MEET LOCAL LEGEND: Lauren McDonald, M.D.

BIOGRAPHY

Although Lauren McDonald was born and raised in Rochester, New York, the eyes of Texas have been upon her since she arrived in Dallas, in 1984, to do her residency training at St. Paul Medical Center, Parkland Memorial Hospital, and her fellowship in nephrology at The University of Texas Southwestern Medical School.

Two decades later the 1979 Brown University graduate, who went on to earn her M.D. degree from Temple University School of Medicine in 1984, is a senior partner in Dallas Nephrology Associates (DNA), treating as many as 100 patients a week. As one of several staff Medical Directors, she helps to oversee DNA's hemodialysis facilities in Dallas, Greenville, Athens, Terrell, Grapevine and Waxahachie. This incudes managing end-stage renal disease patients who receive hemodialysis, in-center staff-assisted patients, ambulatory peritoneal dialysis patients, home-trained hemodialysis patients and continuous cycling peritoneal dialysis patients. McDonald and her colleagues also teach internal medicine residents and renal fellows, and participate in DNA's very active research program, which to date has produced more than 500 technical papers and chapters.

Mcdonald also serves as Medical Director of Fresenius Medical Care Peritoneal Dialysis Unit and Fresenius Southwestern Dialysis Unit. Fresenius Medical Care is the world's largest integrated provider of dialysis products, such as hemodialysis machines and dialyzers, and services for individuals with chronic kidney failure, a condition affecting more than 1.2 million people worldwide. Through its network of 1,575 dialysis clinics in North America, Europe, Latin America and Asia-Pacific, Fresenius Medical Care provides treatment to approximately 10 percent of the world's dialysis patients.

Because she is dedicated to quality health care for all citizens, she chairs the Parkland Board of Managers for Parkland Memorial Hospital, which is the primary teaching institution of The University of Texas Southwestern Medical School and is often rated among the best hospitals in the United States. Because of Parkland's affiliation with the medical school, paying and non-paying patients alike have access to top quality medical care. As Dallas County's only public hospital, Parkland ensures that health care is available to all area residents

Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX-30) nominated McDonald as a Local Legend of Medicine, an award which she cherishes along with such other, past accolades as being named the first woman President of the Medical Staff at St. Paul Medical Center, in 1998, and serving as a member of the St. Paul Board of Directors and on the Board of Directors-Parkland Hospital Board of Managers. She received the "She Knows Where She Is Going Award" from Girls, Inc., in 1999.

She is a member of the Links, Inc. Mid-Cities Chapter, a sustaining member of the Junior League of Dallas, a member of Leadership Dallas and has recently joined the Dallas Assembly. National recognition includes being named one of the American Medical Association's "Emerging Leaders" and receiving the Bridge Award from the National Coalition of 100 Black Women.

McDonald and her husband Howard Cole are the parents of Alex and Adrianna. When asked what her most important contributions have been, she says "to raise compassionate, intelligent children and to encourage others to always pursue their dreams..."