June 2025 Newsletter

Dear Colleagues & Friends,

As we wrap up another remarkable academic year, I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to each and every member of our department. Your unwavering dedication, resilience, and pursuit of excellence have been the driving forces behind our collective success.‌

‌This time of year offers a wonderful opportunity to reflect, celebrate, and recognize the outstanding contributions of our trainees and faculty. From our annual Awards Ceremony to the College’s Golden Apple Award Ceremony, we honor the exceptional talent and commitment that make our community so special. Our celebrations continue at the upcoming graduation dinner, where we’ll proudly recognize our graduates and send them off with our best wishes as they take the next exciting steps in their surgical careers.‌

I also invite you to join us for two special upcoming events:

• June 9 – Ribbon Cutting and Grand Opening Celebration of our Surgical Innovation Center, CSB Suite 420, at 4 p.m.
• June 10 – Kredel-Springs Lecture and Research Symposium‌

Thank you once again for a truly inspiring year.‌

Warm regards,‌

‌Baliga

Kredel-Springs Lecture and Research Symposium

Please join us on June 10, beginning at 7 a.m. for the Kredel-Springs Lecture, with our invited lecturer, Gilbert R. Upchurch, Jr., M.D., Chair of the University of Florida Department of Surgery, who will present Our Role in Caring for Patients with Complex Diseases. Immediately following, the lecture, from 8 - 9 a.m., we hope you will join us for our inaugural Kredel-Springs Research Symposium, showcasing our 2024 Harvey and Marcia Surgical Innovation Award Winners' scholarly research, as well as VA Quality Scholar, Macelyn Batten, DO.

Read more

2025 Awards Ceremony & Invited Lecture

‌The Department of Surgery hosted its Annual Awards Day, honoring outstanding achievements in clinical care, research, education, and service. Faculty, residents, and staff were recognized for their exceptional contributions to surgical excellence and patient care.  This year we were honored to have surgical alumna Megan Baker, M.D.as our guest speaker.

See All of Our Award Winners

MUSC Surgery Sessions featuring David B. Adams, M.D.

 MUSC Surgery Sessions Podcast Series is our latest endeavor to celebrate and recognize our esteemed faculty whose expertise and innovative spirit helped shape the MUSC Department of Surgery and their respective fields. Please join us in our efforts to capture our rich history through the voices of some of the giants in the field by listening to the third episode with David B. Adams, M.D., Distinguished University Professor Emeritus.

Listen to the Podcast

Dr. Pullatt Named ASMBS President

Rana Pullatt, M.D., an internationally recognized leader in bariatric and robotic surgery, has been elected President of the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS). The ASMBS is the world’s leading organization dedicated to advancing the science, practice, and education of metabolic and bariatric surgery. Dr. Pullatt will begin his presidential term in June 2027, following a rigorous and highly competitive selection process. He assumes the role of Vice President starting July 2025, President-elect in July 2026, and President in July 2027. Read full announcement

Dr. van Heerden Named ACS Icon in Surgery

Jon van Heerden, M.D., an internationally known endocrine surgeon, educator, and researcher, has been named an Icon of Surgery by the American College of Surgeons (ACS)—one of the most prestigious honors bestowed by the ACS in recognition of extraordinary contributions to surgical education, practice, and mentorship. He will be formally recognized at the 2025 ACS Clinical Congress  in October. ‌‌A full announcement will be made soon.

Golden Apple Excellence in Teaching Award Winners

Dr. Maggie Westfal received two teaching awards--Medical Student Advisor Award and Clinical Preceptor Excellence in Teaching-- in recognition of her exceptional dedication to medical education. The students specifically mentioned all the help she gave to their surgery residency applications!

‌‌Additionally, PGY-3 resident Mike Deal, M.D., was awarded the Clinical Preceptor Excellence in Teaching Award, highlighting his impactful role in mentoring medical students and junior trainees.

Mike M. Mallah, M.D. selected as a Pearls Lecture Presenter

The Pearls Lecture is always a highlight of Commencement Week as student-selected faculty members share parting thoughts with the graduating College of Medicine students. Congratulations, to Dr. Mallah, who was one of the four faculty selected to give Pearls Lectures!

Brianna McLaughlin, M.D.

Congratulations to Brianna McLaughlin, M.D., plastic surgery fellow, has recently matched to the University of Miami Hand Surgery Fellowship program!

A Special Congratulations to our Employees of the Year!

Each month, the Department recognizes employees who demonstrate excellence based on nominations from members of the Department. At the end of the year, one staff and one APP are honored as the Employees of the Year! Congratulations to Tiffany Yeung, Research Specialist in Dr. Wang's Lab, and Jennifer Reeves, PA, an APP in the Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery.

Congratulations to our May Employees of the Month