Perry V. Halushka Research Day

Michael J. Bouchard, Ph.D., serves as Dean of the College of Graduate Studies, overseeing graduate education and postdoctoral training programs. He supports students and trainees in advancing their research, fostering meaningful mentorship relationships, and preparing for impactful careers in science and academia. He is also a professor in the Department of Pharmacology and Immunology.

Dr. Dave Fitzgerald is the Associate Dean of Student Affairs and Associate Professor for the CVP Program at the MUSC College of Health Professions. He received his bachelor’s degree in biology and perfusion degree from Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania and Allegheny University of Health Sciences in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, respectively. He received his Master’s in Public Health from the University of Alaska in Anchorage, Alaska, and his Doctorate in Health Administration at MUSC in Charleston. Upon graduation, he was conferred the DHA Outstanding Quantitative Doctoral project and Dean’s Awards in 2019.

Currently, Dr. Fitzgerald serves as the Associate Editor of the Journal of Extracorporeal Technology and member of the International Consortium of Evidence-Based Perfusion. He is the current President of the American Academy of Cardiovascular Perfusion. In 2012, he served as President of the American Society of Extracorporeal Technology. Dr. Fitzgerald was conferred the Award of Excellence in 2009 and John. H. Gibbon Jr. Award in 2020 from AmSECT. As a member of the CVP Faculty, Dr. Fitzgerald’s research focuses on disparities among cardiac surgical blood transfusion practices and nontechnical skills assessment in clinical perfusion. He was awarded the MUSC College of Health Professions Teacher of the Year in 2018 and MUSC Foundation Developing Teacher Award in 2019. Dr. Fitzgerald remains an active clinician as member of the MUSC Clinical Perfusion Team.

Focus: Biomarker discovery

A large part of my laboratory is focused on understanding and developing diagnostic methods and treatments for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), a primary cancer of the liver that kills close to 1 million people every year. Our lab was one of the first to perform total serum glycan analysis for biomarker detection and one of the first to perform serum glycoproteomics. Through this we identified over 30 serum glycoproteins with increased levels of fucose in those with HCC.

Joni D. Nelson, Ph.D., MS, is an Associate Professor and serves as Chief of the Division of Population Oral Health within the Department of Biomedical & Community Health Sciences. She also holds a secondary appointment in the Department of Public Health Sciences in the College of Medicine and serves as Assistant Director for the Office of Workforce Development and Organizational Culture at MUSC Hollings Cancer Center. She serves as Co-Leader of the Community Engagement Core for the South Carolina Clinical & Translational Research Institute (SCTR) and as Director of QUAD Core, which provides expertise and support in qualitative research and evaluation. Her research and professional interests include population and rural oral health, qualitative research and evaluation, head and neck cancer, community health, health disparities, and collaborative workforce approaches to improving access to care. Dr. Nelson earned her Ph.D. in Health Promotion, Education and Behavior from the University of South Carolina and her M.S. in Biomedical Sciences from MUSC. Her work emphasizes community-engaged approaches to strengthening the health care workforce and improving health outcomes, particularly in rural and safety net communities.

Theresa Skojec, PhD, LPC, is a licensed professional counselor and nurse scientist with over 10 years of community-based trauma informed care. Dr. Skojec completed her Masters in Clinical Counseling at The University of Baltimore and began her career working in Baltimore City with inner city youth, families and adults. Her clinical interests include treating patients with complex trauma, including comorbid chronic illness.

Dr. Skojec is an alumni of MUSC College of Nursing PhD in Nursing Science. Her research interests include the psychological impact of chronic illness and the development and implementation of interventions for trauma affected populations.

As an Assistant Professor in the PhD department, Dr. Skojec focused on mentoring the next generation of clinical researchers.

Whitney A. Smith, DNP, APRN, AGPCNP-BC, is an Associate Professor and Assistant Dean of Graduate Practice Programs at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) College of Nursing. She earned a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Biology from the University of South Florida and her Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), Master of Science in Nursing (MSN), and Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) from MUSC.

A board-certified Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner with more than two decades of clinical experience, Dr. Smith continues to practice in a nurse practitioner-led free clinic serving uninsured adults. Her academic leadership and scholarship focus on graduate APRN education, curriculum development, geriatric and primary care, quality improvement, interprofessional education, and innovative teaching strategies. She has led funded initiatives, including a Duke Endowment-supported project integrating virtual reality into NP education, and has contributed to peer-reviewed publications and national presentations. Her work centers on strengthening APRN education, improving access to care, and preparing practice-ready clinicians to meet evolving healthcare needs.

Celia Spell is the senior manager of content strategy at MUSC. She holds a Master of Science degree in Science Communications from Boston University with a bachelor’s in biology from Wake Forest University. She has written for MUSC for 8 years, editing and contributing to Progressnotes, MUSC’s medical magazine. She now manages content from across the enterprise, helping tell the stories of MUSC researchers, faculty, and clinicians as they work to improve the lives of the people of South Carolina. Prior to this role, Celia worked at Harvard Medical School, writing and editing for their publications.

Dr. Yadav joins us from the University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Dentistry, where he most recently served as Professor and Chair of the Department of Growth and Development, Interim Program Director of Orthodontics, and Interim Associate Dean of Research. He brings extensive leadership experience in academic dentistry, clinical excellence, and research innovation.

Dr. Yadav is a distinguished clinician scholar and leader in the fields of clinical orthodontics and temporomandibular joint research, with an extensive record of over 150 peer-reviewed publications, authorship of a book on Temporary Anchorage Devices, and substantial research funding from the NIH/NIDCR and American Association of Orthodontists Foundation. His groundbreaking work has earned him numerous honors, including the 2024 UNMC Distinguished Scientist Award, recognizing his exceptional contributions to dental research and education. He currently is a principal investigator on two NIDCR R01 grants. Equally dedicated to academic and clinical excellence, Dr. Yadav is deeply committed to mentoring students, residents, and junior faculty, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, and advancing innovative models of specialty care delivery. Beyond the institution, he plays an active role in shaping the future of dental medicine through his service on national and international boards, grant review panels, advisory groups, and leadership positions within professional societies. He has constantly engaged in intramural faculty practice.