Fatma Dihowm, MD, MS

Medical School: Misurata University, Faculty of Medicine
Internship: Misurata Medical Center at Misurata University, Faculty of Medicine
Ophthalmology Residency: Misurata Medical Center
Medical Retina Fellowship: International Council of Ophthalmology/Wheaton Eye Clinic
Master of Science in Clinical Research: Rush University
Internal Medicine Residency: University of Maryland Capital Region Medical Center
Rheumatology Fellowship: University of New Mexico University School of Medicine

Dr. Dihowm is a Libyan-born physician with a diverse and accomplished medical background. She earned her medical degree from Misurata University and completed her Ophthalmology residency at Misurata Medical Center, where she also served as a teaching assistant.

She was awarded a full-ride scholarship to Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, where she obtained a Master of Science in Clinical Research. Following this, she completed an Internal Medicine residency at the University of Maryland Capital Region Medical Center.

Dr. Dihowm then joined the Internal Medicine Department at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso as an Assistant Professor and fourth-year clerkship director. She furthered her specialization by completing a Rheumatology fellowship at the University of New Mexico.

Passionate about clinical research, Dr. Dihowm has authored several notable publications. She aspires to practice uveitis and rheumatology with a focus on ocular autoimmunity.

In her leisure time, she enjoys photography, playing volleyball, and listening to music.

2024: FIT Scholarship for ACR Convergence 2024
2022: Seed Grant Funding Award, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso
2021: 12th Department of Internal Medicine Seed Award Research Cycle Award, TTUHSC PLFSOM
2020: Paul L. Foster School of Medicine Scholarly Activity and Research Program (SARP) Mini Grant Awarded for one research project
2019: Paul L. Foster School of Medicine Scholarly Activity and Research Program (SARP) Mini Grant Awarded for one research project
2019: Paul L. Foster School of Medicine Scholarly Activity and Research Program (SARP) Mini Grant Awarded for one research project
2010: International Council of Ophthalmology Fellowship Award
2007: Academic Excellence Scholarship Award
Granted by the Libyan Ministry of Higher Education (Misurata University Nomination) for postgraduate training abroad

Uveitis and Ocular Inflammatory Disease
Systemic inflammatory disease with ocular manifestations, Behcet's Disease, VKH, retinal vasculitis

Systemic and Ocular inflammations
Local and systemic immune-suppression therapies
Ocular imaging
Health disparities

Hassan M, Assi H, Hassan M, Bies JJ, Prakash S, Hassan A, Alhariri S, Dihowm F. Chronic Recurrent Multifocal Osteomyelitis: A Comprehensive Literature Review. Cureus. 2023 Aug 8;15(8):e43118. doi:10.7759/cureus.43118. PMID: 37692753; PMCID: PMC10483435.

Gyabaah F, Trivedi B, Prakash S, Petersen C, Ikeler J, Dihowm F. Vancomycin-Induced Thrombocytopenia in a 35-Year-Old Female with Pneumonia: A Case Report. Cureus. 2023 Sep 25;15(9):e45945. doi: 10.7759/cureus.45945. PMID: 37753064; PMCID: PMC10519642.

Obaid A, Khalafi S, Dwivedi AK, Singh V, Dihowm F. COVID-19-related mortality in Texas border counties vs non-border counties. J Investig Med. 2024 Feb;72(2):211-219. doi: 10.1177/10815589231201327. Epub 2023 Sep 29. PMID: 37670418.

Muruganandam M, Akpan EB, McElwee MK, Emil NS, Keller MC, Vangala AS, Dihowm F, Nunez SE, Gibb JI, O'Sullivan FX, Fields RA, Sibbitt WL Jr. Scleroderma Renal Crisis and Musculoskeletal Corticosteroid Injections. J Clin Rheumatol. 2025 Jan 1;31(1):12-19. doi: 10.1097/RHU.0000000000002168. Epub 2024 Nov 11. PMID: 39527973.

Laswell S, Singh V, Dihowm F; Assessing Equity in the Treatment of Acute Angle-Closure Glaucoma in Texas. Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. 2024;65(7):6405.