Monthly news roundup

January 18, 2022
News Roundup

Ravi Veeraswamy Named Assoc CMO Surgical Services Charleston

Ravi Veeraswamy, M.D. Named to New Leadership Team

With the growth of the Charleston Division, MUSC Health has expanded its physician leadership structure. Carrie Herzke, M.D. MBA joins as the Charleston Division Chief Medical Officer (CMO) and Executive Director for MUHA. To help support the expanding team, Ravi Veeraswamy, M.D. joins a newly-appointed group of Associate Chief Medical Officers, serving as Associate CMO for Surgical Services of the Charleston Division.

“We are fortunate to have Dr. Veeraswamy serve in this new leadership role,” said Prabhakar Baliga, M.D., Chair of the Department of Surgery. “As the Associate CMO of surgical services, his leadership and voice will facilitate optimal care of our patients and surgical care teams.”

Ashley Hink MD MPH Awarded Prestigious Department of Justice Grant

Dr. Hink Receives a prestigious Department of Justice Grant

Ashley Hink, M.D., MPH and colleagues were awarded a Department of Justice Comprehensive Youth Violence Prevention and Reduction Program Grant to establish a violence prevention and intervention program for at-risk youth in community settings. The grant will support a partnership between the MUSC Health Turning the Tide Violence Intervention Program (TTVIP) and Youth Advocate Programs, Inc. to extend violence intervention services to at-risk youth identified at MUSC and in community settings. The three-year grant award is for$997,351.

MUSC Health Transplant Program Among the Best in the U.S.

The Transplant Program national rankings for 2021 showcases MUSC Health as one of the highest volume programs in the country! Most notably, MUSC Health is the 10th largest solid organ transplant program inclusive of heart, lung, liver kidney and pancreas transplants. By organ type, MUSC Health is the fourth largest kidney transplant program in the U.S. and, for the first time ever in the history of the program, we are the highest volume center in the country for deceased-donor kidney transplants. MUSC Health is the second highest volume center in the country for adding patients to the kidney transplant waitlist. We are also the 5th highest volume pancreas transplant program and the 13th highest volume heart transplant program in the U.S. “Each year MUSC Health has significantly increased our transplant volumes affording the opportunity for patients in and around South Carolina to receive a life-saving transplant,” said Derek DuBay, M.D., Chief of Transplant Surgery. “We are most grateful for our community collaborations and our dedicated transplant providers who provide compassionate care to patients in need every day.”

ACS Level 1 Children’s Surgery Verification Quality Improvement Program

MUSC Shawn Jenkins Children’s Hospital was awarded Level I Children’s Surgery Verification from the American College of Surgeons Children’s Surgery Verification Quality Improvement Program. The MUSC Children’s Hospital is one of three Children’s Hospitals in the Southeast to be recognized with this honor, and one of forty nation-wide. “The surgical quality verification from the ACS gives patients and their families an added level of assurance about our surgical quality and commitment to providing comprehensive and safe pediatric surgical care,” said Robert Cina, M.D., director of Pediatric Surgical Quality. This is a tremendous tribute to Dr. Cina, Corrine Corrigan, PharmD, Children's &Women's Quality & Safety

Adult Trauma Program Receives ACS Level 1 Reverification

The MUSC Health Adult Trauma Program received reverification as a Level 1Trauma Center by the American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma. As the only ACS verified Level 1 Trauma Center in the Lowcountry, MUSC Health provides a valuable resource for comprehensive trauma care – from prevention through rehabilitation. Hospitals that are designated a trauma center by state and local authorities are evaluated every three years by the American College of Surgeons, and they are assigned a status based on the services they offer. Level One is the highest designation available. Congratulations to Medical Director Evert Eriksson, M.D., Program Manager Shawn Crowley, MSN, and the entire trauma team!

Endocrine Surgeon Denise CarneiroPla

Thyroid disease is prevalent, ranging from thyroid function abnormality to thyroid nodules and cancer. Many thyroid disorders, such as hypothyroidism, where the thyroid gland does not produce enough hormones, can be managed with medication. In hyperthyroidism, where the gland produces excess hormones, personalized care can include medical or surgical intervention depending on the condition. Surgical intervention is an option for goiter, thyroid nodules, hyperthyroidism and thyroid cancers. Thyroid nodules are lumps inside the thyroid gland and are present in about 60% of the population. Around 5% of these nodules are malignant and usually require surgical intervention. According to endocrine surgeon Denise Carneiro-Pla, M.D., larger thyroid nodules can be found when patients have trouble swallowing or they can be felt or seen in the neck. Often, smaller nodules are detected during a routine medical examination or imagining. Even though most nodules will be benign, it’s still important to see an endocrine surgeon or endocrinologist for evaluation.

