train to become an excellent emergency medicine physician who is ready for independent practice out in the community or in the academic world.

The Medical University of South Carolina’s Emergency Medicine Residency program offers a variety of paths, including global health, ultrasound, critical care, and pediatric emergency medicine.

Established in 2007, this three-year program in Charleston, South Carolina, has ten residents per class.

When to Apply

September

Apply Request Information

Inside the Program

In emergency medicine, it's not just what we do – it's who we do it with.
Residency Program

Why MUSC was the right choice

Emergency medicine residents and attendings share their reasons for choosing MUSC - the teamwork, the high acuity patient population, the expertise in various subspecialties, and more.

Training Experience

In addition to comprehensive, Level-1 trauma experience, emergency medicine residents can choose to participate in two unique, three-year tracks.

Clinical Experience

PGY-1

Orientation (1 Month)
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)
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)
Elective (1 Month)

PGY-3

Adult Emergency Medicine at MUSC (9 Months)*
Pediatric Emergency Medicine at MUSC (1 Month)
Community Rotation at Beaufort Memorial Hospital (1 Month)
Elective (1 Month)

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

Emergency department (ED) shift hours vary slightly, depending on the assigned area.

PGY-1

Interns work an average of 21 shifts per month with 17 adult shifts and approximately 2 pediatric 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 focus on less emergent procedures.

PGY-2

Second year residents 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 focuses on emergent procedures.

PGY-3

Third year residents work an average of 19 shifts per month. As a senior resident, the goal is to manage their pod in the emergency department. They oversee junior residents in addition to honing their own clinical practice and procedural acumen.

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, if approved by the program director.

Benefits & Salary

The Office of Graduate Medical Education (GME) provides information on resident salaries, benefits, policies, and more.

Departmental Benefits

Additional benefits are provided by the Department of Emergency Medicine for residents:

  • $150 continuing medical education (CME) allowance
  • Lab coats
    • New residents receive two clinic lab coats. After the first year, residents get one new lab coat every year.
  • Rosh Review
  • USMLE Step 3 fee reimbursement, if taken by Dec. 31 of Intern year
  • Protected time during the SAEM Conference for PGY3s to attend
  • Resident incentive projects (Institutional)

Educational Activities

Weekly Conferences

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

Trauma Case Review Conference is scheduled every third Thursday of the month at 7 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.

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

Simulation Center

Simulation labs are scheduled monthly during protected conference times.

The MUSC Healthcare 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.

The curriculum and monthly dedicated time 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, and 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

Tracks

Global Health Track (PGY1-3)

The Global Health Resident Track, established in 2018, allows emergency medicine residents the opportunity to focus on global health and be mentored by 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. Residents must fulfill yearly requirements, outlined in goal & objectives, and remain in good academic standing; Emergency Medicine Residency responsibilities take priority.

Emergency Ultrasound (EUS) Academy (PGY1-3)

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 equips residents to become highly adept at using the ultrasound in the ED. We offer an advanced ultrasound elective, and residents complete an ultrasound scholarly project. We also participate in the SAEM Sonogames.

Life in Charleston

A coastal city

Find belonging within a strong healthcare community. Beyond the ED, the Lowcountry of South Carolina offers plenty of opportunities to recharge and explore during your time here.
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How to apply

Here is all the information you need to confidently approach the Emergency Medicine residency program selection process at MUSC.

Application Process

  1. Review the ResidencyCAS application timeline.
  2. Complete your application and submit all materials through ResidencyCAS.
  3. Applicants who are selected to interview will be notified on October 21 in ResidencyCAS.
  4. Interviews are held in November and December.

Application Requirements

  • ResidencyCAS Application
  • Medical School Performance Evaluation (MSPE)
  • Medical school transcript
  • At least two Standardized Letters of Evaluation (SLOE): One from your home institution and one from an away rotation
    • Any additional letters in your application, including letters from emergency medicine physicians, will be considered.
  • Personal statement (limited to one page)
  • USMLE and/or COMLEX transcripts, with first-time pass
  • A photo is strongly encouraged

Program Leadership

Jeffrey Bush, M.D.
Program Director

Dan Ritter, M.D.
Associate Program Director

Simon Watson, M.D.
Assistant Program Director

All Faculty

Current Residents

Hometowns, hobbies, and why MUSC – meet current emergency medicine residents.

