J. David Gatz, MD

Education

2006 – 2010   Ohio Wesleyan University; Bachelor of Arts, Biochemistry, Pre-Medicine, Zoology; Summa Cum Laude 

2011 – 2015   The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine; Doctor of Medicine

Post Graduate Education and Training

2015 – 2018    The University of Maryland Medical Center; Residency, Emergency Medicine

2018 – 2019    The University of Maryland Medical Center; Chief Resident, Emergency Medicine 

2018 – 2019    The University of Maryland Medical Center; Administrative Fellow

J. David Gatz, MD, is an Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine at the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM) and serves as the Quality and Safety Director and Associate Medical Director of the Adult Emergency Department (ED) at the University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC). After earning his medical degree from the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Dr. Gatz completed his residency and an Administrative Fellowship at UMMC, where he was selected as Chief Resident and served as the House Staff Officer for Patient Safety and Quality. His administrative leadership is defined by a commitment to operational excellence and clinical efficiency. He has spearheaded several high-impact clinical initiatives to transform the department's flow and is a clinical champion for multiple programs including Code Stroke, Code ICH, and sepsis. Dr. Gatz’s clinical expertise and dedication to patient care have been recognized by his peers and the community, leading to his selection as a "Top Doctor" in Emergency Medicine by Baltimore Magazine in both 2024 and 2025.

As a prominent educator, Dr. Gatz is deeply committed to training the next generation of emergency physicians and medical leaders. He maintains a robust teaching portfolio that includes bedside instruction, didactic lecturing, and curriculum development for medical students and residents at UMSOM. He serves as the Co-Director of the Clinicopathologic Conference (CPC) Program and has developed a resident elective in Emergency Medicine Administration to mentor future leaders in the field. His excellence in teaching has been acknowledged through numerous accolades, such as the Outstanding Teaching Award from the UMEM residency program and the Outstanding Service Award for Teaching. Beyond UMSOM, Dr. Gatz is an active contributor to national medical education platforms and has served as the Chair of the Practice Management Committee for the Maryland Chapter of the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP).

Dr. Gatz’s research focuses on optimizing emergency department operations, patient flow, and safety. He has a particular academic interest in the management of pulmonary embolism (PE) and was awarded a Maryland Emergency Medicine Network grant as the Principal Investigator for the development of a novel clinical decision rule for PE diagnosis. He is a frequent peer reviewer for major specialty journals, including the Western Journal of Emergency Medicine (where he was named a Top 10 Reviewer of the Year in 2025) and Clinical Practice and Cases in Emergency Medicine (where he now serves as a Decision Editor). Through his diverse roles as a clinician, administrator, and researcher, Dr. Gatz continues to advance the standards of emergency care and academic medicine.

Pulmonary Embolism, Venous Thromboembolism, Emergency Medicine, Operations, Renal Transplant, Kidney Transplant, Quality, Patient Safety, Opioid Overdose, Opioid Intoxication

1. Gatz JD, Stryckman B, Magder LS, Deshmukh S, Sutherland M, Gingold DB. Association between patient race and emergency department physical restraint use in a statewide hospital system. Am J Emerg Med. 2025 Jan;87:57-62. doi: 10.1016/j.ajem.2024.10.033. Epub 2024 Oct 24. PMID: 39500261.
2. Gatz JD, Windsor TA, Chu E, Dezman ZDW, Bontempo LJ. Mentorship as a Catalyst for Academic Writing in Emergency Medicine. AEM Educ Train. 2025 Jun 16;9(3):e70062. doi: 10.1002/aet2.70062. PMID: 40524761; PMCID: PMC12168216.
3. Gatz JD, Wilkerson RG. Diagnosis and management of acute mesenteric ischemia in the emergency department. Emerg Med Pract. 2024 Dec;26(12):1-28. Epub 2024 Dec 1. PMID: 39571068.
4. Lowie BJ, Hicks C, Falat C, Hydorn SC, Windsor TA, Smedley A, Fu Y, Gatz JD. Overcoming stagnant flow: A scoping review of vertical movement in the emergency department. Acad Emerg Med. 2024 Mar;31(3):256-262. doi: 10.1111/acem.14846. Epub 2024 Feb 28. PMID: 38060332.
5. Gatz JD, Myers BA. Technology and Transplants: Troubleshooting Insulin Pumps and Pancreas Transplants in the Emergency Department. Emerg Med Clin North Am. 2023 Nov;41(4):775-793. doi: 10.1016/j.emc.2023.07.002. Epub 2023 Aug 21. PMID: 37758423.