Cindy Allen, PhD, APRN, FNP

Dr. Allen joined the faculty in 2010. Prior to this appointment, she was an Instructor at the College of Nursing teaching in the graduate program. Cindy was the recipient of the Golden Lamp Award from 2007-2010 and 2010 Palmetto Gold Award. Her graduate studies were earned from Case Western Reserve University and Medical University of South Carolina. Her areas of professional interest include: pediatrics, preventative care, research and medical education.

Joseph Benich III, M.D.

Dr. Benich was born in Charleston, SC and attended college at Clemson University. JJ graduated from MUSC and completed the Trident/MUSC residency program serving as chief resident in 2008. During residency his research focused on the management of heart failure in the primary care setting. Clinical and research interests include cardiovascular disease, preventive care, and medical education. He joined our faculty as an assistant professor in July 2008 and is the clinic director for our East Cooper University Family Medicine office.

Jennifer Ann Nicole Bhavsar, M.D.

Dr. Bhavsar completed her medical degree from Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine in 2008 and her family medicine residency from MUSC in 2011. She is currently practicing with the MUSC Department of Family Medicine and Residency Program. Her clinical interests include obstetrics, faculty development, and teaching residents and medical students.

Amy V. Blue Ph.D.

Dr. Blue joined the MUSC Department of Family Medicine in 1998. Dr. Blue is a Professor of Family Medicine and serves as the Assistant Provost for Education, and the Director of Creating Collaborative Care (C3). She works with our faculty on faculty development and educational research. Her areas of professional interest include: interprofessional education, undergraduate curriculum change, cultural competency in medicine and professionalism in medical education.

Clive D. Brock M.B.,Ch.B

Dr. Brock joined our department in 1981 and is one of our residency faculty members. He was trained in South Africa and spent 15 years in private practice before joining the faculty. Dr. Brock has a special interest in the doctor-patient relationship and is involved in Balint group work locally, nationally and internationally and is the past President of the American Balint society.

Peter J. Carek, M.D., M.S.

Dr. Carek completed medical school and family medicine residency training at MUSC. In addition, he completed sports medicine fellowships at the Ohio Physical Therapy and Sports Medicine Clinic and University of Tennessee before joining the faculty in 1992. He has been Residency Program Director since 1995. His main areas of interest are sports medicine, quality improvement, medical education, physical activity and health promotion .

Dr. Chessman did his residency at MUSC and joined faculty in 1987. He became Director of Medical Student Education in 1990. His professional interests include Balint seminar training, clinical reasoning, evidence-based medicine, and computer-based learning.

Alex O. DeCastro, M.D.

Dr. DeCastro completed his family medicine residency training at Mcleod Family Medicine in 2005. He then served in the USAF in both Primary Care and Aerospace Medicine. He deployed to Iraq in 2008 and still currently serves as a flight surgeon in the USAF reserves. Additionally, he completed his sports medicine fellowship at the Southern Illinois School of Medicine in 2009. He then returned to SC and worked in Urgent Care prior to joining the faculty in 2012. His main areas of interest are sports medicine, cardiovascular fitness, and ultrasound, and medical education.

Todd Detar, D.O.

Dr. Detar joined the faculty in 1997 after several years in private practice in Pottstown, PA. He serves as director of the College of Medicine Doctoring Curriculum and directs an elective in the Healer’s Art. His interests include care for the whole family in a holistic osteopathic approach. His clinical interests include medical interviewing skills, role modeling and prevention of burnout.

Vanessa Diaz, M.D., M.S.

Dr. Diaz received her medical degree from the University of Miami (FL) and completed residency in Savannah, GA. She joined our research division as a faculty member in 2004 after completing a two-year faculty development fellowship at MUSC that included obtaining her Masters of Science in Clinical Research. She is currently our Clinical Services Director. Her research interests include Latino health, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and women's health issues. A native of Panama, Dr. Diaz is fluent in Spanish.

Peter A. Dodge, Sr., PA-C

Mr. Dodge joined the faculty in March 2003 upon retiring from the U.S. Air Force where he served as a physician assistant for 15 years and 5 years as an active Air Force Medic. His clinical interests include acute care, sports injury, and disease prevention.

John R. Freedy, M.D., Ph.D.

Dr. Freedy started his career at MUSC as a clinical psychologist in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. After returning to medical school and residency training at MUSC, he joined the Family Medicine residency faculty in 2005 as the Director of Behavioral Science Curriculum. He is active in medical education across the spectrum of learners (medical students, resident physicians, practicing physicians). He also serves as Associate Dean for the Student Affairs in the College of Medicine. His academic interests include: violence and traumatic stress, impact of mental health on physical health, behavioral science curriculum development, and doctor-patent relationships (including Balint training).

