David Chang

UChicago Faculty Physicians

David W. Chang, MD

Professor of Surgery Chief, Section of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
Director, Microsurgery Fellowship

UChicago Faculty Physicians who provide services at UChicago Medicine Ingalls Memorial are not employees or agents of UChicago Medicine Ingalls Memorial.

David W. Chang, MD, specializes in complex microsurgical reconstructive surgery in cancer patients, and has an international reputation as a pioneer and an innovator in the field of breast reconstruction, head and neck reconstruction, extremity reconstruction and microsurgical treatment of lymphedema.

His specific recent interest and expertise has been in treatment of lymphedema – chronic swelling of the limbs that occurs in some patients who undergo cancer surgery with lymph node removal and/or receive radiation therapy. Dr. Chang has helped develop and promote procedures such as lymphaticovenular bypass and vascularized lymph node transfers using a surgical microscope to improve the lymphatic drainage. He has also served as the principal investigator on several clinical studies of complex reconstructive microsurgery in cancer patients. His work was instrumental in introducing lymphaticovenular bypass and lymph node transfer to U.S. operating rooms.

Dr. Chang has published more than 140 peer-reviewed research articles in high-impact journals as well as numerous book chapters. He co-edited a book Lymphedema Surgery. He frequently is invited to speak at national and international conferences on oncologic reconstructive surgery, and has been invited as a visiting professor at leading medical centers worldwide.

In addition to teaching, Dr. Chang has served as a faculty mentor for medical student, residents and clinical and research fellows. Since 2001, Best Doctors Inc. has named Dr. Chang one of the Best Doctors in America.

Dr. Chang is on the editorial board of numerous leading medical journals, including Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. He is a board examiner for American Society of Plastic Surgery and a member of Board of Directors for American Society of Plastic Surgery, and was a recipient of the prestigious Godina Traveling Fellowship from American Society of Reconstructive Microsurgery in 2005.

Dr. Chang is the program director of the prestigious UChicago Medicine Microsurgery Fellowship. He is also currently serving as the president of the American Society for Reconstructive Microsurgery and the vice president of the World Society for Reconstructive Microsurgery.

Areas of Expertise

Board Certifications

  • Plastic Surgery

Memberships & Medical Societies

  • American Society of Maxillofacial Surgeons
  • Plastic Surgery Research Council
  • World Society For Reconstructive Microsurgery
  • American Society of Plastic Surgeons
  • International Confederation of Plastic Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery
  • Korean American Medical Association
  • American Society for Peripheral Nerve
  • Christian Medical and Dental Association
  • American Association for Hand Surgery
  • European Skull Base Society
  • American Association of Plastic Surgeons
  • American College of Surgeons
  • Musculoskeletal Transplant Foundation
  • American Society for Reconstructive Microsurgery

Practicing Since

  • 1993

Languages Spoken

  • English
  • Korean

Medical Education

  • University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health

Residency

  • University of Illinois/Metro Group Hospitals; Albert Einstein College of Medicine

Fellowship

  • California Pacfic Medical Center

News & Research

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  • University of Chicago Health Plan (UCHP)

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