MUSC Health Pain Management at Rutledge Tower

Suzanne L Britt, PA-C, MPAS Suzanne Britt is a South Carolina Licensed Physician Assistant, board certified by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants. Prior to joining MUSC's Department of Anesthesia division of Pain Management, she worked for the Pain Management Team of Southeastern Spine. Ms. Britt has been a PA in the Charleston area for 20+ years and also worked in Bariatric Surgery and OBGYN with Roper Hospital and in Psychiatry and Pediatric Surgery at MUSC. Known for cultivating trusting relationships with patients, providing empathetic care and creating a comfortable and supportive healthcare environment, Ms. Britt works every day to make a difference in the quality of life of her patients. She believes that every patient deserves to feel heard and given the opportunity to participate in their plan of care. She understands the impact of pain in the daily life of the patient and desires to advocate, educate, empower and manage care to make positive improvements for her patients and their loved ones. She attended the University of South Carolina Honor College and graduated Suma Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science in Biology Pre-Med. She then attended the Medical University of SC and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Physician Assistant Studies. Ms. Britt went on to pursue her Master's Degree in Physician Assistant Studies from the University of Nebraska. Ms. Britt has built a strong foundation as a provider by fostering a collaborative environment with her colleagues to provide high-quality, patient centered care.

Megan LaTorre McManus is a board-certified physician assistant. She is a local to Charleston, South Carolina, where she was born and raised with her entire family. She is a high school graduate of Bishop England High School. She graduated magna cum laude from the University of South Carolina where she obtained a Bachelor of Science in exercise science with an emphasis in scientific foundations. She then returned home to Charleston, where she went on to earn a Master of Science in physician assistant studies from the Medical University of South Carolina. Upon graduation, she completed the inaugural Advanced Practice Provider Fellowship in Interventional Pain Management at MUSC, where she gained invaluable knowledge and specialized medical training. After completing the challenging twelve month fellowship, Megan joined the Department of Anesthesia as the first certified physician assistant in the Interventional Pain Management Division at MUSC in September of 2020. Megan has a passion for helping others, especially those who suffer from debilitating pain that negatively affects their function and quality of life. She understands the challenges associated with chronic pain and the impact it can have not only on patients but also their families and other relationships as well. She is committed to providing compassionate, comprehensive care and strongly believes in implementing a biopsychosocial treatment approach that addresses the complex relationship between biological, psychological, and social factors that are unique to each patient and contribute to their pain. This often includes multimodal medications, interventional procedures, and other alternative therapies including but not limited to physical therapy, occupational therapy, psychotherapy, and medical acupuncture. Megan values interdisciplinary collaboration and enjoys working together as a team with other healthcare professionals to optimize patient care. She is an advocate for patient education and ensuring that her patients understand their pain condition and treatment options.

Dr. Meron Selassie is a board certified anesthesiologist specializing in the treatment of chronic pain. She is a strong advocate of compassionate and comprehensive pain management using a multidisciplinary approach. This often involves minimally invasive procedures including injections, responsible use of medications, and collaboration with psychologists and physical therapists to address the challenges of living with chronic pain. Dr. Selassie understands the toll that chronic pain can take on patients, their families and communities. She strives to return patients to a higher level of function and to improve their quality of life. Dr. Selassie received her medical education from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine and then stayed on to complete a four year residency in the Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care. Following eight years in Philadelphia, she completed a chronic pain management fellowship at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill. She worked in private practice for a year before returning to practice medicine in her home state of South Carolina. She is a member of several regional and national anesthesiology and pain societies and performs a variety of image-guided interventional pain and neuromodulation procedures. Her areas of interest include treatment of neck and back pain including conditions like sciatica and osteoarthritis, nerve pain, joint pain, arthritis, and headache.

Andrew Mendelson, D.O. is a double-board-certified anesthesiologist who specializes in Pain Medicine. His clinical expertise focuses on cancer pain and neuromodulation. He is committed to a multidisciplinary, individualized treatment approach that optimizes patient outcomes. Dr. Mendelson is trained in minimally invasive spinal procedures and cutting-edge therapies and integrates the latest advancements into his daily practice. Dr. Mendelson earned his medical degree from Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine and completed his anesthesiology residency at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia. After completing his residency, he sought a Pain Medicine Fellowship at the Tri-Institutional Pain Fellowship in New York City. This collaborative program includes training at New York Presbyterian-Weill Cornell, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, and Hospital for Special Surgery. Before joining MUSC, Dr. Mendelson served as an Assistant Professor at the University of Virginia, where he also held the position of Associate Program Director for the Pain Medicine Fellowship.

Dr. M. Gabe Hillegass is a board certified interventional pain management physician who values individualized treatment plans with the goal of optimizing patient function and quality of life. He is experienced in working within interdisciplinary teams that include your primary care physician and any referring specialty physician as well as providers from co-treating specialties such as physical therapy, psychiatry, and behavioral medicine. Dr. Hillegass believes that chronic pain can be successfully managed similarly to most other chronic medical conditions. He feels that patient education and self-empowerment are the keys to this success.Dr. Hillegass completed his anesthesiology residency at MUSC, where he was a chief resident, before moving on to Harvard Medical School's Brigham & Women's Hospital for his fellowship training. He subsequently served four years on active duty with the navy as a staff anesthesiologist and pain medicine physician at the Naval Medical Center Portsmouth, Virginia. There he was the division officer for the pain medicine service and assistant program director for the pain medicine fellowship. He has won research and teaching awards and has published research articles in peer-reviewed medical journals as well as numerous chapters in pain medicine textbooks. He is dedicated to educating his patients and their loved ones as well as rotating medical students and residents on safe and effective comprehensive pain management strategies.

Dr. Martin D. Burke is a board-certified physician in anesthesiology and interventional pain management. He strives to meet each patient where they are to establish individualized treatment plans for their varied pain conditions. He understands the impact that chronic pain has on patients and their families and he works with patients to decrease their level of pain and increase their ability to function. This often involves a multidisciplinary approach, including medications, physical therapy, behavioral health, and minimally invasive outpatient procedures such as injections.Dr. Burke completed his anesthesiology residency at the University of Kentucky, where he was chief resident. Following his four years of anesthesia training he stayed on at the University of Kentucky for his fellowship training in interventional pain management. After fellowship training he moved to Charleston, SC to join the pain management clinic at MUSC. He is a member of several regional and national pain management societies and is passionate about educating patients and their families regarding their pain conditions and directly involving them in the management of their chronic pain.