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Claim this listingSharon Dowell , MD
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About Sharon Dowell
Sharon Dowell, MD is a Black rheumatology practicing in WASHINGTON, DC. Sharon offers in-person visits and is currently accepting new patients.
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Black patients and Rheumatology
Black rheumatologists: lupus, RA, scleroderma, gout. Black women face 2 to 3 times higher lupus rates and deadlier disease, and early rheum care matters.
Black women develop systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) at 2 to 3 times the rate of white women and are more likely to develop lupus nephritis, the kidney complication that drives most lupus mortality (CDC, 2024). Black adults with RA face more erosive disease, and scleroderma is both more common and more severe. Rheumatologists also manage gout, which is twice as common in Black men, plus psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, and vasculitis.
A 2019 Arthritis & Rheumatology study found delays in lupus diagnosis of 2 or more years were twice as common in Black patients, correlating with worse kidney outcomes.
Conditions we cover
- Systemic lupus erythematosus and lupus nephritis
- Rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis
- Scleroderma (systemic sclerosis)
- Gout and pseudogout
- Sjögren's, vasculitis, sarcoid-related arthritis
When to book
- Morning joint stiffness lasting over an hour
- Raynaud's (fingers turning white/blue in cold)
- Persistent butterfly-shaped facial rash
- Unexplained fever with joint pain
Advocacy prompts
- Do I need an ANA panel or anti-dsDNA and complements?
- Given my kidney involvement, what's my lupus nephritis plan?
- Am I a biologic or JAK-inhibitor candidate?
Frequently asked questions
Is Sharon Dowell accepting new patients? ▾
Yes, Sharon Dowell is accepting new patients.
Where is Sharon Dowell's practice located? ▾
Sharon Dowell practices at 2041 GEORGIA AVE NW, WASHINGTON, DC 20060. Phone: 202-865-6723.
Does Sharon Dowell offer telehealth? ▾
Sharon Dowell sees patients in person at their listed office.
What does a Rheumatology treat? ▾
Black rheumatologists: lupus, RA, scleroderma, gout. Black women face 2 to 3 times higher lupus rates and deadlier disease, and early rheum care matters.
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