Dr. Charles Stonerock, MD is a Vascular Surgery Specialist in Florence, SC and has over 25 years of experience in the medical field.  Dr. Stonerock has more experience with Carotid Artery Disease or Carotid Endarterectomy, Peripheral Vascular Disease, and Aortic Aneurysm or Dissection than other specialists in his area.  He is affiliated with Musc Health Florence Medical Center.

Dr. Vinod Jona is a pulmonologist in Florence, SC. He received his medical degree from Kakatiya Medical College in India. He has done his residency in Bronx, NY, fellowship in Pulmonary and Critical Care in Philadelphia, PA, and has been in practice since 23 years. He specializes in critical care medicine and interventional pulmonology and is experienced in obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome and bronchial cancer.

Dr. Brinda Chokshi is a dedicated primary care internist at Hope Health, a leading healthcare organization. Dr. Chokshi holds a Doctor of Medicine degree from the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston, SC.; residency training in Internal Medicine at the Alton Ochsner Medical Foundation in New Orleans, LA; and an undergraduate degree from India.

Dr. Palmer Morgan Kirkpatrick, M.D. has been a FCMS member since 1985, and has been working as FCMS treasurer since 2018. Dr. Kirkpatrick is a retired gastroenterologist after 36 years of practice in Florence. He is a graduate of MUSC ’70. He is married to wife, Mary, and has two children who are also in the medical field. He is currently enjoying his retirement with Mary, grandchildren, travel, and playing tennis.

Dr. Tripp Hines was born and raised in Cleveland, Tennessee and graduated from East Tennessee State University Quillen College of Medicine in 2015. He completed his Neurosurgery residency at the University of Kentucky in Lexington, Kentucky in June 2022 and completed an enfolded Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) fellowship.  He is married to Abby Hines, an ambulatory care pharmacist. They have two children and two dogs and enjoys running, traveling, and spending time with his family.

Dr. Danielle Schmidt, DO, is currently with McLeod Family Medicine Residency Program and will complete the program in 2024.

Dr. Rodney Alan is an orthopedic surgeon who represents Florence County physicians, along with those of Cheraw, Darlington, and Marlboro counties, to the Board of Trustees of the South Carolina Medical Association.

Dr. Danny Hyler is a family medicine physician who loves Florence and has practiced here for more than thirty years.  He has served as President of the Society multiple times, along with his wife Debbie. 

Ron began this term in January of 2024.  In his professional life before retiring in 2015, Ron was an ordained minister, an accountant, a hospital administrator and a medical group administrator. He also serves on several other boards in the Florence community including the Florence Regional Arts Alliance and the Windsor Forest V-VI Association (Secretary). Ron and his wife Terri (Gastroenterology), have three daughters and 6 grandchildren. They have been married for 40 years.

Courtney Paison has been working since 2019 in recruiting new members to the Alliance.  Her husband is an orthopedic surgeon.

Debbie serves as the executive director of the Florence School Foundation, an organization dedicated to supporting educational initiatives in Florence, South Carolina.

In addition to her work in education, Debbie is also a talented musician and has performed with various groups and orchestras throughout the state. She is a graduate of Clemson University,  and she holds a Master of Education degree from Francis Marion University.  Her husband Danny is a family medicine physician.

Kathleen Smith has lived in Florence since 1999 with her husband, Pete, an anesthesiologist, and their three children. Florence brought many changes and new passions, including a career change from nursing to education. Kathleen recently became involved in the work of the Alliance and took on the role as secretary in January 2024. She hopes to serve well and communicate effectively with the Alliance.

Sue Jona has been a member of FCMS Alliance for over 15 years. She has been the treasurer of the Alliance for the past 3 years. Sue Jona has a masters degree in Mathematics and enjoys teaching calculus and algebra.  Her husband Vinod is the Society President Elect and works as a pulmonologist.