Richard L. Bowen, M.D.
Dr. Bowen received his undergraduate degree in biology from the University of South Carolina in 1980. He graduated from the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston in 1985. He completed his residency in Family Medicine at Spartanburg Regional Medical center in 1988. After completing his residency, he worked as an Emergency Department physician for several years and then went into private hospital based Family Medicine.
Observations made while caring for his patients fueled his interest in medical research. He has published over 25 papers in peer reviewed journals. For example, the Food and Drug Administration credited Dr. Bowen’s research as the primary basis for their decision to have the diet drug fen-phen taken off the market in 1997. After that his research interests focused on Alzheimer’s disease and aging. Findings in a particular patient led Dr. Bowen to co-author a new theory on aging, which was published in the scientific journal Gerontology. He was then the lead investigator in a phase II study testing a new treatment for Alzheimer’s disease based on this theory. The promising results of this study were published in the January 2015 issue of the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease. Dr. Bowen presented these results at the 2014 Annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Psychopharmacology. While there he learned of the remarkable advances being made using ketamine in the treatment of refractory depression and decided to incorporate it into his practice. It soon became his primary focus and now after more than seven years Dr. Bowen has performed over 10,000 ketamine infusions. He emphatically states, “providing ketamine treatment for depression is by far the most rewarding thing I have done during my thirty-year career.”
Dr. Bowen is divorced and has five children from his first marriage 2 boys, 3 girls, aged 21 to 33. He enjoys boating, and fishing as well as cycling and dancing, occasionally at the same time.
Henry Spradlin
A graduate of Bowman Gray School of Medicine’s PA program (Wake Forest) class of 1996, Mr. Spradlin has a background in emergency medicine, psychiatry and the treatment of substance abuse. He has known Dr. Bowen for several years and worked with him in the Urgent Care setting.
The success of Ketamine in the treatment of depression, anxiety and pain is what drew him to work with Dr. Bowen. “I have seen Ketamine significantly change patient’s lives for the better. Traditional medicines do not always do the trick and the addition of Ketamine can change that outcome.”
In his spare time, Henry enjoys hunting, fishing, boating and spending time with his family.
Tanesha Washington
Family Nurse Practitioner
Tanesha graduated from Chamberlain University in 2017 with a Master of Science degree as a family nurse practitioner. Before joining the Ketamine Center, she worked with an infusion company. Tanesha takes pride in caring for her patients and offering them the same compassion she would want for herself and her own family. Outside of work, she lives with her husband, children, and English Bulldog, and enjoys spending quality time with family, shopping, and relaxing days of leisure.
Charissa Lowe
Nurse Practitioner
Charissa Lowe is a nurse practitioner with more than 25 years of experience in healthcare. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Lander University in Greenwood, SC, in 2001, and went on to practice at some of the largest teaching hospitals on the East Coast, including Yale University Medical Center, Duke University Medical Center, the Medical University of South Carolina, and Memorial University Medical Center in Savannah, Georgia.
In 2011, Charissa completed her Master of Science in Nursing at the University of South Carolina and became an acute care nurse practitioner. She spent the following years in acute and surgical care before shifting, about eight years ago, from a mainstream medical model to a more integrative approach to patient care. After watching patients and families struggle within the traditional healthcare system, she moved into functional endocrine and hormone care, supporting patients with bioidentical hormone consultations and recommendations. She is passionate about helping people take back the reins of their own wellness through straightforward, root-cause care.
Outside of work, Charissa is a wife to Rick and mother to four children. The family lives on a small homestead in Gilbert, SC, where she enjoys homeschooling her kids and spending time in God’s Word.
Mandy Rich
Medical Assistant
Mandy Rich is a medical assistant with the Columbia Ketamine Center and brings more than 30 years of experience in the medical field. She began her career at age 19 as a CNA at Tuomey Regional Medical Center in her hometown of Sumter, SC. During her time there, she gained valuable experience across emergency medicine, cardiovascular, oncology, pediatrics, and behavioral health, and soon moved into the role of medical assistant. Over the years, Mandy has worked in both hospital systems and private practices, caring for a wide range of patients. Known for her nurturing and calming presence, she has a gift for putting patients at ease. Mandy has been married to her husband, Russell Rich, for more than 25 years, and together they have three sons and a granddaughter. Her goal is to make sure every patient feels seen, heard, and accepted, wherever they are on their path to healing.
