2015 Participating Alumni
The following physicians were involved as speakers in the 2015 inaugural Tigers on Call event, which aimed to bring together current pre-med students with Clemson alumni physicians for an afternoon of learning and networking. This conference style event involved alumni as both speakers and participants on a variety of topics.
Dr. Scott Brown '95
W. Scott Brown, M.D., joined the Blue Ridge team in August 2005. He received his medical degree from the Medical University of South Carolina. Dr. Brown completed his Residency in Orthopedic Surgery at Tulane University in New Orleans. Dr. Brown serves as team physician for Seneca High School. He is Board Certified by the American Board of Orthopedic Surgery.
Dr. Craig Brackett '82
Medical Director of Georgetown Hospital System’s Breast Health Program, Dr. Craig Brackett is not your stereotypical surgeon. His team at Coastal Carolina Breast Center is the only one of its kind in our area; one of only eight programs in the state accredited by NAPBC (National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers) and was the third in the state to do minimally invasive breast biopsies. This type of cutting edge care is not typically found in small communities like ours, but Dr. Brackett’s passion and dedication have made this center a lifesaving reality for women with not only breast cancer, but all diseases of the breast. Most importantly, Dr. Brackett is a true healer – his genuine kindness and compassion instills the kind of confidence in his patients that facilitates recovery.
Dr. Trey Chandler '87
Dr Chandler is a native of Bishopville, S.C. and graduated from Clemson in Microbiology in 1987. He graduated from the University of South Carolina School of Medicine in Columbia in 1991. He completed his residency in internal medicine and fellowship in cardiology at Wake Forest University Medical Center in 1997. He has practiced since that time in Greenville, S.C. and serves as the Division chief of cardiology for the Greenville Health System. He married his high school sweetheart and they have 3 kids the oldest of which is a rising Sophomore at Clemson. He is a huge sports fan and always looks forward to a chance to return to see the Tigers play.
Dr. Carey Molin Gully '99
Dr. Gully was born in Six Mile, SC. She graduated from Daniel High School in 1995. Dr. Gully attended Clemson University and the University of Newcastle in Australia. After graduating Magna Cum Laude in three years from Clemson’s Honors College with a degree in Food Science and Nutrition, she moved to Charleston, SC where she received her medical degree in 2003 from the Medical University of South Carolina. During medical school, she spent two months working in a pediatric ward at a small district hospital in Ghana, West Africa. Dr. Gully completed an internship in Combined Internal Medicine and Pediatrics at Greenville Hospital System. She graduated from the pediatric residency program in 2006 and moved to Seneca to practice. In August of 2009, Dr. Gully purchased the practice from Dr. Parrino and named it Blue Ridge Pediatrics. Her special interests include asthma, autism, sports medicine, pediatric obesity prevention and the medical home initiative. Dr. Gully was an internationally competitive gymnast before becoming a diver on Clemson’s Swimming and Diving team while in college. She is married to David Gully who is a custom home builder in the area. They have a daughter and a son. Dr. Gully enjoys travel, running, scuba diving, paddle boarding and all water sports. You will find her in her favorite place while not at work…OUTSIDE with her family.
Dr. Sarah Gustafson '05
Dr. Sarah Gustafson is an Emergency Medicine physician at Johnson City Medical Center, located in Johnson City, TN. She currently serves as the Vice Chair of the Emergency Department. She is also actively involved in education of students and residents and serves as preceptor for the Emergency Medicine rotation of the LMU-DCOM Physician Assistant program. Dr. Gustafson graduated from Clemson University in 2005 with a degree in Biological Sciences. She attended medical school at Quillen College of Medicine in Johnson City, TN. She completed her residency training in Greenville, NC at East Carolina University, where she also served as chief resident.
Dr. Robert Holcomb '82
Dr. Holcomb earned his bachelor’s degree at Clemson University in Clemson, S.C. and his medical degree from Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston, S.C. He completed his general surgery internship and residency at Medical College of Georgia in Augusta, Ga. Board certified, Dr. Holcomb is a member of the Medical Association of Georgia, Cobb County Medical Society and is an American College of Surgeons fellow. Dr. Holcomb is in practice with WellStar Summit Surgical.
Dr. Tripp Jones '71
Dr. Tripp Jones held his private Hematology – Medical Oncology practice in Columbia (Lexington Medical Center) for 31 years before retiring in 2011. He was Chief of Staff from 1986 – 1988 and has been serving on the Board of Directors since 2012. Dr. Jones graduated from Clemson with a B.S. in Zoology in 1971, then attended MUSC and graduated with his MD in 1975. He did his residency and fellowship in Hematology – Medical Oncology at the University of Florida until 1980. He is also committed to various civic efforts in South Carolina, as he serves on the Board of Directors for both Honor Flight of South Carolina and the South Carolina Athletic Hall of Fame.
