Meet our General Surgery Staff

Dr. Heather Evans is board certified general surgery, surgical critical care. Dr. Evans is the Chief of Surgical Services at the RHJVAMC, and Professor of Surgery at MUSC.
Medical School: University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry
Residency: General Surgery - University of Virginia
Fellowship:  Surgical Critical Care - Harborview Medical Center, University of Washington
Board Certification: Yes

I'm a general surgeon who specializes in minimally invasive hernia (rupture) surgery. I have performed laparoscopic inguinal hernia repairs (TEP) since 2009 and now routinely perform robotic-assisted laparoscopic repairs for groin, umbilical and ventral hernias. My practice includes the care of patients with ventral and incisional hernias that can develop after open abdominal surgery. 

I'm collaborating with Dr. B. Fernando Santos-Aleman from the WRJVAMC on implementation of skills courses for laparoscopic common bile duct exploration to improve treatment efficiency and patient access to care.

In my free time I like Knitting, Cycling, and spending time with family.

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Dr. David Countryman  is board certified in general surgery and is the Section Lead of General Surgery.
Medical School: Medical college of Georgia
Residency: Keesler AFB Biloxi, MS
Fellowship:  Keesler AFB Biloxi, MS
Board Certification: Yes

As part of my clinical service I started our Wound Care Service and specialize in the management of difficult wounds. 

During my free time is like to Work out, Spend time with grandchildren, and golf.

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Dr. Douglas Cassidy  is board certified in general surgery and is subspecialized in minimally invasive surgery.
Medical School: Tufts University School of Medicine
Residency: General Surgery -- Massachusetts General Hospital at Boston, MA
Fellowship:  Advanced GI/MIS/Foregut Surgery -- Washington University in St. Louis
Board Certification: Yes

I am a fellowship-trained minimally invasive surgeon who specializes in laparoscopic, robotic, and endoscopic techniques for hernia and benign foregut surgery. My clinical interests in abdominal wall reconstruction and hernia surgery as well as foregut surgery, including gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), paraoesophageal and hiatal hernias, and achalasia.

My research interests include surgical simulation and resident education, and I serve as the Director of Surgical Simulation for the MUSC general surgery residency.

I am former ice hockey player and active triathlete and enjoy spending time with my wife and two children.

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Dr. Elizabeth Spitz  is a board certified Physician Assistant.
Medical School: PA School at Medical University of South Carolina
Board Certification: Yes

Certified by National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA) 

I work in General Surgery at RHJ VAHCS, seeing patients in clinic before surgery, after surgery, and for long term cancer surveillance.  I enjoy being able to help patients with cancer navigate a complex health care system when they receive a scary diagnosis. I work closely with the surgeons to make sure patients are getting high-quality, evidence-based treatment.  I recently participated in a VA training program on genetic oncology offered through City of Hope (a top rated cancer care facility) to ensure our patients have access to rapid genetic testing and counseling.   

In my free time I like to run, participate in triathlons, play with my cats, spend time with family & friends.

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Dr. Jennifer Fiorini  is board certified in general surgery and critical care. 
Medical School: Medical University of South Carolina College of Medicine
Residency: General Surgery - Medical University of South Carolina Department of Surgery
Fellowship:  1. Critical Care, Department of Anesthesia, MUSC.  2. Acute Care Surgery, Department of Surgery, MUSC
Board Certification: Yes

I am a general surgeon specialized in critical care and acute care surgery.  Critical care is focused on providing comprehensive care to patients with life-threatening surgical conditions or complications from their underlying medical problems and the operations they required to address their illness.  This often occurs in the ICU setting and reaches across multiple surgical subspecialties who share our surgical ICU. Acute care surgery is a subset of general surgery focused on the surgical emergencies that commonly bring a patient from their usual state of health to urgently needing surgical intervention.   

I am currently involved with improving quality in our department by evaluating the way we use health informatics to document patient care with precision and accuracy. I am the Education Lead for Surgery which involves coordinating with all surgical subspecialties to optimize the resident experience in our system while maintaining the highest level of care for our veterans.  And I am the clerkship director for third year medical students assigned to general and vascular surgery rotations at the RHJVAMC.

