Daniel Zhang, MD

Dr. Daniel Zhang completed his Bachelor of Arts in bio-chemistry, cum laude, and in economics, cum laude, at Rice University in Houston in 2010. He earned his medical degree in 2014 at The University of Texas Southwestern Medical School in Dallas. In 2017, he completed his residency in Internal Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston and in 2020 completed his fellowship in Gastroenterology at Houston Methodist Hospital.

Dr. Zhang was an intern boot camp instructor, a simulation and procedures instructor, and a didactic medical student instructor at Baylor College of Medicine from 2015 to 2017 and a clinical teaching instructor for first-year engineering medical students at Texas A&M University and Houston Methodist Hospital in 2019. Dr. Zhang joined Kelsey-Seybold in September 2020.

Awards & Publications

Houston Methodist Hospital

American College of Gastroenterology (ACG) Outstanding Poster Award, October 2018

• Outstanding poster award for “Massive gastric variceal hemorrhage due to splenic vein thrombosis; a rare initial presentation of asymptomatic metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma”

Baylor College of Medicine

National American College of Physicians (ACP) Original Resident Research Poster Winner, May 2016

• National winner for original research poster competition “Cap Assisted Colonoscopy and Quality Based Competency in Colonoscopy among Trainees” 

National American College of Physicians (ACP) Young Achiever Award, May 2016

• Awarded to residents demonstrating academic excellence and leadership in medicine
• Bestowed to the most outstanding resident who exemplified dedicated service, teaching, and patient care.

UT Southwestern Medical School

• UT Southwestern Medical Foundation Scholarship, 2010 – 2014
• UT Southwestern Alumni Scholarship, 2010 – 2014
• UT Southwestern Summer Research Grant, 2011

Publications 

Case Reports

• Zhang, D.S., Shen, S. S., Mathur, N. P. Melanoma Coli: A rare case of diffuse metastatic melanoma to the colon presenting as diarrhea. Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology Image of the month. Manuscript submitted 7/2019
• Nguyen K., Zhang D. S., Sultenfuss M.A., Victor, D. Massive gastric variceal hemorrhage due to splenic vein thrombosis; a rare initial presentation of asymptomatic metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma. American Journal of Gastroenterology 2018; v113: S1357
• Zhang, D., Metwalli, Z., Hussain, K. Arterial-Portal Fistula After Percutaneous Liver Biopsy in Hepatic Allograft Causing Hemobilia and Pancreatitis. Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology 15.1 (2017)

Original Research

• Zhang, D.S., Stana, R, Abraham B. P. Higher Propofol Dosing Rates Needed for Colonoscopy in Inflammatory Bowel Disease Patients Compared to Non-Inflammatory Bowel Disease Patients: A Case Control Study. Anesthesiology. Manuscript submitted 7/2019
• Tang, Z., Zhang, D. S., Thrift, A. P., Patel, K. K. (2018). Impact of cap-assisted colonoscopy on the learning curve and quality in colonoscopy: a randomized controlled trial. Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, 87(3), 723–732. 
• Othman, M., Zhang, D., Eloliby, M., Davis, B., Guererro, R., Alvarado, L., Elhanafi, Sherif., Sanchez, Linda., Dwivedi, Alok., Zuckerman, M. J. Cap-Assisted Colonoscopy Increases Detection of Advanced Adenomas and Polyps. The American Journal of the Medical Sciences 353.4 (2017): 367-73.
• Oni, G., Lequeux, C., Cho, M.-J., Zhang, D., Lazcano, E., Brown, S. A. Kenkel, J. M. (2013). Transdermal Delivery of Adipocyte-Derived Stem Cells Using a Fractional Ablative Laser. Aesthetic surgery journal / the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic surgery, 33(1), 109-116. PMID: 23277622