Dr. Aaron Leininger '01
Dr. Leininger started at Clemson University in Mechanical Engineering and was an active member of the Formula SAE race engineering team and a member of the NCAA soccer team. In his junior year, he redirected his ambitions to medicine completing his Pre-Med course work while finishing his engineering degree. He attended medical school at UNC-Chapel HIll and did Family Practice Residency and Sports Medicine Fellowship at Cone Health in Greensboro, NC. After 5 years of practicing both Family Practice and Sports Medicine in Cary, NC, Dr. Leininger has recently transitioned to a full Sports Medicine practice in Clayton, NC--a semi-rural area just east of Raleigh, NC where he brings several years of experience in concussion management and musculoskeletal ultrasound to add to the Sports Medicine resources available to the area. Dr. Leininger likes to maintain balance in his life by staying active with kayaking, running, cycling, triathlon, coaching/playing recreational soccer, and family time with his wife and two young children.
Dr. Oscar Lovelace '81
Dr. Lovelace, originally from Columbia, founded LFM in 1988. He graduated from Clemson University in 1981 with honors, where he served as student body president, and from the Medical University of South Carolina in 1985. He served as chief resident at the University of Virginia in Family Medicine in 1988. Dr. Lovelace has special medical interests in obstetrics, as well as preventive and agricultural medicine. Dr. Lovelace was selected as the 2012 South Carolina Family Physician of the Year by the SC Academy of Family Physicians. He ha also served as the chairman of the Governor’s Healthcare Taskforce. He and his wife Mary have four children: Ben, Spencer, Erin, and Luke. Dr. Lovelace enjoys shrimping, swimming, and playing hambone.
Dr. Martha Price '75
Dr. Martha Price grew up in Cherokee County, SC then graduated Magna Cum Laude from Clemson University in 1975. She attended Bowman Gray School of Medicine in Winston-Salem, NC then accepted a position at Hilton Head Hospital as an Emergency Physician. Since 1989, she has been in Family Medicine at her private practice in Tampa, FL. Dr. Price is a member of the AMA, Hillsborough County Medical Association, American Academy Family Practice, and the Florida Academy of Family Practice (Board of Directors 2004-2007). Martha and her husband Thomas have two daughters, Bri Anne and Price.
Dr. Rodney Reid '83
Rodney Reid, MD received his B.S. degree in Microbiology at Clemson University in 1983. He received the John Bond Award as the top graduate in Microbiology and the Norris Medal Award as the best All Around Student in his Clemson graduating class. He received his MD from Vanderbilt University School of Medicine. He completed his Internal Medicine residency at the Cleveland Clinic and his Rheumatology fellowship at Baylor College of Medicine. Dr. Reid has served as a Physical Diagnosis Instructor for Case Western Reserve School of Medicine, Instructor at Baylor College of Medicine, and VA Associate Professor at USC School of Medicine. He has served as past President of the Palmetto Medical, Dental, and Pharmaceutical Association and currently is on the Executive Committee. He is a Fellow in the American College of Rheumatology. He has received numerous awards in the past including Federal Man of the Year at the Dorn VAMC and USC School of Medicine Dean's Distinguished Service Award. Dr. Reid has appeared on the ABC Good Morning America Show. He is currently Associate Chief of Medicine and Chief of Rheumatology at the Dorn VA Medical Center. He is a proud parent of two Clemson University students - Robert and Patrick - and high school daughter, Rachel.
Dr. Christina Schwering '02
Dr. Schwering received her medical degree from East Carolina University Brody School of Medicine in Greenville, N.C. and completed her residency at Pitt County Memorial Hospital. She serves as the medical director of the Foothills Pregnancy Care Center in Seneca. Her special interests include pediatric and adolescent gynecology, gynecologic surgeries, and international medical missions. Dr. Schwering is board-certified and a fellow of the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology.
Dr. Sam Stone '76
Dr. Sam Stone graduated from Clemson Magna Cum Laude in 1976. After medical school at MUSC and residency in Anderson, Dr. Stone joined Lowrys Family Medicine in Chester, SC. He is a member of SCMA, AMA, SCAFP, AAFP and the Chester County Medical Society. He continues an incredible career as a family physician and has received numerous awards, including: Rural Health Association Practitioner of the Year (2000), South Carolina Academy of Family Practice – Family Physician of the Year (2002-2003), Hospice Care of South Carolina Medical Director of the Year (2008 and 2014), AHEC Preceptor of the Year (2012), and the Duke Energy Citizenship and Service Award for 2013. Dr. Stone is involved in many community activities, including: being a team physician for area county high school teams, being a Deacon at Chester ARP Church, and organizing on and off campus events for Chester County students attending Clemson.
Dr. Ted Swann '97
Ted practiced with a local family practitioner here in Clemson who sold his practice to AnMed. Ted became frustrated with the high demand to see more and more patients and provide less personalized care to his patients. On August 2, 2011, he had conversations with AnMed about ideas that he had to improve service and care which fell on deaf ears. This was the tipping point which led to the opening of his new practice, Swann Medicine. In this concierge practice, he caps his patients at 350 and charges them a flat rate of $1,500/year for a more personal relationship with him as their family practitioner. Clients have access to him 24/7, including his personal cell number and email address. According to Ted, clients who need to be seen today will be seen. The office does not look like a normal doctor's office, but more like a coffee shop. Ted was student body president while at Clemson. When he graduated, he went to MUSC in Charleston. He still serves as a professor at MUSC, assisting with the medical school entrance interviews, and allowing a medical student to participate in his practice for a month long experience. Ted is married to a pharmacist, Susie, and they have three small boys. Susie is a full time mom and part-time pharmacist at Hubbard and Young Pharmacy here in Clemson.
