Ob/Gyn Faculty
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Judith T. Burgis, MD
Professor and Chairman
Director, Division of Gynecology
Doctor of Medicine: University of South Carolina School of Medicine, Columbia, SC, 1989; Graduated AOA
Residency: Richland Memorial Hospital/USC School of Medicine, Columbia, SC, 1993
Board Certification: American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 1995, 2005
Dr. Burgis joined the USC faculty in 2004. Prior to her appointment to the Department of OBGYN, she was in private practice in Columbia, SC for eleven years. Dr. Burgis' areas of interest include vulvar disorders and pediatric and adolescent gynecology. She is a Fellow of the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology and a member of the South Atlantic Association of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. She currently is a reviewer for the Journal of Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology and the president of the South Carolina Perinatal Association. She has been honored for excellence in resident teaching with the CREOG National Faculty Award. She is active in clinical research with projects involving Pap test screening practices and adolescent gynecology.
Courtney R. Brooks, MD
Instructor
Division of Gynecology
Doctor of Medicine: University of South Carolina School of Medicine, Columbia, SC, 2008
Residency: Palmetto Health/USC School of Medicine, Columbia, SC, 2012
Board Certification: Board Active, American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology
Dr. Brooks joined the USC faculty in 2012 following the completion of her residency at Palmetto Health/University of South Carolina School of Medicine. Dr. Brooks completed her medical education at the University of South Carolina School of Medicine in Columbia, SC, in 2008. Dr. Brooks provides comprehensive care at University Specialty Clinics – Obstetrics and Gynecology. She is an attending physician in Labor and Delivery and in surgery at Palmetto Health Richland Hospital where she is actively involved in the medical education of residents and medical students.
Eugene Chang, MD
Associate Professor
Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine
Doctor of Medicine: Medical College of Virginia, Richmond, VA, 1994
Residency: Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, 1998
Fellowship: Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, 2005
Board Certification: American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 2001
American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Maternal-Fetal Medicine, 2007
Dr. Chang joined the faculty of the Department of OBGYN at MUSC in July 2005 and has been affiliated with USC School of Medicine Department of OBGYN since 2012. Dr. Chang's special interests include hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, preterm birth, intrauterine growth restriction, thrombophilia, ultrasound, and oxidative stress.
Portia Cohens, MD
Instructor
Division of Gynecology
Doctor of Medicine: Medical University of South Carolina School of Medicine, Charleston, SC, 2008
Residency: Palmetto Health/USC School of Medicine, Columbia, SC, 2012
Board Certification: Board Active, American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology
Dr. Cohens joined the USC faculty in 2012 following the completion of her residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at Palmetto Health/USC School of Medicine in Columbia. She completed her medical education at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston, SC, in 2008. Dr. Cohens is involved with resident and medical student education as a laborist at The Birthplace, the labor and delivery unit at Palmetto Health Richland.
James W. Cook, MD
Assistant Professor
Division of Gynecology
Doctor of Medicine: Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, 2001
Residency: Michigan State University/Sparrow, 2005
Board Certification: American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 2009
Dr. Cook joined the faculty in 2012. He is a clinical affiliate and assists with patient care in the labor and delivery unit at Palmetto Health Richland Hospital. Dr. Cook provides gynecologic care at the Student Health Center at the University of South Carolina. Prior to coming to South Carolina, Dr. Cook served as a medical officer and Director of Medical Education at the Phoenix Indian Medical Center in Phoenix, Arizona.
Janice G. Edwards, MS, CGC
Professor
Division of Clinical Genetics
Master of Science in Genetics: Sarah Lawrence College, Bronxville, New York, 1981
Board Certification: American Board of Medical Genetics, 1984, and American Board of Genetic Counseling, 1993
Janice Edwards joined the USC faculty in 1983. Since 1985, she has served as the Assistant Director of Genetic Counseling for Palmetto Health Richland. She was appointed the Director of Genetic Counseling in 2002. Her special interests are genetic counselor training, prenatal genetic counseling and cancer genetic counseling. She currently serves on the Board of Directors of the American Board of Genetic Counseling.
