Dana Towle, MD’s published training history includes premedical study, medical school, surgical internship, plastic surgery residency, and focused hand surgery training. This page explains the stages in that sequence and the different kinds of information a professional biography can provide.
University of Washington
Towle’s practice biography identifies the University of Washington in Seattle as the setting for his premedical studies. Premedical study precedes medical school and provides academic preparation for the professional education that follows. No undergraduate degree title or completion year is asserted here because those details were not established by the source used.
Saint Louis University
His published background lists a medical degree from Saint Louis University in St. Louis, Missouri. A Doctor of Medicine degree records completion of medical school. It is distinct from the postgraduate training used to develop a surgical specialty and from a state license to practice medicine.
The same biography identifies general surgery internship training at Saint Louis University. Internship is an early stage of postgraduate clinical training. It should not be confused with a fellowship, which describes a later period of more focused education.
University of Missouri–Kansas City
Towle’s biography describes plastic surgery residency training at the University of Missouri–Kansas City. Residency develops knowledge and experience within a specialty. Plastic surgery encompasses cosmetic and reconstructive work, including questions of form and function across different parts of the body.
The names of institutions introduce where training occurred. They do not, on their own, describe every procedure a physician currently offers. Those operational details need to be confirmed with the treating office rather than inferred from a training history.
Hand surgery fellowship
The published biography also records a fellowship in hand surgery with Lynn D. Ketchum, MD, in Overland Park, Kansas. Fellowship identifies an additional area of focused training. It helps explain why Towle’s background includes both plastic surgery and subjects concerning the hand.
For a general introduction to the relationship between those fields, see Understanding Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. That article explains the specialty’s scope without making a treatment recommendation for any reader.
Certification and licensure
Published professional biographies describe American Board of Plastic Surgery certification and an added hand surgery qualification. A biography is a record of reported background; it is not a replacement for a current check with a certifying organization. Licensure is a separate matter governed by the relevant jurisdiction.
When current status matters, verify the particular credential with the body responsible for it. The same principle applies to hospital affiliations, office locations, and appointment availability. This page records educational history and does not assert an active practice location or unrestricted current license.
Continuing through the site
Return to the biography for a broader introduction, or browse the articles for discussions of consultation preparation, recovery, and related surgical subjects. The material supports general understanding while leaving personal medical assessment to qualified professionals.