Published: October 25, 2009 11:47 pm      

Russell native wins award

Dowdy named Coker College’s Outstanding Young Alumni winner

Hartsville, S.C. — Dr. Phillip R. Dowdy Jr. of Russell is Coker College’s Outstanding Young Alumni Award winner for 2009. Dowdy graduated from Coker College in 1999 with a degree in chemistry. He is a doctor at Cumberland Foot and Ankle Center in Somerset, Ky.

Dowdy specializes in foot and ankle surgery, foot and ankle sports medicine and diabetic wound care. He is practicing in Somerset as part of a yearlong fellowship awarded by Jewish Hospital and St. Mary's HealthCare in Louisville.

Dowdy completed his residency in podiatric medicine and surgery at Henry Ford Wyandotte Hospital in Michigan. In addition to his work at the hospital, Dowdy routinely volunteered at a clinic for the working uninsured and provided free foot screenings at health fairs.

The Henry Ford Hospital presented Dowdy with its Outstanding Humanitarian Service Award in 2006 for his dedication and commitment to his profession. He is a member of the American Podiatric Medical Association.

Dowdy earned his doctorate of podiatric medicine from Barry University School of Graduate Medical Sciences in 2006. In 2001, Barry awarded him a podiatric merit scholarship.

As a Coker College senior in 1999, Dowdy was named Outstanding Student of Year in the Department of Science and Mathematics. A leader on the Coker College Cobras tennis team, he was the 1999 Academic Athlete of the Year. He was named to the All-Conference Academic Team in 1998. Additionally, Dowdy was president of the Coker College Union from 1997 to 1999.

Founded in 1908, Coker College is an independent liberal arts college. Home of the round table teaching style, Coker is consistently recognized by U.S. News & World Report as one of America’s Best Colleges. The Princeton Review names Coker a Best Southeastern College based on academic excellence and student satisfaction.