David Zacks Ann Arbor, MI Obituary, Death: The academic and medical community is mourning the loss of David N. Zacks, a respected physician-scientist and professor whose work significantly advanced the understanding of retinal disease. Dr. Zacks, based in Ann Arbor, was widely recognized for his contributions to both clinical care and vision research at the University of Michigan.
Dr. Zacks began his academic journey at Cornell University, where he earned his undergraduate degree in neurobiology. He went on to complete a combined M.D. and Ph.D. at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, laying the foundation for a distinguished career that bridged medicine and scientific discovery.
He completed his ophthalmology residency in 2000 and a vitreo-retinal fellowship in 2002 at the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary. That same year, he joined the Retina Service at the University of Michigan’s Kellogg Eye Center, where he remained a vital member of the faculty.
Dr. Zacks’ clinical expertise centered on diseases and surgical treatment of the retina, while his research focused on the molecular mechanisms driving photoreceptor cell death in retinal disorders. His work was supported by major institutions, including the National Eye Institute and the Foundation Fighting Blindness.
A recipient of numerous honors, he was an active member of leading professional societies such as the American Academy of Ophthalmology and the Retina Society. His legacy lives on through his research, his patients, and the many students and colleagues he mentored.