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Susan M. McDowell, M.D.

Susan M. McDowell, M.D.

Orthopaedics & Physical Performance , Surgery

4.8 out of 5 stars
309 Ratings
31 Comments
UR Medicine Faculty The University of Rochester Medical Faculty Group (URMFG) consists of over 900 specialist and primary care providers spanning 19 departments. URMFG is certified by the National Committee for Quality Assurance.
Accountable Health Partner Accountable Health Partners (AHP) is a network of over 2,000 community and UR medical faculty and a dozen leading hospitals throughout the region. AHP offers a full range of care.
Accepting New Patients

Contact

Appointment (585) 602-0700
Fax (585) 320-1031
Administrative (585) 276-4380

Locations

Orthopaedics & Physical Performance - Victor

Omnitech Park
7670 Omnitech Place
Victor, NY 14564

(585) 275-5321 Get Directions
Orthopaedics & Physical Performance - Canandaigua

Canandaigua Commons
699 South Main Street, Suite 3
Canandaigua, NY 14424

(585) 275-5321 Get Directions
Surgery - Rochester

Wilmot Cancer Institute
90 Crittenden Boulevard
Rochester, NY 14642

(585) 275-1611 Get Directions
The Saunders Center for Orthopaedics & Physical Performance - Henrietta

Marketplace
10 Miracle Mile Drive
Rochester, NY 14623

(585) 275-5321 Get Directions

About Me

I am an orthopaedic oncologist specializing in treatment of musculoskeletal tumor--lumps and bumps that may or may not be cancerous in the bones, muscle and other soft tissues of the body. I treat people from the very young to the most mature, providing the compassion and understanding I feel each ...
I am an orthopaedic oncologist specializing in treatment of musculoskeletal tumor--lumps and bumps that may or may not be cancerous in the bones, muscle and other soft tissues of the body. I treat people from the very young to the most mature, providing the compassion and understanding I feel each patient deserves, as well as including patients and their families at every stage of decision-making.

I also maintain my roots as a general orthopedist by performing partial and total joint replacement surgery. I have a particular interest in limb-sparing surgery and preservation of function.

I perform humanitarian work in locations around the world. Each year, I travel to Thailand to the Barefoot Doctors School, where I train health workers from Myanmar to provide care to people in their villages. In the past, I have travelled to West Bengal, India, to perform hand surgery, and I assisted my father in building a church in Costa Rica.

Certified Specialties

Orthopaedic Surgery - American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery

Faculty Appointments

Associate Professor - Department of Orthopaedics (SMD)

Dr. C. McCollister Evarts Professorship in Orthopaedics - Department of Orthopaedics (SMD)

Associate Professor - Cancer Center - Joint

Credentials

Residency & Fellowship

Fellowship, Musculoskeletal Oncology, Mayo Foundation Rochester. 2016 - 2017

Residency, Orthopaedic Surgery, Indiana University Medical Center. 2008 - 2012

Internship, Orthopaedic Surgery, Indiana University Medical Center. 2007 - 2008

Education

MD | Indiana University School of Medicine-Indianapolis. 2007

Awards

Fellow of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons. 2015

First Place - Case Report Posters. 2014

Resident Leadership Forum. 2012

National Orthopaedic Leadership Conference. 2011

Summa Cum Laude. 2003

Health Professions Scholarship Program. 2003 - 2007

Phi Society. 2002

Golden Key International Honor Society. 2002 - 2003

Junior Marshall. 2001 - 2002

NCAA Division I Academic All-American. 2000 - 2002

Presidential Scholarship. 1999 - 2003

Athletic Scholarship, Field Hockey. 1999 - 2003

Research

I am involved in clinical research in the fields of orthopedic surgery and treatment for bone and soft tissue sarcoma. Examples of my work include analyzing orthopaedic infections and treatment of fractures. In addition to authoring numerous journal articles and contributing to textbooks, I am the r...
I am involved in clinical research in the fields of orthopedic surgery and treatment for bone and soft tissue sarcoma. Examples of my work include analyzing orthopaedic infections and treatment of fractures. In addition to authoring numerous journal articles and contributing to textbooks, I am the recipient of a number of prestigious awards and honors.

