MUSC Health Hematology Oncology at Hollings Cancer Center

Pamela Streck is a board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner specializing in gastrointestinal (GI) solid tumors. She earned both her bachelor's and master's degrees in nursing from Drexel University. Pamela started her career in pediatric intensive care and now brings that strong foundation to her work in oncology. She believes patients should be the leaders in their own care and is dedicated to providing support, education, and compassion throughout their journey. Outside of work, Pamela enjoys spending time with her family-especially at the beach.

Dr. Abirami Sivapiragasam (Abi Siva) is an Associate Professor of Medicine and a board-certified medical oncologist at MUSC Hollings Cancer Center, with more than a decade of clinical and academic experience. She specializes in the care of patients with breast cancer and serves as the Director of Medical Oncology. In this role, she focuses on strengthening clinical programs, expanding access to innovative therapies, and building collaborative models of care that improve outcomes across South Carolina and beyond. Dr. Sivapiragasam is equally committed to education and mentorship. As Program Director of the Hematology and Oncology Fellowship Program, she is dedicated to training the next generation of oncologists. She has developed structured mentorship and research initiatives designed to support fellows in building strong clinical skills, pursuing meaningful scholarship, and growing into thoughtful, patient-centered leaders in oncology. A passionate clinician-scientist, Dr. Sivapiragasam serves as principal investigator on multiple clinical trials and leads the Breast Cancer Clinical Research Group at MUSC. Her research focuses on designing pragmatic clinical trials that can be seamlessly integrated into everyday practice. She is particularly interested in right-sizing therapy through de-escalation strategies that reduce toxicity while maintaining efficacy, as well as biomarker-driven approaches that personalize treatment decisions. She collaborates closely with translational scientists to advance innovative therapeutic concepts from bench to bedside, with the goal of accelerating access to cutting-edge treatments for patients. Through her clinical leadership, research efforts, and dedication to education, Dr. Sivapiragasam remains deeply committed to improving breast cancer care and advancing the field of oncology.

Dr. Mariam Alexander is a physician in the Hematology/Oncology division. Her clinical and research interests are in solid tumor biology, with a special focus on lung cancer and targeted therapies. Her mission is to improve access to state of the art, personalized care for cancer patients and support them through their challenging diagnoses.She earned her Ph.D. in molecular biology and genetics at the University of Toronto, Canada. Her training in hematology and oncology was done at the Montefiore Medical Center in NYC. Prior to that, she did her medical training at Saba University School of Medicine and completed her internal medicine residency at SUNY Upstate Medical University in Syracuse, NY.

Benjamin Djulbegovic is a Professor of Medicine at the Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, where he serves as a section Chief of Benign Hematology and Director of the Hematology Stewardship Program. His primary academic and research interest lies in attempts to measure and optimize clinical research and practice of medicine by understanding the nature of medical evidence and decision-making. To this effect, his work aims to close the translational research circle by integrating methods and techniques across evidence-based medicine (EBM), predictive analytics, health outcome research, and decision sciences with the goals of reducing overuse, underuse, and misuse of delivery of health services to improve patients' health outcomes. Dr. Djulbegovic has systematically applied the science of EBM and decision analysis to the entire fields of hematology and oncology that, resulted in two books; the book on "Reasoning and decision-making in hematology" was listed as one of the best books by J Natl Cancer Inst and the book "Decision Making in Oncology. Evidence-based management" was assessed as "one of the first and best attempts to apply an evidence-based approach to the practice of medical oncology." As of April 2022, he has published over 400 papers in peer-review journals, 196 abstracts, and numerous book chapters. He also received numerous awards for his work, published in major scientific and medical journals, including Nature, Lancet, JAMA, New England Journal of Medicine, Annals of Internal Medicine, BMJ, etc. He has also widely taught these subjects. During the last 25 years, Dr. Djulbegovic has received continuous external funding from federal and private entities. He was also selected in Newsweek's list of Top Cancer Doctors and, since 2011 continuously been selected among 1% of top US doctors by the US News \& World Report in the field of hematology. His current h-index is 72, and he has been regularly included in the top 1% cited scientists worldwide.