In my free time I enjoy watching my sons play sports, relaxing with my family on Lake Wylie, listening to audiobooks, and trying to keep my houseplants alive.  I am often planning Halloween costumes for my family and dreaming up future vacation plans. 

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Dr. Mark Lockett  is board certified in general surgery and is - Professor of surgery at MUSC. 
Medical School: Medical University of South Carolina
Residency: Medical University of South Carolina
Board Certification: Yes

My main clinical service to Veterans is the management of breast diseases and skin neoplasms.

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Dr. Roberta Sefcik is a neurosurgeon specializing in disorders of the brain and spine and Assistant Professor of Neurosurgery at MUSC.  
Medical School: Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai 
Residency: Neurological Surgery - University of Pittsburgh Medical Center at Pittsburgh, PA 
Fellowship:   Spine - University of Pittsburgh Medical Center at Pittsburgh, PA 
Board Certification: N/A

Dr. Sefcik completed an enfolded spine fellowship at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and the AO Spine North America Global Spine Diploma Program. She focuses on degenerative disorders of the spine. 

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Dr. Thomas Curran  is board certified in general surgery and colorectal surgery.
Medical School: Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
Residency: Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center at Boston, MA
Fellowship:  University of Minnesota at Minneapolis, MN
Board Certification: Yes

Originally from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Dr. Curran received his undergraduate degree from Duke University and subsequently his medical degree from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City. He completed general surgery residency and research fellowship at the Harvard-affiliated Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston during which time he received a masters of public health from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. From there he pursued a year of specialty fellowship training in colon and rectal surgery at the University of Minnesota before joining the faculty at the Medical University of South Carolina and Ralph H. Johnson VA Hospital. His clinical interests include benign anorectal conditions, diverticulitis, inflammatory bowel disease (ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease), and colon and rectal cancer with a particular focus on minimally invasive and robotic surgical procedures. His research program focuses on comparative effectiveness and quality improvement in colon and rectal surgery. He has authored numerous peer-reviewed scientific publications and is active in multiple national surgical societies related to colon and rectal surgery.

In my free time I like sooking, traveling, spending time with family

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Vy Nguyen is board certified as a Family Nurse Practitioner.
Medical School: Medical University of South Carolina
Board Certification: Yes

I work for the neurosurgery team where we primarily care for patients with surgical conditions of the brain and spinal cord. I started my nursing career caring for neurosurgical patients in the inpatient setting so I am able to provide veterans with a view of the entire perioperative period. 

On my free time I enjoy trying new restaurants, watching my Clemson Tigers, and spending time with my family and my French bulldog, Sumo. 

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Dr. Mary Bryant is board certified in general surgery and is a general and bariatric surgeon 
Medical School: University of Alabama at Birmingham
Residency: General Surgery - University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, NC
Fellowship:  Minimally invasive foregut surgery - University of Washington at Seattle, WA
Board Certification: Yes

I am a fellowship-trained minimally invasive surgeon with clinical interests in bariatric surgery and hernia surgery as well as the treatment of benign esophageal disorders including anti-reflux surgery for patients suffering with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). I have training in laparoscopic and robotic surgery as well as therapeutic endoscopy. I am a strong advocate for patient education and seek to lessen anxieties around metabolic and foregut surgery. I strive to provide outstanding and compassionate care to our veterans and their families. 

In my off time, you can find me curled up with a good book, planning my next vacation, or trying a new restaurant. I also enjoy DIY projects at home and hanging out with my French Bulldog. 

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Dr. William Lancaster  is board certified in  surgery and is an associate professor at MUSC. 
Medical School: University of alabama
Residency: MUSC in Charleston, SC. 
Fellowship: Indiana University
Board Certification: Yes

My main clinical service is to treat benign and malignant diseases of the liver, pancreas, and bile ducts.

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Dr. Monica Abernot    
Medical School: Medical University of South Carolina
Residency: Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center
Board Certification: Yes

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