Mabel L. Purkerson, MD, Professor Emerita of Medicine at Washington University School of Medicine, was honored by the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) as a 2025 Distinguished Alumni Award recipient. Established in 1969, the Alumni Awards celebrate graduates of all six MUSC colleges who have demonstrated significant professional accomplishments and leadership.
Dr. Purkerson, a native of Goldville, South Carolina, earned her bachelor’s degree from Erskine College in 1951, and her medical degree from MUSC in 1956. She completed her pediatrics residency and a fellowship in pediatric metabolism at St. Louis Children’s Hospital. She joined the faculty in 1961 as an instructor of pediatrics, later undertaking advanced training with Dr. Neal S. Bricker in the Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine (WUSM), becoming instructor of medicine in 1966 and assistant professor in 1967. Her research focus was renal physiology, with notable contributions to the understanding of the pathophysiology of acute and chronic renal failure through experimental models of renal disease.
For more than 40 years, Purkerson served Washington University as a clinician, teacher, investigator and administrator. Her service, contributions and achievements have been recognized through numerous awards which include Mary Margaret Sullivan Award (to Erskine College alumna, 1996), Alpha Omega Alpha (Medical College of S.C. Alumna 2006), Erskine College Academic Hall of Fame 2008, Washington University Medical Center Alumni Distinguished Service Award 2011, Erskine College Alumni Association Distinguished Service Award 2021, Trustees’ Award St. Louis Academy of Science 2021.
Purkerson was the first female instructor in the Division of Nephrology and rose to become the first female full professor in the Department of Medicine. She served as Chief of Nephrology on the Washington University Medical Service at the John Cochran Veterans Administration Medical Center (1973–76). In 1976, Purkerson became the first woman appointed to the Dean’s staff, beginning as Assistant Dean for Curriculum (1976–78), then guiding generations of students as Associate Dean for Curriculum (1978–1994) and later as Associate Dean for Academic Projects (1994–1998). She was promoted to Professor of Medicine in 1989 and named Professor Emerita of Medicine in July 1998.
A champion for women in medicine, Purkerson helped found Women in Nephrology (WIN) in 1983 and later served as president. In recognition of WIN celebrating its 40th anniversary, Dr. Purkerson and Dr. Josie Briggs (NIH) wrote a history of the organization: WIN is Turning 40, Briggs, J.P and M.L. Purkerson. J Am Soc. Neph 35:95-97, 2024. Today, WIN has over 400 members dedicated to mentoring and advancing education and research within the field of nephrology. A feature profile of Purkerson’s involvement with WIN appears in our Fall 2023 Nephrology Update newsletter.
In retirement, Purkerson – along with current and former nephrology faculty members – is contributing to the history of WashU Nephrology, which celebrates its 70th anniversary this year.
The 2025 MUSC Distinguished Alumni Awards ceremony was held on February 5, 2026, in Charleston; see all awardees here. Joining Purkerson for the celebration were her cousins, Rick Horger of Charleston and Bonnie Peters Gentes of Savannah.
Purkerson is on the cover of the 2025 MUSC Contineo Alumni Newsletter.
