As a board-certified family physician and concierge doctor in Greenville, SC, Dr. William Messer cares for his patients by focusing on a team approach.
“I like to share my experiences and knowledge, but only after listening to a patient’s experiences, their anxieties, and their doubts,” Dr. Messer says. “From there, we can formulate a plan to help get them where they need to be.”
One reason Dr. Messer chose primary care for his career is because it allows him to develop strong bonds with patients while helping them navigate the complexities of the multifaceted healthcare experience.
Dr. Messer likes to say he experienced his first stage of life in small town America. He feels navigating life in a town of 2,000 might seem small to many people or seem like an isolated upbringing. But, in fact, it provided an opportunity to experience many things not available to everyone.
He worked on a farm, in construction, in building supplies, and he installed swimming pools and repaired homes. He equates these life lessons to primary care.
“You need to have a breadth of experience to guide others on their path,” he says. “We all have our special skill sets. We are at our best when we combine our knowledge and experience. This includes the patient-physician relationship.”
Dr. Messer has extensive experience helping patients manage diabetes, high blood pressure, and cholesterol, and he also enjoys the process of diagnosing complicated and often confusing cases for patients. For Dr. Messer, being a good physician is about listening to his patients.
“To make the right recommendation, I need to listen to the details from the patient, and the patient needs to be able to provide the details without feeling rushed,” he says.
Dr. Messer knows the importance of establishing a rapport as quickly as possible. In the appropriate situation, he frequently uses humor to lighten the room and help patients feel more at ease.
“Once we have a comfortable rapport, we can get into what you hope to accomplish and what you want in a physician,” he says. “But it all starts with the confidence that we’re going to work together to help you get where you want to go.”
Medical School
University of South Carolina School of Medicine
Residency
Greenville Health System, Family Medicine
Certifications
American Board of Family Medicine, Board Certified
Philosophy of Care
"I like to approach our relationship as a team. We each have knowledge and skills that we can harness to achieve our goals."
Favorite Part About Being a Doctor
"I enjoy developing close relationships with my patients and becoming their 'go-to' person for their medical care."
Just like he appreciates the variety of family medicine, Dr. Messer also loves to stay involved in as many things as possible outside the office.
Recent foreign travel has allowed him to fuel his fascination with history. He enjoys trips in the fall with his wife and family and catching shrimp in the low country.
Other pastimes include fishing and hiking, and he is a sports fan, mostly college sports.
Dr. Messer is also an aspiring woodworker, as he finds working another creative outlet for himself.
He has crafted a few pieces of furniture but, for the moment, he is still working to master cutting boards.
"Every success has an origin story," he jokes.
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