Lowcountry Gastroenterology Associates of Charleston

I was born and raised in Florence, South Carolina. I started becoming interested in a career in medicine in middle school as I watched my mother struggle with an autoimmune disease that took several years to be accurately diagnosed. I was very interested in the life sciences, and I loved the idea of a career focused on helping others. \n As a physician, my goal is to treat every patient as I would want my own family to be treated - something that stems from my devout Christian faith. I work to develop trusting relationships with patients, to meet them where they are and to provide the best possible solutions to their digestive health needs. Patient buy-in to a treatment plan is critical. Without that, no plan will succeed. \n I graduated magna cum laude from Clemson University's Calhoun Honors College with a degree in chemistry and health sciences. I then attended the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston on an Army scholarship and graduated in 2004. I completed internal medicine residency at Tripler Army Medical Center in Honolulu, Hawaii, in 2007, then I completed a gastroenterology and hepatology fellowship at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Bethesda, MD, in 2011. \n I was honored to serve my country in the U.S. Army. I was on active duty for 11 years at which time I served in Iraq (2007-08) and Afghanistan (2013), where I received the Bronze Star Medal for meritorious service as a battalion surgeon while deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. As a member of the Army Reserves, I deployed again to Kuwait in 2018 before retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel in 2020. \n Before going into private practice in 2015, I was chief of the gastroenterology clinic at Eisenhower Army Medical Center in Augusta, Georgia, from 2011 to 2015. I'm board-certified in gastroenterology/hepatology and internal medicine. My clinical interests include colon cancer prevention, esophageal cancer screening, gastroesophageal reflux disease, Barrett's esophagus, inflammatory bowel disease, hepatitis C treatment, hemorrhoid treatment and nutrition. \n I married my medical school sweetheart, Theresa, and we have four beautiful children. In my free time, I enjoy running, cycling, reading, studying the Bible and, along with my wife, leading a marriage enrichment course at our church.

I'm a native Charlestonian who joined Lowcountry OB/GYN in 2002. I am a third-generation female physician, inspired by the work of my mother and maternal grandmother who cared for patients and their own families with equal vigor. OB/GYN is the perfect balance for me of the personal relationships with patients that develop over many years of getting to know each other in the office, and procedures that allow me to use the surgical skills that I have honed since working through college summers as a surgical assistant to my plastic surgeon father. \n After graduating from Drew University, I worked in London for a year before attending the Medical University of South Carolina and later completing my residency at the University of Texas. \n My philosophy on patient care is based on continuing to pursue updated information and skills to be the best source of care for my patients. My patients appreciate the time I put in helping them to understand what is happening to them medically, so that they can make the best decisions for themselves from the options we discuss. Complex and routine obstetrics, minimally invasive surgical management of abnormal bleeding, fibroids and endometriosis, modern management of menopause transition, and sexual function disorders are among my specialties. \n I am board-certified and a Fellow of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, a member of the International Society for the Study of Women's Sexual Health, and a Menopause Society Certified Provider. \n In my free time, I enjoy writing and speaking nationally and internationally about women's health, especially midlife women's health, and sexual medicine, on podcasts and panels to spread the word that there are doctors that care about modern solutions to your problems and are willing to help! I am able to do these things due to the support of my husband and our two children. And for fun, you can find me with friends walking the bridge, paddle boarding, or eating at any of the amazing Charleston restaurants!