About
Joanne Y. Zhou, MD, is an assistant professor in the Department of Orthopedic Surgery at McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston. She is a fellowship-trained orthopedic hand and upper extremity surgeon with expertise in hand and microvascular surgery. Her specific areas of interest include advanced arthroscopic and open hand procedures for the wrist, elbow, and shoulder.
Zhou provides comprehensive care for a wide range of musculoskeletal injuries and conditions affecting the upper extremity — from the shoulder to the fingertip. She treats common and complex pathologies, emphasizing personalized, evidence-based treatment plans that promote recovery and function. She tailors every plan to the individual, ensuring each patient receives care suited to their goals and lifestyle. Her approach may include nonoperative therapies, minimally invasive joint preservation procedures, joint replacement, or reconstructive surgery following complex trauma. Ultimately, her goal is to restore mobility and help patients confidently return to their daily activities.
Zhou attended the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where she earned her undergraduate degrees in biology and neuroscience. She then completed medical school with a scholarly concentration in bioengineering at Stanford University School of Medicine. She remained at Stanford to finish her orthopedic surgery residency. Afterward, she completed a hand and upper extremity fellowship at Emory University. As part of the fellowship’s international component, she trained with world leaders in elbow instability, arthroplasty, and arthroscopy at Wrightington Hospital in England.
Moreover, Zhou is deeply involved in clinical and biomechanical research. She has authored numerous scientific articles and textbook chapters, received national grants, and presented her work at both national and international conferences. She is also an active member of several professional organizations, including the American Society for Surgery of the Hand, American Association for Hand Surgery, American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, Global Elbow Network, Ruth Jackson Orthopaedic Society, and the Orthopaedic Research Society.
Outside of medicine, Zhou enjoys spending time with her family, hiking, running, traveling, and exploring new restaurants.