David Stephen Cooper is a distinguished endocrinologist and internationally recognized authority in thyroid disease management at the forefront of clinical endocrinology for over five decades. He currently serves as Professor of Medicine and Radiology at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and Professor of International Health at the Bloomberg School of Public Health. As Director of the Thyroid Clinic at The Johns Hopkins Hospital, he oversees one of the nation's premier centers for thyroid disorder diagnosis and treatment, maintaining an active clinical practice that informs his scholarly work. Dr. Cooper received his medical degree from Tufts University School of Medicine in 1973 and has established himself as a pillar of the endocrinology community through his more than thirty-year tenure at Johns Hopkins.
Dr. Cooper's research has fundamentally shaped contemporary approaches to Graves' disease and subclinical thyroid disorders through rigorous evidence-based methodologies and landmark clinical trials. His influential publications including Management of Graves Disease A Review and A 2011 Survey of Clinical Practice Patterns in the Management of Graves Disease have provided critical frameworks adopted by clinicians worldwide. His randomized clinical trial examining The Effect of Methimazole on Cure Rates After Radioiodine Treatment for Graves Hyperthyroidism demonstrated his commitment to refining therapeutic protocols through systematic investigation. These contributions have established him as the preeminent voice in thyroid disorder management with his work forming the foundation of current clinical practice guidelines and evidence-based approaches to patient care.
Beyond his research achievements Dr Cooper has profoundly influenced the field through leadership roles including past President of the American Thyroid Association and Chair of the Subspecialty Board for Endocrinology Diabetes and Metabolism of the American Board of Internal Medicine. His exceptional dedication to education earned him the Endocrine Society's 2016 Outstanding Scholarly Physician Award and the 2023 Outstanding Educator Award recognizing his transformative impact on training the next generation of endocrinologists. As Editor-in-Chief for endocrinology for Up-to-Date Contributing Editor of JAMA and former Deputy Editor of the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism he continues to shape the dissemination of knowledge in his field. Dr Cooper remains actively engaged in advancing thyroid disease management through ongoing research mentorship and patient-centered innovation ensuring his legacy of excellence endures in clinical practice and medical education.
