Christopher Saling, M.D.

Christopher Saling, M.D., knows the importance of relationships. Having previously worked in the Division of Infectious Diseases at Mayo Clinic in Arizona, his desire to be close to family brought him to Savannah and SouthCoast Health.

Creating and strengthening bonds remains a running theme in his professional life as well. When diagnosing and treating a full range of infectious diseases, from orthopedic infections to HIV, Dr. Saling says connecting with patients proves essential. It’s something he approaches with humility, relatability, clear communication, and dedication.

"Being a doctor is not a 9 to 5,” he explains. “It's my life’s work. So I'm extremely dedicated to my patients, and I spend a lot of time with them. I'm always there for them, even after hours.”

That brand of commitment to infectious disease medicine is reflected in Dr. Saling’s background. After earning his Bachelor of Science degree in physics with honors at Vanderbilt University, he graduated with honors from Trinity School of Medicine. His internal medicine residency and chief residency took place at New York Medical College, St. Michael’s Medical Center Campus in Newark, New Jersey. He subsequently completed his fellowship in infectious diseases at Mayo Clinic in Phoenix, Arizona.

Selected as a Mayo Scholar, Dr. Saling pursued further training in the emerging field of regenerative medicine at Mayo Clinic. This included founding and leading a regenerative medicine lab, which he continues to serve in a consulting capacity.

Additionally, he served as an assistant professor of medicine at the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and as a consultant in its Division of Infectious Diseases.

Dr. Saling has been published in medical journals and has authored multiple textbook chapters pertaining to infectious disease. Double board certified in internal medicine and infectious disease, he is a certified HIV Specialist by the American Academy of HIV Medicine and is one of the only infectious disease-regenerative medicine physicians in the world.

“With infectious disease, you have to be a detective,” he says. “It requires a lot of deductive reasoning. And obviously there are clear-cut guidelines when you find something, but it's still a field where there's a lot of individualism. And that's something I really like about it.”

A multidisciplinary field, infectious disease doesn’t simply focus on one organ system. That means Dr. Saling gets to collaborate with different specialists, another reason he appreciates his concentration. Like Mayo Clinic, SouthCoast Health offers a variety of specialists under one banner, which enhances peer-to-peer collaboration.

“I am big into the multidisciplinary approach,” he says. “And that's something that attracted me to SouthCoast Health. I have a strong home base of providers that I can bounce cases off of.”

With each case he handles, Dr. Saling says the patient is a key part of the team. He wants them to be heard, understand the situation, and know they play a role in the process.

“I’m very thorough and strive to leave no stone unturned,” he says. “But it's important that patients are part of the medical decision making process. It’s a journey we take together, and my goal is to allow them to feel comfortable and cared for.”

Outside of his professional life, Dr. Saling immerses himself in sports, avidly watching hockey and football, and playing tennis and golf. He enjoys listening to music, playing guitar and creating new memories with family.