David Adams MD Receives Honor

Gov. Henry McMaster awarded the Order of the Palmetto to Dr. David B. Adams, distinguished university professor emeritus in the department of surgery. The award is the highest civilian honor awarded to citizens of South Carolina for their extraordinary lifetime service and achievements.

Nominated by Dr. Prabhakar Baliga, chairman of the MUSC Department of Surgery, the award was presented by MUSC President Dr. David J. Cole on behalf of the governor during Adams' retirement dinner Oct. 12 at High Cotton restaurant.

Adams is a rare combination of successful clinician and beloved teacher. He has mentored countless surgeons throughout his career. Many are current leaders in their fields and credit not only their success, but their kindness, compassion, and humility to lessons they learned from him.

Since joining MUSC in 1986, Adams has served in many leadership positions including interim chair of the department of surgery, medical director for One West Trauma Center, program director for the General Surgery Residency Training Program, director of the MUSC Postgraduate Course in Surgery, and director of the International Chronic Pancreatitis Symposium.

Adams served in numerous national level leadership positions including: the American College of Surgeons (ACS) Board of Governors; president, Southeastern Surgical Congress; president, Halsted Society; governor, S.C. Chapter of the ACS; and second vice president, Southern Surgical Society.

Over the years, MUSC has recognized Adams with awards for best clinical instructor in general surgery, MUSC faculty member Alpha Omega Alpha, MUSC Faculty Excellence Award, the Paul H. O’Brien Resident Teaching Award, the Leonard Tow Humanism in Medicine Award, and the MUSC Health Sciences Foundation Outstanding Clinician Award.