Dr. Amir A. Zeki, MD, MAS

Expert Publications

• A 40-year-old woman with cough and dyspnea 2 months after a motorcycle accident.
• Immunobiology of the critical asthma syndrome.
• Statins and asthma: where we stand, and the next critical steps in research.
• Targeting the mevalonate cascade as a new therapeutic approach in heart disease, cancer and pulmonary disease.
• Simvastatin inhibits smoke-induced airway epithelial injury: implications for COPD therapy.
• Automatic lung segmentation using control feedback system: morphology and texture paradigm.
• Vocal Hoarseness and a Subglottic Mass: An Uncommon Diagnosis for a Common Complaint.
• The combination of fluticasone furoate and vilanterol trifenatate in the management of asthma: clinical trial evidence and experience.
• Editorial (Thematic Issue: New Insights into a Classical Pathway: Key Roles of the Mevalonate Cascade in Different Diseases (Part I)).
• Update on the spider and the fly: An extended commentary on "Oxidized LDL induced extracellular trap formation in human neutrophils via TLR-PKC-IRAK-MAPK and NADPH-Oxidase activation".
• Eosinophilic and Non-Eosinophilic Asthma.

Media Releases

Get to know Pulmonary and Critical Care Physician Dr. Amir A. Zeki, who serves patients in Sacramento, California.

Dr. Zeki is a distinguished figure in the medical community, renowned for his expertise and contributions in the field of respiratory health. As Co-Director of the U.C. Davis Asthma Network (UCAN) Clinic, Director of the VA COPD Clinic, and Research Director of the U.C. Davis Reversible Obstructive Airway Disease (ROAD) Center, Dr. Zeki plays a pivotal role in advancing our understanding and treatment of severe asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). 

Throughout his academic career, his journey towards excellence began with his undergraduate studies at the University of Washington, where he earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Biochemistry (1997). Following his passion for medicine, he continued his education at the University of Washington School of Medicine, obtaining his Medical Doctorate in 2001.

His commitment to medical excellence led him to pursue rigorous training in internal medicine at the U.C. Davis Medical Center in Sacramento, California. Here, he completed not one, but two residencies including as Chief Resident, solidifying his foundational knowledge and clinical skills from 2001 to 2005. Dr. Zeki’s dedication to his craft extended further as he pursued a clinical fellowship at U.C. Davis Medical Center from 2005 to 2008, where he honed his expertise in Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine. During this training period and in parallel, Dr. Zeki also pursued his pulmonary basic science and translational research interests which led to an academic faculty position where he now serves as Professor of Internal Medicine in the U.C. Davis School of Medicine.

As a testament to his success, Dr. Zeki is board-certified in Pulmonary Medicine, Critical Care Medicine, and Internal Medicine by the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM). The ABIM is a physician-led, non-profit, independent evaluation organization managed by doctors who want to achieve higher standards for better care in a rapidly changing world.

With a passion for teaching and research in addition to his clinical duties, Dr. Zeki’s academic and professional journey is characterized by his distinction as Professor of Internal Medicine in Residence, where he has trained numerous medical students, residents, fellows, and graduate PhD students playing a vital mentoring role in their education, and helping shape the future generation of biomedical and research professionals.

In addition to his clinical and academic pursuits, Dr. Zeki is also an entrepreneur having started and led two biopharma/biotech companies (c. 2018, 2020) in the area of novel inhaled drug therapies for asthma, COPD, and COVID-19. His discovery emanated from his own laboratory research at U.C. Davis and has led to viable intellectual property claims. He has multiple patent applications under review in multiple global markets, and currently serves as Co-Founder, Director, and Chief Scientific Officer at InStatin, Inc. 

Pulmonary and critical care is a medical specialty that deals with diseases involving the respiratory tract and all other severe medical conditions including those needing care in the Intensive Care Unit. A pulmonary and critical care specialist is an internal medicine physician specializing in preventing, diagnosing, and treating conditions and diseases affecting the lungs, bronchial tubes, and the respiratory system, including the nose, pharynx, throat, airways, lungs, and related organs.

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