Beaufort Memorial Surgical Specialists

Beaufort Memorial Surgical Specialists is comprised of five board-certified general

surgeons and one vascular surgeon, who are dedicated to providing a full spectrum of
state-of-the art surgical care for our patients in South Carolina’s Lowcountry. We provide
a full range of general surgical and laparoscopic procedures, including surgery for breast
cancer and benign breast disease, hernias, thyroid and parathyroid, colon, weight loss,
and the evaluation and treatment of conditions of veins and arteries. Collectively, we
have more than 100 years of experience in providing comprehensive breast care to our
patients.

Along with our care team at Beaufort Memorial Hospital, we offer quality surgical care
with compassion, as we guide our patients and their families through the diagnosis,
treatment and healing process. We emphasize continuity of care and teamwork in all of
our physician-patient relationships.

In the event of an emergency, questions or concerns, one of our surgeons is available 24

hours a day, 365 days a year to meet your needs. We are pleased to accept new patients
and look forward to participating in their care through our offices in Beaufort, Bluffton,
and Hampton.

Follow-up questions

1. I would like to make certain that we have the combined number of years of breast
care experience by the surgeons correct. From my interviews, I learned that Dr.
Pearce has practiced in Beaufort from 1983 to today (26 years; should this
number be increased to reflect his Navy service?); Dr. McDevitt (7 years-- 2002-
2009); Dr. Kruger (35 years per his resume); Dr. Cisco (1998-2009 at BHSS plus
4.5 years in Jackson, TN for a total of 15.5 years); and Dr. Burrus (16 years—
from 1993-2009) . If these numbers are accurate, their combined breast care
experience would total 99.5 years and likely rise to 100 after the first of the year.
Dr. H. Tim Pearce, MD

Dr. Pearce has been a leader in the Lowcountry’s medical community since he founded
Beaufort Memorial Surgical Specialists in 1983. He was named to Beaufort Memorial
Hospital’s board of directors in 1984, where he focused on expanding the hospital’s
medical services by attracting credentialed physicians to serve the community and
acquiring state-of-the-art technology for the hospital. From 1992 to 1996, Dr. Pearce
served as the hospital’s chairman of the board. Dr. Pearce views Beaufort Memorial and
his surgical practice as important members of the Beaufort community, providing
convenient, leading edge medical care that is responsive to the community’s needs. He
was also instrumental in the creation of Beaufort Memorial’s Wound Care Center.

In his practice, Dr. Pearce offers his patients a broad range of general surgery, ranging
from removal of breast and other cancerous tumors to gall bladder removal and treatment
of diverticulitis. Dr. Pearce and his partners have more than 100 years experience in
providing breast care for area residents. Within their practice, second opinions are
obtained quickly, expediting the diagnosis and treatment of the disease. Beaufort
Memorial’s Breast Care Coordinator, Ronda O’Connell, works closely with Dr. Pearce
and his partners in managing the patient’s care and providing the family on-going
support. “Collectively, Beaufort Memorial provides our patients a wide array of resources
for breast care, which are readily available and convenient,” said Dr. Pearce. “Moreover,
we are the only hospital in the State with access to Duke Medicine and its cancer
resources, which is ranked ninth nationally in cancer treatment by U.S. News & World
Report.”

In 1974, Dr. Pearce attended the Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston and
completed his internship and residency at the Naval Regional Medical Center in
Portsmouth, Virginia in 1976 and 1980, respectively. Dr. Pearce is a member of the
American Medical Association and American College of Surgeons. He also serves as
Vice Chairman of the South Carolina Medical Association. Dr. Pearce has served as an
instructor for the American Heart Association and a clinical instructor at the Medical
University of South Carolina. He is married and has one daughter and two stepsons. His
hobbies include golfing and boating.
Dr. Neil S. McDevitt, MD

Dr. McDevitt is the director of Beaufort Memorial Hospital’s Bariatric Weight Loss
Surgery Program, which helps severely overweight patients address weigh loss after
conventional efforts have failed. He has assembled a team of weight loss professionals,
including an exercise physiologist, a clinical nutritionist, a psychologist, and a bariatrics
coordinator, to provide his patients an individualized approach to weight loss. Following
a full assessment of the person’s health, Dr. McDevitt reviews with his patient the weight
loss surgery options. Additional information about bariatric surgery is available on Dr.
McDevitt’s website, www.lowcountrybariatrics.com, and at his monthly public
information sessions.

