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Urologist's specialty a good fit for MUSC by Heather Woolwine Public Relations Like many before him, Stephen Savage, M.D., found himself seduced by Southern charm.  Dr. Stephen Savage Add to the seduction an attractive opportunity at MUSC, and Savage and his family would eagerly relocate from Closter, N.J., a suburb of the Big Apple, to Charleston in September 2004. His decision to leave Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center was a well-thought-out one; Savage and his wife, Tamara, spent months researching different opportunities in various areas of the country before moving themselves, daughter Chelsea, and son Stephen. “It was almost serendipity,” Savage said. “A former colleague of mine in urology interviewed here but the fit wasn’t quite right. MUSC was actually looking for someone with my experience in minimally invasive urology, specifically endoscopoic and laparoscopic surgery.” Savage spoke highly of the MUSC Urology Department, a large factor in his decision to make the shift to the deep south. “The Urology Department is really growing, just like the entire Medical Center,” he said. “Its recent evolution is moving in a direction that I support and we are a good fit for each other. MUSC hired me because there really isn’t anyone else in this region who has the same experience and specialty training in minimally invasive urology.” A graduate of Dartmouth College, Hanover, N.H., and Columbia University of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, Savage believes in the power of minimally invasive surgery. “Patients recover faster and suffer less adverse effects from the surgery, which really benefits those patients who are unable to tolerate wide swings in their health status,” Savage said. “This type of surgery allows for surgeons to provide identical care in a more patient-friendly manner.” Savage also pointed out that when working under magnified conditions, open surgery benefits from strides made while operating with less invasive methods. For instance, physicians can learn more about operating on particular organs, like the kidneys wedged beneath the diaphragm. Usually harder to get to, the kidneys are accessed much easier via endoscopic or laproscopic methods. Already an author of numerous publications and a member of several prestigious medical societies, Savage embraced his new position as director of minimally invasive urology at MUSC and associate professor with optimism. “I guess as most people climb the academic ladder, they tend to become more focused on a particular area, but I wanted to try and remain a little broader than that, and MUSC provides me with that opportunity,” he said. “What’s impressed me so far is that I’m doing something that’s very different than what others have been doing and everyone has done their best to stay open minded. There are always skeptics, but once they see what we can offer, their enthusiasm rises.” Although he is kept busy with the daunting task of setting things in motion in a new town and new job, Savage finds comfort in knowing that “urology is uniformly a pretty good group of people no matter where you go,” and that he is with other critical thinkers who, like him, always seek to question and improve.   Friday, Jan. 20, 2005 Catalyst Online is published weekly, updated as needed and improved from time to time by the MUSC Office of Public Relations for the faculty, employees and students of the Medical University of South Carolina. Catalyst Online editor, Kim Draughn, can be reached at 792-4107 or by email, catalyst@musc.edu. Editorial copy can be submitted to Catalyst Online and to The Catalyst in print by fax, 792-6723, or by email to petersnd@musc.edu or catalyst@musc.edu. To place an ad in The Catalyst hardcopy, call Community Press at 849-1778.