What is your current role?
Chair of Department of OBGYN, Prisma Health Midlands/University of South Carolina School of Medicine Columbia; also practicing Maternal Fetal Medicine in the Department.
What is the best part of your occupation?
My favorite part is helping take care of patients—continues to be my driving energy every day!
How did you become interested in Obstetrics and Gynecology?
The encouragement of residents during my medical school and encouragement of attendings Lawrence Hester and Ed Horger—just an example of how our impact on other’s choices can’t be underestimated.
How did you become involved with the SAAOG?
The South Atlantic was always the premier society growing up in the south. During residency was my first exposure but then I moved to Kentucky after graduation and because of geography, joined the Central Association. Even while there, I always hoped for an opportunity to come back home and become eligible to join the South Atlantic. My mentor (Dr. Ed Horger) and many other past members/presidents have served as shining examples of how the South Atlantic has helped mold the practice of OBGYN.
Explain how you benefit from being a member of SAAOG.
Building relationships in our field is the number one but closely behind is the propagation of evidence-based practice through our excellent programs.
What would you like to see occur in the field of Obstetrics and Gynecology during your career?
Continued focus on quality care for our patients and encouraging involvement of our young resident physicians and new graduates to become involved in organized medicine. Our voice will be critical to impact the future of our field: focus on the patient and quality care will lead to our success.
What are your hobbies outside of the office?
Love to boat off the coast of beautiful Edisto Island and create grand stories of the fish that got away.
What is something surprising that most people do not know about you?
One of five children to a great mom and dad on a farm in rural SC, grew up working on the farm and almost made a career as a funeral director before a professor at my alma mater, Newberry College, encouraged me to apply to med school. The rest is history.
Want to be in the spotlight? Nominate yourself or another SAAOG member to participate in our member spotlight program to get to know your fellow colleagues and connect with other OB/GYN professionals. To learn more and participate, email the SAAOG Membership Manager at membership@saaog.org.
