Degrees

• Aug 2023 – present
  Doctor of Medicine (MD) Candidate

  University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC

• 2021 – 2023
  Master of Science, Biochemistry

  McGill University, Montréal, QC · Supervisor: Dr. Morag Park

  Thesis: Targeting chemotherapy-induced senescence escape to reduce breast cancer cell survival.

• 2017 – 2021
  Bachelor of Science, Physiology and Pharmacology (double major)

  University of Toronto, Toronto, ON

  Minor in Economics.

  3.99 cumulative GPA; additional coursework in Python, bioinformatics, and statistics.

Peer-reviewed publications

1. Sagorin Z, Zeng D, Nguyen N, Yorke E, Sampath S. Intracorporeal anastomosis versus extracorporeal anastomosis for laparoscopic right hemicolectomy: short-term and long-term outcomes. Surgical Endoscopy. Published online Jul 13, 2026.

   doi.org/10.1007/s00464-026-13128-2

2. Yang K, Mircescu A, Okusanya D, Mohsen S, Zeng D, Czyz S, Vallerand I, Damiani G, Bunick C, Jafarian F. Understanding the atopic dermatitis–psoriasis phenotypic switch through a pharmacovigilance-based approach. Journal of Investigative Dermatology. Published online Jun 1, 2026.

   doi.org/10.1016/j.jid.2026.05.012

Manuscripts under review

1. Zeng D, Bondok M, Tao B, Al-Ghoul A, Pintwala R. Ocular adverse events associated with taxane chemotherapy: a disproportionality analysis of pharmacovigilance data. Submitted to Journal of Ocular Pharmacology and Therapeutics.

2. Kang M, Dhesa P, Dhillon R, Zeng D, Dhillon H, Uppal M, Gill K, Tao B, Navajas E. Regional trends in ophthalmic surgical wait times 2009–2024 in British Columbia, Canada: a retrospective study of the BC Surgical Wait Times dataset. Submitted to Canadian Journal of Ophthalmology.

3. Zeng D, Bates A, Zhang Y, Cook O, Raman S, Leung B, Ho C, Nunez JJ. The impact of social isolation and psychological distress on overall survival in cancer: a population-based cohort study. Submitted to JCO Oncology Practice.

4. Zeng D, Ho A, Bondy S, Kong P, Cunningham J, Sidi S, Lee G, Kapoor V, Nakajima L, Sapkota DR. Improving sexual and reproductive health knowledge in a low-income rural community: the adolescent health program. Submitted to Global Health: Science and Practice.

5. Zeng D, Wu E, Atrchian S. Long-term outcomes and patterns of care in thymoma: a provincial cohort study. Submitted to Journal of Thoracic Oncology.

6. Sagorin Z, Zeng D, Nguyen N, Yorke E, Sampath S. Pfannenstiel versus midline extraction in laparoscopic right hemicolectomy with intracorporeal anastomosis: association with ileus, hernia, and infection risk. Submitted to BMC Surgery.

   Preprint

7. Li K, Zeng D, Thapar A, Belayneh M. Managing neuropathic cancer breakthrough pain for patients on methadone: a retrospective cohort study. Submitted to Journal of Pain & Palliative Care Pharmacotherapy.

8. Yuan L, Zeng D, Atrchian S, Clarke K, Sulpher J. Clinical outcomes of rectal squamous cell carcinoma in British Columbia, Canada. Submitted to Journal of Gastrointestinal Cancer.

9. Sheikh-Oleslami S, Daniels W, Zeng D, Abraha B, Tang D. Determinants of digit survival after replantation: injury topography and the complication cascade outweigh venous technique. Submitted to Journal of Hand Surgery.

10. Lee AH, Kruger HJ, Chen J, Zeng D, Narayanan D, Oosthuizen G, Hameed SM. Current priorities and gaps in artificial intelligence for global trauma care. Submitted to Journal of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery.

11. Yang K, Li M, Skinner T, Zeng D, Sosa G, Han JY, Jafarian F. A dietary approach to skin cancer prevention in solid organ transplant recipients: a perspective. Submitted to Frontiers in Transplantation.

Manuscripts in preparation

1. Zeng D, Wong VT, Pintwala R. Acute angle-closure glaucoma risk with non-ophthalmic anticholinergics: a sex-stratified pharmacovigilance disproportionality analysis.

2. Zeng D, Wong VT, Popovic M, Muni R, Pintwala R. Intraocular hemorrhage risk with antiplatelet agents: a pharmacovigilance analysis.

3. Qureshi Q, Geyer A, Tan D, Chen S, Feng N, Zeng D, Delaney G, Garden FL, McKenzie P, Yap ML, Chan J. Global patterns in actual radiotherapy utilization for cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Oral

1. Zeng D, Wong VT, Pintwala R. Acute angle-closure glaucoma and non-ophthalmic anticholinergics: a sex-stratified pharmacovigilance disproportionality analysis.