Grace is a board-certified nurse practitioner with an interest in Hematology Oncology. She graduated with a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) from Loyola University in Chicago, where she developed a passion for healthcare and patient-centered practice. Before joining MUSC in Charleston, Grace gained invaluable experience at Northwestern Medicine's Hematology Oncology unit in Chicago. This experience not only honed her clinical skills but also reinforced her commitment to compassionate patient care. She is dedicated to staying abreast of advancements in healthcare and contributing to MUSC's mission of providing exemplary patient care and advancing medical research. Outside of her professional endeavors, Grace enjoys spending time with her friends and family and traveling. She is enthusiastic about joining the healthcare community in Charleston and looks forward to making a positive impact on the health and well-being of her patients.

Dr. Mohammad Alhousani is an Assistant Professor of Medicine at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) with expertise in lymphomas and related B- and T-cell disorders, including both aggressive and indolent non-Hodgkin lymphomas, Hodgkin lymphoma, chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL), Waldenström macroglobulinemia, and central nervous system (CNS) lymphoma. Dr. Alhousani's clinical and research interests focus on bringing the latest advances in lymphoma care to his patients. He has a particular interest in CAR T-cell therapy, bispecific antibodies, clinical trials, and blood and marrow transplantation for patients with lymphoma. His approach emphasizes integrating innovative therapies with personalized, compassionate care tailored to each patient's needs and goals. He completed his internal medicine residency at Marshall University and his hematology and oncology fellowship at Allegheny Health Network (AHN). He then pursued an advanced fellowship in Blood and Marrow Transplantation at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, where he was deeply involved in the care of patients with lymphoma and CAR T-cell therapy. Dr. Alhousani is committed to advancing the field of lymphoma and cellular therapy through clinical research, multidisciplinary collaboration, and a patient-centered approach to cancer care.

Season Davis is a certified family nurse practitioner specializing in hematology/oncology. She is a graduate of Ball State University. Before attending NP school, she worked as a registered nurse at IU Health Ball Memorial Hospital with over 20 years of experience in oncology. Then, she transitioned to IU Health Ball Memorial Cancer Center after receiving her MSN degree. This work inspired her to specialize in breast oncology since joining the Hollings Cancer Center team. She is excited to join Hollings as a clinical provider and further her practice.

Jonathan Alexander, M.D. was born and raised in Cape Town, South Africa, before moving to the United States to begin his medical training. He received a Master of Science from Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York City. He then received his medical degree from St George's University School of Medicine, where he graduated Magna Cum Laude. He completed his internal medicine residency at the University of Louisville School of Medicine, followed by a fellowship in Hematology/Oncology at the Medical University of South Carolina. He chose to pursue an additional year of training at Stanford University in California, where he completed a fellowship in Bone Marrow Transplant and Cellular Therapy. His clinical and research interests include myeloid neoplasms, focusing on acute myeloid leukemia and bone marrow transplant.

Eleanor Hardy is a certified physician assistant specializing in hematology/oncology. She is a graduate of the Medical University of South Carolina. Before attending PA school, she worked as a clinical trial coordinator at Hollings Cancer Center with the thoracic oncology team. This work inspired her to further her education and attend physician assistant school. It also led her to volunteer with the American Lung Association of South Carolina, where she serves as a cabinet member for the annual Lung Force run. She is excited to return to Hollings as a clinical provider and further her practice.