PGY-1 Residents

Hometown: Baton Rouge, LA
Undergrad: LSU
Medical School: LSU New Orleans
Academic Interests: Wilderness medicine, disaster relief, social medicine
Why MUSC: I’ve always heard great things about Charleston, and I knew MUSC had a fantastic program that would expose me to a lot of areas within emergency medicine. Plus, the vibes on interview day were awesome!
Hobbies: Running, art, fishing, anything outside!

Hometown: Augusta, GA
Undergrad: Georgia Tech
Medical School: MUSC
Academic Interests: Ultrasound, medical education
Why MUSC: During medical school, I found the attendings to be supportive and highly knowledgeable, and I appreciated the culture of the residency program. It seemed that completing residency at MUSC would provide the training and opportunities needed to pursue whatever future endeavors I chose.
Hobbies: Working out, watching TV and sports, tennis, SCUBA, beach, attempting to play golf

Hometown: Woodstock, GA
Undergrad: University of Georgia
Medical School: Medical College of Georgia
Academic Interests: Ultrasound, medical education
Why MUSC: Throughout the interview season, I found that the interactions I had with everyone at MUSC, as well as the opportunities, were hard to find anywhere else. MUSC has a great program culture, and it was clear that the residents are happy and supported by faculty and leadership. Being able to live in the beautiful city of Charleston is an added bonus!
Hobbies: Cycling, traveling, reading, cuddling my cat Findley

Hometown: Springdale, AR
Undergrad: Nova Southeastern University
Medical School: University of Kentucky College of Medicine
Academic Interests: EMS and tactical medicine, event medicine, disaster medicine
Why MUSC: The fantastic program culture plus the perfect location to live and train!
Hobbies: Kickboxing, horseback riding, training for whatever race I've signed myself up for, reading, beach, buying overpriced coffee...

Hometown: Moncks Corner, SC
Undergrad: Clemson University
Medical School: MUSC
Academic Interests: Ultrasound-guided procedures
Why MUSC: I loved the atmosphere when I attended medical school here and didn’t want to leave.
Hobbies: Reading, cooking

Hometown: Mount Pleasant, SC
Undergrad: Washington and Lee University
Medical School: Kansas College of Osteopathic Medicine
Academic Interests: I am interested in exploring global medicine and love to learn! Outside of medicine I enjoy history, art history, art, and geography.
Why MUSC: I had a great time on my sub-internship rotation and it felt like a great fit! Everyone is so welcoming and went out of their way to include the visiting students. I also felt very supported in the learning aspect, and am exited to start my intern year! I also am happy to move back to SC to be near family and it is a plus to be nearby the beach as well. I have always loved the Charleston area because there is so much to do!
Hobbies: Barre, pilates, yoga, photography, shark tooth hunting, boogie boarding, cross stitch, mahjong, watching documentaries, baking, travel, volunteering with Charleston Waterkeeper, and hanging out with my cat Luna

Hometown: Menomonee Falls, WI
Undergrad: University of Dayton
Medical School: Marian University College of Osteopathic Medicine
Academic Interests: Sports medicine, pain management, medical education
Why MUSC: I rotated here as a fourth-year medical student and loved everything about the program. The residents and attendings are all fantastic people to work with on shift and also hang out outside the hospital. The acuity MUSC sees was also a draw to me. I want to be able to manage any condition as an EM physician and seeing everything from transplant patients to simple lacerations is crucial for my training. Lastly, Charleston as a city is amazing with the beaches nearby, amazing restaurants and weather, something important for what will be hard working years during residency.
Hobbies: Trying out new restaurants with my girlfriend, lifting weights, pickleball, watching Wisconsin sports teams

Hometown: Dubuque, Iowa
Undergrad: University of Iowa
Medical School: William Carey University College of Osteopathic Medicine
Academic Interests: Addiction medicine, global medicine, ultrasound, EMS
Why MUSC: Charleston was always on my radar but after my interview I was sold on MUSC! Everyone I talked to on interview day was so welcoming and supportive, I could truly envision myself training here. Being a level one trauma center and rated the best hospital in the state, MUSC was a no brainer. I knew I would get the training I needed to be the best doctor. Plus, the city itself is so charming!
Hobbies: Barre, sourdough baking, reading, playing board games, trying new restaurants with my husband, and hanging out with my crazy doggo

