Faculty

photo of Richard Lee, MD

Richard Lee, MD

  • Chief and Professor of Cardiothoracic Surgery

706-721-6679

photo of Vijay Patel, MD

Vijay Patel, MD

  • Professor of Surgery

706-721-3226

Vijay S. Patel, Associate Professor of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, and

Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine.  He received his medical degree and completed a general surgery residency at University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston in Houston, Texas and a cardiothoracic surgery fellowship at Albert Einstein College of Medicine / Montefiore Medical Center in Bronx, New York.

He is a member of the Society of Thoracic Surgeons, Cardiothoracic Surgery Network, Southern Thoracic Surgical Association, International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation, and the American Heart Association. As Associate Professor of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Patel oversees clinical and research activities related to cardiology, cardiothoracic surgery and cardiovascular anesthesia.

photo of Robert Rice, MD

Robert Rice, MD

  • Assistant Clinical Professor of Surgery

706-721-3226

photo of Dominic Gallo, MD

Dominic Gallo, MD

  • Assistant Clinical Professor of Surgery

706-721-3226

Dr. Gallo is also head of Thoracic Surgery at the Doctors Hospital of Augusta.

Dr. Gallo began his training in the United States Army completing a General Surgery internship at Walter Reed Army Medical Center followed by General Surgery residency at Eisenhower Army Medical Center.  He was then accepted into a Thoracic Surgery fellowship at Brooke Army Medical Center. After completing his training, he returned to Eisenhower and became the Chief of Cardiothoracic Surgery. He retired from the military after three deployments to the Middle East and  20 years of service. He then  joined HCA at Doctor’s Hospital of Augusta where he continues to perform adult cardiac surgery and thoracic surgery to include robotically assisted thoracic oncologist resections.

photo of Daniel L. Miller, MD

Daniel L. Miller, MD

  • Director of Thoracic Surgery,
  • Section of Cardiothoracic Surgery
  • Professor of Surgery

706-721-5682

Dr. Miller is also: Floyd C. Jarrell, Jr. MD Distinguished Chair in Surgical Oncology, Interim Surgical Director, Georgia Cancer Center and Director of Surgical Services and of the Lung Screening Program.

photo of John Kuckelman, DO

John Kuckelman, DO

  • Clinical Assistant Professor

706-721-5682

Dr. Kuckelman earned his medical degree from Des Moines University in Des Moines, Iowa while at the same time joining the Army Medical Corps. He completed his General surgical training at Madigan Army Medical Center in Tacoma, Washington and then went on to complete his Cardiothoracic surgery fellowship at Harvard’s Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts. In addition to his role at Augusta University he continues to serve in the military as an active-duty thoracic surgeon with the rank of Major and is currently stationed at Fort Gordon. His clinical focus includes surgical treatment of benign and malignant disorders of the lung, esophagus, chest wall, stomach, pleura and diaphragm utilizing traditional and minimally invasive techniques to include robotic surgery. Dr. Kuckelman is available to see patients at Augusta University Medical Center, located at:

1120 15th St, Augusta, GA 30912

For referrals, please fax:

(706) 721-2273

www.augustahealth.org/provider/john-kuckelman

Administrative Staff

R. Christian Dutlinger, PA-C

  • APP-2

706-721-3226

Jennifer St. Louis, PA-C

  • APP-2

706-721-3226

Michael Hadley, PA-C

  • APP-2

706-721-3226

Melissa Shafer, PA-C

  • APP-2

706-721-3226

Trent Swanson, PA-C

  • APP-2

706-721-3226

Michael Ehrie, APRN

  • Advanced Practice Registered Nurse

706-721-3226

Jeanne Hulse, APRN

  • Advanced Practice Registered Nurse

706-721-3226

photo of Bridget Glover

Bridget Glover

  • Administrative Assistant II

706-721-3226