
David Samuel Zee, MD
Neurotology
- Johns Hopkins School of Medicine Faculty
About David Samuel Zee
Primary Academic Title
Professor of Neurology
Background
Dr. David Zee specializes in vertigo, dizziness and imbalance (including ataxia) and in disorders of eye movements (including nystagmus and strabismus). He is a Professor of Neurology with secondary appointments in Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Ophthalmology and Neuroscience.
Dr. David Zee received his medical degree from The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore, Maryland. He completed residency training in Neurology at the Johns Hopkins Hospital and pursued additional clinical training at the National Institutes of Health.
Centers and Institutes
Recent News Articles and Media Coverage
Medical Mysteries: Doctors puzzled by woman’s dizziness and amplified body sounds, Washington Post (11/24/2014)
Additional Academic Titles
Professor of Neuroscience, Professor of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Professor of Ophthalmology
Research Interests
ataxia and imbalance, eye movement disorders including nystagmus, strabismus, vestibular disorders
Lab Website
Ocular Motor Physiology Laboratory - Lab Website
- Our research is directed toward how the brain controls the movements of the eyes (including eye movements induced by head motion) using studies in normal human beings, patients and experimental animals. The focus is on mechanisms underlying adaptive ocular motor control. More specifically, what are mechanisms by which the brain learns to cope with the changes associated with normal development and aging as well as the damage associated with disease and trauma? How does the brain keep its eye movement reflexes properly calibrated? Our research strategy is to make accurate, quantitative measures of eye movements in response to precisely controlled stimuli and then use the analytical techniques of the control systems engineer to interpret the findings. Research areas: 1) learning and compensation for vestibular disturbances that occur either within the labyrinth or more centrally within the brain, 2) the mechanisms by which the brain maintains correct alignment of the eyes to prevent diplopia and strabismus, and 3) the role of ocular proprioception in localizing objects in space for accurate eye-hand coordination.
Honors
- Barany Gold Medal for most important contributions to vestibular science and disorders in the previous five years, University of Uppsala, Sweden/ Barany Society, 6/11/18
- Abeloff Award for Life-time Achievement in Biomedical Education, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 4/27/18
- Endowed Professorship, 1/1/18
- Vestibular Champion, Vestibular Disorders Association of America, 10/1/17
Expertise
Education
Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
Residency, Neurology, 1973Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
Medical Education, MD, 1969Board Certifications
Neurology
American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, 1976Insurance
- Aetna
- CareFirst
- Cigna
- First Health
- Geisinger Health Plan
- HealthSmart/Accel
- Humana
- Johns Hopkins Health Plans
- MultiPlan
- Pennsylvania's Preferred Health Networks (PPHN)
- Point Comfort Underwriters
- Private Healthcare Systems (PHCS)
- UnitedHealthcare
- Veteran Affairs Community Care Network (Optum-VACCN)