Dr. Spence Taylor '79
Dr. Taylor is a graduate of Clemson University, earning his BS in Biochemistry, and the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) where he earned his MD degree. After finishing a general surgery residency at MUSC, Dr. Taylor completed a peripheral vascular surgery residency at Baylor College of Medicine under the direction of Drs. Michael DeBakey and Stanley Crawford. He joined the faculty of the Greenville Health System upon completion of military duty at Wilford Hall U.S. Air Force Medical Center in San Antonio, TX. Dr. Taylor has spent his entire academic career in Greenville where he has risen to the rank of clinical professor. During his academic career, he has been a medical school clerkship director, program director in general surgery and vice chair of the Department of Surgery, helping build a nationally renowned academic vascular surgery service. In 1998, Dr. Taylor was named chair of Surgery in Greenville, a position he held until June 2010. Under his direction, the Department of Surgery grew from fewer than 10 surgeons to more than 60 surgeons in a variety of surgical subspecialties. He currently is the President and Chief Academic Office of the GHS Clinical University and Senior Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Diversity at the University of South Carolina School of Medicine Greenville. Academically, Dr. Taylor is a member of every major surgical society, including the American Surgical Association, Southern Surgical Association (current President), Society for Vascular Surgery, where is a Distinguished Fellow, and Southern Association for Vascular Surgery. He is past president of the South Carolina Surgical Society and South Carolina Vascular Society. He is past second vice president of the Southeastern Surgical Congress, past secretary/treasurer for the Southern Association for Vascular Surgery and past president of the Southern Association for Vascular Surgery. Dr. Taylor has authored or co-authored more than 100 peer-reviewed publications, written numerous book chapters and delivered multiple invited lectureships. He currently is a director of the American Board of Surgery. Dr. Taylor is married to the former Marie Lucius, has four children and one grandchild.
Dr. Ray Workman '86
Dr. Ray Workman graduation from Clemson in 1986 with a degree in Science Teaching. He then attended the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USUHS) in Bethesda, Maryland where he earned his MD degree in 1990. As a commissioned officer in the U.S. Army upon his graduation from USUHS, he then completed training in General Surgery at Eisenhower Army Medical Center in Augusta, GA. He served as a general surgeon in Seoul, Korea from 1995-1997 and then returned to Walter Reed Army Medical Center where he completed his Vascular Surgery fellowship in 1999. Dr. Workman left the Army in 2004 after his obligation was complete and entered private practice in Winston-Salem, NC. He currently serves as the Service Line Leader for the Novant Health Heart and Vascular Institute in the Greater Winston-Salem Market, a position he has held for the past 2 years. He enjoys splitting his time between surgery and administrative duties with Novant Health. He joined the U.S. Army reserves in 2014 as a Lieutenant Colonel. Dr Workman has 3 children. His oldest son graduated from Clemson in 2012 with a dual degree in Business/Professional Golf Management and works as an assistant golf professional in Raleigh. His daughter graduated in 2015 with a degree in Finance and minor in accounting and is working for BB&T in Greensboro, NC. His youngest son is a sophomore at Appalachian State University studying Exercise Science. Dr. Workman and his wife of 28 years, Melissa, are enjoying being “empty nesters”.
Dr. Mark Ziats '07
Mark Ziats graduated in 2007 from Clemson University with a B.S. in Biochemistry with honors and Phi Beta Kappa. After Clemson, he received a NIH Academy Fellowship to train at the National Human Genome Research Institute of NIH, working to help establish what is now the NIH Undiagnosed Disease Network. He then pursued combined MD/PhD training through the NIH-Oxford/Cambridge Biomedical Scholars Fellowship. Through this program, he completed his MD training at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, TX this past summer. He received his PhD in Genetics from the University of Cambridge, England in 2014. His PhD work focused on using computational techniques to study the genetics of human brain development and identify genomic alterations in autism and other neurodevelopmental disorders. His work resulted in numerous publications and awards, including the 2012 American Academy of Neurology Saul R Korey Award, and the 2014 NIH Director’s Fellows Award for Research Excellence. Additionally, in 2014 Mark founded and is the current CEO of Creative Bioinformatics, Inc. – a computational biology fee-for-service firm, that is now expanding its offerings to include an online marketplace for bioinformatics services that launched this summer, and a number of other software and molecular diagnostic tests currently in development. Creative Bioinformatics is currently a portfolio company of the TMCx biotechnology accelerator in Houston, TX and has successfully raised investor funding. Mark’s main interests are in molecular diagnostics and the commercialization of biotechnology.