Kallie Bryant is a licensed and board-certified family nurse practitioner with a special interest in Hematology-Oncology. Prior to joining the Bone Marrow Transplant team at MUSC Hollings Cancer Center, Kallie spent five years working at the Sarah Cannon Transplant and Cellular Therapy Program at TriStar Centennial Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee. Her research and clinical interests include stem cell transplant, immunotherapy, transplant survivorship, and nursing professional development. She began her undergraduate studies at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC), graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Biology. After graduation from UNC, Kallie chose to integrate her technical research and analytical skills with her interpersonal skills by pursuing a career in nursing, earning her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee. Kallie returned to Belmont for her graduate training and recently completed their Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) - Family Nurse Practitioner program. In addition to her studies, Kallie worked as a graduate teaching assistant, leading lab and clinical instruction for undergraduate nursing students. Outside of the clinic, Kallie enjoys traveling, baking, art, and spending time with her family and friends.

Dr. Thai Ho has been caring for patients affected by genitourinary cancers for over 10 years. His area of expertise and the focus of his research is in treating kidney and bladder cancers. He also sees patients with kidney, bladder, upper tract urothelial, and prostate cancers, as well as patients affected by hereditary cancer syndromes. Dr. Ho completed the Baylor College of Medicine Physician Scientist Program in 2006, internal medicine residency at Washington University in St. Louis in 2009, and Medical Oncology Fellowship at MD Anderson Cancer Center in 2012. Dr. Ho's research is funded by the National Institutes of Health and Department of Defense to better match cancer patients with targeted therapies by using precision medicine approaches to identify a cancer's unique vulnerabilities. At MUSC Hollings Cancer Center, Dr. Ho is the Director of Precision Medicine and an Associate Professor in the Division of Hematology \& Oncology. Prior to joining MUSC, Dr. Ho was an Associate Professor faculty the Mayo Clinic where he was a member of the Center for Individualized Medicine Epigenomics Group, Genomic Tumor Board, and von Hippel-Lindau Clinic.

Kennedy is a board-certified Physician Assistant currently serving as an Advanced Practice Provider (APP) Fellow in Hematology/Oncology. She earned her Bachelor's degree in Public Health Science, with a concentration in Pre-Professional Health Studies and a minor in Biological Sciences, from Clemson University. She went on to complete her Master's in Physician Assistant Studies at Wake Forest School of Medicine. Having grown up and lived most of her life in Charleston, she's excited to be back in her hometown. In her free time, Kennedy enjoys boating, cheering on the Clemson Tigers, and walking with her dog.

Mary Louise Kistler is a licensed and board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner with a particular interest in Hematology/Oncology. Before joining the Malignant Hematology group at MUSC Hollings Cancer Center, Mary Louise worked as a nurse at Duke University Hospital in the cancer center and at Suburban Hospital, Johns Hopkins Medicine, the inpatient oncology unit. She began her studies at The University of Alabama, graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Biology. After graduation, Mary Louise pursued her nursing career and received her Associate's Degree in Nursing. She received her Master of Science in Nursing from Simmons University. Mary Louise has a passion for caring for others and believes in MUSC's vision: "To improve the health of populations by developing and inspiring health scientists and leaders." Mary Louise enjoys spending time with her friends and family outside of work, traveling, reading, and sunny days at the beach.

Alexander Coltoff, M.D. received his medical degree from SUNY Downstate College of Medicine. He then completed his internal medicine residency at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, followed by a fellowship in Hematology/Oncology at New York Presbyterian - Columbia, both in New York. His clinical and research focus is on hematologic malignancies, particularly myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs), acute myeloid leukemia (AML), and myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). He has been published as a clinical investigator and received an American Society of Hematology (ASH) award for developing research scientists.

Anthony Dominick, D.O., was born and raised in Kansas City before moving to Chicago, IL, to earn his Bachelor of Science in Biology at Loyola University. He received his medical degree from Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine in Bradenton, FL. He then moved back to his hometown of Kansas City to complete his residency in internal medicine and fellowship in hematology and oncology at The University of Kansas Medical Center. Early on in his training, he was inspired by his mentors and developed a passion for malignant hematology. After completing training, he spent four years in private practice caring for patients with hematologic conditions in eastern North Carolina. He joined MUSC to pursue his interest and passion for caring for patients with multiple myeloma. He also has a secondary clinical interest in lymphoproliferative disorders.