“I’m proud of the safety record and success rate for these surgical procedures,” said Dr.
McDevitt, who sees his patients lose between 60% and 80% of their excess weight after
surgery. Over time, his patients often experience other health benefits, including lower
blood sugar levels, reduced blood pressure, lower cholesterol levels, and relief from sleep
apnea and acid reflux. After surgery, Dr. McDevitt and his team provide each patient on-
going support to help them make changes in their lifestyle, diet, and eating habits to
maintain long-term weight loss.

In addition to his bariatric practice, Dr. McDevitt also provides a full range of general
surgery and laparoscopic surgery services.

Dr. McDevitt attended the University of Medicine and Dentistry, New Jersey Robert
Wood Johnson Medical School (1997) and completed his internship and residency in
general surgery at the Medical College of Georgia in 1998 and 2002, respectively. Dr.
McDevitt also received advanced training in bariatric surgery at Emory University
School of Medicine, where he obtained his Allergan Lap Band Certification. He is
certified by the American Board of Surgery and is a member of the American Society for
Bariatric Surgery and the South Carolina Medical Association. Dr. McDevitt is married
and enjoys running and kayaking.

Follow-up question:

I assumed you received your Allergan Lap Band Certification at Emory; is that correct?
Dr. Gordon E. Krueger, MD

Dr. Krueger has more than 35 years of professional surgical experience, serving as a
naval officer, a solo general surgeon, and a hospital’s chief of surgery. In 1989, Dr.
Krueger joined Beaufort Memorial Surgical Specialists, where he has provided general
surgical services for area residents. Dr. Krueger emphasizes the importance of listening to
his patient and their family members. By listening and providing them an education on
their medical needs, his patients are able to make informed, intelligent decisions
concerning their treatment. “It is a privilege to work with my patients,” said Dr. Krueger.
“I strive to provide my patients choices, chances and hope, as we tackle their medical
needs together.”

Dr. Krueger also is the Medical Director of Beaufort Memorial’s Wound Care Center for
the treatment of chronic and acute non-healing wounds. In addition to using the latest
advances in conventional wound treatment, the Center has two hyperbaric oxygen
treatment chambers that boost the supply of oxygen to diseased tissues and facilitates the
healing of chronic wounds. “Patients with wounds that won’t heal and their family
members face many frustrations in dealing with a multitude of serious medical
problems,” said Dr. Krueger. “Now, we are able to offer them the latest in high quality
wound care treatments and techniques after a thorough and efficient diagnostic workup.”

After receiving his undergraduate degree from Taylor University, Dr. Krueger attended
the Indiana University School of Medicine (1973). He completed his internship and
residency in general surgery at Spartanburg General Hospital in 1974 and 1978,
respectively. He is certified by the American College of Surgeons and was named a
fellow of the American College of Surgeons in 1984. A native of Upland, Indiana, Dr.
Krueger and his wife Nancy have three children. His hobbies include bicycling, cooking
and singing.
Dr. Stephen R. Sisco, MD

In 1998, Dr. Sisco joined Beaufort Memorial Surgical Specialists following four and a
half years of surgical practice in Jackson, Tennessee. Dr. Sisco’s special practice interest
is laparoscopic surgery, a minimally invasive procedure which utilizes incisions of two
inches are less. Laparoscopic surgery minimizes the patient’s post operative discomfort,
and provides quicker recovery times, shorter hospital stays, and an earlier return to full
activities. Dr. Sisco performs laparoscopic surgery for a number of common procedures,
such as breast surgeries, hernias, removal of gallbladders, and colon surgery. He seeks
innovations and trains continuously in new minimally invasive surgical alternatives with
the goal of minimizing his patients’ discomfort and expediting their recovery.

“My primary goal is to determine what is causing their illness and then see my patients to
a rapid resolution of their problem,” said Dr. Sisco. “I enjoy talking to my patients and
getting to know them and helping them. It’s a privilege to be able to provide them
medical care.”

