Transplant surgeon cuts a rug for charity

David Mercer, M.D., Ph.D.

For the last few weeks, when David Mercer, M.D., Ph.D., wasn’t practicing medicine, he was practicing dancing. Dr. Mercer, a transplant surgeon and director of the Intestinal Rehabilitation Program was one of 17 contestants in the recent Dancing with the Omaha Stars competition.

The event was a benefit for the Sunshine Kids Foundation, a national non-profit dedicated to providing young cancer patients with positive group activities.

Despite what he said in a tongue-in-cheek intro video where he described a life dedicated to dancing, Dr. Mercer did not come into the competition with a lot of ballroom experience.

“Prior dancing experience was not required,” Dr. Mercer said. Although watching the video shot by fellow transplant surgeon Luciano Vargas, M.D., you might not know it.

While Dr. Mercer didn’t win the competition, his support from colleagues at the medical center was strong.

“We won the Sunshine Award for the most money contributed,” Dr. Mercer said. “There were 14 tables of people from the med center. Our contingent was loud and rowdy.”