   • European Society of Cataract & Refractive Surgeons (ESCRS) Congress, London, UK, Sept 2026 5-min oral · ESCRS Bursary Award

2. Zeng D, Bondok M, Tao B, Al-Ghoul A, Pintwala R. Ocular adverse events associated with taxane chemotherapy: a disproportionality analysis of pharmacovigilance data and a literature review.

   • Pan-American Association of Ophthalmology (PAAO) Research Day, Virtual, Aug 2026 3-min oral

3. Zeng D, Bates A, Zhang Y, Cook O, Raman S, Leung B, Ho C, Nunez JJ. Association of social isolation with overall survival in cancer patients.

   • American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting, Chicago, IL, May 2026 6-min oral · Conquer Cancer Merit Award

4. Zeng D, Ho A, Bondy S, Kong P, Cunningham J, Sidi S, Lee G, Kapoor V, Nakajima L, Sapkota DR. Improving sexual and reproductive health knowledge in a low-income rural community: the adolescent health program.

   • Western Medical Research Conference, Carmel, CA, Jan 2025 15-min oral
   • University of British Columbia FLEX Activity Day, Vancouver, BC, Jan 2025 1-min oral

5. Li K, Zeng D, Thapar A, Belayneh M. Managing neuropathic cancer breakthrough pain for patients on methadone: a retrospective cohort study.

   • Canadian Society of Palliative Medicine, Virtual, Sept 2025 10-min oral
   • University of British Columbia Division of Palliative Care Research Day, Vancouver, BC, Jun 2025 15-min oral

6. Sagorin Z, Zeng D, Nguyen N, Yorke E, Sampath S. Intracorporeal versus extracorporeal anastomosis for laparoscopic right hemicolectomy: short-term and long-term outcomes.

   • British Columbia Surgical Society, Victoria, BC, May 2024 15-min oral
   • University of British Columbia Department of Surgery Chung Research Day, Vancouver, BC, Nov 2024 4-min oral

7. Sagorin Z, Zeng D, Nguyen N, Yorke E, Sampath S. Postoperative incisional hernia rates comparing midline versus Pfannenstiel extraction site for laparoscopic right hemicolectomy with intracorporeal anastomosis.

   • British Columbia Surgical Society, Kelowna, BC, Apr 2025 15-min oral

8. Yuan L, Zeng D, Atrchian S, Clarke K, Sulpher J. Clinical outcomes of rectal squamous cell carcinoma in British Columbia, Canada.

   • Western Medical Students Summit, Calgary, AB, Feb 2025 7-min oral

9. Zeng D, Fortier AM, Park M. Targeting chemo-resistant triple-negative breast cancer.

   • Biochemistry Graduate Student Society Research Day, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Apr 2022 3-min oral

Poster

1. Zeng D, Wong VT, Pintwala R. Acute angle-closure glaucoma risk with non-ophthalmic anticholinergics: sex-stratified pharmacovigilance analysis.

   • American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO), New Orleans, LA, Oct 2026 Poster panel discussion · 3-min oral

2. Zeng D, Bondok M, Tao B, Al-Ghoul A, Pintwala R. Ocular adverse events associated with taxane chemotherapy: a disproportionality analysis of pharmacovigilance data.

   • Canadian Ophthalmological Society (COS), Montréal, QC, Jun 2026
   • Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO), Denver, CO, May 2026

3. Zeng D, Wong VT, Popovic M, Muni R, Pintwala R. Intraocular hemorrhage risk with antiplatelet agents: a pharmacovigilance analysis.

   • American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO), New Orleans, LA, Oct 2026

4. Zeng D, Murray N. Orbital trauma on CT: a systematic checklist to reduce missed vision-threatening injuries.

   • American Society of Emergency Radiology (ASER), Nashville, TN, Oct 2026

5. Zeng D, Bates A, Zhang Y, Cook O, Raman S, Leung B, Ho C, Nunez JJ. Cumulative social isolation burden and overall survival in patients with cancer: a population-based cohort study.

   • American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Quality Care Symposium, Boston, MA, Oct 2026 Conquer Cancer Merit Award

6. Yuan L, Zeng D, Atrchian S, Clarke K, Sulpher J. Clinical outcomes of rectal squamous cell carcinoma in British Columbia, Canada.

   • European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Gastrointestinal Cancers Congress, Barcelona, Spain, Jul 2025
   • BC Cancer Summit, Vancouver, BC, Nov 2025

7. Sagorin Z, Zeng D, Nguyen N, Yorke E, Sampath S. Postoperative ileus and incisional hernia: midline versus Pfannenstiel extraction site for laparoscopic right hemicolectomy with intracorporeal anastomosis.

   • Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons (SAGES), Long Beach, CA, Mar 2025
   • Western Medical Students Summit, Calgary, AB, Feb 2025

8. Li K, Zeng D, Thapar A, Belayneh M. Managing neuropathic cancer breakthrough pain for patients on methadone: a retrospective cohort study.

   • BC Cancer Summit, Vancouver, BC, Nov 2025

9. Zeng D, Fortier AM, Park M. Targeting chemo-resistant triple-negative breast cancer.

   • Celebration of Research and Training in Oncology, Montréal, QC, May 2022

10. Qureshi Q, Geyer A, Tan D, Chen S, Feng N, Zeng D, Delaney G, Garden FL, McKenzie P, Yap ML, Chan J. Global patterns in actual radiotherapy utilization for cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

    • Canadian Association of Radiation Oncology (CARO), St. John’s, NL, Sept 2026

Ophthalmology

• Feb 2026 – present
  Acute Angle-Closure Glaucoma (ACG) & Non-Ophthalmic Anticholinergics

  Supervisors: Dr. Vincent Tony Wong, Dr. Rob Pintwala

  Led a sex-stratified disproportionality analysis of ACG reporting in patients on non-ophthalmic anticholinergics; independently learned and applied R to conduct the sensitivity analyzes.

• Feb 2026 – present
  Intraocular Hemorrhage & Antiplatelet Use

  Supervisors: Dr. Vincent Tony Wong, Dr. Rob Pintwala

  Characterized the association between antiplatelet use and multiple intraocular hemorrhage subtypes.

  Integrated the findings with existing evidence to clarify clinically relevant ocular bleeding risk.

• Sept 2025 – Jul 2026
  Taxane Chemotherapy-Associated Ocular Adverse Events

  Supervisors: Dr. Rob Pintwala, Dr. Ahmed Al-Ghoul

  Spearheaded a characterization of taxane-associated ocular adverse events.

  Identified gaps in the evidence and critically evaluated sources of bias and study limitations in a structured literature review, to support rigorous interpretation of the findings.

• May 2026 – Jul 2026
  Ophthalmic Surgical Wait Times

  Supervisor: Dr. Eduardo Navajas

  Worked with other medical students to calculate regional trends in ophthalmic surgical wait times across British Columbia health authorities, comparing surgical backlog against ophthalmologist supply.

  Characterized and emphasized the disparities in access experienced by Indigenous communities.

Oncology care

• Jan 2026 – Jul 2026
  Social Isolation & Cancer Survival

  Supervisor: Dr. John-Jose Nunez

  A recent cancer diagnosis in my family is what moved me to understand how psychosocial factors shape cancer outcomes.

  Led the analysis of a population cohort of 45,651 patients; living alone, lacking regular social contact, and elevated depressive or anxiety symptoms each significantly increased mortality risk.

• Sept 2025 – Jun 2026
  Global Radiotherapy Utilization

  Supervisor: Dr. Jessica Chan

  Screened studies for a systematic review comparing evidence-based radiotherapy need against real-world utilization across health systems, to characterise global inequities in access.

• Nov 2024 – Nov 2025
  Methadone for Breakthrough Neuropathic Cancer Pain

  Supervisor: Dr. Mathieos Belayneh

  Worked with physicians to review 706 patient charts; identified methadone as the second-most common breakthrough analgesic in British Columbia, with no documented severe adverse events.

• Apr 2024 – Jan 2026
  Rectal Squamous Cell Carcinoma (rSCC) in British Columbia

  Supervisor: Dr. Jeffrey Sulpher

  Worked with another medical student to standardise data extraction, resolve chart-review discrepancies, and analyze rSCC treatment patterns and outcomes.

• Dec 2025 – Jun 2026
  Chemoprevention Strategies in Transplant Recipients

  Supervisor: Dr. Fatemeh Jafarian

  Coordinated screening and data extraction across a medical student team, resolving discrepancies and synthesizing evidence on strategies associated with reduced cutaneous malignancy risk in solid organ transplant recipients.

Surgery & global health

• Feb 2024 – Apr 2026
  Surgical Technique & Laparoscopic Right Hemicolectomy Outcomes

  Supervisor: Dr. Sharadh Sampath

  Led a standardized review of 203 patient charts to examine how anastomotic technique and specimen-extraction site relate to short-term postoperative ileus and long-term incisional hernia.

• Apr 2026 – Jul 2026
  Artificial Intelligence in Global Trauma Care

  Supervisor: Dr. Morad Hameed

  Conducted screening and full-text data extraction for a systematic review of research priorities and evidence gaps in artificial intelligence for trauma care in low- and middle-income countries.

