Board spotlight: Meet Mark Dowell, MD

The Natrona Collective Health Trust board is representative of the diverse voices of Natrona County. Over the coming months, we’ll be introducing you to our board members through a series of Board Spotlight blogs. See a full listing of board members on our “Who we are” page.

If you’ve ever spent more than five minutes with Dr. Mark Dowell, chances are you’ve heard a dry quip about bacteria—or some other oddly specific germ-related joke that only an infectious disease specialist could deliver with a straight face. But beneath the humor is a board member with decades of medical experience and a deep commitment to the health and wellbeing of Natrona County.

Dr. Dowell has served on the Natrona Collective Health Trust Board since its formation in October 2020, following his time on the Wyoming Medical Center Board. He previously served as our board chair and currently lends his expertise to the Executive, Finance & Audit, and Nominating & Governance committees.

A physician with 32 years’ experience in Casper, he founded Rocky Mountain Infectious Diseases in 1992 and has spent his career providing specialized care to patients throughout the region—often around the clock. From the beginning, his clinic has operated with a core belief: no one should be turned away from care because of their ability to pay.

“I see every day in my practice how much of a difference access to family and mental health services can make,” Dr. Dowell says. “It’s not just about treating illness—it’s about preventing the kinds of complications that change lives.”

Born in Dallas and raised across the country due to his father’s academic career, Dr. Dowell eventually landed in Wyoming to build a life, a practice, and a community he’s proud to call home. His connection to the area deepened through raising his two sons—Dean and Garrett—and through a love of everything from Wyoming Cowboy football (he’s been a season ticket holder for 21 years) to fly fishing, vegetable gardening, and jazz music. He even started a Music for Health program, sponsoring musicians to perform at hospitals, assisted living centers, and the Casper Senior Center. “It’s really rewarding,” he says.

Dr. Dowell’s path also reunited him with someone special. After parting ways at the end of medical school, he and his college sweetheart Caryn reconnected 32 years later—and married. “It’s a cool story,” he admits. “Though she reminds me often that I should have figured it out the first time.”

Despite his long-standing role in local healthcare, joining the Trust’s board gave Dr. Dowell a new perspective. “I was surprised by how much I didn’t know about the nonprofit landscape here. The work these organizations are doing to support health and wellbeing is eye-opening.”

For Dr. Dowell, health isn’t just about the absence of illness—it’s about access. “Health and wellbeing means having the tools—mental, physical, educational—to live fully. That only happens when services are accessible and affordable.”

As for the future? He hopes more people in Natrona County come to understand the critical role nonprofits play in shaping healthier, stronger communities. “The well-being of each person affects all of us. It’s really that simple.”