Welcoming three physicians to care for the community and help improve lives

April 18, 2018
Welcoming three physicians to care for the community and help improve lives

Lorenzo K. Sampson, MD, FACS, Evan Ekman, MD, and Mark Meiler, MD

There are many great things that draw people to the Aiken community. Excellent medical care, proximity to big cities, the sense of belonging, and making a difference in the lives of others. Meet three physicians who are now practicing in Aiken, whose mission is to improve the quality of their patients’ lives.

General Surgeon, Lorenzo K. Sampson, MD, FACS

Lorenzo K. Sampson, MD, FACS

Aiken Surgical Associates
410 University Parkway, Suite 2310
Aiken, SC 29801
803-648-1318

Specialty: General Surgery
Medical School: The Medical University of South Carolina
Residency: University of Alabama at Birmingham
Fellowship: Colon & Rectal Surgery at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis
Board Certification: Board of Medical Examiners and the American Board of Surgery

In practice for 20 years, Dr. Sampson recently decided to move from Houston, TX, to be closer to family. “I am a native of Charleston, South Carolina, and Aiken is centrally located and only two hours from everyone,” he says. “I felt welcomed by the doctors in my practice and it is a pleasure to provide care in this friendly community.”

Dr. Sampson says he became a physician to help people. “Seeing a smile on my patients’ faces and their appreciation of the care they received is very rewarding,” he says. “One of my goals is to help the patient return to a better quality of life.”

While Dr. Sampson performs traditional, minimally invasive and robotic-assisted surgery, one of his specialties is the TIF® (transoral incisionless fundoplication) procedure on patients with acid reflux. “This minimally invasive, endoscopic procedure is performed without a surgical incision on the skin, which can mean less pain and quicker recovery. Plus, it gets them back to life without reflux,” he says.

Dr. Sampson is a big fan of college and professional football, especially the Clemson Tigers and Houston Texans teams. He is married and has four children.

Geriatrician and Family Medicine Doctor, Mark Meiler, MD

Mark Meiler, MD

Aiken Professional Association – Family Medicine
420 Society Hill Drive, Suite 100
Aiken, SC 29803
803-648-7774

Specialty: Geriatrics and Family Medicine
Medical School: Creighton University School of Medicine
Residency: Wilson Hospital – Johnson City, NY
Board Certification: American Board of Family Medicine and Geriatrics

A former Army Captain, Dr. Meiler has been in practice for 44 years. After completing his residency at Wilson Hospital in Johnson City, NY, he started a practice as a country doctor in Walton, NY, and delivered babies, assisted in surgery and made house calls.

After seven years, he moved the practice to Oneonta, NY, where he built a new facility and recruited other physicians to join the practice. He was there for 14 years and became certified in Geriatrics in 1988, the first time that sub-specialty was offered.

Dr. Meiler learned of an opening for a geriatrician in Aiken, SC, so he relocated and practiced family medicine for about 12 years. During that time, he was involved in starting a free medical clinic in Aiken. Then an opportunity to teach third-year medical residents in Charleston, SC, became available and he relocated his family there. After teaching, Dr. Meiler retired, but not for long.

“I grew tired of being retired, and some of our closest friends live in Aiken. My children had all moved away, and I really missed medicine, so we decided to move back,” he says. On a recent house-hunting visit in Aiken, Dr. Meiler learned of a physician opening in a local family practice and was hired. He is practicing geriatrics and family medicine, and couldn’t be happier to be back.

Orthopedic Surgeon, Evan Ekman, MD

Evan Ekman, MD

Aiken Professional Association – Orthopedics
191 Centre South Blvd., Suite 30
Aiken, SC 29803
803-761-9191

Specialty: Orthopedic and Sports Medicine
Medical School: University of Kentucky
Residency: Bowman Gray/Wake Forest University Medical Center
Board Certification: Orthopedic Surgery

As a professional athlete, Dr. Ekman knows what it takes to stay healthy and injury-free. A competitive swimmer whose specialties are freestyle and the butterfly, he placed fifth at the World Masters Championships in 2017 and will be participating in the Pan Am Games this summer. It is easy to see why he chose this field of medicine. “I became interested in healthcare to improve human performance and I wanted to have an opportunity to help people continue to live a fulfilling and active lifestyle,” he says.

Dr. Ekman has treated professional and elite college athletes from across the country. He specializes in shoulder and knee injuries and can address many sports injuries using advanced minimally invasive technology. What he finds most rewarding is improving a patient’s quality of life and restoring their function. “Whether it is a world-class athlete or a patient in our community, maximizing function and giving people an opportunity to meet their goals is what I am looking for,” he says.

He recently moved to Aiken from Blowing Rock, NC, to be closer to his family and is excited to be a part of the medical staff at Aiken Regional. “Everyone here has been so welcoming and friendly,” he says. “I am very impressed with the medical community here, and I look forward to making a positive difference for all of my patients.”

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