T. Karl Byrne, MD, FASMBS
Katherine A. Morgan, MD, FASMBS
Megan B. Ruppel, MD
Rana Pullat, MD, FACS

Medical University of South Carolina – Bariatric Surgery Program

25 Courtenay Drive
Charleston, South Carolina 29425

(866) 902-8460

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Dr. T. Karl Byrne
Dr. Katherine A.
Morgan

Dr. Megan B.
Ruppel
Dr. Rana
Pullat

Serving patients seeking bariatric surgery, Laparascopic Adjustable Gastric Band, gastric bypass in Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina and the surrounding area

T. Karl Byrne, MD, FASMBS; Katherine A. Morgan, MD, FASMBS; Megan B. Ruppel, MD; and Rana Pullat, MD, FACS, are board-certified surgeons who specialize in bariatric surgery. Working together at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) Bariatric Surgery Program, they have performed over 2,000 gastric bypass surgeries. The MUSC Medical Center has been recognized as a Bariatric Surgery Center of Excellence by the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) as a result of their extensive surgical expertise and demonstrated record of favorable outcomes for their patients. Their team approach to bariatric surgery has helped countless patients achieve permanent weight loss as well as improvements in obesity-related health conditions, including high blood pressure, sleep apnea, gastroesophageal reflux disease and diabetes.

The surgical team at the MUSC Bariatric Surgery Program offers patients some of the most advanced and proven surgical weight loss procedures, including Roux-en-Y gastric bypass and laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding weight loss surgeries. The Roux-en-Y gastric bypass procedure is a combined restrictive malabsorptive operation that restricts both food intake and the amount of calories and nutrients that the body absorbs, whereas the laparoscopic adjustable gastric band procedure is a restrictive operation that only limits food intake and does not interfere with normal digestive processes. The surgeons at the MUSC Bariatric Surgery Program use the Realize Band – one of the latest and most widely requested gastric banding devices – for all gastric banding procedures.

The MUSC Bariatric Surgery Program is committed to the health, safety and well-being of patients throughout surgery and recovery. As such, the program employs a team of dietitians and psychologists who offer ongoing support. In addition, the program's state-of-the-art facility is equipped with numerous beds designed specifically for obese patients, as well as private rooms with sleeper sofas and recliners to help ensure that friends and family remain comfortable throughout the bariatric surgery process.

To schedule a one-on-one consultation with the surgeons at the MUSC Bariatric Surgery Program, contact them at (866) 902-8460.

What Do Patients Say About the Surgeons at MUSC Bariatric Surgery Program?

"I cannot begin to say enough good things about Dr. Byrne and his staff! My first impression of him was, 'I like a doctor who is straightforward with a dry sense of humor!' That's how I am myself. Every single staff member I came in contact with was extremely knowledgeable and friendly, which made me so much more at ease. My best advice is to do what they tell you to do and you can't go wrong. As for follow-up care, everyone should know that it lasts for life. There is a timeframe for visits, but they also stress that should you need anything or have any problems or issues they want to hear from you right away. I knew the risks with the surgery, but I also knew the risks I would have in the future if I did not have it, so I chose surgery. Dr. Byrne and his staff all are very competent and extraordinary people because they really do care, and that makes all the difference in the world to me."
—Lisa B.

"Dr. Byrne is very nice and makes you feel very comfortable. He doesn't make light of the surgery or the way life will be afterwards. His office staff has been great. They are very helpful and very prompt to answer your questions. He has you attend a class with one of the floor nurses and a dietitian to help explain what will happen and what to expect afterwards." —Patti G.

"I was impressed with Dr. Byrne from the start. I was tremendously nervous and he put me at ease with his demeanor. He was honest and up-front about risks and complications, as well as benefits. I always felt like he was focused on me the whole time I was face to face with him – a comforting feeling when you are about to be face to guts with this guy you've just met. I never felt like a number or a paycheck for him. All of the people involved prior to surgery to present post-op have been very helpful and swift to respond to me. Dr. Byrne and his surgical team were most excellent!" —David O.

"I just love Dr. Morgan. I always feel like I have her full attention. My first impression was that she was low-key. I was a little thrown because I expected to have Dr. Byrne perform my surgery. I was not disappointed with my experience with her. A big plus – I don't have to wait long during post-op appointments, a big pet peeve of mine. She is very thorough and answers all my questions. She's very compassionate. I give her a 10." —Barbara M.

"Dr. Morgan is a very young and intelligent person. I felt calm and safe with her. She knows exactly what she is doing and she made me feel at ease right away. She is taking all precautions with my surgery. She is very sweet, has a great bedside manner and is right to the point. I feel confident that she knows what she's doing, and I feel safe having her as my surgeon." —Linda K.

More About the Surgeons at the MUSC Bariatric Surgery Program

T. Karl Byrne, MD, FASMBS, earned a degree in medicine from the Royal College of Surgeons in Dublin, Ireland. After completing his initial surgical training in Ireland and England, Dr. Byrne completed his general surgery residency at the Medical College of Virginia (MCV), where he trained under world-renowned bariatric surgeon, Dr. Harvey Sugerman. Dr. Byrne came to the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) as a trauma and critical care surgeon, but soon opened the bariatric surgery program to meet the needs of morbidly obese patients in the area. Using some of the most advanced tools and techniques in weight loss surgery, the bariatric surgery program has grown exponentially under his guidance.

Dr. Byrne devotes most of his practice to performing weight loss surgery and has performed more than a thousand gastric bypass surgeries during his distinguished career. He is a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland and the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS). As Medical Director of the MUSC Bariatric Surgery Program, Dr. Byrne was instrumental in helping the program earn the prestigious "Center of Excellence" designation from ASMBS. Dr. Byrne is committed to sharing his extensive knowledge of bariatric surgery with medical students by serving as a professor at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) – a role in which he has earned numerous awards, including the Golden Apple Award.

Katherine A. Morgan, MD, FASMBS, earned an undergraduate degree with distinction from the University of Virginia and a medical degree from Emory University in Atlanta, where she graduated with summa cum laude honors and completed a general surgery residency. She then joined the faculty at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) as Assistant Professor of Surgery and continues to serve as Associate Residency Program Director and Director of the advanced laparoscopic laboratory. Dr. Morgan is highly respected among her peers and is a member of several prominent surgical associations and organizations, including the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery and the Society of American Gastrointestinal Endoscopic Surgeons. She is also a Diplomate of the American Board of Surgery. She has special surgical interests in hepatobiliary, pancreatic, bariatric and advanced laparoscopic surgery.

Megan B. Ruppel, MD, earned Bachelor of Arts degrees in political science and economics from Columbia University and a degree in medicine from Wright State University Boonshoft School of Medicine in Dayton, Ohio. She completed her residency in general surgery at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC), where she devoted an additional year to breast cancer research. She currently serves as an Assistant Professor of Surgery at MUSC and as the Medical Director for Comprehensive Breast Care at Hollings Cancer Center. In addition to her duties as a breast cancer specialist, Dr. Ruppel is a vital member of the MUSC Bariatric Surgery Program team.

Rana Pullat, MD, FACS, earned a degree in medicine from the Madras Medical College in Chennai, India. He then moved to the United States to pursue further surgical training at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC), where he completed his residency, as well as a fellowship with the American Society of Transplant Surgeons and the American College of Surgeons. Dr. Pullat is a member of several medical associations, including the American Medical Association, the American Society of Transplant Surgeons, the Association of Surgeons of India, the International College of Surgeons and the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh. Dr. Pullat has written several articles on gastric bypass and weight loss surgery that have been published in prominent peer-reviewed medical publications.

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