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VA Charleston health care

This page is to introduce our Meet our Internal Medicine staff

Having joined the VA in 2017, Dr. Beldecos provides acute general medical care to Veterans admitted to the hospital and serves as Chief of the Hospital Medicine Section.&nbsp;In this role, she is responsible for overseeing the care of Veteran patients requiring hospitalization and is passionate about ensuring that her team delivers safe, high quality and compassionate care.&nbsp;&nbsp;Before joining the VA, she has worked as a Hospitalist in the private sector.&nbsp; Over the past 20 years she has held several positions in Hospital Management, both as a Hospital Medical Director and a Lead Hospitalist.&nbsp;&nbsp;Dr. Beldecos earned her MD from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine followed by Internal Medicine Residency in Portland, Oregon at Oregon Health Sciences University. She also has a Master of Arts degree in Medical Ethics from the University of Pittsburgh and is a certified physician executive.&nbsp;Outside of work, she enjoys gardening, beekeeping, travel, reading and cooking.&nbsp;Education and Credentials&nbsp;Undergraduate: Swarthmore College, BA Biology and English Literature, 1988&nbsp;Medical/Graduate School: University of Pittsburgh, MD, 1998&nbsp;Residency: OHSU, Internal Medicine, 2001&nbsp;Certifications: Internal Medicine (ABIM), 2001-current

Dr. Beldecos is a Board-Certified Internal Medicine Physician at the Ralph H. Johnson VA Health Care System.

Dr. Jim Oates is the Director of the Division of Rheumatology and Immunology and the Vice Chair for Research in the Department of Medicine at the Medical University of South Carolina and a Consultant Physician at Ralph H. Johnson VAMC. He is a rheumatologist and researcher who specializes in caring for patients with lupus and other autoimmune diseases. His research focuses on understanding why lupus causes damage to organs such as the kidneys, heart, and blood vessels. &nbsp;

Dr. Oates is a provider at the Ralph H. Johnson VA Health Care System.

Dr. Schatz joined the VA in 2022 and specializes in digestive disease and hepatology. He also serves as the GI Section Chief and Medical Director of the GI Endoscopy lab. His clinical interests include diagnosis and management of inflammatory bowel disease, metabolic-dysfunction associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), endoscopy teaching, and colorectal cancer screening and prevention. He has authored several peer reviewed abstracts and papers, book chapters, and presented at large GI society meetings and educational conferences. He is passionate about the opportunity to deliver the highest level of care to Veterans who have served our country.&nbsp;&nbsp;Before joining the VA, Dr. Schatz practiced in the greater Charleston community at Charleston GI Specialists and remains affiliated with the Roper Hospital system. He served as Deputy Chief of GI from 2023-2024 before assuming the GI Section Chief role in June 2024.&nbsp;&nbsp;Undergraduate Education: Washington University in St. Louis (BA Psychology, 2008)&nbsp;Medical School: University of Florida College of Medicine (Doctor of Medicine, 2013) Residency: Medical University of South Carolina (Internal Medicine, 2016) Fellowship: Medical University of South Carolina (Gastroenterology, 2019)IBD externship: Mount Sinai Health System, New York Board Certification: Yes - Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology&nbsp;Outside of work, he enjoys spending time with his friends and family, supporting his Florda Gators, playing golf, cooking, and traveling.

Dr. Schatz is a board-certified gastroenterologist with the Ralph H. Johnson VA Health Care System in Charleston, SC.

Dr. Lipschutz is a board-certified nephrologist, Professor of Medicine, and Division Director of Nephrology at MUSC. His expertise includes kidney disease, polycystic kidney disease, and renal research. He is dedicated to advancing kidney care through both clinical excellence and innovative research.

Senior Clinician Scientist Investigator VA.  Professor of Medicine and Renal Division Director

Dr. Lipschutz is a provider at the Ralph H. Johnson VA Health Care System. 

Kathie L. Hermayer, MD, MS, FACP, FACE, DACD, is a Professor of Medicine in the Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolic Diseases at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) and an attending endocrinologist at the Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center. She earned her BS in Biology from Cornell University, a MS in Biochemical Nutrition from the University of Connecticut, and her MD from Albany Medical College in New York. She completed her internship, residency, and fellowship in Endocrinology at MUSC. She is board certified in Internal Medicine and Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism. A member of the MUSC faculty since 1992, Dr. Hermayer retired from MUSC on July 31, 2026, after 34 years of service. She continues to care for Veterans at the Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center, where she also serves as a Veteran Care Coordinator. Her clinical and research interests include diabetes, bone disease, and other endocrine disorders.

Dr. Hermayer is a provider for the Ralph H. Johnson VA Health Care System. 

Dr. Harrison Smith is a board-certified pulmonary and critical care physician serving veterans in Charleston, SC, and Savannah, GA. He earned his medical degree from the University of South Carolina School of Medicine, completed his internal medicine residency at the Virginia Commonwealth University Healthcare System in Richmond, and pursued fellowship training in pulmonary and critical care medicine at the Medical University of South Carolina. Following fellowship, he joined the faculty at MUSC and the Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center, where he continues to care for veterans with a broad range of pulmonary and critical illness needs. His practice is grounded in the belief that veterans deserve exceptional, compassionate care commensurate with the sacrifices they have made in service to the nation.&nbsp;&nbsp;