Tiffany Doyle is a family nurse practitioner in Internal Medicine with MUSC. Tiffany is originally from North Carolina and earned her BSN from UNCC. She moved to Chicago in 1994 where she earned her master's degree in Nursing from DePaul University in Chicago in 2001. She is board certified as a Family Nurse Practitioner as well as an Advanced Oncology Nurse Practitioner and an Advanced Hospice and Palliative Care Nurse Practitioner. Tiffany has a diverse clinical background with key focus areas in hematology, oncology, and palliative care. Research and teaching are also spaces she concentrates on outside of direct patient care. The formation of trusting relationships with her patients and families while providing quality compassionate care is the core of her practice.

Aubrey Ginocchietti is a board-certified family nurse practitioner working at MUSC. She cares for adult patients at Hollings Cancer Center. Aubrey has worked in health care since 2007 as a registered nurse at Methodist Hospital in Philadelphia, PA and then Geisinger Wyoming Valley in Wilkes-Barre, PA, for 12 years. Aubrey transferred to MUSC to work as a registered nurse in the emergency department in 2020. After earning her MSN from Wilkes University, Aubrey accepted a position as a family nurse practitioner in the hematology/oncology department. While working as a registered nurse for the past 17 years, Aubrey has cared for patients in the emergency room setting, inpatient medical/surgical units, school nursing, home health nursing, and various step-down units. She is BLS, PALS, TNCC, and ACLS certified and board-certified as a family nurse practitioner. Aubrey also has a bachelor's degree in communications from Temple University.

Dr. Edwards is a board-certified medical oncologist whose clinical practice is dedicated solely to the care of patients with all stages and subtypes of breast cancer. She has expertise in a variety of interventions, such as chemotherapy, hormonal therapy, antibody-based therapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy. Her journey began in the Republic of Georgia, where she earned her M.D. degree with honors from Tbilisi State Medical University and was recognized for her academic achievements with a Silver Medal from the Ministry of Public Education. Following training in obstetrics and gynecology in Georgia and the United Kingdom, she relocated to the United States to pursue further medical education. Dr. Edwards obtained her D.O. degree from the New York College of Osteopathic Medicine and completed her internal medicine residency at the University at Buffalo, where she also conducted clinical research at the Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center. Her medical training culminated in a Hematology and Medical Oncology fellowship at the University of Rochester Medical Center. Dr. Edwards was recognized for her contributions to the field and was awarded the Segel-Halterman Award for Research in Medical Oncology in 2023. Her passion lies in providing compassionate and comprehensive care to breast cancer patients, offering hope and guidance throughout their treatment journey. From the first appointment, Dr. Edwards strive to help her patients feel more comfortable and at peace with their diagnosis, knowing that they are not alone on this journey. When a novel therapy offered through one of our clinical trials represents the best treatment option, Dr. Edwards works with her patients to identify the trial that most closely aligns with their individual goals and needs. At Holling Cancer Center, she collaborates closely with a multidisciplinary team to deliver exceptional care and achieve optimal outcomes.

Madison Taylor Gilinsky is a licensed and board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner with a special interest in Hematology-Oncology. She graduated in May of 2022 from the University of South Carolina with her Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) as a Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP). Her first degree was a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) from Western Kentucky University, graduating in 2016. After obtaining her first degree as a Registered Nurse with her BSN, Madison practiced primarily in the Intensive Care Unit, with her first position in Lexington, Kentucky at Saint Joseph East Hospital. Her focus on Intensive Care specialized to that of Neuroscience when she joined the Medical University of South Carolina family in March of 2018. Here at MUSC she expanded her knowledge to many different Adult Intensive Care specialties along with working in Pediatrics through the Infusion Clinic, Urgent Care and Allergy/Immunology Clinic at MUSC Summey Medical Pavilion. During her pursuit of a master's degree, Madison transitioned to travel nursing in 2021 to bring new perspective and challenge. This took her to North Carolina and eventually to California where she accepted her first position as an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) at MinuteClinic, an urgent care-type setting after graduating and becoming board-certified through the American Association of Nurse Practitioners. After growing as a new practitioner and gaining much knowledge and experience, Madison decided to make Charleston home again and is excited to start this new journey caring for oncology patients within the MUSC community by joining the infusion team at MUSC Hollings Cancer Center.

