Pitcavage, Joseph M MD

Tala Kassm, D.O. is a board certified ophthalmologist sub-specializing in the treatment of glaucoma and cataracts. She joined the Department of Ophthalmology at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) in 2018 as a glaucoma fellow, honing her skills as a cataract surgeon while learning the fine details of glaucoma surgical and medical care. During her fellowship, she became femtosecond laser certified on the Catalys laser so that she can offer her patients laser assisted cataract surgery. She then decided to continue her career at MUSC as an attending physician and assistant professor. In her short time as the glaucoma fellow at MUSC, Dr. Kassm created and led the Glaucoma Support Group at the Storm Eye Institute as she has a passion for well-rounded patient care, offering her patients the opportunity to interact with each other as well as their physician in a relaxed environment while learning more about glaucoma. Prior to joining her colleagues at MUSC, Dr. Kassm earned her medical degree from A.T. Still University in Arizona. As a medical student, Dr. Kassm received the Outstanding Student Award and the Robert F. Crawford Scholastic Achievement Award which is only granted to one exceptional student in the graduating class for overall academic and clinical excellence. After obtaining her D.O. degree, she went on to complete her ophthalmology residency training at the University of Louisville School of Medicine in Louisville, Kentucky. During her residency, she developed a strong interest in educating fellow physicians about ophthalmology and delivered a wide variety of lectures to fellow physicians and medical students about ophthalmology. However, her greatest passion during her training was for learning and sharpening her skills as a cataract surgeon. During her residency alone, she performed hundreds of cataract surgeries, including surgeries using toric lenses to correct astigmatism and multifocal lenses to help patients gain independence from glasses. She has experience with monovision lenses, limbal relaxing incisions and LASIK. Since completing her training, she has performed over a thousand intraocular procedures.Dr. Kassm has thoroughly enjoyed dedicating her time and services to many community organizations such as the Storm Eye Sight Organization, West End Boys School Eye Screening Campaign, the Leukocoria Campaign in association with the Childrens Eye Foundation and Kentucky School for the Blind, Home of the Innocence, and Kendall Optometry Ministry, Inc. organizing and sorting glasses for those who cannot afford them.Not only does she have a robust dedication to both patient and physician education, but she also enjoys spending time with each of her patients in order to thoroughly explain their disease and treatment plan. Dr. Kassm is a precisely skilled surgeon who understands the importance of detail in such a field as ophthalmology.

Matthew J. Nutaitis, M.D. is a glaucoma specialist with expertise in cataract and anterior segment disorders. He joined the faculty of Storm Eye Institute at the Medical University of South Carolina in February 2007 as ophthalmology residency program director. Dr. Nutaitis spent 15 years as an attending at the National Naval Medical Center (NNMC) in Bethesda, Maryland, with extensive primary and secondary glaucoma and anterior segment experience as well as expertise in the use of medical, laser and surgical interventions to preserve vision. Dr. Nutaitis also has in-depth experience in the management and application of medication formularies for clinics and large institutions. Dr. Nutaitis earned his medical degree from USUHS in 1985, completing his internship at the National Naval Medical Center and his residency training at NNMC. He served a glaucoma fellowship at Storm Eye Institute (1991 to 1992). From 2002 to 2007, Dr. Nutaitis served as affiliate program director of the ophthalmology program at Washington Hospital Center/Georgetown University combined ophthalmology residency program and the residency program at Howard University Hospital and at NNMC. For two years (1999 to 2001), he served as assistant chair of the Department of Ophthalmology at NNMC Bethesda. Dr. Nutaitis was assistant professor at the University of Houston, Texas, in 2002 and assistant clinical professor of ophthalmology at George Washington University School of Medicine from 2001 to 2007.From 1994 to 2007, he was assistant professor, Department of Surgery, Uniform Services University of Health Services and a teaching fellow there from 1989 to 1994. In the area of pharmacology, Dr. Nutaitis was a member of the Department of Defense pharmacy and therapeutics committee executive council from 2000 to 2004 and a committee member from 1998 to 2004. He was also a member of the pharmacy and therapeutics committee at NNMC Bethesda. He served as department head, eye clinic, for the USNS Comfort-Joint Task Force Katrina in 2005. Dr. Nutaitis has published peer review journal articles and monographs focusing primarily on cataract and glaucoma surgery, including "Ophthalmic Care of the Combat Casualty" and "Pattern Discrimination Perimetry Testing in Glaucoma and Ocular Hypertensive Patients". In 2006, Dr. Nutaitis received both the army Commendation Medal and Graduation Award, as well as the Navy Commendation Medal (1999).