Allison Giddings, MD
Instructor
Division of Gynecology
Doctor of Medicine: Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, 2007
Residency: Carolinas Medical Center, Charlotte, NC, 2011
Board Certification: Board Active, American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology
Dr. Giddings joined the USC faculty in August 2011. Prior to her appointment with the university, Dr. Giddings completed her four year residency at Carolinas Medical Center. Her areas of interest include minimally invasive gynecology and resident and student teaching. Dr. Giddings is a recipient of the Ronald Pixley Excellent in Research Award.
Jennifer A. Greene, MD
Assistant Professor
Division of Gynecology
Associate Program Director
Doctor of Medicine: Universidad Iberoamericana (UNIBE), Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, 2001
Residency: Palmetto Health Richland/University of South Carolina School of Medicine, Columbia, SC, 2006
Board Certification: American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 2008
Dr. Greene joined the USC faculty in August 2009. Prior to her appointment with the university, she was an Assistant Professor, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology – Generalist Division, Wake Forest University School of Medicine. Dr. Greene is a Fellow of the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology and serves as the Associate Program Director. Dr. Greene's areas of interest include minimally invasive gynecology, office hysteroscopy, and vulvar disorders.
Wendy Hartshorne, MD
Assistant Professor
Division of Gynecology
Doctor of Medicine: University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, 1993
Residency: Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 1997
Board Certification: American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 1999
Dr. Hartshorne joined the USC faculty in 2008. Prior to her appointment at the university, she spent seven years in private practice in Houston, Texas. Dr. Hartshorne's area of interest is comprehensive general obstetrics and gynecology.
John M. Herbert, MD
Assistant Professor
Division of Gynecology
Doctor of Medicine: Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, 1976
Residency: University of South Florida College of Medicine, Tampa, FL, 1980
Board Certification: American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 1982
After more than twenty years in private practice in Spartanburg, SC, Dr. Herbert joined the USC faculty in 2001. While in private practice, he served as Chief of Staff at Doctor's Memorial Hospital and Chairman of the Department of OBGYN at Mary Black Memorial Hospital. His areas of interest include care of the menopausal patient and ambulatory care. He is a Fellow of the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology and a member of the South Atlantic OBGYN Association. He is certified by the North Atlantic Menopause Society as a menopause counselor. He is active in medical student education, serving as the clerkship director for fourth year acting interns.
Donna Johnson, MD
Professor
Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine
Doctor of Medicine: Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 1987
Residency: University of California, San Diego, California, 1991
Fellowship: University of California, San Diego, California, 1994
Board Certification: American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 2007
American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Maternal-Fetal Medicine, 2007
Dr. Johnson joined the MUSC faculty after completing her fellowship at the University of California, San Diego and has been affiliated with USC School of Medicine Department of OBGYN since 2012. Dr. Johnson's special interests include antiphospholipid antibodies, preeclampsia, placental growth and development, and recurrent pregnancy loss.
Todd M. Kraemer, MD
Instructor
Division of Gynecology
Doctor of Medicine: Ross University School of Medicine, Dominica, Wisconsin, 2003
Residency: Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan, 2007
Board Certification: Board Active, American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology
Dr. Kramer joined the faculty in 2012. He is a clinical affiliate and assists with patient care in the labor and delivery unit at Palmetto Health Richland Hospital. Dr. Kraemer is in private practice in Kershaw County, South Carolina.
T. Fleming Mattox, MD
Clinical Assistant Professor
Division of Gynecology
Urogynecology
Doctor of Medicine: University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, 1987
Residency: Louisiana State University School of Medicine/Charity Hospital, New Orleans, LA, 1991
Urogynecology Fellowship: Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Torrance, CA, 1993
Board Certification: American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 1993
Dr. Mattox joined the USC faculty in 1996 as the Medical Director of the Division of Urogynecology in Greenville, SC. In 2000, he began working with the Department of OBGYN in Columbia on a part-time basis. Once a week, he travels to Columbia to see patients in the outpatient clinic and operates with the residents. His areas of interest include urogynecology, female incontinence, and pelvic reconstructive surgery.
