Palmetto Health-USC Spine Center

Advanced practice care team provider: Doug Dow, PA

P. Doug deHoll, MD, received his medical degree from the University of South Carolina School of Medicine in Columbia. He completed his internship and residency at the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio, and completed a combined neurosurgical and spinal surgery fellowship at the Leatherman Spinal Institute at the University of Louisville in Kentucky.

Dr. deHoll is board certified by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery, is a Fellow of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and is a member of the North American Spine Society, the American Medical Association, the South Carolina Orthopedic Society and the Sumter Clarendon Lee Medical Society. He also serves as president of the South Carolina Spine Society.

Dr. deHoll's specialties and clinical interests include minimally invasive spine surgery, cervical spine surgery, lumbar spine surgery, adult scoliosis surgery, revision cervical surgery, revision lumbar surgery and evaluation and treatment of sciatica. He also is involved in the development of new surgical implants.

Advanced practice care team provider: Farrah Schildknecht, NP

William T. Felmly, MD, received his medical degree from Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia. He completed his internship and residency at State University of New York/Kings County Hospital Center in Brooklyn, New York, and completed a fellowship in spinal surgery at Rush-Presbyterian-St. Luke’s Medical Center and Shriners Hospital for Children in Chicago.

Dr. Felmly is board certified by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery, is a Fellow with the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and a member of the Southern Medical Association, the South Carolina Medical Association and the South Carolina Orthopaedic Association. His specialties and clinical interests include cervical spine surgery, lumbar spine surgery, adult scoliosis surgery, revision cervical surgery, revision lumbar surgery and evaluation and treatment of sciatica.

Advanced practice care team provider: Joan Hornick, PA

Gregory Grabowski, MD, currently serves as co-director of the Palmetto Health-USC Spine Center and is a clinical associate professor of orthopedic surgery at the University of South Carolina School of Medicine.

Dr. Grabowski graduated from the University of Richmond in 2000 and spent the following year in the Jesuit Volunteer Corps, assigned to an HIV clinic in Baltimore. He attended the University of Maryland School of Medicine, where he was elected to the AOA honors medical society. He completed his residency at the University of Vermont, where he was named the top orthopedic teaching resident, and completed a fellowship in orthopedic spine surgery at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.

Dr. Grabowski joined the University of South Carolina School of Medicine faculty in 2011. HIs primary interests include care for patients with pathology in all areas of the spine, including cervical and lumbar, particularly spinal stenosis and deformity. He believes in a balanced approach to spine care, including non-operative management when possible and surgical intervention when necessary. He is a member of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and North American Spine Society.

Michael P. Horan, MD, MS, received his medical degree from the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston and his master's degree in bioengineering and biomechanics from Clemson University in Clemson, South Carolina. He completed his internship and residency at the University of Kentucky in Lexington and completed a fellowship in pediatric orthopedics and spinal deformity at Columbia University in New York City.

Dr. Horan is board certified by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery and is a member of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, the Pediatric Orthopaedic Society of North America and the South Carolina Medical Association. He serves as a clinical assistant professor with the University of South Carolina School of Medicine and as a member of the Surgical Committee at Palmetto Health Children's Hospital. His specialties and clinical interests include pediatric orthopedics and trauma, children's fractures, spinal deformity, early onset scoliosis and scoliosis casting/growing rods.

Advanced practice care team provider: Jennifer Cooper, PA

Christopher R. Hydorn, MD, received his medical degree from the University of Maryland School of Medicine in Baltimore. He completed his internship and residency with the Palmetto Health/University of South Carolina School of Medicine Department of Orthopaedics in Columbia and completed a fellowship in pediatric orthopedics at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.

Dr. Hydorn currently serves as a clinical assistant professor of orthopedic surgery at the University of South Carolina School of Medicine, is board certified by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery and is a member of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgery and the Pediatric Orthopaedic Society of North America.

A member of the Department of Pediatrics at Palmetto Health Children’s Hospital, he serves as the chair of the Pediatric Surgical Committee and as a member of the Operations Committee at the hospital. His specialties and clinical interests include pediatric orthopedics and surgery, young adult hip disorders, scoliosis, hand and foot deformity and limb lengthening and external fixation.

Kamran Koranloo, MD, received his medical degree from Shiraz University of Medical Sciences in Shiraz, Iran. He completed his residency in anesthesiology and a fellowship in interventional pain medicine at New York-Presbyterian Hospital in New York.

Dr. Koranloo is board certified by the American Board of Anesthesiology and is a member of the American Society of Anesthesiologists, American Medical Association, American Society of Regional Anesthesia and Pain, South Carolina Medical Association, South Carolina Society of Anesthesiologists, and Pain Society of The Carolinas. His specialties and clinical interests include treatment of neck and lower back pain, diagnostic/therapeutic spine injections, radiofrequency ablation, lumbar sympathetic nerve blocks, as well as peripheral nerve and joint injections.