• Sept 2024 – Aug 2026
  Determinants of Digit Survival After Replantation

  Supervisor: Dr. David Tang

  Worked with a team of surgeons on chart review; analyzed the effects of injury topography, postoperative complications, and venous anastomotic technique on digit replantation outcomes.

Basic & computational science

• Sept 2019 – Jun 2021
  Microglia in Neurodegeneration

  The Hospital for Sick Children · Supervisor: Dr. Julien Muffat

  Engineered doxycycline-inducible stem-cell models of microglial function using molecular cloning and CRISPR gene targeting, modelling mutant microglia with neurons.

• May 2019 – Sept 2020
  Cytokines in Acute Myeloid Leukemia

  BC Cancer Research Centre · Supervisor: Dr. Connie Eaves

  Investigated cytokine-driven transformation to acute myeloid leukemia in vitro and in vivo.

• Sept 2018 – Apr 2019
  Atherosclerosis COBWEB Model

  University of Toronto · Supervisor: Dr. Brad Bass

  Developed 3 software models simulating blood-flow reduction across stages of atherosclerosis.

Patient advocacy

• Jul 2026 – present
  Web Developer — Eyelingual

  Developed and launched Eyelingual, a web-based tool for conducting ophthalmic examinations across a language barrier when live interpreter services are unavailable.

  Bridging inequities in access to ophthalmic care by supporting communication with patients who prefer care in a language other than English.

• Sept 2025 – present
  Vision Mate Volunteer — Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB) Foundation

  Supported a client living with complete vision loss through biweekly meetings.

  Built close rapport through companionship and practical assistance — reading mail, running errands, grocery shopping, and accompaniment on outings.

• Oct 2024 – present
  Patient Outreach & Interview — Patient Experience Project

  Co-produced short films with patients sharing their lived experiences of illness and care.

  Advocated for and secured their integration into the UBC MD curriculum, to foster a holistic understanding of illness and strengthen empathy for what patients live through.
• Sept 2023 – May 2025
  Newcomer Support — Refugee Health Initiative, UBC

  Organized and delivered annual refugee-health outreach presentations at local community centres.

  Provided a safe space and longitudinal support to a refugee family through monthly meetings, holding open discussion of resettlement challenges and adjustment.

• Aug 2021 – present
  Client Support — Shelter Movers

  Worked in teams of 4–5 volunteers to move clients out of homes where they had experienced intimate partner violence, holding trauma-informed conversations where the client wanted them.

• Aug 2024 – May 2025
  Events Director — Women’s Health Initiative, UBC

  Designed and, with a physiotherapist, led a trauma-informed pelvic examination training session for medical students.

Teaching & mentorship

• Feb 2026 – Jul 2026
  Educational Exhibit — Orbital Trauma on CT

  Worked with radiologist Dr. Nicolas Murray to develop a systematic checklist that ensures vision-threatening orbital injuries are recognized on trauma imaging; designed the formal exhibit.

• Oct 2023 – present
  Sexual & Reproductive Health Program — Nepal Health Education, UBC

  Spearheaded changes to a sexual and reproductive health (SRH) education programme for adolescents in rural Nepal, based on local educator feedback, so the curriculum is culturally appropriate.

  Designed and facilitated the formal programme evaluation; advocated for delivery to early adolescents, where larger health-literacy gains were demonstrated in pre-menstruation females.

  Drafted thoroughly researched responses to commonly asked SRH questions.

• Sept 2024 – present
  Mentorship & Shadowing Executive — Oncology Interest Group, UBC

  Coordinated and facilitated numerous oncologist-led mentorship and clinical shadowing placements for other medical students.

• Oct 2024 – Jun 2025
  Cultural Competency Training — Global Health Initiative, UBC

  Facilitated sessions engaging other medical students in conversations on cultural humility before their global health projects, drawing on what I took away from my own visit to rural Nepal.

Social activities & sport

• Oct 2023 – Jan 2025
  Performer — Karate Chop, UBC

  Rehearsed weekly with the club and performed a 20-minute karate skit at the annual UBC Med Gala.

• Nov 2023 – present
  Running

  Challenged myself to run even on the days I felt unmotivated.

  Completed half-marathons recreationally and the Vancouver Sun Run; trained my discipline by setting consistent time goals.

Skills and languages

• Statistical analysis

  R, Python, SPSS; survival analysis (Kaplan–Meier, Cox proportional hazards, competing risks); FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) disproportionality analysis.

• Laboratory

  CRISPR gene targeting, molecular cloning, cell culture.

• Evidence synthesis

  Systematic review and meta-analysis (Covidence).

• Languages

  English; Mandarin Chinese (native speaker).

Professional memberships

• Ophthalmology

  Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO)

• Ophthalmology

  European Society of Cataract & Refractive Surgeons (ESCRS)

• Oncology

  American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO)