MUSC Women's Health - Cannon St.

Dr. Ashlyn Savage joined MUSC Women's Care as an Obstetrician Gynecologist in 2006. Dr. Savage completed her undergraduate education at Tulane University and then medical school at MUSC. She completed her residency training at Magee-Women's Hospital at the University of Pittsburgh. Dr. Savage provides comprehensive obstetrics and gynecological services, and her special interests include adolescent gynecology, colposcopy and treatment of pre-invasive cervical disease, and minimally invasive surgery.

Dr. Lisa R. Bystry joined MUSC Women's Health as an obstetrician gynecologist in early 2020. Dr. Bystry received her undergraduate degree from Virginia Wesleyan College where she studied both Biology and Spanish and spending over 6 months in South America. She then earned her medical degree from Ross University School of Medicine and completed her residency training at Danbury Hospital in Connecticut. Subsequently she studied gynecology oncology for one year at Emory University where she heightened her skills in laparoscopy and Robotics surgery as well as a strong proficiency in treating cervical and vulvar disease, postmenopausal bleeding, non hormonal treatments of menopause. She is board certified in obstetrics and gynecology and practices a full spectrum of general obstetrics and gynecological needs. Some of her other special interests include minimally invasive surgery, fibroid removal, contraception, obstetrics and lactation support. She is fluent in Spanish.

Dr. Vida Strickland joined MUSC Women's Care as an obstetrician and gynecologist in 2023. She was raised in Buffalo, New York, and earned her undergraduate degree in Health and Human Services at the University at Buffalo where she graduated summa cum laude. She then went on to earn her Medical Degree at the Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee. She completed her residency at White Memorial Medical Center in Los Angeles and practiced for several years in Los Angeles following the completion of her training. Dr. Strickland is a board certified junior fellow with the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology and is committed to providing individualized care through meaningful connection and specific attention to each and every patient. Her clinical interests include treatment of abnormal uterine bleeding, contraception, obstetrics, well women care and sexually transmitted infection screening.

Dr. Angela Dempsey completed medical school at MUSC, residency at the University of Colorado, and fellowship at Columbia University in New York. As a South Carolinian, she was happy to return to Charleston and join MUSC's faculty and reproductive health team in 2008.

Dr. David Soper joined MUSC Women's Care as an obstetrician gynecologist in 1995. He graduated undergrad from Florida State University and completed medical school at the University of Miami. He completed his residency in ob/gyn and fellowship in infectious diseases at Naval Regional Medical Center, San Diego. Dr. Soper provides comprehensive obstetrics and gynecological services, and his special interests include infectious disease, vulvodynia, chronic and recurrent vaginitis, operative hysteroscopy and laparoscopy, and alternatives to hysterectomy. Dr. Soper is a Menopause Society Certified Practitioner (MSCP).

Laurie Morgan is a Certified Nurse Midwife in the Department of Women's Health. She is a graduate of the Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia where she received both her BSN and MSN degrees. She also received a BS at Berry College in Rome, Georgia. She has been working in women's health in various capacities since 1996 and has been a CNM for the past 22 years. Laurie has a deep interest in all aspects of women's health and especially pregnancy. An Atlanta native, she moved to Charleston in 2010. She enjoys outdoor activities, traveling just about anywhere and spending time with her family.

Dr. Cristian Thomae is on the faculty of Medical University of South Carolina. He attended Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine and received is M.D. degree in 1983. Dr. Thomae graduated from Portsmouth Naval Hospital obstetrics and gynecology residency program in 1988. He was in private practice in Augusta, GA since 1990 until joining Georgia Regents University in 2014. He has served as department chairman of Doctors Hospital Augusta in multiple occasions, as president of the medical staff and moderator of the board. He helped to develop a very successful robotic program in that facility and was responsible for championing the AIMS center of excellence certification for that facility. He practices full-spectrum obstetrics and gynecology and his areas of special interest include minimally invasive approaches to complex gynecologic problems. He is an innovator in the area in daVinci robotic surgery and has proctored over 80 surgeons throughout the country in this specialty. He was the first GYN surgeon in Georgia to perform single site GYN robotic surgery and served as the department's director of minimally invasive surgery at Georgia Regents University prior to joining MUSC.

Dr. Gweneth Lazenby joined MUSC Women's Care as an obstetrician gynecologist in 2008. Dr. Lazenby graduated from the University of South Carolina, Honors College and completed medical school at MUSC. She completed her residency at the University of Hawaii and a fellowship in infectious diseases at MUSC. Dr. Lazenby provides comprehensive obstetrics and gynecological services, and her special interests include reproductive infectious disease, HIV, STDs, vaginitis, minimally invasive gynecologic surgery, and sexual dysfunction.

