MUSC Health Dermatology at Rutledge Tower

Dr. Richard Marchell was born in Poughkeepsie, New York, and graduated from the University of Virginia and the State University of New York at Stony Brook School of Medicine. He then returned to the University of Virginia and completed two years of an internal medicine residency. After his internal medicine training, he completed his residency in dermatology in June of 2005 at the State University of New York at Stony Brook and then joined the faculty of the Department of Dermatology at the Medical University of South Carolina, where he is currently an associate professor and residency program director. He is interested primarily in medical dermatology and skin cancer. He belongs to the American Academy of Dermatology and the International Dermoscopy Society.

Dr. Renee Thomas is a board-certified dermatologist and currently a clinical assistant professor in the department of dermatology, specializing in medical and surgical dermatology. Dr. Thomas grew up in Ithaca, NY, and attended Cornell University for her undergraduate education. She then completed a PhD in organic chemistry at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) before going to medical school at the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA). During her medical school training, she continued her passion for research as a National Institutes of Health (NIH) medical research scholar, dedicating a year to melanoma research at the NIH between her third and fourth years of medical school. She completed her internship training at St. Joseph's Hospital in Syracuse, NY, and her dermatology residency training at University of Florida in Gainesville. Her dermatologic interests include diagnosis and treatment of skin cancers, surgical excision of benign and cancerous growths, and diagnosis and management of inflammatory skin diseases and rashes. She maintains a professional membership with the American Academy of Dermatology.

Dr. Laura J. Gardner, M.D. M.S., is a board-certified dermatology physician who specializes in medical dermatology and skin cancer excisions. She has a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry from Utah State University, a Masters degree in Bioengineering from the University of Utah, and earned her Doctorate in Medicine from the University of Utah where she was inducted into the Gold Humanism Honor Society by her peers and faculty for her contribution to humanism, outstanding leadership abilities, sensitivity, honesty, and good judgement. She was then an intern physician in Spokane, Washington before completing her dermatology residency training at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville where she served as Chief Resident and was awarded the Lloyd E. King Jr. Excellence in Teaching Award. Her clinical interests include the intersection between neurodevelopmental disorders/ADHD/autism and the skin as well as pruritus/itch, urticaria/hives, autoinflammatory syndromes, complex medical dermatology, supportive oncodermatology, rosacea, melasma, and acne. She values collaborating with patients and their other doctors on coming up with the best treatment plans and likes to think creatively on ways to improve her patients' skin. She believes that knowledge is power and has spent time creating personalized handouts and product recommendations for her patients. Dr. Gardner enjoys taking care of patients of all ages, ethnicities, and backgrounds.

Dr. John Maize is professor of dermatology and pathology and laboratory medicine at the Medical University of South Carolina. He is board certified in dermatology and dermatopathology. Dr. Maize graduated from the University of Michigan School of Medicine. He completed his residency in dermatology at the University of Michigan Medical Center and his fellowship in dermatopathology at New York University Medical Center. Dr. Maize has served as president of the American Society of Dermatopathology and the International Society of Dermatopathology, as well as editor in chief of the American Journal of Dermatopathology. He has also served on the American Board of Dermatology (president 1999) and the board of directors of the ACGME. Before joining Dermpath Diagnostics in August of 2003, Dr. Maize served as chair of the Department of Dermatology and director of the dermatology residency and dermatopathology fellowship training programs at the Medical University of South Carolina. He was the managing director of Dermpath Diagnostics' Maize Center for Dermatopathology from 2003 until 2012 when he returned to the Medical University of South Carolina. He has over 150 publications and speaks nationally and internationally on topics related to dermatology and dermatopathology.

Dr. Hashemi received her undergraduate degree from Vanderbilt University. She attended Brown University for medical school, where she was elected to the Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Honor Society. She completed her dermatology residency at the Medical University of South Carolina. Following residency, she pursued highly specialized training in rheumatology dermatology at Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School. Dr. Hashemi has authored numerous peer-reviewed publications and has spoken nationally on topics related to rheumatology dermatology. She joins the MUSC faculty as a specialist in the diagnosis and management of psoriasis and autoimmune connective tissue diseases of the skin, including lupus, systemic sclerosis, dermatomyositis, morphea, and eosinophilic fasciitis.

Dr. Alan Snyder is a Dermatologist who specializes in general dermatology and medical dermatology, as well as hospital dermatology where he performs inpatient consultations. He has a particular clinical interest in managing complex medical dermatology conditions, including genetic, autoimmune, and autoinflammatory skin disorders, as well as the specialized cutaneous care required by patients with various Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome subtypes. Dr. Snyder's patient care philosophy is built upon the pillars of shared decision-making, continuity, and thorough patient education. His educational foundation includes a double Bachelor of Science in Biology and History with a minor in Chemistry from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. Dr. Snyder subsequently obtained his Medical Degree from MUSC, where he was elected Class President throughout his training. His commitment to advancing the field is further underscored by a Master of Science in Clinical Research, emphasizing his evidence-based approach. Dr. Snyder then furthered his training by completing his Dermatology and Dermatological Surgery Residency training at MUSC as well, where he served as Chief Resident his final year. Dr. Snyder remains active in clinical and translational research at MUSC, and has over 70 publications, chapters, and presentations, shared at numerous national and international conferences. He serves as peer reviewer for several journals including JAAD Case Reports and Cutis, and is actively involved in organizational dermatology through service on committees for the American Academy of Dermatology, including the Augmented Intelligence and World Congress Task Forces. He is passionate about community care and regularly volunteers at the CARES Free Medical Clinic in Mount Pleasant alongside other resident physicians and medical students.

Graciela De Jesus, MD, FAAD was born and raised in San Juan, Puerto Rico. She obtained her medical degree summa cum laude from the University of Puerto Rico, Medical Sciences Campus. Following her Internal Medicine internship at the Long Island Jewish Medical Center in Long Island, NY, she completed her Dermatology Residency training in SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University in Brooklyn, NYC. She was elected to the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society during her Dermatology training. Dr. De Jesus furthered her training by pursuing a dermatopathology fellowship in the prestigious Ackerman Academy of Dermatopathology in NYC. Dr. De Jesus is Board Certified in Dermatology and in Dermatopathology. In addition to her role as a Dermatologist at MUSC, Dr. De Jesus is proud to serve our nation's veterans as the Dermatology Section Chief at the Ralph H. Johnson VAMC. Dr. De Jesus's interests include General Dermatology for Adults, Medical Dermatology, Skin Cancer and Skin Cancer in patients with pathogenic genetic variants that predispose them to an increase in skin cancer (BRCA1, BRCA2, MITF, CDKN2A, etc.). She runs a clinic in collaboration with Hollings Cancer Center that seeks to care for patients carrying mutations that increase their risk of developing skin cancer.