Publications

Journal Articles

Masquelet Inspired in Vivo Engineered Extracellular Matrix as Functional Periosteum for Bone Defect Repair and Reconstruction.

Jiang C, Miao T, Xing X, Schilling KJ, Lenhard N, Wang L, McDowell S, Nilsson BL, Wang H, Zhang X

Advanced healthcare materials.. 2025 January 22 :e2404975. Epub 01/22/2025.

Is Information About Musculoskeletal Malignancies From Large Language Models or Web Resources at a Suitable Reading Level for Patients?

Guirguis PG, Youssef MP, Punreddy A, Botros M, Raiford M, McDowell S

Clinical orthopaedics and related research.. 2024 September 25483 (2):306-15. Epub 09/25/2024.

Cytologic analysis of a glomus tumor in the left second toe: Case report.

Hwang J, McDowell S, Cole B, Huber A, Reyes MCD

Diagnostic cytopathology.. 2022 June 50 (6):E170-E173. Epub 02/09/2022.

Clinical utilization of species-specific immunoassays for identification of Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus agalactiae in orthopedic infections.

Sulovari A, Ninomiya MJ, Beck CA, Ricciardi BF, Ketonis C, Mesfin A, Kaplan NB, Soin SP, McDowell SM, Mahmood B, Daiss JL, Schwarz EM, Oh I

Journal of orthopaedic research : official publication of the Orthopaedic Research Society.. 2021 October 39 (10):2141-2150. Epub 12/15/2020.

The properties of inducible membranes in animals and humans

Bethel, Monique; McDowell, Susan; Chitteti, Brahmananda; Cheng, Ying-Hua; Mullis, Brian H.; Ertl, Janos P.; Chu, Tien-Min G.; Kacena, Melissa A.; Anglen, Jeffrey O.;.

International Journal of Medical Engineering and Informatics. 2017; 9(3): 189-200.

Modified Ollier transtrochanteric approach for the treatment of acetabular fractures

McDowell, S.; Mullis, B.; Knight, B. S.; Dahners, L. E.;.

Orthopedics. 2012; 35(2): e132-6.

An Improved Synthetic Method for Diphenyl-1-pyrenylphosphine and the Properties and Structure of its Borane Adduct

Craft D; Arcella S; McDowell S; Storhoff B; et al.

Phosphorus, Sulfur Silicon Relat. Elem. 2004; 179(7): 1365-1371.

Books

Prevention and Management of Common Fracture Complications (2012)

Chapter: Radial and Ulnar Shaft, Monteggia, and Galeazzi Fractures

Ratings & Comments

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Ratings

Concern the care provider showed for your questions or worries

4.8 stars

Care provider's efforts to include you in decisions about your care

4.8 stars

Explanations the care provider gave you about your problem or condition

4.8 stars

Likelihood of recommending this care provider to others

4.8 stars

Care provider's discussion of any proposed treatment (options, risks, benefits, etc.)

4.8 stars

Patient Comments

Dr. McDowell is terrific, knowledgeble and kind. She takes time to ask questions, be sure they are answered and that you are comfortable with your care

Dec 27, 2024

5.0 stars

Dr was very respectful and considerate. I appreciated her responsiveness

Aug 25, 2024

5.0 stars

We had discussed my DXA BMD results. [...] We had a nice conversation; no treatment changes required.

May 05, 2024

5.0 stars

Physician explained thoroughly risk the factors and did not encourage a hasty decision about surgery. She answered my questions and concerns.

Feb 05, 2024

5.0 stars

Dr. McDowell is amazing, had genuine care for her patients.

Jan 18, 2024

5.0 stars

She was very thorough & explained things so it was easy to understand.

Oct 19, 2023

3.0 stars

[...] Dr. McDowell is good but she also was in a hurry that day

Sep 24, 2023

Dr. McDowell was excellent!

Aug 26, 2023

5.0 stars

Dr. McDowell answered all my concerns, was very informative on my options, discussed the pros and cons of the each option. And I felt very comfortable with her and her soon to be surgeon.

Aug 10, 2023

5.0 stars

Very pleased with the care I receive from Dr. Susan McDowell

Jun 27, 2023