“Thyroid nodules often require biopsy to determine if the thyroid needs to be removed or not.” said Carneiro-Pla. “The great majority of these lesions can be followed by the patients’ primary care physician or endocrinologist; however surgical intervention is often recommended.” Both Dr. Carneiro-Pla and her partner, endocrine surgeon Mahsa Javid, M.D. Ph.D., are among a handful of trained endocrine surgeons in South Carolina. “Thyroid surgery is a delicate procedure where experience is of particular importance for proper management and excellent outcomes,” explained Carneiro-Pla.

Resident Wellness: Pelotons to Improve Resident and Faculty Health and Wellness

Resident and Fellows will now how Peloton's to improve their wellbeing.

The Department of Surgery is committed to improving the wellness of our faculty and trainees. MUSC has an active and dedicated Wellness Group, led by faculty sponsor Andrea Abbott, M.D. MSCR, Vice-Chair of Personal Development and Well-being. Dr. Abbott is an advocate for resident-driven wellness initiatives and in her new role as Vice-Chair she will be expanding her efforts to include faculty and staff wellness. The Wellness Group conducts surveys and provides open forums so trainees have an opportunity to have their voices heard. One prevalent theme trainees expressed was lack of time and access to physical fitness opportunities. A solution was to provide a gym experience through purchasing Peloton bikes for the Clinical Science and Ashley River Tower resident call spaces. By using the bikes while on call or during a few spare moments of downtime during the day, residents, fellows and faculty can improve their physical and mental health resiliency.

faculty recognition

Faculty and Resident Awards and Recognitions:

Mathew Wooster, M.D. was promoted to Associate Professor of Surgery, effective January 1, 2022.

Rana Pullatt, M.D. presented at the ASBMS in-person meeting, where he chaired the Robotics and Duodenal Switch session and presented six talks.

Evert Eriksson, M.D. and the Trauma Team: The Chest Wall Injury Society Article was the16th most read article in the Journal of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery in 2021.

Congratulations to Lillian Hsu, M.D. PGY-2, who was accepted into the Hollings Cancer Center T32 Integrative Training in Oncogenic Signaling (ITOS)Postdoctoral Training Program. ITOS fellows will be paired with a primary mentor and at least one secondary mentor from a pool of highly successful ITOS program faculty.

SAVER Team Accepted to the SESC Shark Session at the SESC Annual Meeting; Advance to Semi-finals at SAGES

Ravi Veeraswamy Named Assoc CMO Surgical Services Charleston

Ravi Veeraswamy, M.D. Named to New Leadership Team

With the growth of the Charleston Division, MUSC Health has expanded its physician leadership structure. Carrie Herzke, M.D. MBA joins as the Charleston Division Chief Medical Officer (CMO) and Executive Director for MUHA. To help support the expanding team, Ravi Veeraswamy, M.D. joins a newly-appointed group of Associate Chief Medical Officers, serving as Associate CMO for Surgical Services of the Charleston Division.

“We are fortunate to have Dr. Veeraswamy serve in this new leadership role,” said Prabhakar Baliga, M.D., Chair of the Department of Surgery. “As the Associate CMO of surgical services, his leadership and voice will facilitate optimal care of our patients and surgical care teams.”

Ashley Hink MD MPH Awarded Prestigious Department of Justice Grant

Dr. Hink Receives a prestigious Department of Justice Grant

Ashley Hink, M.D., MPH and colleagues were awarded a Department of Justice Comprehensive Youth Violence Prevention and Reduction Program Grant to establish a violence prevention and intervention program for at-risk youth in community settings. The grant will support a partnership between the MUSC Health Turning the Tide Violence Intervention Program (TTVIP) and Youth Advocate Programs, Inc. to extend violence intervention services to at-risk youth identified at MUSC and in community settings. The three-year grant award is for$997,351.

MUSC Health Transplant Program Among the Best in the U.S.

The Transplant Program national rankings for 2021 showcases MUSC Health as one of the highest volume programs in the country! Most notably, MUSC Health is the 10th largest solid organ transplant program inclusive of heart, lung, liver kidney and pancreas transplants. By organ type, MUSC Health is the fourth largest kidney transplant program in the U.S. and, for the first time ever in the history of the program, we are the highest volume center in the country for deceased-donor kidney transplants. MUSC Health is the second highest volume center in the country for adding patients to the kidney transplant waitlist. We are also the 5th highest volume pancreas transplant program and the 13th highest volume heart transplant program in the U.S. “Each year MUSC Health has significantly increased our transplant volumes affording the opportunity for patients in and around South Carolina to receive a life-saving transplant,” said Derek DuBay, M.D., Chief of Transplant Surgery. “We are most grateful for our community collaborations and our dedicated transplant providers who provide compassionate care to patients in need every day.”

