Dr. James Dowdell

I want to say just how kind, caring and compassionate Dr.Dowdell has been to me during my journey at HSS. He is honest and makes you feel at ease with his great bedside manners. I have never experienced this kind of care from any other doctor. I highly recommend!

I had a great experience with Dr. Dowdell. He is very knowledgable, he is patient, he explains everything, he put my nerves/mind at ease, he has a great bedside manner, and he sincerely cares about his patients. He was easy to reach and addressed all my concerns in a timely manner. I highly recommend Dr. Dowdell!

I had been suffering from severe pain in my back for many years. After years of treatment in physical therapy and chiropractic therapy I consulted with Dr. Dowdell. His method of explaining the alternative procedures available to me and the possibility of addressing my issue long term was clear, precise and detailed. I opted for the surgery and I can state that six months post surgery, i feel better then I had in over twenty years .

After suffering severe back and left leg pain for some time, my husband could no longer walk to the bathroom in our apartment, or stand in one place for any amount of time. We had the wonderful good fortune to be referred to Dr James Dowdell, who is a knowledgeable, skilled surgeon and an even better human being. During our initial visit, Dr Dowdell was very informative and patient while explained my husband’s options. He took the time to insure we understood the surgery, the risks and what recovery would entail. Dr Dowdell was very caring, supportive and compassionate. His bedside manner was A+. Ultimately, Dr Dowdell was able to perform my husband’s difficult back surgery using a minimally invasive procedure; just two small incisions. He accomplished what needed to be done without opening up his back! We just went for my husband’s 3-month post-op visit and Dr Dowdell still showed so much concern and compassion for my husband’s well being. He helped bring back my husband’s spirits and confidence and especially improved his physical condition. My husband is walking well and his pain is minimal to none most of the time. Yes, it’s been an uphill battle but with the help of PT he’s improving daily. Anyone needing back surgery would be blessed to work with Dr Dowdell. I’m forever grateful.

If I possibly could, I would rate Dr. Dowell a zero. I accompanied my sister to her appointment. He informed my sister that the particular surgery she was going to have would not cure her condition. She was suffering from spinal arthritis that caused numbness and pain in her feet. My sister has been researching her condition since she first began experiencing symptoms, and his conclusion came as a complete shock to her. As she began to shake and cry instead of reacting with compassion, he handed her a tissue and left the room. His manner during the entire meeting was cold. I give this review to warn others. My sister went to another doctor who was shocked at Dr. Dowell’s conclusion. She is currently recovering nicely and has feeling both feet. Again, if I could give more people a warning I would.