Dr Ashwath Gurumurthi is an Assistant Professor at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston. He completed his medical degree at The University of Western Australia (Perth, Australia) followed by internal medicine residency and a dual fellowship in clinical and laboratory hematology in Australia. Dr Gurumurthi furthered his experience in lymphoma and cellular therapies through advanced fellowships in MD Anderson Cancer Center (Texas) and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (New York). His clinical and research interests focus on T-cell lymphoma and relapsed lymphomas. He is dedicated to advancing innovative treatment strategies to address critical unmet needs in hematologic oncology, while mentoring the next generation of physicians.

Dr. Kevin Becker is a medical oncologist who cares for patients with genitourinary cancers, including prostate, kidney and bladder. Dr. Becker received his medical degree from Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons in 2004. He completed an Internal Medicine residency and a Hematology and Oncology fellowship at New York Presbyterian/Columbia University Medical Center. In 2020, he received a Master of Medical Management degree from Carnegie Mellon University. He completed the Northwell Health Physician Leadership Development Program in 2021. Dr. Becker's research aims to expand and improve treatment options through cancer treatment clinical trials. Before joining MUSC, Dr. Becker was the Medical Director of the Maimonides Cancer Center in Brooklyn, New York, and Chief of the Regional Division of Hematology and Oncology for Maimonides and Downstate Health Sciences University. Dr. Becker is the Director of Oncology Infusion and Ambulatory Services at MUSC Hollings Cancer Center.

Dr. Steven Akman has been practicing hematology-oncology for more than 43 years. During his long career, he has taken care of patients with a range of non-malignant hematologic conditions, malignant hematologic conditions, and solid tumors. His area of emphasis has been in the medical oncologic management of breast cancer. He directed the Breast Cancer Center of Excellence of the Wake Forest University Comprehensive Cancer Center for 17 years. His wealth of experience allows him to bring maturity, patience, insight, and empathy to every patient interaction. He plans to spend the next five years taking care of hematology/oncology patients in the outpatient setting. His goal is to provide every patient with the highest possible quality of care and the educational and emotional support required for an effective partnership. Providing the highest possible quality of care includes the opportunity to provide access to clinical trials.

Andrew Brewer is a licensed and board certified physician assistant with a special interest in hematology and oncology. He completed his undergraduate studies at East Carolina University graduating with a degree in nutrition and dietetics. He then became a registered dietitian working in various hospitals and clinics. After four years as a dietitian, Andrew returned to school and completed his masters in physician assistant studies at the Medical University of South Carolina. He has a passion for medicine and desire to help others.

Dr. Priyal Agarwal, MD, is a medical oncologist specializing in sarcoma and breast cancer care. She received her medical degree with honors from Kasturba Medical College in Manipal, India, followed by an Internal Medicine residency at Michigan State University and a Hematology/Oncology fellowship at the University of Nebraska. She is a member of the American Society of Clinical Oncology. Dr. Agarwal is committed to keeping up with the latest advancements in her field. Her passion lies in providing compassionate and comprehensive care to sarcoma and breast cancer patients. At Hollings Cancer Center, she works collaboratively with a multidisciplinary team to deliver exceptional cancer care for patients. Dr. Agarwal is deeply committed to addressing the unique oncologic and psychosocial needs of young adults navigating cancer. She is passionate about expanding survivorship programs and advancing treatment options through clinical trials, ensuring patients receive comprehensive support throughout their journey.