Presentations

• Daniel Zhang “Melanoma Coli: A rare case of diffuse metastatic melanoma to the colon presenting as diarrhea.” American College of Gastroenterology (ACG), San Antonio, Texas, October 2019, Poster Presentation.
• Daniel Zhang “Faster Sedation Times for Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) Patients Undergoing Elective Endoscopic Procedures Can Be Safely Achieved with a Higher Propofol Induction Dosage Compared to Non-IBD Patients” American College of Gastroenterology (ACG), San Antonio, Texas, October 2019, Poster Presentation
• Daniel Zhang “Massive gastric variceal hemorrhage due to splenic vein thrombosis; a rare initial presentation of asymptomatic metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma” American College of Gastroenterology (ACG), Chicago, Illinois, October 2018, Poster Presentation.
• Daniel Zhang “Higher Propofol Dosing Rates Needed for Colonoscopy in Inflammatory Bowel Disease Patients Compared to Non-Inflammatory Bowel Disease Patients: A Case Control Study” American College of Gastroenterology (ACG), Chicago, Illinois, October 2018, Poster Presentation.
• Daniel Zhang. “Cap Assisted Colonoscopy Enhances Quality Based Competency in Colonoscopy among Trainees: A Randomized Controlled Trial.” Digestive Disease Week (DDW), San Diego, California, May 2016, Poster Presentation.
• Daniel Zhang. “Cap Assisted Colonoscopy Enhances Quality Based Competency in Colonoscopy among Trainees: A Randomized Controlled Trial.” American College of Physicians (ACP) National Abstract Competition, Washington D.C, May 2016, Poster Presentation.
• Daniel Zhang. “Devilishly Determined Dieulafoy: The extended quest for haemostatic control of a Dieulafoy lesion.” Baylor College of Medicine Research Symposium, Houston, Texas, April 2016, Poster Presentation.
• Daniel Zhang. “QI: Optimization of Telemetry use at the Michael E. Debakey Veteran Affairs Medical Center.” Baylor College of Medicine Research Symposium, Houston, Texas, April 2016, Poster Presentation.
• Daniel Zhang. “Cap Assisted Colonoscopy Enhances Quality Based Competency in Colonoscopy among Trainees: A Randomized Controlled Trial.” Association of Program Directors in Internal Medicine (APDIM) Spring Conference, Las Vegas, Nevada, April 2016, Poster Presentation.
• Daniel Zhang. “Don’t fall for it: A careful history and physical revealing superior vena cava syndrome may be crucial in early detection of small cell lung cancer.” Baylor College of Medicine Research Symposium, Houston, Texas, April 2015, Poster Presentation.
• Daniel Zhang. “A case of Group B Streptococcus (GBS) endocarditis presenting as complete heart block.” Society of General Internal Medicine (SGIM) National Competition, Toronto, Canada, March 2015, Poster Presentation.
• Daniel Zhang. “Don’t fall for it: A careful history and physical revealing superior vena cava syndrome may be crucial in early detection of small cell lung cancer.” Society of General Internal Medicine (SGIM) National Competition, Toronto, Canada, March 2015, Poster Presentation.
• Daniel Zhang “Transdermal Delivery of Adipocyte-Derived Stem Cells Using a Fractional Ablative Laser.” University of Texas Southwestern Summer Research Program. Dallas, Texas, July 2011, Poster Presentation
• Daniel Zhang. “Role of pard3, crb2b, and nok genes in embryonic retinal development in zebrafish.” Summer Undergraduate Research Program (SURP) Symposium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, August 2009, Oral Presentation.
• Daniel Zhang. “Effects of hydroxyproline substitution on heterotrimeric triple helix stability in collagen.” Nanotechnology Research for Undergraduates (NREU) at Rice University, Houston, Texas, August 2007, Oral Presentation.

Research

Sedative requirements in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients undergoing endoscopic procedures. Mentor: Bincy Abraham, M.D., Associate Professor of Medicine, Houston Methodist Hospital, 2018 – 2019

• Compiled and analyzed propofol use to achieve adequate sedation in IBD patients compared to non-IBD patients
• Research highlighted different sedative needs in this unique population that frequently undergo endoscopic procedure

Survey of Introductory Endoscopy Training Practices amongst GI Fellowship Programs, Mentor: Kalpesh Patel, M.D., Assistant Professor of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, 2016 – 2017

• Created survey and analyzed data on current endoscopic training practices among GI fellowship programs
• Information on current endoscopic techniques may help establish future best practices framework

