About David Dao
David Dao, M.D. joins the Elman Retina Group as a dual-fellowship trained specialist in vitreoretinal surgery and uveitis. Dr. Dao has a passion for providing patients with the best possible care and is committed to developing new and innovative treatments for eye diseases including macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, retinal detachments, epiretinal membranes, macular holes, and uveitis.
Dr. Dao grew up in Maryland and attended McDonogh School. He earned his bachelor's degree in neuroscience from Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore followed by his medical degree at Tulane University in New Orleans. After completing an internal medicine internship at the University Medical Center in New Orleans, he completed Ophthalmology residency at University of Maryland Medical Center and the Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Center in Baltimore. After residency, Dr. Dao pursued further advanced fellowship training in uveitis and ocular immunology at the National Eye Institute in Bethesda, Maryland followed by a two-year surgical retina fellowship at the University of Chicago. Dr. Dao is board-certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology.
Dr. Dao's research has focused on how diet and the microbiome affects vision and has published research articles on the topic with presentations at major conferences including Association for Research in Vision in Ophthalmology (ARVO) and Retina Society. He has been a co-investigator in multiple clinical trials investigating connections between uveitis, macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy and the microbiome.
Outside of work, Dr. Dao enjoys travel, tennis, and cooking with his family. He took classes on healthy cooking during medical school and he enjoys applying his interest in cooking to his clinical practice, helping people learn about the importance of a healthy diet. Dr. Dao is enthusiastic and committed to helping patients achieve the best possible outcomes.