Yejia Zhang, MD, PhD
Professor of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania
Staff Physician, Corporal Michael J. Crescenz Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA.
Department: Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Contact information
Penn Medicine at Rittenhouse
1800 Lombard Street/1st Floor
Philadelphia, PA 19146
1800 Lombard Street/1st Floor
Philadelphia, PA 19146
Office: 215-893-2645
Publications
Links
Search PubMed for articles
University of Pennsylvania Faculty Profile
Research Gate Profile
Physician profile on Doximity
US News Physician Profile
WebMD Profile
Search PubMed for articles
University of Pennsylvania Faculty Profile
Research Gate Profile
Physician profile on Doximity
US News Physician Profile
WebMD Profile
Education
MD (Medicine)
Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China (PRC), 1989.
PhD (Cell and Molecular Biology)
University of Pennsylvania, 1997.
Permanent linkMD (Medicine)
Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China (PRC), 1989.
PhD (Cell and Molecular Biology)
University of Pennsylvania, 1997.
Description of Clinical Expertise
Non-operative care of the spine.Acupuncture to treat chronic pain and promote well being.
Wheel Chair assessment.
Description of Research Expertise
Cell and Molecular BiologySpine
Intervertebral Disc
Selected Publications
Tate Q, Markova DZ, Shofer FS, Chen K, Kepler CC, Canseco JA, Dillingham TR, Zhang Y.: Serum Biomarkers Discovered by SomaScan in Patients with Severe Low Back Pain. AJPMR, in press July 2026.Yao, L.; Wang, H.; Tian, Z.; Shofer, F.S.; Qin, L.; Zhang, Y.: Effects of Age on Intervertebral Disc Tissue Morphology and Gene Expression in the ADAM8-Inactivation Mouse. Cells 15(730), April 2026.
Chen K, Tian Z, Shofer FS, Chenna SS, Sandroni DZ, Qin L, Zhang Y: TNFAIP8/TIPE2 inactivation modulates extracellular matrix organization gene expression and preserves the intervertebral disc. Genes & Diseases 101835: 2352-3042, August 2025.
Wang H, Tian Z, Shofer FS, Qin L, Zhang Y: Modest Effects of Age on Inflammatory Markers and Histological Features in the Murine Intervertebral Disc Injury Model. Am J Phys Med Rehabil 10(1), May 2025 Notes: published online ahead of final publication.
Tian Z, Chen K, Shofer FS, Ciesielski B, Wang H, O'Brien WT, Qin L, Zhang Y.: Gene Expression Changes Precede Elevated Mechanical Sensitivity in the Mouse Intervertebral Disc Injury Model. JOR Spine 8(1), Feb 23 2025.
Chen K, Tian Z, Wang H, Enomoto-Iwamoto M, Zhang Y: ADAM8 Inactivation Modulates Cellular Component Assembly Gene Expression in the Mouse Intervertebral Disc. Genes & Diseases 12(3), Nov 2024.
Jiawei Lu, Zuozhen Tian, Frances S Shofer, Ling Qin, Honghong Sun, Yejia Zhang: Tnfaip8 and Tipe2 Gene Deletion Ameliorates Immediate Proteoglycan Loss and Inflammatory Responses in the Injured Mouse Intervertebral Disc. Am J Phys Med Rehabil 103(10): 918-924, Oct 2024.
Li J, Gui T, Yao L, Guo H, Lin YL, Lu J, Duffy M, Zgonis M, Mauck R, Dyment N, Zhang Y, Scanzello C, Seale P, Qin L.: Synovium and infrapatellar fat pad share common mesenchymal progenitors and undergo coordinated changes in osteoarthritis. J Bone Miner Res 39(1): 161-176, Mar 2024.
Chen K, Tian Z, Wang H, Qin L, Enomoto-Iwamoto M, Zhang Y.: Gene Expression Profiles Perturbed by Injury to the Mouse Intervertebral Disc. Am J Phys Med Rehabil 104: 45-50, Jan 2024.
Lu J, Tian Z, Shofer FS, Yao L, Sandroni AZ, Sun H, Qin L, Zhang Y.: Tnfa , Il6 , Cxcl1 , and Adam8 Genes Are the Early Markers After Mouse Tail Intervertebral Disc Injury. Am J Phys Med Rehabil 102(1): 1063-1069, Dec 2023.