Andrew Zhang, M.D.

Meet Dr. Zhang

Board-Certified Hand Surgeon in Dallas, Texas

Andrew Zhang, M.D., is a board-certified plastic surgeon focusing on hand surgery and microsurgical reconstruction at UT Southwestern's Parkland Memorial Hospital in Dallas, Texas. Over the years, Dr. Zhang has honed his expertise through practice and extensive research.

"Hand surgery is fascinating because it is an extremely comprehensive field,” Dr. Zhang says. “As a hand surgeon, I work with skin, tendons, nerves, blood vessels, muscles, and flaps. This complex combination creates a diverse and interesting discipline. Hand surgery not only restores form and aesthetics, but it also restores function, which can potentially have a life-changing impact on the patient.”

Dr. Zhang's clinical interests include carpal and cubital tunnel disease, Dupuytren's disease, nerve compression, and flexor tendon injuries. He is well-versed in Dupuytren's disease and has researched, published articles about, and treated the condition. During his residency, Dr. Zhang discovered a new gene involved in Dupuytren's disease that has since been confirmed with another study published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

Hand Trauma and Replantation in Dallas, Texas

Much of Dr. Zhang's practice focuses on patients who have experienced hand trauma. He treats patients with sports- or work-related injuries or accidents involving the hand.

Dr. Zhang continually sharpens his knowledge of hand trauma through research. He and his colleagues wrote a paper on rodeo thumb, a uniquely Texas injury that occurs when the thumb is caught while roping steers cows. They surveyed patients who were treated with either replantation or complete amputation to gain insights into patient outcomes.

"This research allows us to better understand how to treat this trauma,” Dr. Zhang says.

Additionally, Dr. Zhang has studied pollicization, a surgical technique in which the index finger is rotated into the position of the thumb.

"This surgery can make a huge difference to a trauma patient who has had a devastating injury causing the loss of the thumb and surrounding area," Dr. Zhang says. "Because of experience, research, and collaboration, I can offer expert hand surgery care to my patients."

Microsurgery Reconstruction in Dallas, Texas

Dr. Zhang also brings his extensive skills to microsurgery reconstruction.

"This is a highly technical area, where we are taking tissue from one area of the body, along with its own blood supply, and transplanting it elsewhere in the body," Dr. Zhang says.

In microsurgery reconstruction, Dr. Zhang finds a deep sense of accomplishment when completing a successful surgery. He’s fascinated by the continuous problem-solving and unique issues he faces in the operating room.

"Microsurgery is like a puzzle, as are so many disciplines in plastic surgery. With microsurgery reconstruction, there isn't one set of procedures to follow. Instead, many procedures can be performed for one single problem."

Program Director of UT Southwestern Plastic Surgery Residency

In addition to his love for medicine, Dr. Zhang is committed to sharing his knowledge. As the Program Director of the Plastic Surgery Residency at UT Southwestern, he has the privilege of teaching and working with top-notch residents – and he, in turn, learns from them.

“I have come to understand more about myself than I expected. In this role, I must continually educate myself about being a compassionate and effective leader while remaining consistent, professional, and steadfast,” he says.

UT Southwestern's residency program, one of the largest, is continually evolving.

"We are hyper-focused on culture. We want residents to feel like they are part of a supportive family. It is essential to stress to the residents that they can be driven and work hard, but also be healthy and happy – these things do not need to be in conflict," Dr. Zhang says.

Advanced Hand Reconstruction Procedures in Dallas, Texas

Dr. Zhang feels at home at UT Southwestern and believes being part of an academic medical center pushes him to be a better hand surgeon and microsurgery reconstruction specialist.

"UT Southwestern is a renowned hospital that offers access to cutting-edge technology and a diverse patient cohort, allowing me to treat various issues and, in turn, expand my knowledge base.”

Practicing at UT Southwestern allows Dr. Zhang to collaborate with a large department of experts.

"Recently, my colleague and I created a Spanish-language video for Spanish speakers about breast reconstruction and what a patient can expect. We also published a paper in 2022 on breast reconstruction and underserved patients called “Breaking Barriers to Breast Reconstruction among Socioeconomically Disadvantaged Patients at a Large Safety-net Hospital.” The size and diversity of UT Southwestern and Parkland Hospital make this type of research and creation of resources possible.”

Personal Note

Dr. Zhang has been married for over 20 years. His wife is an internist at UT Southwestern. They have two daughters, the oldest of whom recently started at The University of Texas at Austin.

In 2015, Dr. Zhang published a viral paper about playing music in the operating rooms. After a series of tests, Dr. Zhang found that playing music the surgeon likes increases the quality and effectiveness of their work.