William M. Merritt, MD
Clinical Assistant Professor
Division of Gynecologic Oncology
Doctor of Medicine: University of South Carolina School of Medicine, Columbia, SC 2001
Residency: Greenville Hospital System, Greenville, SC, 2005
Fellowship in Gynecologic Oncology: The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center,
Houston, Texas 2009
Board Certification: Board Active
Dr. Merritt joined the USC faculty in 2009 after completion of his Gynecologic Oncology fellowship. In addition to his work with the residency program, he is in private practice at South Carolina Oncology Associates in Columbia, SC. Dr. Merritt has been recognized with awards for outstanding teaching and research. He has published numerous articles in peer-reviewed journals on evaluation and therapy of ovarian cancer. He is a member of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, American Society of Clinical Oncologists and American Association for Cancer Research.
Edward E. Moore, MD
Clinical Associate Professor
Division of Gynecology
Doctor of Medicine: Medical University of South Carolina, 1974
Residency: Western Pennsylvania Hospital, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 1977
Fellowship: Reproductive Endocrinology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, 1980
Board certification: American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 1979, Accreditation Council/Gynecologic Endoscopy, 1996, Advanced Operative Laparoscopy and Hysteroscopy
Dr. Moore is in private practice in Columbia and is a Clinical Associate Professor with the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of South Carolina School of Medicine. He has been a member of the American Fertility Society since 1978 and is a charter member of the Society of Reproductive Surgeons. His areas of interest include tubal factor infertility, tubal reanastomosis, operative hysteroscopy, and intrauterine insemination.
Charles Rittenberg, MD
Assistant Professor
Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine
Doctor of Medicine: Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 2000
Residency: Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, 2004
Fellowship: Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, 2006
Board Certification: American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology
American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology
Dr. Rittenberg rejoined the faculty of the Department of OBGYN at MUSC in July 2009 after completing his fellowship at MUSC and has been affiliated with USC School of Medicine Department of OBGYN since 2012. His special interests include twins, preterm birth and prevention, cervical length ultrasound, and health care delivery systems.
Kerry M. Sims, MD
Assistant Professor
Division of Gynecology
Medical Student Clerkship Director
Doctor of Medicine: Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston, South Carolina, 2004, Graduated AOA
Residency: University of Colorado Health Sciences Center in Denver, Colorado, 2008
Board Certification: American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 2011
Dr. Sims joined the USC faculty in August 2008. Prior to her appointment within the university, she completed her four year residency at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center in Denver. Dr. Sims' areas of interest include ultrasound, infectious disease, and menopause. She has been honored for excellence in resident teaching with the CREOG National Faculty Award.
Sarah E. Smith, MD
Assistant Professor
Division of Gynecology
Residency Program Director
Doctor of Medicine: Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, 1998
Residency: Louisiana State University School of Medicine/Charity Hospital, New Orleans, LA, 2002
Board Certification: American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 2005
Dr. Smith joined the USC faculty in 2005. Prior to her appointment to the Department of OBGYN, she was in private practice in Georgetown, SC for two and a half years. Dr. Smith's areas of interest include advanced laparoscopy, including robotics, and treatment of abnormal uterine bleeding. She is a Fellow of the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology and an active member of APGO/CREOG. She is very involved in resident education, first as Associate Program Director, and now as the Residency Program Director. She has been honored for excellence in resident teaching with the CREOG National Faculty Award.
Sidney Terrell Smith, MD
Clinical Associate Professor
Division of Gynecologic Oncology
Doctor of Medicine: Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, 1975
Residency: Richland Memorial Hospital/USC School of Medicine, Columbia, SC 1979
Fellowship in Gynecologic Oncology: University of Texas, MD Anderson Hospital, 1981
Board Certification: American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 1983
American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology-Gynecologic
Oncology, 1984
Dr. Smith joined the USC faculty in 1981 and since then has served many roles in the department, including Division Director of Gyn Oncology, Residency Program Director, Vice Chair, and Chief of Staff of Richland Memorial Hospital. His area of interest is treatment of gynecologic cancers. He is very active in the oncology community with participation in the Society of Gynecologic Oncologists, the Gynecologic Oncology Group, and the Southern Association for Oncology. He has served as an officer in the South Carolina Obstetrical and Gynecological Society, the Columbia Medical Society, and the American Cancer Society. Dr. Smith has been actively involved in cancer research with numerous publications in peer-reviewed journals, particularly in the area of ovarian cancer genetics.
