South Carolina Osteopathic Medical Society

08/27/2026

Spartanburg Regional to build Upstate’s first dedicated Heart & Vascular Hospital, investing $325 million to serve growing region.

Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System is investing $325 million to build the Upstate's first dedicated Heart & Vascular Hospital, ensuring the region can meet the grow

08/20/2026

SCOMS Members and VCOM-Carolinas - Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine students are invited to attend this networking event.

08/19/2026

SCOMS sends congratulations to Dr. Bailey Taylor on her new position with Self Regional Healthcare.

Self Regional Healthcare welcomes Melissa Bailey-Taylor, DO, MPH, CMD, to Self Regional Healthcare Neurology.

Dr. Bailey-Taylor earned her Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine from the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine after receiving her Master of Public Health from The Ohio State University and a bachelor's degree in biochemistry from Spelman College. She completed a family medicine residency at The North Philadelphia Hospital System, where she served as chief resident, followed by a fellowship in geriatrics at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, where she served as chief fellow.

Board certified in family medicine and geriatric medicine, Dr. Bailey-Taylor specializes in the care of older adults and has extensive experience treating
Alzheimer's disease, memory disorders and other neurological conditions.

She is committed to providing compassionate, personalized care to help patients maintain their health, independence and quality of life.

08/04/2026

Where you practice medicine matters almost as much as how much you save.
Marit ranked all 50 states using a Physician FIRE Index that combines salary data with taxes, cost of living, quality of life, and malpractice climate.

Here is what separates the top from the bottom.

The top state: Wyoming. Average physician salary of $506k, zero state income tax, low cost of living, and a manageable malpractice environment. Estimated years to FIRE: 9.1. South Dakota is close behind at 8.6 years, driven by the highest average salary in the top ten ($549k) and no state income tax.

The pattern in the top 10: none of them have high tax rates, and most combine strong pay with a low cost of living. Physicians in these states reach financial independence in roughly 10 to 13 years.

The bottom state: Hawaii. Physicians there earn an average of $364k, pay an 11% state income tax, and face the highest cost of living in the country. Estimated years to FIRE: 62.8 (so basically..... nonexistent). That timeline extends well past a normal working career.

California is not far behind. A $447k average salary sounds solid until you factor in a 13.3% state income tax and housing costs that can run 50% above the national average. Estimated time to FIRE: 25.3 years, roughly two to three times longer than in a low-tax state, combined with similar or even lower pay.

The rest of the bottom 10 share a common thread: high expenses, heavy tax burdens, and pay that does not keep pace with the cost of living. Average time to FIRE across this group stretches past 25 years.

None of this means you should uproot your family and move to North Dakota. Quality of life, family ties, and career opportunities matter, too. But the reality is, a few percentage points of state tax and a lower cost of living compound into years, sometimes decades, of difference in your retirement timeline.

If you are choosing where to practice or deciding whether to stay put, run the numbers for your own situation before you decide. Small differences do not stay small in the land of compounding.

Full breakdown of all 20 states, including salary data, tax rates, and quality of life scores: https://www.marithealth.com/posts/the-top-10-best-and-worst-states-for-retiring-early-as-a-physician

07/24/2026

The 1,200-square-foot traveling exhibition includes more than 40 educational panels, interactive kiosks, hands-on displays, videos, 3-D skull casts and presentations representing groundbreaking research in the scientific study of human origins. “Exploring Human Origins: What Does It Mean to Be Hum...

07/20/2026

Congratulations to Dr. Shea Fincher Evans on receiving the General Internal Medicine Inpatient Intern of the Year Award at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC). Dr. Evans graduated from VCOM-Carolinas - Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine in 2025 and was recently elected as the Resident Trustee for the SCOMS Board!

06/25/2026

SCOMS Honors Dr. Jim Edinger With Inaugural Osteopathic Legacy Award

SCOMS recently presented Dr. Jim Edinger who SCOMS with its inaugural Osteopathic Legacy Award, which recognizes a champion in osteopathic medicine who is leaving a legacy, and his work has been a lifetime of achievements.

SCOMS celebrated Dr. Edinger for his historic achievement as the first Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine accepted into a Duke University residency program; for a distinguished career as a Diagnostic Radiologist at Orangeburg Regional Hospital from 1981 to 1998; for his steadfast advocacy of osteopathic medicine and his leadership in opening pathways for osteopathic physicians in radiology and beyond; and for his extraordinary $8 million gift to Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine (VCOM – Carolinas), the largest single donation in the institution’s history that will have a lasting and transformative impact on medical education, research, and healthcare delivery.

Dr. Edinger received his medical degree from Des Moines University College of Osteopathic Medicine in 1976. After a rotating osteopathic internship at Metropolitan Hospital in Philadelphia, Dr. Edinger completed a four-year residency in Diagnostic Radiology at Duke University Medical Center becoming the first DO resident physician to train at Duke in any specialty.

When you are the first, it is important to bear in mind that the opportunity comes with a tremendous sense of responsibility as you don’t want your performance to ruin future opportunities for those who follow in your footsteps. Pressure is a privilege,” said Ryan Hakimi, DO, SCOMS Past President and a Neurointensivist who did his two-year fellowship at Duke University a decade after Dr. Edinger.

