David Margolis, MD, PhD
Dr. Margolis is an assistant professor of orthopedics, physiology and biomedical engineering at the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at the College of Medicine – Tucson. He is a physician-scientist, director of the Biomaterials Lab and a member of the Hand Research Laboratory (Hand Lab).
His research interests include bone healing, biomechanics, sensor technology, tissue engineering and tissue regeneration. His scientific work has focused on highly collaborative, translational research to develop implantable sensors and novel biomaterials that can be used in clinical applications. He has served as PI or co-PI on numerous grants, including an R21 clinical trial and R01 basic science grants from the National Institutes of Health, as well as grants from the Department of Defense. He has also supported more than 20 students with grants from the Western Alliance to Expand Student Opportunities (WAESO).
Dr. Margolis has supported the broader research mission of the University of Arizona in numerous roles, including his involvement in the Additive Manufacturing Initiative, Undergraduate Research Task Force, Medical Student Research Program and Dean’s Research Council at the College of Medicine – Tucson.
He has been involved with VIP at the University of Arizona since 2023, when he launched his VIP team, Orthopaedic Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering Laboratory. In 2024, he became VIP’s second Faculty Director, a position that oversees faculty and student recruitment, as well as efforts to advance VIP’s research productivity, educational outcomes and inclusive excellence.
Dr. Margolis completed his bachelor’s degree in chemistry, master’s degree and PhD in physiological sciences, medical school, and his orthopaedic surgery residency all at the University of Arizona. He then went on to complete a hand surgery fellowship at the University of Massachusetts Medical School. He continues to provide clinical care at Banner – University Medical Center, where he is an orthopedic surgeon specializing in hand and wrist surgery.