Dr. Sisco attended the Medical College of Georgia School of Medicine (1988), where he
also completed his internship and residency in general surgery (1989 and 1993,
respectively). Dr. Sisco is certified by the American College of Surgeons and is a
member of the American Medical Association and South Carolina Medical Association.
Born in Wiesbaden, Germany, he dedicates his free time to raising two teenage
daughters. When time permits, he enjoys boating and pool.

Follow-up questions:

1. Are there any other laparoscopic surgery procedures you would like added to the
first paragraph?

2. Are there any other memberships or professional achievements that need to be

added? Are there any community activities you would like to add?
Dr. Edward P. Burrus, MD

Dr. Burrus joined Beaufort Memorial Surgical Specialists in 1993 after completing a
plastic surgery fellowship at the University of Tennessee. His practice interests include
breast disease and screening, reconstructive breast surgery, and breast reduction surgery.
Dr. Burrus emphasizes screening for early detection of breast cancer as the key to
successful treatment of the disease. “More than a decade ago, we began screening high
risk patients, who have a family history of breast cancer, every six months along with
annual mammograms,” said Dr. Burrus. “As a result, the majority of the cancers we see
today are typically early stage. The key is staying on top of it. I want our patients to be
totally confident that they are receiving timely, state-of-the-art surgical care and on-going
support through Beaufort Memorial’s breast care resources.”

Dr. Burrus also performs abdominal plastic surgery, provides patients Botox and dermal-
fillers, installs pacemakers, and performs other general surgery and laparoscopic
procedures.

Dr. Burrus attended the Medical College of Georgia School of Medicine (1987), where
he completed his internship and residency in general surgery (in 1987 and 1992,
respectively.) Dr. Burrus completed his fellowship in plastic surgery at the University of
Tennessee-Knoxville in 1993. He is a member of the American Medical Association, the
American College of Surgeons, Moretz Surgical Society, American Board of Surgery,
and the South Carolina Medical Association. Dr. Burrus was born in Honolulu, Hawaii
and grew up in Columbus, Georgia. He is married to Beaufort native ____ Burrus, and
they have three children. In addition to being active in his church and sitting on the board
of St. Peter’s Catholic School, Dr. Burrus enjoys boating, fishing and participating in
youth sports with his son.

Follow-up question:

1. Would you like to add your wife’s name--including her maiden name?
J. Chadwick Tober, M.D.

In April 2004, Dr. Tober joined Beaufort Memorial Surgical Specialists following ten
years of practice at Ohio State University’s Division of Vascular Surgery, where he
served as medical director of the Peripheral Vascular Laboratory. Dr. Tober provides a
full range of vascular surgery for conditions ranging from aneurisms and circulatory
problems to varicose veins and carotid artery disease.

“I enjoy vascular surgery with its rapidly changing and evolving techniques, which are
minimally invasive with improved outcomes,” said Dr. Tober. “I believe very strongly in
providing my patients personalized care as is physically possible to give. I view my
relationship with my patients as a partnership—one in which I help them deal with an
acute issue or the long-term management of their problem. When the patient comes under
our umbrella, we make sure that they receive the care that they deserve. We make
appointments for them and follow-up to make certain that they’ve gotten what they
needed. My goal is to work with primary care doctors to make sure that together, we’re
all doing everything we can for our patient’s vascular care.”

After receiving his undergraduate degree from University of Illinois, Dr. Tober attended
medical school at the University of Illinois-Urbana-Champaign (1985). He completed his
internship at the University of Illinois at Cook County Hospital (1986). At Ohio State
University, Dr. Tober completed his residency as Chief Resident, General Surgery and
Vascular Fellowship in 1994. He is a member of the American Medical Association, the
American College of Surgeons, Peripheral Vascular Surgery Society, the International
Society of Endovascular Specialists, the Society of Vascular Ultrasound, and the South
Carolina Medical Association. Dr. Tober is married and has one daughter. A Chicago
native, he appreciates the warm weather and nice people here in Beaufort. He also enjoys
sailing in his spare time.

Question:

Do I have your title correct for your role at Ohio State? (I ran across that title using
Google).