Advanced practice care team provider: Valerie Shah, PA

Mark D. Locke, MD, received his medical degree from Case Western University Medical School in Cleveland. He completed his internship at Northwestern Memorial Hospital and his residency at Children's Memorial Hospital, both in Chicago, and completed a fellowship in pediatric orthopedics at Scottish Rite Hospital in Atlanta.

Dr. Locke is board certified by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery and is a Fellow with the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, the American Academy of Pediatrics and Scoliosis Research Society. He is a member of the Pediatric Orthopaedic Society of North America and the American Academy of Cerebral Palsy, has been named Best Orthopedic Surgeon in the Midlands by Best Doctors and serves as a clinical assistant professor of orthopedic surgery with the University of South Carolina School of Medicine. His specialties and clinical interests include pediatric orthopedics, spinal deformity, scoliosis, and pediatric trauma.

Advanced practice care team provider: Annette Darby-Rauch, PA

Erwin Mangubat, MD, MPH, currently serves as the director of functional and epilepsy neurosurgery at Palmetto Health-USC Neurosurgery and is an assistant professor of surgery with the University of South Carolina School of Medicine.

Dr. Mangubat received his medical degree from the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Medicine, and completed his master’s in public health at the University of Illinois at Chicago School of Public Health. He completed his neurosurgery residency at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, followed by an epilepsy and functional neurosurgery fellowship at the Swedish Neuroscience Institute in Seattle. He returned to Rush University Medical Center for his endovascular fellowship. Dr. Mangubat’s clinical interests include endovascular neurosurgery, as well as epilepsy and functional neurosurgery.

Research interests
Deep Brain Stimulation and Coil Technology for Cerebral aneurysms

View Dr. Mangubat's publications »

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Deep brain stimulation

Arteriovenous Malformations (AVMs)

Advanced practice care team provider: Drew K. Friedrichs, PA

Seth S. Molloy, DO, MSc, currently serves as co-director of the Palmetto Health-USC Spine Center and is an assistant professor of surgery at the University of South Carolina School of Medicine.

Dr. Molloy received his Doctorate of Osteopathic Medicine and master’s in biomedical science from A.T. Still University, Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine in Kirksville, Missouri. He completed his neurosurgery residency at Advocate BroMenn Medical Center in Normal, Illinois, followed by a neurosurgical spine fellowship at the University of Miami. He is board certified by the American Osteopathic Board of Surgery. His clinical interests include general neurosurgery with an emphasis on minimally invasive techniques for the treatment of complex spinal conditions including adult scoliosis, tumors and trauma.

Research interests
Minimally-invasive treatment techniques for complex spinal conditions

View Dr. Molloy's publications »

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Minimally invasive spine surgery

Artificial spinal discs

Pranitha Nallu, MD, received her medical degree from Mahadevappa Rampure Medical College in Gulbarga, Karnataka, India. She completed internships at Gandhi Hospital, Tanvir Hospital and J.S. Hospital in India, followed by an internship and residency at Frankford Hospital in Philadelphia. She then completed her residency in physical medicine and rehabilitation at UPMC Mercy in Pittsburgh, where she served as chief resident, and completed a fellowship in pain management at West Penn Hospital, also in Pittsburgh.

Dr. Nallu is board certified by the American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and is a member of the American Academy of Physiatrists and the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. Her specialties and clinical interests include lower back pain, neck pain and performing trigger point, bursa and hip injections, occipital nerve blocks, cervical and lumbar epidural injections, spinal cord stimulation, discograms and other interventional spine, neck and hip procedures. She also specializes in performing electrodiagnostic studies, such as electromyography (EMG) and nerve conduction studies.

Michael W. Peelle, MD, is a board-certified spine surgeon with over 15 years’ experience treating neck and back conditions. He performs detailed evaluations for adult degenerative and traumatic spinal conditions, often emphasizing non-surgical treatments. Dr. Peelle routinely performs minimally invasive spinal surgeries for cervical and lumbar disc problems.

Dr. Peelle received his medical degree from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, where he also completed his internship and residency, serving as chief resident in his final year of orthopedic surgery training. He completed a fellowship in spine and scoliosis surgery at the Hospital for Special Surgery/Weil Cornell Medical College in New York City. He then served as an Air Force orthopedic surgeon in Dayton, Ohio, and earned the Meritorious Service Medal for his deployment to Afghanistan.

Dr. Peelle is a currently a fellow with the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and a member of the North American Spine Society and South Carolina Spine Society. He has numerous peer-reviewed publications on spinal surgery and has presented research papers at multiple national meetings.

Dr. Peelle specializes in cervical disc arthroplasty procedures – a non-fusion procedure to treat ruptured discs and pinched nerves in the neck. He has traveled extensively teaching this procedure to other surgeons across the country. In addition, he specializes in using microsurgical procedures in the lumbar spine to relieve back and leg pain with minimal downtime for patients.

Dr. Peelle performs Independent Medical Examinations for work-related injuries and is certified by the American Board of Independent Medical Examiners.  He also uses his master’s degree in health care administration to improve the quality of care for his patients.

Advanced practice care team provider: Andrea Griffin, NP

David C. Straus, MD, currently serves as the director of Gamma Knife Neurosurgery at Palmetto Health and is an assistant professor of surgery with the University of South Carolina School of Medicine.

Dr. Straus received his medical degree from the Pritzker School of Medicine at the University of Chicago and completed his internship and residency in general surgery and neurological surgery at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago. He completed a fellowship in skull base and cerebrovascular neurosurgery at the University of Washington in Seattle. Dr. Straus has received numerous honors and awards and is published in several peer-reviewed journals. He is interested in refining neurosurgical care through active research and monitoring of patient-centered outcome measures.

Research interests
Refining care through patient-centered outcomes monitoring

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Astrocytomas

Metastatic brain tumors

James Viapiano, MD, received his medical degree from the University of Vermont College of Medicine in Burlington. He completed his internship in internal medicine and residency in anesthesiology at the Medical Center Hospital of Vermont, also in Burlington. Dr. Viapiano is board certified by the American Board of Anesthesiology and is a member of the American Society of Anesthesiologists, the South Carolina Medical Society and the South Carolina Society of Anesthesiologists. His specialties and clinical interests include treatment of neck and lower back pain, diagnostic and therapeutic spine injections, radiofrequency ablation, lumbar sympathetic nerve blocks and peripheral nerve and joint injections.

Farrah L. Schildknecht, MSN, RN, ACNP, works with Dr. William Felmly and his spine patients. She completed her master's and bachelor's degrees in nursing at the University of South Carolina in Columbia. Schildknecht plays a large role in educating patients about the perioperative process. She enjoys the relationships she is able to form with patients by walking them through the surgical process, easing their fears and gaining their trust. 

Doug Dow, PA-C, received his physician assistant master's degree from the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha. He works with Dr. P. Doug DeHoll and his spine patients, providing a wide range of procedures. Having received treatment for his own spine-related issues, Dow brings a unique perspective to treatment and able is provide compassionate, understanding care to his patients.

Joan Hornick, PA-C, works with Dr. Gregory Grabowski and his spine patients. She received her physician assistant degree from the University of South Alabama in Mobile. Hornick enjoys educating her patients on their spine conditions and working through conservative treatments to improve symptoms and quality of life.

Georgeanna A. Lowdermilk, PA, is a certified physician assistant working with patients at Palmetto Health-USC Spine Center. She received her physician assistant master's degree from Trevecca Nazarene University in Nashville, Tennessee. Lowdermilk aims to involve each of her patients in the care process, to ensure she understands and is working toward their goals.

Jennifer B. Cooper, PA-C, received her physician assistant master's degree from the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston. She works with Dr. Christopher Hydorn and his pediatric orthopedics patients. Before becoming a physician assistant, Cooper worked as a kindergarten teacher for six years. She enjoys her current role because it allows her to bring her experience as an educator into a medical setting to help treat patients and work with parents.

Valerie Shah, PA-C, works with Dr. Christopher Hydorn and Dr. Kristen Nathe and their pediatric orthopedics patients. She received her physician assistant master's degree from Eastern Virginia Medical School in Norfolk. Shah enjoyes building relationships with patients throughout the care process, and seeing how the success of a treatment impacts a patient’s life.

Annette M. Darby-Rauch, PA-C, received her physician assistant master's degree from Nova Southeastern University in Orlando, Florida. She is certified by the National Commission of Certification of Physician Assistants and currently works with Dr. Erwin Mangubat and his spine and neurosurgery patients.

Drew Friedrichs, PA, works with Dr. Seth Molloy and his spine neurosurgery patients. She received her physician assistant master's degree from Nova Southeastern University in Jacksonville, Florida. Friedrichs enjoys the relationships she is able to build with patients throughout their treatment process, and finds it rewarding to treat pain that interferes with a patient’s quality of life.

Coleman Fravel, PA-C, is a certified physician assistant working with the interventional medicine team at Palmetto Health-USC Spine Center. He received his physician assistant master's degree from the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston. Fravel works to improve outcomes for his patients by involving all necessary care providers in the treatment process, whether preoperative or postoperative.

Kelly A. Kage, PA, is a certified physician assistant working with Dr. Mark Locke and his pediatric orthopedics patients. She received her physician assistant master's degree from Eastern Virginia Medical School in Norfolk. Kage finds joy in knowing that the care she provides her patients with will impact them for decades to come.

Andrea P. Griffin, RN, ACNP, works with Dr. David Straus and his spine and neurosurgery patients. She received her master's degree in nursing from the University of South Carolina in Columbia and completed bachelor's degrees in biology and chemistry at the University of Alabama in Huntsville. Griffin enjoys the process of guiding her patients through treatment to recovery.