2010 EXCELLENCE AWARD RECIPIENT

Dr. John D. Bower retired December 1, 2000, from the Department of Medicine at The University of Mississippi Medical Center after more than 35 years of research, teaching and patient care. During this time, he worked with Dr. Arthur Guyton to expand Dr. Guyton’s extensive animal research in hypertension into clinical medicine using the human model of chronic renal disease including bilaterally nephrectomized dialysis patients. Dr. Bower also taught at every level of medical education including nursing and paramedical education. As the chief of Nephrology, he trained more than 50 Nephrologists most of whom pursued a career in patient care.

After completing his internship, residency and Nephrology Fellowship at the University of Virginia and the Medical College of Virginia, Dr. Bower began his career at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Jackson. His plan was to practice medicine, do research in hypertension and teach Nephrology.

As fate would have it, Dr. Bower received one of the original Public Health service grants in 1966 to test the therapeutic efficiency of hemodialysis. The three year grant expired in 1969 after demonstrating conclusively that with dialysis patients lived and without dialysis patients died. After an intensive education program in Congress, Medicare was modified to include End Stage Renal disease.

Dr. Bower established Kidney Care, Inc., a not for profit 501(c)(3) corporation in 1973. This grew into 28 dialysis units in three states with over 1,800 patients and more than 750 professional staff members. In 1996, Dr. Bower became a founding member of the Renal Care Group, Inc. when Kidney Care, Inc. merged with several other dialysis facilities. This new corporation was initially traded on NASDAQ (RCGI) but later transferred to the NYSE (RCI). The proceeds from this transaction went to form The Bower Foundation whose mission is to improve health and health care in Mississippi.

Dr. Bower now lives in Brandon and spends much time with his children and grandchildren. Dr. Bower’s work effort is directed to caring for a limited number of renal patients, pursuit of a National Health Program for all Americans and supporting the work of The Bower Foundation.