Hometowns: Nottingham, UK and Greenville, SC
Undergrad: University of South Carolina
Medical School: MUSC
Academic Interests: Global health, social EM
Why MUSC: I chose MUSC EM because of the people. Everyone is incredibly supportive and I always looked forward to my ED shifts. It's also great to get to leave the hospital and go to the beach!
Hobbies: Photography, running, my dog

Hometown: New Berlin, Wisconsin
Undergrad: University of Wisconsin La Crosse
Medical School: Des Moines University
Academic Interests: Critical care
Why MUSC: MUSC was easily my favorite interview. The conversations felt genuine, and it was clear the interviewers had actually taken the time to read my application and get to know me. Also, coming from the Midwest, Charleston seemed like a great place to escape the cold and train in an amazing environment.
Hobbies: Running, weightlifting, and the Packers

Hometown: Fort Wayne, IN
Undergrad: Indiana University
Medical School: Indiana University
Academic Interests: Public health, global health
Why MUSC: The people at MUSC were incredibly welcoming and willing to teach me throughout my away rotation as a medical student. I learned a ton and really enjoyed working with the entire team! Plus, nothing beats heading to the beach after a shift!
Hobbies: hiking, playing with my dog, painting, rollerblading

Hometown: Beverly, MA
Undergrad: University of Rhode Island
Medical School: New York Institute of Technology
Academic Interests: Ultrasound, pediatrics, global health
Why MUSC: It offers exceptional emergency medicine training in a place that is the perfect mix of city vibes and small-town charm. The residents here were the happiest I met during my interview season, and the faculty were approachable, supportive, and generally fun to be around. Add in Charleston's incredible food scene, beautiful beaches, and the warm weather year-round, and the decision was a no-brainer!
Hobbies: Soccer, reading, hiking, skiing, laying on the beach, trying new food, Wii Sports baseball

PGY-2 Residents

Hometown: Ashburn, VA
Undergrad: William & Mary
Medical School: Emory University
Academic Interests: Sports medicine, rural health and wilderness medicine
Why MUSC: I was looking for a program that was close-knit, small enough to really invest in me as a person, but with the resources and reputation to make opportunities a reality (flight medicine opportunities, EM sports med clinic). The work-life balance here is hard to beat. Before or after shifts, I'm minutes from all the things that make me feel human: swimming and grabbing a drink with my co-residents by the beach or downtown, Dead Low's spam musubi, and spending time on the marshes getting to know the neighborhood oysters, crabs, and redfish
Hobbies: DIY home projects, gardening, soccer, fishing, maybe one day surfing

Hometown: Rock Hill, SC
Undergrad: Clemson University
Medical School: MUSC
Academic Interests: Global emergency medicine
Why MUSC: My wife and I both wanted to stay here for residency because the training is incredible with the best coworkers, you get to treat the sickest patients in the state, and you absolutely cannot beat Charleston when you get time off!
Hobbies: Soccer, lifting, running, hanging out at breweries

Hometown: Beaufort, SC
Undergrad: Clemson University
Medical School: MUSC
Academic Interests: Ultrasound
Why MUSC: Supportive faculty and a great place to live!
Hobbies: Pickleball, cooking, spending time outside

Hometown: Boiling Springs, SC
Undergrad: College of Charleston
Medical School: MUSC
Academic Interests: Ultrasound, administration
Why MUSC: I love the place and people! Our program blends professionalism and play well, with approachable attendings in a high-complexity quaternary center.
Hobbies: Cooking, gardening, bringing folks together

Hometown: Boston, MA
Undergrad: Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences University
Medical School: Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine
Academic Interests: EMS, tactical medicine, ultrasound, event medicine, aerospace medicine, sports medicine
Why MUSC: I was looking for a program with outstanding training, a strong ultrasound curriculum, and a culture where residents genuinely enjoy working together. MUSC checks every box. Charleston’s beaches, waterways, food scene, and outdoor lifestyle were an added bonus, but what ultimately made MUSC stand out was the people. The residents and faculty were some of the most welcoming and down-to-earth people I met on the interview trail, and I knew it was a place where I would be challenged, supported, and happy for the next three years.
Hobbies: Traveling, boating, aviation, running, trying new restaurants, and spending time with family and friends