Dr. Kelsey Loeliger is a comprehensive obstetrician gynecologist. She is originally from Baltimore, Maryland, where she attended University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC) for college. She received her M.D. from the Yale School of Medicine and her Ph.D. from the Yale School of Public Health. After completing her Obstetrics and Gynecology training at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), she completed a Complex Family Planning Fellowship at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) to become an expert in areas such as family planning, contraception, and miscarriage management. Her special interests also include providing high quality, compassionate, and empowering care for people with a history of trauma, sexual dysfunction, gender dysphoria, incarceration, or substance use disorders in pregnancy. Dr. Loeliger believes that one of the most important aspects of her role as a physician is to provide accurate medical information that helps patients to take ownership over their health. She is also an active researcher whose work focuses on improving access and reducing barriers to care for her patients. She enjoys teaching residents and medical students and holds leadership positions in the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology and the Society of Family Planning.

Dr. Rachael Cowherd joined MUSC Women's Care as an obstetrician and gynecologist in 2019. She was raised in Orlando, Florida, and earned her undergraduate degree in chemistry at Wake Forest University where she graduated summa cum laude with Phi Beta Kappa honors. She then attended the Gilling School of Global Public Health at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where she received a Master of Public Health in Nutrition and was elected into the Delta Omega Honorary Society in Public Health. She served as a registered dietitian and clinical research assistant at the University of North Carolina Nutrition Obesity Research Center from 2010 to 2011. She then went on to earn her Medical Degree at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and was awarded inductions into the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society and Gold Humanism Honor Society. She completed her residency at the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago, Illinois. Dr. Cowherd is committed to practicing evidence-based medicine, building strong connections with her patients, and teaching medical students and residents. Her clinical interests include uterine fibroids, irregular menstrual bleeding, vulvar disorders, well women care, minimally invasive surgery, gynecological surgery, sexually transmitted infection screening, obstetrics, and vaginal birth after cesarean section (VBAC).

Dr. Lindsay Rucker is a South Carolina native. She attended the University of South Carolina and graduated magna cum laude while studying biomedical engineering with a minor in chemistry. She then graduated with her M.D. from the Medical University of South Carolina, where she was inducted as a member of the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society. She completed her residency at the University of Alabama at Birmingham with awards for excellence in minimally invasive surgery and education. Dr. Rucker provides comprehensive obstetrics and gynecological services, and her special interests include minimally invasive gynecologic surgery, obstetrics, and vaginal birth after cesarean delivery.

Emily Douglas is a physician assistant at Women's Health at Cannon Street, and an assistant professor in the College of Health Professions. A Virginia native, she attended the College of William and Mary, graduating magna cum laude in Public Health and Psychology. She attended the physician assistant studies program at the Medical University of South Carolina and completed a fellowship in Emergency Medicine and telemedicine at the Medical University of South Carolina before transitioning to OBGYN. Her clinical interests include adolescent gynecology, contraception, and prenatal care.

Dr. Brittany Austin grew up in Harveys Lake, Pennsylvania. She attended the University of Pittsburgh where she graduated summa cum laude with her Bachelor of Science in chemistry. From there, she earned her medical degree at Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine in Scranton, Pennsylvania. She went on to complete her residency training in Obstetrics \& Gynecology and her fellowship training in Maternal-Fetal Medicine at the Medical University of South Carolina. Dr. Austin provides comprehensive high-risk obstetric care. Her primary clinical interests include ultrasound diagnosis, hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, fetal growth restriction, and application of artificial intelligence in medicine.

Dr. Sara Witcraft (she/her/hers) is a licensed clinical psychologist in the Women's Reproductive Behavioral Health clinic at MUSC, which serves patients who are pregnant and up to one year postpartum. Dr. Witcraft provides therapy to pregnant and postpartum people with mood and anxiety disorders, substance use disorders, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and insomnia. She has a particular interest in working with pregnant and parenting women and people with opioid use disorder. Dr. Witcraft earned her Doctor of Philosophy in Clinical Psychology from the University of Mississippi, where she received extensive training in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and related approaches, including mindfulness- and acceptance-based strategies, for adults with anxiety disorders, depression, and substance use disorders. She completed her predoctoral internship and postdoctoral fellowship at MUSC. During her fellowship, she received training in gold-standard interventions for posttraumatic stress disorder, including Prolonged Exposure and Cognitive Processing Therapy. Dr. Witcraft primarily uses a cognitive-behavioral approach in her clinical practice, and frequently incorporates elements of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) skills. Dr. Witcraft uses a patient-centered approach and collaboratively develops an individualized treatment plan with her patients that will help them meet their therapy goals.