David Lin, M.D., Ph.D.

Shih-Chun Lin, M.D., Ph.D.

Headshot of David Lin
  • Chair, Department of Surgery, Suburban Hospital, Johns Hopkins Medicine
  • Assistant Professor of Neurosurgery

Specializes in: Adults (18+ years)

Male

Languages: English, Mandarin, Taiwanese

Expertise

Brain Metastases, Brain Tumors, Cervical Spine Disease, Endoscopic Brain Neurosurgery, Glioblastoma, Herniated Disc, Lumbar Spine Diseases, Metastatic Brain Tumors, Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery, Neurosurgery, Pituitary Tumors, Radiosurgery, Skull Base Surgery, Spinal Stenosis, Spinal Tumors, Trigeminal Neuralgia ...read more

Research Interests

Optogenetics; investigate mechanisms behind epilepsy control; glial cell reaction to pathologic conditions ...read more

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Insurance Information

Main Phone

Outside of Maryland & Washington D.C.

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Locations

Camalier Building

Appointment Phone: 301-896-6069
10215 Fernwood Road
Suite 412
Bethesda, MD 20817
Fax: 301-896-8802
Camalier Building - Google Maps

The Johns Hopkins Hospital (Main Entrance)

1800 Orleans St.
Sheikh Zayed Tower
Baltimore, MD 21287
Phone: 410-955-6406
The Johns Hopkins Hospital (Main Entrance) - Google Maps

Background

Shih-Chun (David) Lin, M.D., is a neurosurgeon with Johns Hopkins Neurosurgery in Bethesda, Maryland, as well as an assistant professor in the Department of Neurosurgery at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. 

Dr. Lin offers neurosurgical care to patients with brain or spine diseases. He was the first to introduce several procedures to Suburban Hospital, including endoscopic pituitary surgery, endoscopic extended skull base surgery, minimally invasive spine surgery, neurosurgical complex spinal instrumentation surgery, stereotactic radiosurgery and microvascular decompression for cranial nerve compression syndrome, such as trigeminal neuralgia. He also has clinical expertise in MRI- and CT-guided surgical navigation. Dr. Lin typically treats brain tumors, spinal tumors, pituitary tumors, spinal stenosis, herniated intervertebral disc, skull base tumors, encephalocele, and skull base CSF leak (rhinorrhea or otorrhea).

Dr. Lin graduated first place from National Taiwan University College of Medicine, earning his medical degree at the age of 21, the youngest in Taiwan’s history. He then served as a medical/surgical officer in the 206th Infantry Division for the Taiwan Army. He received his Ph.D. in neuroscience from Johns Hopkins University, awarded Phi Beta Kappa and Paul Ehrlich Research Award for his academic and research achievements. Dr. Lin completed his neurosurgical residency at Stanford University Medical Center, where he gained experience in the latest surgical technologies, such as endoscopic surgery, minimally invasive surgery, computer-guided surgical navigation and stereotactic radiosurgery. His research using optogenetics, from his fellowship at Stanford, was awarded by The Congress of Neurological Surgeons.

Dr. Lin is a member of the Suburban Hospital Tumor Board. He has worked on several system innovation and quality improvement efforts at Suburban Hospital, such as standardizing critical care protocols for post-operative care for patients undergoing pituitary surgery and establishing MRI protocols for patients implanted with spinal cord stimulators or cardiac pacemakers. Dr. Lin is also a fellow of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons and a member of the Congress of Neurological Surgeons.

Dr. Lin has earned numerous awards, such as the Teaching Excellence Award for Stanford University School of Medicine, the Service Excellence Award for Suburban Hospital, Best Consulting Physicians at Johns Hopkins Medicine, Surgeon of the Year Award at Suburban Hospital, and was named one of America's Top Surgeons for Consumers' Research Council of America, Washingtonian Top Doctors, and Bethesda Magazine Top Doctors. 

Dr. Lin's research interests are in optogenetics, investigating mechanisms behind epilepsy control and glial cell reaction to pathologic conditions. He has contributed to numerous publications and lectures. 

...read more

Titles

  • Chair, Department of Surgery, Suburban Hospital, Johns Hopkins Medicine
  • Division Chief of Johns Hopkins Neurosurgery, National Capital Region
  • Chief of Neurosurgery, Suburban Hospital, Johns Hopkins Medicine
  • Assistant Professor of Neurosurgery
  • Assistant Professor of Neuroscience
  • Assistant Professor of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery

Departments / Divisions

Centers & Institutes

Education

Degrees

  • MD; National Taiwan University School of Medicine (1997)

Residencies

  • Surgery; National Taiwan University Hospital (2000)
  • Neurosurgery; Stanford University School of Medicine (2012)

Board Certifications

  • American Board of Neurological Surgery (Neurological Surgery) (2016)

Additional Training

  • Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine (Maryland)
    Ph.D.
    (2005)
  • Stanford University (Stanford, CA),
    Fellowship
    (2010)

Research & Publications

Research Summary

Through his research, Dr. Lin seeks to advance the field of neurosurgery by using the latest technology, such as optogenetics, to investigate mechanisms behind epilepsy control and glial cell reaction to pathologic conditions.

Selected Publications

Lin SC, Deisseroth K, Henderson JM, "Optogenetics: background and concepts for neurosurgery." Neurosurgery, 2011; 69(1):1-3.

Lad SP, Li G, Lin SC, Henderson JM, "Intracranial hypotension from intrathecal baclofen pump insertion." A case report and review of the literature. Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery, 2008; 86(2):75-79.

Lin SC, Huck JH, Roberts JD, Macklin WB, Somogyi P, Bergles DE, "Climbing fiber innervation of NG2-expressing glia in the mammalian cerebellum." Neuron, 46(5):773-85 (2005).

Lin SC, Bergles DE, "Synaptic signaling between GABAergic interneurons and oligodendrocyte precursor cells in the hippocampus." Nature Neuroscience, 2004; 7(1):24-32.

Lin SC, Bergles DE, "Synaptic signaling between neurons and glia." Glia, 2004; 47(3):290-8.

Witten IB*, Lin SC*, Brodsky M*, Diester I, Anikeeva P, Prakash R, Gradinaru V, Ramakrishnan C, Deisseroth KA, Cholinergic interneurons control local circuit activity and cocaine conditioning. Science 2010; 330(6011):1677-1681. (*Co-first authors) 

Davis RJ, Lin SC, Mydlarz WK, A rapidly expanding scalp mass. JAMA Oncology 2017; 3(3):411-412

Activities & Honors

Honors

  • Washingtonian Top Doctors, Washingtonian, 2021
  • Bethesda Magazine Top Doctors, Bethesda Magazine, 2021
  • Castle Connolly Top Doctors, 2020 - 2021
  • Best Consulting Physician, Johns Hopkins Medicine: Clinical Excellence Award, 2018
  • The Michael J. Stanton MD Award for Outstanding Service, Suburban Hospital, 2019
  • Living The Hopkins Mission Honoree, Johns Hopkins Medicine 125th Anniversary, 2018
  • America's Top Surgeons, Consumers' Research Council of America, 2017 - 2018
  • America’s Most Honored Doctors, The American Registry, 2020 - 2021
  • Service Excellence Award, Suburban Hospital, Johns Hopkins Medicine, 2013

Memberships

  • American Association of Neurological Surgeons

    Fellow

  • Congress of Neurological Surgeons

    Member

Videos & Media

Recent News Articles and Media Coverage

At night she suffered through searing pain, by morning it mysteriously vanished, Washington Post (05/26/2018)

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