News Archive
Dowdle Recognized as "Phenomenal" During Physician Assistant Week
November 5, 2010 – Every year, Physician Assistant Week is celebrated from October 6-12. This year, the MUSC PA Class of 2012 has selected GI Division Physician Assistant Merriman Dowdle as their "Phenomenal PA." We would like to acknowledge and congratulate Merriman on this accomplishment.
Merriman Dowdle
MS, PA-C
GI Division Director, Dr. Mark Payne, made the nomination with the following letter:
"I recently received an e-mail from Frances Glanville, our Faculty Resource and Communications Manager in the Department of Medicine, concerning solicitations for recommendations for an award for a phenomenal PA who is an alumnus of MUSC. I have had the opportunity to work with many Physician Assistants from the MUSC program, and they are all quite outstanding. One PA has been an absolute standout from the moment we hired her to the Division of GI and Hepatology in 1996. Merriman Dowdle joined our Division that year to help us with the growing volume of patients we were seeing in Gastroenterology.
"I became the Clinical Director the following year and I became acquainted with Merriman at that time. I soon learned that Merriman was not only a brilliant PA, but had a unique gift for dealing with GI patients. In addition, she demonstrated a desire to focus her efforts not only in general GI, but also on inflammatory bowel disease, one of our most challenging clinical areas. Merriman became quite an expert in this area of GI and is known throughout the city, and indeed the state, as a referral resource for managing difficult patients with Crohn's and ulcerative colitis. She is seen as a valued colleague by all regional physicians who manage IBD, and her opinion in the clinical management of these patients is highly regarded. She was instrumental in founding our biologics infusion program. She has continued to maintain our infusion practice with over 140 patients who receive ongoing treatment and maintenance therapy for their inflammatory bowel disease. Merriman is loved by her patients, and not surprisingly, tops the list in patient satisfaction scores within our Division. Because of her expertise in this area, she has been invited to give many regional lectures concerning the topic.
"In addition to her clinical responsibilities, Merriman has participated actively in clinical research with our program. She has been involved with numerous projects with grant support from multiple pharmaceutical companies for trials concerning advanced treatment of IBD. Through her work with Drs. Fred Wilson, Brenda Hoffman, and Larry Comerford (our IBD Director), Merriman has helped to further research within our Division and bring unique clinical trials to the benefit of this patient population.
"Finally, no comments about Merriman would be complete without mentioning her commitment to the Physician Assistant Program here at MUSC. She is a key supporter of this program and continues to lecture to the PA students. She is also a member of the Interview Selection Committee for Physician Assistant students and is liaison to the Accreditation Committee for the Physician Assistant Program. In conclusion, when asked for a recommendation for an outstanding PA who trained at MUSC, the choice of Merriman came quite easily to me. She is recognized as not only an important PA and key faculty member within the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, but also an important member of the GI community within the state. The MUSC PA program should be very proud of her accomplishments."
Merriman is truly an asset to our patients as well as this department. Her hard work and dedication are sure to be reflected on the future PAs that will be completing their program at MUSC. Thank you, Merriman!