Division of Colorectal Surgery

The Division of Colorectal Surgery provides a full range of colorectal care. Our surgeons are double board certified in General Surgery and Colorectal Surgery, lending a unique depth and breadth of experience to a wide range of benign and malignant diseases of the lower gastrointestinal tract. The division is nationally and internationally recognized for its pioneering efforts and extensive experience in minimally invasive surgery, including state-of-the-art laparoscopic and robotic procedures for colorectal cancer, Crohn’s Disease and other inflammatory bowel diseases. As we continue to grow to provide more patients greater access to our specialized care, we added a new team member, fellowship-trained colorectal surgeon Colleen Donahue, M.D.

NATIONAL LEADER IN RECTAL CANCER

The MUSC Hollings Cancer Center earned a three-year accreditation from the National Accreditation Program for Rectal Cancer (NAPRC), recognizing the center’s commitment to providing the best possible care for patients with the disease. The NAPR accreditation is a quality improvement program of the American College of Surgeons. Hollings is one of only 22 centers in the country to earn the accreditation and is the first in South Carolina. Accreditation is granted only to those programs that are committed to providing the best possible care to patients with rectal cancer through a multidisciplinary approach and

adherence to evidence-based standards. The Hollings multidisciplinary team approach, led by colorectal surgeon Virgilio George, M.D., includes clinical representatives from surgery, pathology, radiology, radiation oncology and medical oncology to provide a well-rounded approach to care. Additionally, a team of physicians meets weekly through the center’s dedicated tumor board to review each patient’s chart and develop the best treatment pathway to ensure that patients are achieving optimal outcomes.

SACRAL NERVE STIMULATION OFFERS HOPE TO PATIENTSWITH BOWEL INCONTINENCE

Nearly 18 million adults in the United States – about one in12 – have fecal incontinence (FI). It is life-altering because many sufferers limit their lives socially, professionally, and personally. Fortunately, FI is treatable. Known as sacral neuromodulation (SNM), the therapy has been shown to improve FI by more than 70%, allowing patients to experience an improved quality of life. Effective long-term treatment for bowel control is an unmet medical need by many in South Carolina who experience regular accidents associated with FI.MUSC is one of the first medical centers in South Carolina to offer new SNM solutions to the people who suffer from FI thanks to colorectal surgeon Pinckney J. Maxwell IV,M.D., an expert in performing SNM procedures, and technology advancements from Medtronic — the world’s leading provider of therapy for bladder and bowel control issues. The new therapy is delivered by the InterStim™ system – an implanted medical device that provides gentle stimulation to the sacral nerve and is thought to normalize the brain-bladder connection to alleviate symptoms. Medtronic's InterStim™ II recharge-free system offers patients freedom from a recharging routine, the hassle of recharging components, and a reminder they have a disease. The rechargeable InterStim™ Micro system, the smallest device available in the sacral neuromodulation(SNM) market, benefits patients who want a smaller, longer lasting device. By partnering with Medtronic, the trusted leader in SNMtherapy, Dr. Maxwell's goal is to help give patients a life without limits.

NEW IBD PROGRAM OPTIMIZES PATIENTCARE AND ACCESS

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), including ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease, are chronic autoimmune inflammatory conditions of the intestine with the potential to significantly impact patients’ overall health and quality of life at a tremendous healthcare cost. With recent studies showing improved patient outcomes with a multidisciplinary, patient focused approach, MUSC gastroenterologist Dr. Erin Forster is spearheading a Patient Centered Medical Home(PCMH) for the care of patients with IBD. The PCMH aims to align stakeholder incentives and provide up-front resources to optimally manage this unique population in an efficient and effective manner. This talented team of providers includes specialty trained gastroenterologists, physician assistants, nutrition specialists and close collaboration with MUSC colorectal surgeons. In grateful recognition of the care provided by Dr. Forster, Marvin Jenkins has stepped forward with a significant contribution to support the various needs of the PCMH that provides a comprehensive approach to care for IBD patients. He is also committed to helping expand the services offered by this new program.

In parallel with the growing clinical efforts through the IBD PCMH, Thomas Curran, M.D. MPH of MUSC Colorectal Surgery has convened a multidisciplinary team of health services researchers to optimize care delivery for IBD in South Carolina with a focus on mitigating health disparities. This initiative includes Dr. Forster, Patrick Mauldin, Ph.D, Director of the Section of Health Systems Research and Policy and Gayenell Magwood, RN Ph.D., tenured Professor in the MUSC College of Nursing. With the assistance of MUSC general surgery resident, Lex Booth, M.D. and MUSC medical student, Wilson Ford, the team has recently completed a systematic review showing significant racial and socioeconomic disparities in surgical utilization and surgical outcomes for patients with IBD. The team is currently poised to utilize a mixed methods approach including large statewide data and patient focus groups to develop targeted interventions to improve collaborative care of underserved patients with complex IBD.

With advances in the multidisciplinary care of patients with cancer of the colon, rectum and anus, patients are living longer following cancer treatment. Recognizing the complex needs of cancer survivors, the division of Colon and Rectal Surgery is proud to offer a dedicated survivorship program to our patients. Led by Karen Anderson, PA-C, the survivorship program helps patients to navigate the latest in cancer surveillance strategies through the National Comprehensive Cancer Network.