1972: Bower’s advocacy improves access to life-saving dialysis

Published on Monday, October 28, 2024

By: Gary Pettus, gpettus@umc.edu

During its 69-year history, the University of Mississippi Medical Center has made contributions to the state, and the world, in medicine, science and education. Each month, we’ll recognize at least one of these major accomplishments.

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UMMC nephrologist Dr. John D. Bower, who was also instrumental in starting Mississippi’s first dialysis unit in 1966, helped persuade Congress to extend Medicare coverage to patients with end-stage renal disease. Bower’s achievement occurred at a time when not everyone who needed dialysis could afford this health care lifeline. Eventually, to meet the growing demand for treatment facilities, he helped ensure that the procedure became much more accessible to patients statewide and beyond. With the goal of locating dialysis facilities and services within 30 miles of any patient’s home, Bower founded Kidney Care Inc. This development ultimately led to the formation of the Bower Foundation whose goal is improving the health of Mississippians. Bower died on May 1, 2023, six years after he was inducted into the University of Mississippi Medical Alumni Chapter Hall of Fame. Because of his contributions to public health, the UMMC John D. Bower School of Population Health is named for him.