David Gao, M.D.

Dermatology Chief Resident at Henry Ford Health -​> Incoming Mohs Surgery & Dermatologic Oncology Fellow at Brigham and Women’s Hospital | Dana Farber | Harvard Chan MPH ’28

United States

About

I graduated from the University of Chicago (BA Economics, BA Biological Sciences) and the University of Illinois (MD). My professional interests lie in dermatologic surgery, innovation, clinical trials, health inequities, and driving health policy change. I trained at Henry Ford Hospital as a resident physician in dermatology, where I served as Academic Chief Resident (Class of 2026). I will be starting my Micrographic Surgery and Dermatologic Oncology (MSDO) Fellowship at Harvard Medical School Brigham and Women's Hospital/Dana Farber Cancer Institute in July 2026 and concurrently pursuing my MPH at Harvard Chan School of Public Health. In my free time, I enjoy traveling to national parks, playing music, and challenging myself (Ironman Finisher x1, half Ironman x2).

Experience

  • Research Assistant at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
    2020 - 2021 · 1 yr

    I worked with Mr. Alan Geller on public health research involving the SPOT Skin Cancer screenings and the inequities involving the COVID-19 pandemic

  • Research Fellow at Tufts Medical Center
    2020 - 2021 · 1 yr

    I worked in the clinical trials of Dr. David Rosmarin, focusing specifically on the use of systemic medications in atopic dermatitis and other autoinflammatory diseases

  • Research Assistant at University of Illinois College of Medicine
    2018 - 2020 · 2 yrs

    Craig Fellowship I helped categorize the role of TRPM8 in prostate cancer

  • President, Tutor at Strive Tutoring
    Jun 2016 - Jun 2017 · 1 yr 1 mo

    I served as President as well as a tutor of Strive Tutoring, a tutoring organization tutoring disadvantaged elementary through high school Chicago Public School students

  • University of Chicago Emergency Medical Services at UCEMS
    Apr 2014 - Apr 2017 · 3 yrs 1 mo

    I served as events coordinator and later crew chief on the student-run University of Chicago EMS squad