Hometown: Kansas City, MO
Undergrad: Missouri State University
Medical School: University of Missouri - Columbia
Academic Interests: Global health, sports medicine
Why MUSC: After doing an away rotation at MUSC, I immediately knew this was the program for me! Everyone was so welcoming, inclusive, and I never felt intimidated asking questions because the attendings and residents were always approachable and willing to teach. I love the variety in training, from rotating in the main hospital, pediatric ED, to seeing medically complex patients at ART, a community EM rotation, multiple off-service rotations, and even global health opportunities. The mostly 8-hour shifts make it much easier to have a good work-life balance, and the residents are not only great to work with but also fun to hang out with outside of the hospital! On top of that, Charleston is an amazing place to live with the beaches, great restaurants, and so much to do! I honestly couldn't be happier here, and I would choose MUSC again and again!
Hobbies: Hanging out with my co-residents, going to happy hour, trying new restaurants, laying at the pool or beach, reading, Pilates, cooking new recipes, binging Netflix shows

Hometown: St. Simons Island, GA
Undergrad: Clemson University
Medical School: MUSC
Academic Interests: Ultrasound, med-ed, wilderness
Why MUSC: So many reasons! I knew I loved the people here from my time as a medical student. I wanted to train somewhere with high-acuity, complex patients to prepare me to handle anything and everything. And of course, you can't beat living in Charleston! Where else can you have a post-work boat day with your co-residents on a Tuesday night?
Hobbies: Anything outside, live music, hanging with my dog, college football, traveling, puzzles, finding new places to explore in Charleston

Hometown: Greenville, SC
Undergrad: Furman University
Medical School: MUSC
Academic Interests: Therapeutic psychedelics
Why MUSC: Location, location, location! And the people aren’t bad either :)
Hobbies: Crafting, running, hiking, traveling, game nights, swimming, and rotting on the beach of course

Hometown: Bettendorf, IA
Undergrad: Beloit College
Medical School: Wright State Boonshoft School of Medicine
Academic Interests: Sports medicine, ultrasound
Why MUSC: The attendings, residents and staff were all very welcoming during my rotation as a visiting student, and that has continued throughout my time as a resident. I feel well supported and cared for by the people in this program. We get great education with a lot of high-acuity patients and high volume, and they really value resident feedback. Also, with the beach and Charleston area, every day off is like being on vacation.
Hobbies: Spending time with my wife and daughter, watching college football, DIY home projects, going to the beach, traveling

Hometown: York, SC
Undergrad: University of South Carolina - Go gamecocks
Medical School: USC SOM Columbia - Go gamecocks x2
Academic Interests: Global health, ultrasound, sports medicine
Why MUSC: Rotated here as a medical student and really enjoyed my time. Residents and faculty were my kind of people, and the vibes were right on shifts. Charleston is also a great (the best?) city and close to family for me.
Hobbies: Soccer, tennis, golf, basketball (essentially any sport with a ball), movie buff, spending money on food, being a fan of bad sports franchises

PGY-3 Residents

Hometown: Beaufort, SC
Undergrad: University of South Carolina
Medical School: MUSC
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

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, woodworking, volleyball

Hometown: Phoenixville, PA
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

Hometown: Greenville, SD
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

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

Hometown: Aiken, SC
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

Hometown: Getzville, NY
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

Hometown: Greenville, SC
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 fourth-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 my wife and kids

Hometown: Walterboro, SC
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

Hometown: Des Moines, IA
Undergrad: Iowa State University
Medical School: Marian University
Academic Interests: Global health, addiction medicine, Uatrasound, 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

Thank you for your interest in becoming an emergency medicine resident at MUSC.

Yes, 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 current resident Dr. Sarah Tobin if you have questions about the emergency medicine program.

For a full list of MUSC Resident Ambassadors, see the college's Support for Residents & Fellows page.

Visit the ResidencyCAS website.

Check out program director Dr. Jeffrey Bush's interview with EMResident.org.

Visiting Student Information

Our visiting students spots are during Blocks 1-5 (June-October). We review VSLO applications in April for the following summer and fall. Selected candidates will be notified directly via VSLO.  Any medical student related questions may be directed to clerkship coordinator Pam Mead.

Contact

Emergency Medicine Residency Program
169 Ashley Avenue
MSC 300 Room NT265
Charleston, SC 29425

For more information about the Emergency Medicine Residency, please contact Michelle Botello, program coordinator.

botelhom@musc.edu
843-876-8023