David R. Garr, M.D.

Before entering academic family medicine, Dr. Garr worked for six years as the Medical Director of Family Practice Group, a National Health Service Corps practice in rural Tooele, UT. He then moved to Denver, CO where he taught for four years in a family medicine residency program. He and his wife Deborah relocated to Charleston in 1985 when they accepted teaching positions at MUSC. His clinical interests include training physicians to become community responsive practitioners, health promotion/disease prevention, practice-based research and medical ethics.

Dr. Gibson grew up in Russia and practiced Obstetrics and Gynecology as a faculty member at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Siberian Medical University for nine years. After a family medicine residency at Duke University she joined the residency faculty in the department of Family Medicine at MUSC in 2002. Dr. Gibson’s professional interests include Women’s Health, chronic diseases and health promotion.

Dr. Glaser was born in London and earned his BA and PhD in Social Psychology at University of Sussex in England. He taught Medical Psychology and Biostatistics at the American University of the Caribbean for 13 years and received his MD there followed by his residency at MUSC. During his time on faculty at American University he wrote High Yield Biostatistics, a biostatistics book for medical students, now in its third US edition (in addition to Indian and Chinese editions). Dr. Glaser practices in the Flowertown University Family Medicine office in Summerville.

Wanda Gonsalves, M.D.                                                                                      Dr. Gonsalves received her medical degree & residency from the University of Kentucky College of Medicine. After 10 years of private practice and 10 years on the faculty at the University of Kentucky, Dr. Gonsalves joined the MUSC faculty in 2003. She precepts medical students in her office, University of Family Medicine at East Cooper and in her service learning electives including “ Caring for the Community”, “ The Student as Teacher” and “Smiles for Life: An Interprofessional Oral Health Elective” where she serves as course director. Additionally, she serves as the Associated Dean for Resident Inclusion and Diversity Education and the Medical Director of the Physician Assistant program.

After his residency at MUSC and private practice in rural Virginia, Dr. Hainer returned to MUSC as a faculty member from 1980-1985. Between 1985 and 1988, he served as residency program director at East Carolina University before again returning in 1988 to MUSC. Dr. Hainer currently serves as Professor. Dr. Hainer's professional interests include procedural skills and immunization training.

Cherrie C. Hart, M.D

Dr. Hart completed her medical degree from The Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University in 2008 and her family medicine residency from MUSC. She currently practicing at the Flowertown Clinic. Her clinical and research interests include all aspects of Family Medicine, including Community Health and Preventive Medicine.

Dr. Hebbar completed residencies in the United Kingdom in both Internal Medicine and Family Medicine. He was in practice until 1994 when he came to the United States. Dr. Hebbar joined the residency faculty in 1997 after completing his family medicine residency at MUSC. His professional interests include primary care, diabetes and cardiology.

William J. Hueston, M.D., Chairman

Dr. Hueston practiced rural family medicine in eastern Kentucky for 7 years before entering academics. He came to the department from the University of Wisconsin in 1997 to serve Department Chair. His professional interests include primary care respiratory diseases and obstetric care.

Ruth G. Jenkins, Ph.D.

Dr. Jenkins joined the department in 1987 as a Research Programmer/Specialist and Statistician. She completed her PhD in 2005 in Medical Informatics from MUSC's Department of Biostatistics, Bioinformatics and Epidemiology and joined the Family Medicine faculty in 2006. She is the Information Manager for the Practice Partner Research Network (PPRNet), a national primary care research network of practices that use electronic health records.

Dipinpreet Kaur M.D.

Dr. Kaur obtained her medical degree from Dayanand Medical College in India. She went on to complete her residency in Family Medicine from Wyoming Valley Family Medicine Program in Wilkes Barre, PA. She is currently practicing with Department of Family Medicine at MUSC. Her professional interests include medical education in evidence based medicine and sports medicine.

Dr. Kern joined the department in 1999 and serves the College of Medicine as the Associate Dean for Curriculum Integration and Implementation, Clinical Sciences and the Assistant Dean for Patient Safety and Simulation.

Dana E. King, M.D., M.S.

Dr. King completed his family medicine residency at the University of Maryland and spent several years in rural practice in North Carolina before starting an academic career at East Carolina University. Since coming to MUSC in 1999, Dr. King has focused on clinical research, prevention, and clinical care. His research interests include cardiovascular health and the influence of religion and spirit on health care. He is currently the Vice Chair of the department and the Interim Research Director.

