Sean C. Dowdy, MD, FACS, FACOG, is a consultant in the Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, with a joint appointment in the Department of Surgery at Mayo Clinic. He serves as Chief Value Officer of Mayo Clinic and is the Robert D. and Patricia E. Kern Associate Dean for Practice Transformation. He joined the staff of Mayo Clinic in 2004 and holds the academic rank of professor of obstetrics and gynecology, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science. He mentors residents and fellows, supervises their research efforts, and holds master’s faculty privileges in the Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences.
Dr. Dowdy earned his bachelor’s degree in English at Cornell University and attended Georgetown University School of Medicine where he earned his medical degree. He completed residency in obstetrics and gynecology in addition to a fellowship in gynecologic oncology at Mayo Clinic School of Graduate Medical Education. He completed postgraduate clinical training in Lille, France, and Berlin, Germany, in laparoscopic surgical oncology.
In his role as Chief Value Officer of Mayo Clinic, Dr. Dowdy leads the strategy and execution for the Mayo Clinic Robert D. and Patricia E. Kern Center for the Science of Health Care Delivery and Mayo Clinic Quality and Affordability. In these roles he fortifies Mayo Clinic’s brand and reputation as a category of one within health care as aligned with Mayo Clinic’s Bold. Forward. 2030 Strategy.
Dr. Dowdy’s research activities have focused on endometrial and ovarian cancer, and he is a member of the Executive Committee of the NIH funded Mayo Clinic Ovarian Cancer Specialized Programs of Research Excellence (SPORE) within the Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center. His current research focuses on improving healthcare quality, safety, and value, and he has worked to disseminate his surgical quality improvements beyond Mayo Clinic to national and international audiences. He is a member of the Joint Commission CMO Council and co-leads the Learning Health System Initiative for the National Academy of Medicine. Dr. Dowdy is credited with more than 300 peer-reviewed publications. He is a past Vice-chair for the department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and past Division Chair of Gynecologic Oncology. He is an associate editor of the journal, Gynecologic Oncology, and has held multiple leadership positions in international societies. He presently serves as a member of the Board of Directors of the American College of Surgeons and is Secretary Treasurer Elect for the Society of Gynecologic Oncology.