ACS Level 1 Children’s Surgery Verification Quality Improvement Program

MUSC Shawn Jenkins Children’s Hospital was awarded Level I Children’s Surgery Verification from the American College of Surgeons Children’s Surgery Verification Quality Improvement Program. The MUSC Children’s Hospital is one of three Children’s Hospitals in the Southeast to be recognized with this honor, and one of forty nation-wide. “The surgical quality verification from the ACS gives patients and their families an added level of assurance about our surgical quality and commitment to providing comprehensive and safe pediatric surgical care,” said Robert Cina, M.D., director of Pediatric Surgical Quality. This is a tremendous tribute to Dr. Cina, Corrine Corrigan, PharmD, Children's &Women's Quality & Safety

Adult Trauma Program Receives ACS Level 1 Reverification

The MUSC Health Adult Trauma Program received reverification as a Level 1Trauma Center by the American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma. As the only ACS verified Level 1 Trauma Center in the Lowcountry, MUSC Health provides a valuable resource for comprehensive trauma care – from prevention through rehabilitation. Hospitals that are designated a trauma center by state and local authorities are evaluated every three years by the American College of Surgeons, and they are assigned a status based on the services they offer. Level One is the highest designation available. Congratulations to Medical Director Evert Eriksson, M.D., Program Manager Shawn Crowley, MSN, and the entire trauma team!

Endocrine Surgeon Denise CarneiroPla

Thyroid disease is prevalent, ranging from thyroid function abnormality to thyroid nodules and cancer. Many thyroid disorders, such as hypothyroidism, where the thyroid gland does not produce enough hormones, can be managed with medication. In hyperthyroidism, where the gland produces excess hormones, personalized care can include medical or surgical intervention depending on the condition. Surgical intervention is an option for goiter, thyroid nodules, hyperthyroidism and thyroid cancers. Thyroid nodules are lumps inside the thyroid gland and are present in about 60% of the population. Around 5% of these nodules are malignant and usually require surgical intervention. According to endocrine surgeon Denise Carneiro-Pla, M.D., larger thyroid nodules can be found when patients have trouble swallowing or they can be felt or seen in the neck. Often, smaller nodules are detected during a routine medical examination or imagining. Even though most nodules will be benign, it’s still important to see an endocrine surgeon or endocrinologist for evaluation.

“Thyroid nodules often require biopsy to determine if the thyroid needs to be removed or not.” said Carneiro-Pla. “The great majority of these lesions can be followed by the patients’ primary care physician or endocrinologist; however surgical intervention is often recommended.” Both Dr. Carneiro-Pla and her partner, endocrine surgeon Mahsa Javid, M.D. Ph.D., are among a handful of trained endocrine surgeons in South Carolina. “Thyroid surgery is a delicate procedure where experience is of particular importance for proper management and excellent outcomes,” explained Carneiro-Pla.

Resident Wellness: Pelotons to Improve Resident and Faculty Health and Wellness

Resident and Fellows will now how Peloton's to improve their wellbeing.

The Department of Surgery is committed to improving the wellness of our faculty and trainees. MUSC has an active and dedicated Wellness Group, led by faculty sponsor Andrea Abbott, M.D. MSCR, Vice-Chair of Personal Development and Well-being. Dr. Abbott is an advocate for resident-driven wellness initiatives and in her new role as Vice-Chair she will be expanding her efforts to include faculty and staff wellness. The Wellness Group conducts surveys and provides open forums so trainees have an opportunity to have their voices heard. One prevalent theme trainees expressed was lack of time and access to physical fitness opportunities. A solution was to provide a gym experience through purchasing Peloton bikes for the Clinical Science and Ashley River Tower resident call spaces. By using the bikes while on call or during a few spare moments of downtime during the day, residents, fellows and faculty can improve their physical and mental health resiliency.

faculty recognition

Faculty and Resident Awards and Recognitions:

Mathew Wooster, M.D. was promoted to Associate Professor of Surgery, effective January 1, 2022.

Rana Pullatt, M.D. presented at the ASBMS in-person meeting, where he chaired the Robotics and Duodenal Switch session and presented six talks.

Evert Eriksson, M.D. and the Trauma Team: The Chest Wall Injury Society Article was the16th most read article in the Journal of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery in 2021.

Congratulations to Lillian Hsu, M.D. PGY-2, who was accepted into the Hollings Cancer Center T32 Integrative Training in Oncogenic Signaling (ITOS)Postdoctoral Training Program. ITOS fellows will be paired with a primary mentor and at least one secondary mentor from a pool of highly successful ITOS program faculty.

SAVER Team Accepted to the SESC Shark Session at the SESC Annual Meeting; Advance to Semi-finals at SAGES

Categories: Awards, Education, Faculty and Staff, General Announcements, Vascular Surgery, Cancer, Monthly News Roundup