Charles Thomas Fitts, M.D., 76, entered into eternal rest on Tuesday, November 4, 2008.
He was born in Jackson, TN, on July 4, 1932. He was the son of the late William Thomas Fitts, M.D. and Isobel Bill Fitts. Dr. Fitts earned his B.A. from Princeton in 1953 and his M.D. from the University of Pennsylvania in 1957.
During his tenure at MUSC, Dr. Fitts held several appointments including Professor of Surgery, Medical Director of the South Carolina Organ Procurement Agency (SCOPA), and attending surgeon at Medical University Hospital and the Veterans Administration Hospital. He is credited with pioneering the organ transplant program at MUSC where he performed the first kidney transplant on December 3, 1968. His success with kidney transplants established the model for subsequent transplant programs at MUSC. Among his numerous lifelong accomplishments,
Dr. Fitts served as a trauma surgeon in Vietnam as well as Chief of the Trauma Study Branch, US Army Medical Corps Surgical Research Unit, Brooke Army Medical Center, Ft. Sam Houston, Texas. He authored over 100 medical articles and was a sought-after snake and alligator bite specialist in the Southeast. After leading the way in launching the kidney transplant program and establishing the framework for other transplant programs that followed at MUSC, Dr. Fitts retired to proudly enter private practice with his son, Dr. Casey Fitts, at Coastal Surgical Associates in Charleston. After practice with his son, he dedicated his medical expertise to working with disability claims at age 72. With his profound knowledge as a medical witness and his unconditional loyalty to the patient, he was awarded Medical Consultant of the Year in 2006.
After more than 50 dedicated years in medicine and a full life, Dr. Fitts has made a lasting impression on many. Known as one of the last cowboys of MUSC, he was a voice dedicated to resisting the notion of medicine as business. He was a storyteller and teacher with flair and a style that captivated all who knew him. Always considered a family man, his family reached far beyond bloodline, as he was fondly known as Daddy Fitts by countless friends and associates.
He is survived by his wife, Marie Von Ohsen Fitts of Awendaw, and his nine children: Ansley Sliker, Georgia Sliker Gagliardi (Matthew), Kathryn Fitts, Summer Fitts, and Jenna Fitts. Along with Ann Driver Fitts, mother of Robert Casey Fitts, M.D. (Sue), Matthew Fitts, Ph.D, Layne Fitts Nelson (David), Amy Fitts Marvin (Randy), including eleven beloved grandchildren. He is also survived by his brother, Michael A. Fitts, LLB, of Nashville, TN, and wife, Polly. We remember the late siblings, William T. Fitts, Jr., M.D. (and here) (Stella/Barbara), Mary Fitts Ross (Blair), and twins, Nancy Wade Fitts and Patsy Graham Fitts.
The visitation will be held Friday, November 7th at the Fitts family home, 1360 Eden Road (Paradise Island) Awendaw, SC 29429 from 5:30 to 8:30 PM. A Celebration of his Life will be Saturday, November 8th, at eleven o’clock in St. Matthews Lutheran Church, 405 King Street, Charleston, SC 29403. A reception will follow at the Embassy Suites Historic Charleston, 337 Meeting Street, Charleston, SC 29403. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to a charity of one’s choice or All Saints Lutheran Church, 2107 North Highway 17, Mt. Pleasant, SC 29466.
Please continue his legacy by raising awareness regarding organ donation and giving the gift of life at www.lifepoint-sc.org. As a celebration and tribute to the memorable and colorful character of Dr. Fitts, everyone is invited to wear bright colors to the memorial service.