Alexander R. Smythe, II, MD
Clinical Associate Professor
Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine
Doctor of Medicine: Medical University of South Carolina School of Medicine, 1972
Internship in Medicine: University of Alabama Hospital and Clinics, Birmingham, AL, 1973
Residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology: Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, 1977
Fellowship: Madigan Army Medical Center, Fort Lewis, Tacoma, WA, 1980
Board Certification: American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 1980
American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology,Maternal-Fetal Medicine, 1983
Dr. Smythe joined the faculty of the Department of OBGYN in 2012. He is a clinical affiliate and assists with patient care and resident education at Palmetto Health Women's Center. Dr. Smythe is a founding partner of Columbia Women's Healthcare where he maintains a private practice in high risk obstetrics.
Lisa B. Spiryda, MD, PhD
Assistant Professor
Division of Gynecology
Ph.D: Mount Sinai School of Medicine, 1998
Doctor of Medicine: Mount Sinai School of Medicine, 2000
Residency: Brigham & Women's and Massachusetts General Hospitals of Harvard University, June 2004
Board Certification: American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 2005
Dr. Spiryda joined the USC faculty, Department of OB/GYN in 2007. Prior to her appointment, Dr. Spiryda was in private practice in New York. Before entering private practice, Dr. Spiryda was a Clinical Fellow in Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Biology at Brigham and Women's Hospital. She is a Fellow of the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology. Dr. Spiryda's clinical interests include abnormal cervical cytology and minimally invasive surgery, including robotics.
Scott Sullivan, MD, MSCR
Associate Professor
Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine
Doctor of Medicine: University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, KY, 1996
Residency: University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, KY, 2000
Fellowship: Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, 2006
Board Certification: American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 2002, 2008
American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 2008
Dr. Sullivan joined the faculty of the Department of OBGYN at MUSC in 2006 after completion of his fellowship and has been affiliated with USC School of Medicine Department of OBGYN since 2012. Dr. Sullivan's special interests include preterm labor, infectious diseases of pregnancy, sickle cell anemia/disease in pregnancy, multifetal gestations, and prenatal diagnosis.
Gail Whitman-Elia, MD
Clinical Professor
Division of Gynecology
Reproductive Endocrinology
Doctor of Medicine: University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, 1976
Residency: University of Chicago Hospital and Clinics, Chicago,f Illinois, 1980
Fellowship: University of Connecticut, Farmington, Connecticut, 1987
Board Certification: American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 1983
American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Reproductive Endocrinology, 1990
Dr. Whitman-Elia joined the USC faculty in 1995 and currently serves as the Director of the Advanced Fertility and Reproductive Endocrinology Institute. During this time, she has also earned a Masters in Public Health with a concentration in Health Administration from the University of South Carolina.
Dr. Whitman-Elia's area of interest is in the evaluation and treatment of infertility, particularly in vitro fertilization. She has published extensively in the area of reproductive endocrinology, in both peer-reviewed journals and endocrinology texts. She currently serves on the editorial boards as a peer reviewer for The American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Fertility and Sterility, and Adolescent and Pediatric Gynecology.
James A. Williams Jr., MD
Clinical Assistant Professor
Division of Gynecologic Oncology
Doctor of Medicine: University of South Carolina School of Medicine, Columbia, SC, 1988
Residency: Richland Memorial Hospital/USC School of Medicine, Columbia, SC, 1992
Fellowship in Gynecologic Oncology: Mount Sinai Medical Center, New York, NY, 1994
Board Certification: American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 1995, and Gynecologic Oncology, 1998
Dr. Williams joined the USC faculty in 1994 after completion of his Gynecologic Oncology fellowship. In addition to his work with the residency program, he is in private practice at South Carolina Oncology Associates in Columbia. His special interest is treatment of gynecologic cancer. He has been very active in the oncology community, with participation in the Society of Gynecologic Oncologists, the Gynecologic Oncology Group as a Principle Investigator, and the International Gynecologic Cancer Society. Dr. Williams has been recognized with awards for excellence in clinical care and teaching. In addition, he has published in numerous peer-reviewed journals on evaluation and treatment of endometrial and ovarian cancer.