Alexandria D. McDow, MD

Bio

Dr. McDow is a board-certified general surgeon with additional fellowship training in endocrine surgery. She specializes in treating benign and malignant diseases of the thyroid, parathyroid, and adrenal glands. Dr. McDow performs multiple techniques to improve patient outcomes, including cervical ultrasonography, minimally invasive, radio-guided parathyroidectomy, intraoperative parathyroid hormone testing and laparoscopic and retroperitoneoscopic adrenalectomy. She is passionate about surgical education and global surgery. Her research focuses on health care disparities and provider decision-making in patients with thyroid disease as well as improving surgical capacity for patients with surgical endocrinopathies in low and middle-income countries.

Education/Certification

Education (MD/DO, School): University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Lexington, KY

Residency (Specialty, School): Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, Springfield, IL

Fellowship (Specialty, School): Endocrine Surgery, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI

Board Certification: American Board of Surgery

Other Certifications: American College of Surgeons Thyroid and Parathyroid Ultrasound

Personal Statements

How long (and where, if applicable) have you been practicing your specialty?

I completed my General Surgery training at Southern Illinois University in June 2017 and have been practicing at the University of Wisconsin – Madison since that time. Following residency, I also completed additional fellowship-training in Endocrine Surgery and specialize in treating surgical diseases of the thyroid, parathyroid, and adrenal glands.

Why did you choose the specialty that you chose?

I knew at a very early age that I wanted to be a physician as I have always had a love for science and a passion to care for people. I chose Endocrine Surgery due to my interest in endocrine physiology and the intricate anatomy of the head and neck.

What is your practice philosophy?

I believe medicine is intrinsically about caring for people. I seek to treat each patient and his or her family with the utmost respect. I also believe that treatment plans should be made using shared decision-making between a patient and the physician. I seek to collaborate with other specialty experts to ensure patients receive the best care possible.

What professional accomplishments would you like patients to know?

I was nominated for the Gold Humanism Honor Society and the Leonard Tow Humanism in Medicine Award in recognition of excellence in clinical care, compassion, competence and dedication to service. I was elected to the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society for lasting commitment to scholarship, leadership, professionalism, and service. I am passionate about teaching the next generation of physicians and was recognized annually in residency for excellence in teaching medical students.

What outside activities do you enjoy?

I enjoy traveling both for pleasure and for medical missions. I am passionate about caring for people in low and middle-income countries. I have traveled to many countries including the Dominican Republic, Kenya, and China to provide medical care.