Dr. Edinger opened the doors for other osteopathic physicians to follow in radiology and many other disciplines as well. He performed at a high level and demonstrated the competency and abilities of DOs.

“In 1981, he began practicing medicine at the brand-new Orangeburg Regional Hospital, where he became the seventh DO in the state of South Carolina. During his 17 years of practice, Dr. Edinger read a lifetime of x-rays. In addition to his clinical work, Dr. Edinger served 10 years on the South Carolina Board of Medical Examiners, contributing to the advancement of medical standards and professional oversight in the state,” said Timothy Kowalski, DO, a Psychiatrist and Founding Dean of VCOM - Carolinas, who followed Edinger to serve on the South Carolina Board of Medical Examiners. “He even hosted the first meeting of the South Carolina Osteopathic Medical Society at his beautiful beachfront home on Hilton Head Island.”

Although long retired, Dr. Edinger continues to serve as a role model for current medical students by frequently hosting networking gatherings in an effort to encourage the future physicians to remain in South Carolina and to practice medicine in rural areas where inequities to healthcare access significantly contributes to delayed care, poorer healthcare outcomes, and increased health disparities.

Not only did Dr. Edinger have a fantastic career and build a lasting legacy while at the Orangeburg Hospital, but he also met and married the love of his life, Gail Lott. She had a remarkable 40-year career at the 286-bed hospital, where she served as supervisor of the Blood Bank, Donor Center, and Transfusion Services. During her time there, she demonstrated unwavering commitment to patient care and clinical excellence.

The couple bonded over their love of nature and the outdoors, unwavering commitment to patient care and clinical excellence along with their compassion for the citizens who live in the economically challenged and rural areas of this state.

They built a wonderful life together, splitting time between their homes in Orangeburg and Hilton Head Island, and shared a dedication to enhancing medical training, improving healthcare outcomes, and encouraging future generations of healthcare professionals, all of which is inspired by their careers and love for the South Carolina community.

Gail grew up in the small, rural community of Blackville, South Carolina, which provided her with a firsthand understanding of the challenges rural residents face when it comes to access to medical care. Their donation reflects the couple’s hope that more students will choose to practice in places like the ones they came from.

“Having grown up in rural communities, we know how important access to health care is,” Lott said. “We wanted to support students who will one day bring better care to people living in places like the ones we came from.”

It was at the 2024 SCOMS Winter CME Conference in Myrtle Beach that Dr. Edinger’s wife began discussing their compassion for the citizens who live in the economically challenged and rural areas of this state and how they may best share their treasures to help those less fortunate.

Gail’s idea turned into reality when the couple made an unprecedented $8 million donation to VCOM - Carolinas – a gift made possible with the donation of their oceanfront home in Port Royal Plantation on Hilton Head Island. This landmark contribution stands as the largest single donation in VCOM's history, aimed at advancing medical education and fostering innovation within the healthcare community. Last June, VCOM - Carolinas dedicated the G. Gail Lott, MEd, and James R. Edinger, DO, Educational Building at VCOM – Carolinas and will establish student scholarships, a campus beautification endowment, and a fund to support nutrition education in medical education.

“This gift is more than a financial contribution — it is a profound investment in our medical students, in our graduates who practice medicine in South Carolina, and in improving access to healthcare across the state,” said Matthew Cannon, DO, Dean of VCOM - Carolinas.

Many VCOM – Carolinas students have training and rotations at the Orangeburg Hospital (now known as MUSC Health – Orangeburg) and the couple regularly treats the future physicians to dinner.
“We get to really know these students and can be a great source of support and encouragement for them,” said Dr. Edinger.

The couple’s generous philanthropy also includes establishing a scholarship fund at Park Road Presbyterian Church in Wyomissing, PA for medical students and becoming lifetime members at Duke University for contributing toward the Dr. Reed P. Rice Fund to honor his work as head of Gastrointestinal Radiology.

05/05/2026

Dr. Jonathan Aun, a cardiologist at Brigham and Women's Hospital and a SCOMS member, recently published a study on Exploring GLP-1 Therapy in Psoriatic Disease and Hidradenitis Suppurativa.

Cardiologist Dr Jonathan Aun discusses the emerging role of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists as anti-inflammatory tools in cardiometabolic risk reduction and their potential implications for inflammatory skin disease.

04/27/2026

Clemson University releases "AI in healthcare" report that examines how health care professionals across the state view the use of AI in their work and offers a grounded look at where AI shows promise—and where caution remains warranted.

04/24/2026

At UVA Health, the iconic orange plastic pill bottle is getting a makeover. Some prescriptions are now being filled in a new, recyclable paper bottle. Made with 100% recyclable materials and a compostable paper core, the bottles, called Tully Tubes, debuted at some UVA Health pharmacies in 2025.

“Traditional plastic vials can be difficult to recycle, but sustainable alternatives that maintain safety, quality and usability have been limited,” said Carrie Kovacik, PharmD, manager of UVA Health’s ambulatory pharmacy supply chain. “These paper-based bottles offer a step forward in reducing our introduction of single-use plastics into our community.”

The paper bottles cost about the same to produce as traditional plastic bottles while generating about 30% less carbon. The reduction of UVA Health’s carbon footprint by switching entirely to paper bottles would be the equivalent of not driving more than 24,000 miles in a gas-powered vehicle.