Scott M. Bradley, M.D., Pediatric Cardiac Surgeon, Retires from MUSC

Scott M. Bradley, M.D., pediatric cardiothoracic surgeon, was celebrated during a retirement reception at the Carolina Yacht Club on Sunday, June 30, 2024, for nearly 30 years of service to MUSC,  exceptional and compassionate care for his patients and their families, and the legacy he leaves to the future of pediatric cardiothoracic surgical care in South Carolina. 

Pictured with Dr. Bradley (center) are pediatric cardiothoracic surgeons Matteo Trezzi, M.D., Robert M. Sade, M.D., Minoo Kavarana, M.D. and Mac Felmly, M.D.

During the reception, Dr. Bradley was celebrated for his remarkable career that has impacted countless lives in our state. Many patients and their families provided heartwarming messages of gratitude through a video designed by the members of a Facebook SC Heart Family group shared during the reception as a surprise for Dr. Bradley. Throughout the video, a common theme was the parents’ comments on Dr. Bradley’s skill, his compassion and calm demeanor that helped them navigate the challenges of their child’s life-saving surgery.

“Dr. Bradley has been instrumental in building a world-class pediatric cardiac surgery program at the MUSC Shawn Jenkins Children’s Hospital,” said Prabhakar Baliga, M.D., chair of the Department of Surgery. “All of us have gained so much from his leadership that extended far beyond the boundaries of the operating room. What a great legacy! Now we welcome Dr. Kavarana to take the program to the next level from the solid foundation he built.”

Throughout his career, Dr. Bradley’s primary professional goal has been to develop a collegial team that provides the population of South Carolina with pediatric cardiac surgical outcomes that are equivalent to, or better than, anywhere in the world. The MUSC Children’s Heart Network of South Carolina ranked No. 4 in the country in the U.S. News & World Report’s 2023-2024 Best Children’s Hospitals for Cardiology and Heart Surgery survey. For the outcome component of this score, the MUSC Pediatric & Congenital Heart Center was ranked No. 3 in the nation.

In 2020, Dr. Bradley was recognized for his exceptional contributions to the field of cardiothoracic surgery by Gov. Henry McMaster, who awarded Dr. Bradley the Order of the Palmetto for a lifetime of service and achievements. The award is the highest civilian honor awarded to citizens of South Carolina.

“Dr. Bradley is a gifted surgeon whose expertise and vision have built the strong foundation for our pediatric cardiothoracic surgery division to expand upon,” said Minoo Kavarana, M.D., chief of pediatric cardiothoracic surgery. “He had the vision more than twenty years ago to build a world-class program comparable to the best hospitals in the nation.”

MUSC belongs to the Children’s Heart Program of South Carolina, a statewide network of pediatric cardiologists providing coordinated care for all congenital heart patients in South Carolina. The support of the pediatric cardiology groups around the state has been critical to the program’s ongoing success. This team compassionately cares for children and their families who find themselves in the direst of situations. Any family hopes for the best possible quality of life for its children. Families seek out MUSC knowing that they are in the right place at the right time. Many of the pediatric cardiologists who have worked with Dr. Bradley for over 20 years traveled from around the state to celebrate and honor Dr. Bradley. Other tributes came from family and colleagues for his contributions to patient and family care, clinical excellence, and service commitment.

In 1995, Dr. Bradley was recruited by Fred A. Crawford, Jr., M.D., Distinguished University Professor and Chair Emeritus, who complimented Dr. Bradley’s technical skills. “Equally impressive has been Dr. Bradley’s ability to turn it into a truly team effort,” Dr. Crawford said. “It was a privilege for me to be a part of this team for a number of years and I am grateful for all he has done for the children of South Carolina and MUSC.”

The MUSC Pediatric Cardiac Team is truly multidisciplinary: it comprises a close-knit group of pediatric cardiac care providers in surgery, cardiology, anesthesia, nursing, perfusion, pharmacy, respiratory therapy, dietary, play therapy, and others. The program’s care has extended outside the state of South Carolina and the nation’s borders to include more than 50 children from across the globe. By participating in the Gift of Life program, the program has operated on children from around the world, including Mongolia, Bosnia, Nigeria and Vietnam, to offer them a second chance at life.

In his comments Dr. Bradley thanked the team: “Your approach is the embodiment of teamwork, and your collegiality makes it fun to come to work. The talent and dedication in this room give me complete confidence in the program’s future. It is a good feeling for me to leave the surgery program in Minoo’s incredibly capable hands. Our program is, by any measure, quite remarkable, and something of which we can all be justifiably proud. It has been an honor to be a part of it, and it has been an absolute joy to be a part of it.” 

Dr. Bradley will remain on faculty at MUSC, where he will continue to mentor the next generation of pediatric cardiothoracic surgeons and pediatric cardiologists.