Emeritus Professor Patricia M. Mertz: An incredible mentor, colleague, and friend

It is with a heavy heart that I share with you the passing of Patricia Mertz, who died on June 5, 2016 from cancer she courageously struggled against. Pat was an incredible person who made significant contributions to the knowledge of wound care. All  who knew her will sorely miss her. 

Pat was born and raised in Normal, Illinois, but there was nothing “normal” about her. Pat’s unique sense of style and above average academic achievements set her well apart. She started her academic career as a laboratory technician in 1961 at the University of Miami and rose to Professor Emeritus in 2003. Her 55-year career was full of significant accomplishments in the microbiology and wound healing fields. Pat was one of the founding editorial board members of the journal, Wounds.

Her work in the 1960s with her mentor David Taplin, who was a researcher in the Department of Dermatology & Cutaneous Surgery, University of Miami, led to many important scientific discoveries. Together, they developed Dermatophyte test medium for the isolation of dermatophyte fungi.¹ Their collaborations are also credited for prohibiting flower vases in hospital surgical wards and burn units due to the discovery of resistant bacteria.² During the Vietnam War they helped the US Army in discovering the etiology and treatment for foot immersion syndrome.³

Around this same time Pat met William H. Eaglstein, MD, who was a dermatology resident in the department. Bill was intrigued with Pat’s observations that wounds on pigs with the same width healed similarly in speed (due to epithelialization from not only edges but dermal components). Together they development a novel model in pigs to study healing of topical agents based on pivotal work by David Rovee, PhD and George Winter, PhD.^4-6 In 1980, Pat moved to the University of Pittsburgh to help start the Department of Dermatology, and this is where I first joined Pat’s laboratory.  After 6 years, we all moved to the University of Miami, where Bill accepted the chairmanship of the department. Over the years we published hundreds of manuscripts, book chapters, and abstracts on wound healing and infection using the porcine model. Pat also conducted several clinical trials on impetigo in Puerto Rico and South Africa. Some of the products Pat’s data have helped bring to market include DuoDERM dressing, Bactroban ointment, Elastogel therapy, liquid bandage, Kerlix AMD gauze bandage, IODOSORB, and Bensal HP ointment.^7-14

Pat Mertz and Bill Eaglstein were instrumental in promoting the use of occlusive dressings throughout the wound care field. They demonstrated that epithelialization was enhanced by providing a moist environment.^6,7 They also showed that when treating acute wounds with dressings, they should be applied early (ie, within 2 hours) and only needed to remain in place for 24 hours for optimal healing to occur.¹⁵ The importance of including vehicle controls in study designs was documented by Eaglstein and Mertz in 1980.¹⁶

Pat’s microbiology background allowed her to develop the first porcine infection model where she showed that a one-time rinse with povidone iodine was able to reduce the bacterial counts in the wounds after a few hours; however, if one did not continue treatment, the wounds would become recolonized within 24 hours.¹⁷ Later work showed a sustained release of iodine could eliminate pathogenic bacteria from the wound.¹³ She also demonstrated that occlusion of a wound would increase the normal flora bacterial counts; however, these wounds would heal much faster than if nonoccluded.¹⁸ During the early 1980s there was a concern that occlusive dressings, due to their ability to provide a moist environment, might increase infection. However, along with colleagues, Pat showed that various dressings could actually prevent the entrance of pathogenic bacteria.^11,12,19 Pat was one of the first people to publish on wound biofilms; she showed that once formed, the bacteria are more difficult to eradicate.^20,21

Pat mentored numerous students, many of whom became well-established dermatologists and/or scientists. She fostered critical thinking and knew the importance of negative as well as positive research findings. She was great at encouraging collaborations among colleagues. She had high school students who worked in the lab during and throughout their undergraduate and graduate careers. Due to Pat’s many achievements, she was asked to lecture at many national and international conferences. 

Pat was an inspiration to many students, colleagues, and friends. She will be profoundly missed.

— Stephen C. Davis, BS