Mission Statement
We’re committed to your optimal health and well-being. As the leading renal care provider in Horry County, our mission is to improve the quality of life for every patient. We are a dedicated and highly skilled team of healthcare professionals that provide superior and compassionate care, accessible to all—regardless of socio-economic reasons. We do that by making time for each patient, holistically addressing needs and concerns in a nurturing environment that encourages excellence, teamwork, and education. With our unyielding commitment to bettering patient health, we also help patients with chronic conditions better manage their disease. From prevention to diagnosis to treatment we aim to support and improve kidney patient outcomes for the entire South Carolina Grand Strand Coastal region and into North Carolina’s Cape Fear region.
Healthcare Providers
Dr. Elms received his bachelor of arts from Haverford College in Haverford Pennsylvania. He received his medical degree from Albany Medical Center in Albany, New York, where he also completed his residency in internal medicine. He finished his renal fellowship in Dallas, both at the Veterans Hospital and at Parkland Memorial Hospital. He stayed on as assistant professor in Nephrology at the Dallas VA. Then, for 15 years he served as chief of nephrology at the Augusta veteran administration associated with the medical College of Georgia, until he opened Coastal Kidney Center in Myrtle Beach South Carolina in 1995. At that time he was the only Nephrologist in Horry County.
Dr. Balachandran graduated from St. George’s University School of Medicine in Grenada. His Internal Medicine residency was completed at Albany Medical Center in Albany, NY, and his Nephrology Fellowship in Augusta, GA, at the Medical College of Georgia. Since the completion of that fellowship in 2001 he has practiced at Coastal Kidney Center. As a dedicated nephrologist he has served: Conway Medical Center as Chief of Staff and Chief of Medicine; Fresenius Dialysis Centers as Medical Director in Horry County, SC, and Brunswick County, NC, since 2007; and, presently, as Adjunct Assistant Professor at Campbell University in Buies Creek, NC, in the Grand Strand IM Residency Program he is Assistant Professor with VCOM and the CMC Family Practice and Transitional Year IM Residency Program. Dr. Balachandran continues serving in other leadership roles in three Horry County hospitals: Grand Strand, Conway Medical Center, and McLeod. He is board certified in nephrology.
Dr. Santhanam received her Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery from the Tamilnadu Dr. M.G.R. Medical University in Chennai, India. She completed her Internal Medicine residency as well as her Nephrology Fellowship at the University of Pittsburgh in Pittsburgh, PA. She has received numerous collegiate medical awards and numerous publications of her research in books and journals on topics ranging from dialysis to renal transplants to chronic kidney disease and much more. She is board certified in nephrology.
Dr. Srisawitri graduated with honors from Universitias Indonesia in Jakarta. She completed her Internal Medicine Residency at Weiss Memorial Hospital in Chicago, IL, and her Nephrology Fellowship at the Indiana University School of Medicine in Indianapolis. Her publications include reports and abstracts on topics ranging from Type 2 diabetes to chronic kidney disease to lupus nephritis. She joined Coastal Kidney Center in 2024. She is board certified in nephrology.
Donna has over 20 years experience as a board certified Nurse Practitioner and Advanced Practice Registered Nurse in nephrology, predominantly with
Coastal Kidney Center. She earned her Bachelor of Art in Biology at Converse College in Spartanburg, SC, in 1997. And her Master of Science in Nursing from the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston, SC, in 2006, when she also received board certification as an Adult Nurse Practitioner. Donna has considerable experience with adult and palliative care medicine.
Andra graduated from Horry-Georgetown Technical College with an Associate Degree in Health Science. As a Registered Nurse in two Carolina hospital systems she has over 9 years critical care experience, especially with cardiac patients. In 2021 she received her Master of Nursing from Walden University in Minneapolis, MN, as well as her Adult Gerontology Nurse Practitioner and Acute Care Nurse Practitioner board certifications, and joined our nephrology team in 2022.
Anooja received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 2005 from Shreemati Nathibai Damodar Thackersey Women’s University in Mumbai, India, where she practiced as a Registered Nurse as well as a Clinical Instructor at the Hiranandani College of Nursing. After relocating to Illinois, she spent 9 years as a Charge Nurse working with dialysis patients. During this time she also earned her Master of Nursing at Illinois State University and received her Family Nurse Practitioner board certification. Anooja joined us as an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse.
Sara graduated with her Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 2014 from the University of Maryland in Baltimore, where she spent 9 years in Maryland and
Delaware hospitals in Telemetry and Stroke Units, Orthopedic and Trauma Units, as well as a Medical Stepdown/Alcohol Withdrawl/COVID-Telemetry Unit. During this time she also earned her Master of Science in Nursing from Walden University in Minneapolis, MN. As a board certified Family Nurse Practitioner she joined our nephrology team in 2023.
Alysha received three associate degrees from Horry-Georgetown Technical College (Health Science, Practical Nursing, and Nursing) before earning her Bachelor of Nursing in 2022 and Master of Nursing in 2024 from Chamberlain University. She has a breadth of experience in cardiovascular intensive care units, surgical units, pediatrics, labor &
delivery, telemetry, behavioral health, and long-term care. We welcomed Alysha to our nephrology team in 2025.
Connect with Our Nephrology Experts
Schedule your appointment today or reach out for personalized assistance from our dedicated staff.