Joe McDonald, MD

Accepts New Patients

Offers Virtual Visits

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Location

Bethesda Office

7505 Democracy Blvd
Suite A-113
Bethesda, MD 20817

Accepts New Patients

Offers Virtual Visits

"At Your MD, Dr. Joe McDonald takes a different approach to medical care. He has removed the barriers between you and your doctor and we improve communication, so there are no mysteries about what is being done and why. And he has added extra health care benefits to help ensure the well-being of your body and your mind.

Dr. McDonald is an evidence-based physician, which means that no medication is prescribed, no test is ordered and no instructions are given unless they have proven results with patients like you. Dr. McDonald avoids guesswork in favor of high-quality research to offer you clinical decision-making that reduces multiple attempts at treating the same complaint."

Areas of Expertise

Internal Medicine
Pulmonary Medicine
Weight Loss

Education

Fellowship
Washington Hospital Center
Pulmonary, Critical Care
Washington, D.C.
2012

Residency
University of Kansas Hospital
Internal Medicine
Chief Resident 2010
Kansas City, KS
2009

Medical School
University of Kansas School of Medicine
Doctor of Medicine
Kansas City, KS
2006

Graduate School
University of Kansas
Master of Arts in Microbiology and Immunology
Kansas City, KS
1999

Undergraduate School
Baker University
Bachelor of Science in Biology and Chemistry
Baldwin City, KS
1994

Affiliated Hospitals

Sibley Memorial Hospital

Professional Associations

American College of Physicians (ACP)
Member

American Medical Association (AMA)
Member

AMA Council on Medical Education
Member
2008 – 2010

Maryland State Medical Society (MedChi)
Member

Publications

"Muscle-Derived Neurotrophin-3 Reduces Injury-Induced Proprioceptive Degeneration in Neonatal Mice" Journal of Neurobiology.
50 (2002): 198-208.
"Increased Chemokine Gene Expression During Aging in the Murine Brain" Brain Research. 890 (2001): 137-146.
"Training Status Influences T-cell Responses in Women Following Acute Resistance Exercise" Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research. 15.2 (2001): 185-91.
"Induction of PYK-2 Phosphorylation During LFA-1/ICAM-1-Dependent Homotypic Adhesion of Fresh Human B-Cells" Immunological Investigations, 29.1 (2000): 71-80.

Academic Appointment

University of Kansas Hospital
Chief Resident
2010

Personal Interests

My family is important to me and takes a large amount of my time outside of work. My son is a teenager and I am the JV offensive line coach at Sherwood HS where he attends. My daughter is three years younger than my son. I attend many soccer practices and games. My wife is a geriatrician in Washington, DC. I spend a fair amount of time spread out among a few hobbies. I compete in BBQ competitions and do a little catering for friends and family. I spend time working on and driving my 1968 convertible Firebird. I have some good friends that I golf, poorly, with. I like to camp and fish with friends and family.

I spent time as a child in Taiwan as my father was in the Air Force. He also spent time stationed in Japan and Korea. This led to me having a deep interest in Oriental culture and philosophy. My son and I study Buddhist principles and meditation. I use these concepts in my practice with patients. I find it very helpful with patients that are depressed and struggle with anxiety.

I have taken a break of late, but I have spent a lot of time on health care policy and organized medicine. I would like to enter back into that realm.

Awards and Honors

3rd Place, Plenary Session, Kansas American College of Physicians Meeting 2008
Tom D.Y. Chin Award for Excellence in Preventative Medicine 2006
KUMC Academic Society for Community Service-External 2003
American Physiological Society, Caroline tum Suden/Francis Hellebrandt Professional Opportunity Award 2003

Leadership Positions/Committee Work/Advisory Positions

Journal of General Internal Medicine
Reviewer
2009 – 2011

Kansas Resident and Fellow Section, Kansas Medical Society
Chair
2006 – 2010

AMA
Board of Trustees
2005 – 2006

AMA – Medical Student Section
Chair
2004 – 2005

Biography

Dr. McDonald obtained his BS in biology and chemistry at Baker University, while playing football, in Baldwin City, KS. He then earned an MA in Microbiology/Immunology at the University of Kansas in Lawrence, KS. He was able to publish and present his work. He then obtained an MD at the University of Kansas School of Medicine in Kansas City. While in medical school and residency, he served as Chair of the AMA Medical Student Section, AMA board member, and Council on Medical Education member, among other positions. He then completed an internal medicine residency at KU MED, followed by a year as Chief Resident. Following this, Dr. McDonald completed two out of three years of a Pulmonary/Critical Care fellowship at the Washington Hospital Center. He then worked locum tenens as a hospitalist at several hospitals and still works as a part-time hospitalist at Sibley Memorial Hospital.