Scott Laird, MHSA

Scott joined the Medical University of South Carolina in 1988 as a management engineer and proceeded to fulfill many roles for the University from Director of Management Engineering to Administrator for the Institute of Psychiatry. He received his Masters in Health Services Administration from MUSC in 1991 and in July 1994 joined the Department of Family Medicine. He currently serves as the Administrator for the department.

Dr. Mainous obtained his PhD from the University of Texas and spent 8 years as director of research in the Department of Family Medicine before joining the Department of Family Medicine at MUSC 1998. He currently is the Associate Dean for Assessment and Evaluation and a Professor for the Department. Dr. Mainous' research interests are in diabetes and cardiovascular health, treatment of respiratory infections, and hemochromatosis.

Eric M. Matheson, MD, MS

Dr. Matheson completed his medical degree from Eastern Virginia Medical School in 2001 and his family medicine residency from St. Vincent’s Family Medicine Residency Program in 2004. Dr. Matheson completed his Masters in Clinical research from MUSC in 2009 and was hired to work for the Department of Family Medicine. Clinical and research interests include nutrition, preventive care, and medical education. He is currently an Assistant Professor.

Amy McCurley, BSN, CNM, MSN

Amy joined Family Medicine in 2004 as a Certified Nurse Midwife assisting with resident obstetrical training. Amy served in the US Army Nurse Corps as an obstetrical registered nurse for five years spent 16 months as a CNM in a private practice in North Charleston before joining Family Medicine. Her professional interests include childbirth education and nurse midwifery education.

Dr. Ornstein trained in this department and joined the faculty in 1985. Dr. Ornstein is the Founder of the Practice Partner Research Network (PPRNet), a national research of sites that uses electronic medical records. His professional interests include health promotion and computers in medicine.

Marty Player, M.D., M.S.

Dr. Player completed his family medicine residency at Christiana Care Health Services in Wilmington, Delaware in 2004. He spent an additional year there as a fellow in faculty development with a focus on underserved and vulnerable populations. He joined the Research Fellowship at MUSC Family Medicine and the Clinical Research masters program in the college of graduate studies at MUSC in July 2005. Research interests include cardiovascular risk factors and detection.

Dr. Ragucci completed her Family Medicine Residency at MUSC in 1998 then rejoined the MUSC faculty in 2000. Dr. Ragucci holds appointments in Family Medicine and the Department of Pharmacy and Clinical Sciences. Her activities in family medicine include student/resident/patient education and provision of interdisciplinary care.

Ann Rodden, DO, MS

After finishing the Trident/MUSC residency program as Chief Resident in 2005, Dr. Rodden completed the Faculty Development Fellowship at the MUSC in 2007. She has since joined the faculty at MUSC. Her clinical and research interests include women’s health and OB, preventive care, and medical education.

Caroline Patricia Scruggs MSN, C.N.M.

Caroline joined Family Medicine in 2008 as a Certified Nurse Midwife to assist with the resident obstetrical training. She served in the US Army Nurse Corps for five years and was a labor and delivery nurse in several locations before joining Family Medicine. Caroline has also been a clinical instructor for the MUSC and Trident nursing students. Her professional interests include obstetrics, women’s health, childbirth education, and nursing education.

After completing his Family Practice Residency in this department and serving two years in full-time family practice in the military, Dr. Simpson returned to head our Division of Undergraduate Education in 1976. Over the past 30 years he has served a number of roles including acting chair for two years. From 1984-85 he used his sabbatical to complete a fellowship in geriatric medicine at Johns Hopkins. In addition to directing geriatric education in the department, he worked with the Agromedicine Program, a public education program in partnership with Clemson University. He retired from full-time practice in 2009.

C. Carolyn Thiedke M.D.

Dr. Thiedke completed her medical degree from MUSC in 1984 and her family medicine residency from MUSC in 1987. She currently is the Director of Medical Education and Associate Professor. Her clinical and research interests include women’s health, doctor patient communication, global health, and cognitive behavioral therapy in primary care.

Andrea Wessell, Pharm.D., BCPS, CDE

Dr. Wessell joined the faculty of the College of Pharmacy with a joint appointment in Family Medicine in 2002. As a PPRNet investigator, Andrea works with primary care practices across the United States on quality and safety improvement interventions. She also participates in the residency program’s Clinical Scholars program as an advisor for quality improvement projects.