The MUSC Cholesterol Center was recognized as a Merck Center of Excellence, one of only a few such lipid centers designated in the United States. The center will be recommended by Merck as a teaching site for physicians throughout the United States to learn about cholesterol.

The Cholesterol Center was started as a unit of the Department of Internal Medicine and University Medical Associates in 1992.

It is staffed by James C. Thomas, M.D., Maria Lopes-Virella, M.D., Kelly B. Taylor, R.N., Wendy M. Waites, R.N., Robbi C. Adams and Vicky K. Lennen. The center provides care for patients with cholesterol problems and its associated complications, vessel disease risk factor management, lipid tutorials for health care professionals and is active in clinical research.