David D. Zabel, M.D., F.A.C.S., is Professor of Surgery and Chief of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at Augusta University’s Medical College of Georgia. A board certified plastic surgeon and Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, Dr. Zabel brings more than three decades of clinical, academic, and leadership experience to the field. He earned his M.D. from the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine after completing a B.S. in Biomedical Engineering with honors at Case Western Reserve University. His surgical training included residencies in general surgery at the Medical Center of Delaware and advanced fellowship training in plastic surgery at the University of Pittsburgh under J. William Futrell, M.D. He also conducted wound healing research at the University of California, San Francisco with Thomas K. Hunt, M.D.

Dr. Zabel previously served as Chief of Plastic Surgery at Christiana Care Health System and Medical Director of the St. Francis Hospital Wound Care Center. His research focuses on wound healing, abdominal wall reconstruction, and complex hernia repair, with over 40 peer reviewed publications and numerous national presentations. He is proudly retired as a Commander of the United States Navy Reserves. He is an active member of multiple surgical societies and has contributed to international humanitarian efforts, including Operation Smile in Vietnam. His career reflects a commitment to advancing surgical science, education, and patient care.