A.L. Jackson Slappy MD, MSc, FACS

Dr. Slappy graduated from the Georgia Institute of Technology in 1988 with a Bachelor of Electrical Engineering followed by a Master of Science in Electrical Engineering in 1990. He worked in defense research in surface to air defense systems at the Georgia Tech Research Institute for the Air Force, Army, and Navy. 

He received his Doctor of Medicine from the Emory University School of Medicine in 2000. While in medical school he was accepted into the Health Professions Scholarship Program with the US Navy. After completing his residency in General Surgery at the Mayo Clinic Jacksonville in 2005, he was placed on active duty and assigned to the Naval Hospital Charleston, SC. While there, Dr. Slappy was deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom as Officer in Charge of a Shipboard Surgical Team and served on board the USS Momsen and USNS Stockham with Marine and Navy special forces. Upon return he served as Chief of Staff for the command. 

After separating in 2008 he was in private practice in Atlanta, GA. He subsequently joined the surgery faculty at the Emory University School of Medicine in Acute and Critical Care Surgery in 2011 where he was the Medical Director for Acute and Critical Care Surgery as well as Care Coordination for Surgery. He started his VA career at the Atlanta VA Healthcare System in 2013 and held the positions of Chief of General Surgery, Acting Chief of Surgery, Acting Deputy Chief of Staff, and Acting Chief of Staff. 

Dr. Slappy became the Chief of Staff at the Columbia VA Healthcare System in February of 2022 and joined the faculty at The University of South Carolina School of Medicine. He continues to be clinically active in minimally invasive robotic foregut, hernia, and endocrine surgery. In January of this year, he became the Chief of Staff at the Charleston VA Healthcare System.

He is married to Cynthia Clauson-Slappy who teaches 6th grade and has three children: Rachel who is in her 2nd year of a pediatrics residency at the University of Alabama Birmingham, Emily who is an Interior Architect in Knoxville, TN, and Ryan who recently graduated from the University of Georgia in computer science and cybersecurity and will be working in international finance in New York City beginning this summer.

Dr. Slappy is an avid pilot and holds Airline Transport Pilot Multiengine, Commercial Single Engine, and Certified Flight Instructor certificates. He also enjoys playing jazz piano.