David Kountz, MD, MBA, is a Prominent Doctor and Actor

David Kountz is a healthcare professional who has dedicated his career to bridging the gap between medical institutions and underserved populations. At Hackensack Meridian’s new medical school, he helped create curriculum that provides students with exposure to underserved communities to gain a broader perspective of healthcare delivery.

Early Life and Education

Kountz was raised in Lexa, Arkansas where his family was poor and he had to work to support himself. Inspired by his ambition, he set out to become a doctor – an ambition which proved successful.

He then went on to earn a degree from Arkansas Agricultural, Mechanical and Normal College in Pine Bluff – now the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff. There he made history as the first African American admitted into its medical school; graduating in 1958.

After his tenure as an associate professor of surgery at the University of California at San Francisco, he was recruited by the State University of New York to be chief of surgery at Downstate Medical Center in Brooklyn. There he established one of America’s premier organ transplant units.

Professional Career

David Kountz has dedicated his career to transplant surgery, becoming one of the first black students to graduate from the University of Arkansas Medical School in Little Rock and later studying at Stanford University where he established a transplant unit.

He then rose to become Chief of the Kidney Transplant Service at the University of California, San Francisco and made numerous groundbreaking medical advances. Notable among these breakthroughs was his development of methylprednisolone – which successfully reverses acute rejection after organ transplantation.

In 1972, Kountz relocated to Brooklyn, N.Y., to become professor and chairperson of surgery at Downstate Medical Center. He set about revolutionizing their struggling transplant program into one of the nation’s premier programs.

Achievement and Honors

David Kountz, MD, MBA was an icon in organ transplant research and surgery. Despite growing up in a segregated Arkansas town as a black man, he rose to become a national and global leader in his field of medicine.

Kountz earned his medical degree in 1958 and then proceeded to complete a rigorous surgical residency at Stanford Service Hospital in San Francisco, where he established an organ transplant unit and rose to become Chief of Kidney Transplant Service.

Kountz then relocated to New York City, becoming professor of surgery and chairman of the department at State University of New York’s Downstate Medical Center in Brooklyn. Motivated by a deep commitment to humanity, he sought to improve access to high quality healthcare for African American patients.

Personal Life

David Kountz is an esteemed doctor who has dedicated his career to aiding those less fortunate. He currently serves as vice president for academic affairs and co-chief academic officer at Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune, New Jersey.

He previously served as associate dean for diversity and equity at Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine in New Jersey, where his role included developing curriculum that connects students to underserved communities.

He is an advocate for organ donation and has made a major impact on improving the lives of kidney transplant patients. As an expert in this field, his work led to the development of innovative surgical techniques as well as research that revealed how to reverse acute rejection after transplanting kidneys. Furthermore, he pioneered tissue typing as an aid in optimizing transplant outcomes.

Net Worth

Actor David Koutz is best known for his roles in Fifteen and Pregnant (1998) and Halloweentown II: Kalabar’s Revenge (2002). Additionally, he played the avatar on Ghost in the Machine episode of Ghost Whisperer.

Kountz began his career as an actor when he played “Tiny Tim” in a school play. Eventually, he pursued acting professionally and moved to Los Angeles.

Keith is happily married to Dawn and they share two enchanting daughters, Amber and Candice, with her. They were united in marriage on June 22, 1985.

Keith Earns an average annual salary of $89,945 as a journalist. His wealth has grown over the years and his estimated net worth ranges between $1 Million – $5 Million U.S dollars as of 2023.