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David Andrew Brown

Associate Professor of Surgery
Surgery, Plastic, Maxillofacial, and Oral Surgery

Overview


David A. Brown, M.D., Ph.D. is Associate Professor of Surgery and Vice Chief of Research in the Division of Plastic, Maxillofacial, and Oral Surgery at Duke University. Dr. Brown is originally from Colorado and studied engineering at the University of Colorado followed by a Ph.D. in biomedical engineering at UCLA. He subsequently attended medical school at UC Irvine and went on to complete general surgery residency at University of Washington Medical Center followed by plastic surgery residency at Duke University Medical Center. Dr. Brown practices general reconstructive surgery, including the surgical treatment of skin defects resulting from cancer, infection, and trauma. His clinical interests include targeted muscle reinnervation, soft tissue reconstruction of the back, and complex wound healing. He is an NIH-funded researcher exploring mechanisms of limb and digit regeneration in mammals with the hope of one day applying regeneration-based therapies to human diseases. He is the medical director of the Duke Wound Healing Clinic and co-director of the Duke Regeneration Center. Dr. Brown is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons and is board-certified by the American Board of Surgery, the American Board of Plastic Surgery, and the American Board of Wound Management.

Current Appointments & Affiliations


Associate Professor of Surgery · 2023 - Present Surgery, Plastic, Maxillofacial, and Oral Surgery, Surgery
Affiliate of the Duke Regeneration Center · 2021 - Present Duke Regeneration Center, Basic Science Departments

In the News


Published October 21, 2024
Announcing the Inaugural Cohort of the Duke Faculty Academy

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Recent Publications


Prophylactic Muscle Flaps Decrease Wound Complication Rates in Patients with Oncologic Spine Disease.

Journal Article Plast Reconstr Surg · January 1, 2024 BACKGROUND: Patients with oncologic spine disease face a high systemic illness burden and often require surgical intervention to alleviate pain and maintain spine stability. Wound healing complications are the most common reason for reoperation in this pop ... Full text Open Access Link to item Cite

Maximizing wound coverage in full-thickness skin defects: A randomized-controlled trial of autologous skin cell suspension and widely meshed autograft versus standard autografting.

Journal Article J Trauma Acute Care Surg · January 1, 2024 BACKGROUND: Traumatic insults, infection, and surgical procedures can leave skin defects that are not amenable to primary closure. Split-thickness skin grafting (STSG) is frequently used to achieve closure of these wounds. Although effective, STSG can be a ... Full text Link to item Cite

An obstetrician-gynecologist's review of hernias: risk factors, diagnosis, prevention, and repair.

Journal Article Am J Obstet Gynecol · September 2023 Management of obstetrical and gynecologic patients with hernias poses challenges to providers. Risks for hernia development include well-described factors that impair surgical wound healing and increase abdominal pressure. Among the diverse populations car ... Full text Link to item Cite
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Recent Grants


Enhancing limb regeneration with gene therapy informed by comparative biology

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2024 - 2029

Genetic approaches to skin regeneration in zebrafish

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2020 - 2025

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Education, Training & Certifications


University of California, Irvine · 2009 M.D.
University of California, Los Angeles · 2008 Ph.D.
University of Colorado, Boulder · 1999 B.S.