Cap Assisted Colonoscopy Enhances Quality Based Competency in Colonoscopy among Trainees, Mentor: Kalpesh Patel, M.D., Assistant Professor of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, 2015 – 2016

• Compiled and analyzed data on adenoma/polyp detection rates, and clinical/technical competency among first year fellows 
• Significant application in future endoscopic training practices among first year fellows

Quality improvement: Optimization of Telemetry use at the Michael E. Debakey Veteran Affairs Medical Center, Mentor: Diane Stewart, M.D., Assistant Professor of Medicine and Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, 2015 – 2016

• Created new order set for telemetry monitoring which included automatic discontinuation to prevent unnecessary usage
• Analysis of data on telemetry usage after implementation of new order set revealed decrease in overuse

Cap Assisted Colonoscopy is Associated with Increased Detection of Advanced Adenomas and Total Number of Polyps Per Patient in a Predominantly Hispanic Population, Mentor: Mohamed Othman, M.D., Director of Advanced Endoscopy/Assistant professor of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, 2014 – 2015

• Collected and analyzed data on adenoma and polyp detection rates in cap assisted colonoscopies compared to standard colonoscopies performed by attending gastroenterologists
• Important applications in optimizing endoscopic outcomes

Transdermal Delivery of Adipocyte-Derived Stem Cells Using a Fractional Ablative Laser, Mentor: Jeffrey M. Kenkel, M.D., Department Chair/Professor of Plastic Surgery, UT Southwestern Medical School, 2010 – 2014

• Demonstrated viability of transdermally delivered topical adipocyte derived stem cells through pre-treated skin with ablative laser in porcine models
• Significant potential future applications in promoting wound healing

Protein Interactions in Retinal Development in Zebrafish, Mentor: Xiangyun Wei, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Department of Ophthalmology, University of Pittsburgh Medical School, May – August 2009

• Identified the involvement of the pard3, crb2b, and nok genes in establishing proper orientation and polarity during embryonic retinal development.  
• Mastered techniques of PCR, Western blotting, immunohistochemistry and confocal microscopy.

Thermal Stability of Heterotrimeric Collagen Systems, Mentor: Jeffrey M. Hartgerink, Ph.D., Professor, Department of Chemistry, Rice University, Aug 2007 – May 2009

• Created synthetic collagen with molecular stability and physiological solubility to replace damaged human collagen
• Mastered techniques of solid phase peptide synthesis, peptide analysis via circular dichroism, and high-performance liquid chromatography

Developing a safe and accurate point of care hematocrit tester, Mentor: Rebecca Richards- Kortum, Ph.D., Professor, Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, January 2007 – January 2008  

• Constructed a reliable point of care hematocrit tester for doctors in Malawi to assess side effects from HIV treatment
• Mastered MATLAB programming to analyze digital light data performed on blood samples

Hobbies & Interests

Dr. Zhang enjoys trying new restaurants, especially sushi and steakhouses! In his spare time, he enjoys working out, going outdoors for a run, or hitting the golf range. He also thoroughly enjoys traveling and has visited or lived in every continent except Antarctica, which is on his bucket list to visit soon. In his downtime, he enjoys reading books and is super-competitive at a variety of board games. Going to see live music and festivals are also a big part of his life. Lastly, as a true Houstonian, he’s an avid Rockets, Texans, and Astros fan!

Fun Facts

Some of the best advice Dr. Zhang received during medical training from his mentor was: “It matters not how smart or brilliant you think you are. The most important things that patients care about are the three A’s – being able, affable, and available.”

Dr. Zhang has traveled the world, and some of his favorite places are the Great Pyramids in Egypt, the Blue Mosque in Turkey, Machu Picchu in Peru, Angkor Wat in Cambodia, Dubrovnik in Croatia, Maasai Mara in Kenya, and the Great Wall of China.

Not everyone knows this about Dr. Zhang, but he was a math and debate nerd in middle school and high school. He placed nationally in several competitions and still enjoys doing mental math. He also lived in Australia and England as a kid and had a British accent for a while when he first moved to Houston in elementary school.