Jennifer Lynn Harper, MD

Dr. David Mahvi joined the faculty of MUSC in 2016 as professor of surgery, chief of the division of oncologic and endocrine surgery, and chief of the oncology integrated center of clinical excellence (ICCE). Dr. Mahvi is a surgical oncologist. He has focused his clinical practice on the treatment of GI cancers with a particular emphasis on pancreatic cancer, liver cancer, and bile duct cancer. Prior to his recruitment to MUSC, Dr. Mahvi was the James R. Hines professor of surgery, chief division of gastrointestinal and oncologic surgery, and vice chair for clinical affairs Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. He served also as president of Northwestern Medical Group. Before joining Northwestern, Dr. Mahvi was on the faculty of the University of Wisconsin-Madison ultimately as chief of surgical oncology and director of the general surgery residency program. He led a research laboratory in collaboration with the University of Wisconsin School of Engineering. The American Board of Surgery (ABS), the national certifying body for surgeons, elected Dr. Mahvi as chair for 2014 through 2015. During his tenure, he developed national policy on the education and management of the surgical workforce. Dr. Mahvi joined the ABS in 2007 as a representative of the Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract (SSAT), where he also served as president. A native of Oklahoma, Dr. Mahvi completed his undergraduate work in microbiology and pre-medicine at the University of Oklahoma and went on to obtain his M.D. at the Medical University of South Carolina. He then served his residency and completed a research fellowship in immunology at Duke University Medical Center. Dr. Mahvi's research interests have focused on the development of new biomedical devices in the treatment of liver cancer - he is a national and international authority in the field of hepatobiliary cancer, and has previously developed, manufactured, and performed clinical trials of novel biologics.

Dr. Abhay Varma is faculty in neurosurgery at the Medical University of South Carolina. He completed his residency in India and fellowships in brain tumor surgery and spine surgery at the University of Pittsburgh, the University of Toronto, and the Cleveland Clinic. He specializes in managing adult brain tumors, hydrocephalus, Chiari malformation, adult spinal and spine tumors, and peripheral nerve disorders, including children with brachial plexus injuries (neonatal brachial plexopathy). His surgical practice offers microsurgery and endoscopic surgery. He also offers brain mapping and awake craniotomies for patients with brain tumors in eloquent areas, like the motor strip, the speech areas, and perisylvian tumors. Dr. Varma accepts new patients in downtown Charleston, Mount Pleasant, and Murrells Inlet.

Susan Lee Zayac is a Family Nurse Practitioner who was raised in Massachusetts and joined the US Navy as a Hospital Corpsman after high school graduation. She has lived in the Charleston area since 1982. She has 3 children and 4 grandchildren. She earned BSN, MSN and DNP degrees from the Medical University of South Carolina College of Nursing. As a Nurse Practitioner since 2007, she practiced in the MUSC adult Emergency Department and has had a passion for emergent and critical care. She is predominantly interested in neurosurgical and neuro-oncologic care management, and has joined the MUSC neurosurgery team to provide inpatient care to neurosurgery patients exclusively. Susan is national board certified by the AANP, and is the recipient of the AANP State Award for Excellence in 2013.