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Dr. John Meriwether and his nurse of ten years, Montreal Bond, discuss a patient’s medications and diagnosis at the Jackson Clinic.

Doing things naturally is a good way to describe Dr. John Meriwether. The outdoor enthusiast loves making furniture, hunting, fishing, camping and spending time with his family. Born, raised and educated in Jackson, Tenn., it was only natural that he would choose to practice medicine here.

His decision to become a doctor was influenced by the physicians he knew growing up. These mentors encouraged him and instilled in him a desire to help others. “I did not have any doctors in my immediate family,” said Meriwether, a urologist with the Jackson Clinic. “But I grew up around several physicians; I admired them and their values.”

Meriwether is a graduate of the University of Tennessee College of Medicine. He completed his residency in general surgery and urology at the Medical College of Georgia in Augusta, where he served as chief resident. Following his residency, he remained at the Medical College of Georgia to complete an internship in general surgery. In July 1990, he joined the Jackson Clinic. He is board certified by the American Board of Urology and is a member of the American Medical Association.

“When I first entered medical school, my first inclination was to go into family practice,” Meriwether said. “I even spent time in Jackson not only rotating with several family practice doctors, but hunting with several of them as well. I also considered orthopedics. I then spent time with (urologist) Dr. James Roy Appleton, Jr. He influenced me, and I was drawn to urology. The patients did well, they had good outcomes, and the physicians were happy.”

A self-proclaimed homebody, Meriwether enjoys spending time with his wife, Joy, and their four children. Their oldest son, Caleb, will enter law school at the University of Memphis in the fall. Oldest daughter, Laurel, is a pre-med student at Meriwether’s alma mater, Lambuth University in Jackson. Hunter, who recently graduated from University School of Jackson, is off to college at Mississippi State in August, while youngest daughter, Chloe, will start her freshman year in high school.

Even though the Meriwethers will have three children out of the nest in the fall, they still try to find time to get together to get in touch with nature, taking a couple of camping trips each year. The boys also enjoy hunting and fishing with their father. “We hunt pretty much anything…duck, deer, rabbit,” Meriwether said. “Our family farms in the Huntersville area, which is close to home, and we enjoy hunting out there.”

Besides his love for his family, Meriwether also has a passion and a talent for making furniture. He learned the art of woodworking as a young boy from his uncle. “My boys enjoy it, too, and help me some,” he said. “It is a good way for us to spend time together. We like to make duck calls and have even sold a few.”

Among his many master creations are four coffee tables, one made for each of his children. He also made a sweater closet. Meriwether’s talents have also been put to use at his wife’s gift shop, Vineyard’s, in Jackson, where he has built display cabinets as well as a table to display china. He also makes wooden bowls, some of which he has sold through the store.

When Joy asked for a 12-foot oval dining table to seat 14, Meriwether was on the job. “I spent 100 hours making her table from scratch, and I mean literally from scratch. I cut the trees, sawed the logs, cut the lumber, dried it, and then made the table,” he said.

Meriwether’s practice includes the treatment of urinary problems and diseases, such as prostate and kidney cancer, kidney stones, male sexual dysfunction, urinary tract infection, and female dropped bladder and urinary control problems. Appleton and Meriwether were the first to bring cryosurgery for prostate cancer to Jackson in 1992. “We were the fourth place in the world to do this type of surgery,” he said.

Meriwether’s natural style to life transcends into his practice of medicine. His care and concern for patients is reflected in his ability to remember patients’ names and their diagnosis when he runs into them away from the office. “It amazes Joy when I see a patient, current or former, at the store and can remember them and why they saw me,” he said. “It is just something I learned to do. I really focus on getting to know people.”

His faith in the Lord is another important element of his practice style, as he takes the time to pray with patients before surgery. “I made a pact with the Lord,” said Meriwether. “I feel God has put me in a powerful place to be a powerful witness and that is a responsibility I do not take lightly.”

In his 18 years of practice, Meriwether has taken on several leadership positions, both at the clinic as well as at Jackson-Madison County General Hospital (JMCGH). He has been chairman of the Urology Department at JMCGH. He served two terms on the clinic’s Board of Directors, was chairman of the board for a two-year term, and has been the clinic’s medical director for the past four years. “As medical director, I have to wear lots of hats, and sometimes it can be a stressful job,” he added.

For the past ten years, Meriwether has had the same nurse, Montreal Bond, working with him at the clinic. “I love the interaction with patients and practicing in a relaxed setting mixed with the surgical aspects of my specialty,” he said. “I love being a doctor; it is very rewarding.”



June 2008

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