Meet Carlos Mercado

Dr. Carlos Mercado is one of the newest members of St. George Rotary. "As soon as I open my mouth, you can tell I'm not from southern Utah," jokes the medical director of the new Liberty Dialysis Center, one of 70 such rural and outlying clinics across the United States. Liberty Dialysis in St. George is located at 1173 S 250 W, #402. Born in Columbia, South America, the Nephrologist (specialist in the function and/or diseases of the kidneys) spent much of his young life in New York City. One of three children of educated parents - his mother was fluent in six languages, his father also a Nephrologist and both his brother and sister are engineers - Carlos graduated from medical school in Columbia, then completed his 3-year residency in Miami where he was the first non-Jewish physician at Cedar Sinai Medical Center. From Miami, Carlos practiced in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida then accepted a position as the medical director for a dialysis center in Greenfield, North Carolina.

On December 19, 2007, Dr. Mercado became a resident of St. George "We are very happy here but I'm going to talk to the Chamber of Commerce about the snow," he joked. "There was nothing on the subject in their relocation packet, but we love the warm weather and find the people to be very nice!"

His membership in SGR has also been a pleasant experience. Though he struggles to attend regularly due to his busy schedule, when he is able to be to meetings he finds it "a good opportunity to socialize, relax and have a few laughs."