J. Marcus Downs, MD

Dr. J. Marcus Downs is a colon and rectal surgeon and program director of the Colon and Rectal Surgery Residency at the Parkland and Presbyterian Hospitals, Dallas, TX. Marcus was born in East St. Louis, IL, and received a bachelor of science in biology from the Washington University in St. Louis and a MD degree from the University of Missouri, Columbia. He did 3 years of General Surgery Residency training at the University of Missouri, Columbia, then completed his residency at Wilford Hall USAF Medical Center, San Antonio, TX. Marcus then completed a Colon and Rectal Residency at the Presbyterian and Parkland Hospitals, Dallas, TX. After finishing his training, he served as a deputy chair in the Department of Surgery, USAF Medical Center Scott, at Scott AFB, IL.

In 1993, Dr. Downs left the USAF and joined the staff at the Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital in Dallas, TX. He has been a member of the teaching faculty since returning to Dallas and has been program director of the Residency Program in Colon and Rectal Surgery since 2007. Dr. Downs is an assistant clinical professor of surgery at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School, Dallas, TX, and is board certified in General and Colon and Rectal Surgery. He teaches surgical residents and medical students on a daily basis and is an active participant in multiple surgical societies. He is the former president of the Texas Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons. His contributions to the medical literature include two peer-reviewed publications and several presentations at regional and national meetings. In 1994, he and his associates formed Texas Colon and Rectal Surgeons had a single specialty group, which now includes 13 surgeons.

Marcus, his wife Carol Lee, and children, Colleen (27 years old) and Brian (24 years old), live in Dallas, TX. When not working, Marcus enjoys swimming with Dallas Aquatic Masters, and playing polo with Dallas Water Polo Club.

On behalf of the readers and staff of Clinics of Colon and Rectal Surgery, I sincerely thank Dr. Downs for serving as a guest editor and for providing us with a superb issue on fecal incontinence.