Pushyami Mikkilineni, MD

Fernando Navarro, MD, MPH, joined Prisma Health and the University of South Carolina School of Medicine in Columbia in July 2012. He received his medical degree in his native Colombia in 1996, and then served as a research fellow in tissue engineering and wound healing at Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School in Boston. He completed his residency at Maine Medical Center in Portland, and held a clinical and academic appointment with the Maine Medical Center/Tufts University School of Medicine. Dr. Navarro has a parallel interest in epidemiology and in the development of public health policies, and completed his master's degree in public health at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst. He completed an intensive fellowship in all aspects of minimally invasive surgery at Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. Navarro is board certified in surgery and is a fellow of the American College of Surgeons. He has authored several peer-reviewed publications in his field and continues being an active member of a number of professional organizations including the Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons, American Hernia Society and Society of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery. His other special interests continue in wound healing and in surgical simulation. He welcomes referrals for patients requiring all general surgery procedures with particular emphasis on minimally invasive procedures.

Punam Tarpara, FNP, is a provider for Prisma Health OB/GYN Specialists in Columbia. She specializes in pediatric and adolescent gynecology. Born and raised in New Jersey, she attended Fairleigh Dickinson University for her undergraduate nursing degree and Walden University for her master’s degree. Tarpara sees pediatric and adolescent patients between 9 and 19 years old for their gynecologic care such as abnormal bleeding, puberty, and contraceptive education. She educates her patients about all their treatment options and enjoys working closely with them to tailor a treatment plan to best fit their needs and improve their quality of life. She is passionate about women’s health and loves serving the pediatric and adolescent population. This specialty combines both of her passions and allows her to connect with her patients and their families with compassion. In her free time, Tarpara enjoys reading, gardening and traveling with her family. *Please note: Punam Tarpara, FNP, sees patients between the ages of 9 and 19 years old.

Jacob Hessey, MD, is a trauma, critical care and general surgeon. He completed his surgical residency in Columbus, OH followed by a surgical ICU fellowship in Columbia, SC. As a general surgeon, he enjoys fixing hernias and treating gallbladder pathology. As a trauma and ICU doctor, he enjoys covering hospital shifts and treating injured patients. Dr. Hessey truly enjoys providing patient care and helping patients recover from their illnesses. His wife is a nurse who works in town and they both love calling Columbia, SC home and feel very fortunate to be here.