Jeremy L. Davis, MD, Named UMGCCC Surgical Oncology Lead and Chief of the Division of Surgical Oncology at UMSOM

University of Maryland Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center (UMGCCC) Executive Director, Taofeek K. Owonikoko, MD, PhD, and University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM) Department of Surgery Chair, Christine Lau, MD, MBA, have announced that Jeremy L. Davis, MD, has been appointed the new Surgical Oncology Lead for UMGCCC and Chief of the Division of Surgical Oncology in the Department of Surgery at UMSOM. Dr. Davis is a nationally recognized surgical oncologist and leader in gastric cancer research. He started in his new roles at the end of last month.

Known for his landmark research in hereditary stomach cancer, Dr. Davis previously served as an associate research physician at the National Cancer Institute's (NCI) Center for Cancer Research; he also served as leader of multidisciplinary gastrointestinal cancer research in the intramural research program at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). He was chosen after a nationwide search with many outstanding candidates. 

Jonathan Pearl, MD, Associate Professor of Surgery at UMSOM had been serving as the Division Chief of Surgical Oncology and General Surgery while a search to replace the Surgical Oncology Division Chief was underway. He remains Division Chief of General Surgery.

"Dr. Davis's clinical work in surgical oncology is impressive and his research has been groundbreaking in unraveling the genetic basis of hereditary gastric cancers and lobular breast cancers," said Dr. Owonikoko. "We are very excited to welcome him to our community and part of the leadership team as both a Surgical Oncology Lead and a physician-scientist who will further advance our basic and clinical oncology research science here at UMGCCC."

Dr. Davis brings a wealth of surgical expertise and research experience, in studying gastric cancers and leading associated clinical trials, to his new roles at UMSOM and UMGCCC. As the leader of the NIH Foregut Team, Dr. Davis was tasked with the leadership of a multidisciplinary team of experts dedicated to the clinical care and research of patients with gastrointestinal tract cancers. His research specifically focused on the study of the CDH1 tumor suppressor gene, which he plans to continue in his new role at the cancer center.  

"Dr. Davis possesses an outstanding record of success in clinical surgical care, clinical leadership, and basic and clinical oncology research," said Dr. Lau. "His leadership experience as Director of the National Cancer Institute Surgical Oncology Research Fellowship and extensive publications on the hereditary and molecular basis of diffuse gastric and lobular breast cancers driven by loss of function CDH1 gene variants make him well suited to lead the Division as Chief."

After obtaining his Doctor of Medicine degree in 2005 from the University of South Florida College of Medicine, Dr. Davis completed his general surgery residency at the Indiana University School of Medicine in 2013. During his residency, he also completed an additional three-year surgical oncology research and immunotherapy fellowship with the National Cancer Institute. In 2015, Dr. Davis completed a two-year fellowship in complex general surgical oncology at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.

Dr. Davis's career is marked by significant contributions and leadership roles in the medical field. In 2015, he joined NCI, part of the NIH Campus in Bethesda, Maryland, where he served as a surgical oncologist and associate research physician. He also joined the faculty of the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Surgery, where he rose to the rank of Associate Professor in 2020. His tenure at the NIH saw him serve as the Surgeon-in-Chief of the NIH Clinical Center, from 2018 to 2023. 

His research contributions are significant, with an h-index of 30, over 100 peer-reviewed publications, books, and associated chapters to his name. His work has been cited over 8,000 times in high-impact, peer-reviewed journals, including The Journal of the American Medical Association, the Journal of Clinical Oncology, and The Lancet Oncology. Dr. Davis has been the PI or Co-investigator on multiple clinical trials, including those funded by the NCI, private agencies, and institutions. His research has focused on the molecular underpinnings of CDH1-driven diffuse-type gastric cancers, endoscopic surveillance as an alternative to prophylactic gastrectomy, and the long-term impact of surgery on the prevention of cancers. His work has been presented at multiple national and international meetings, further solidifying his standing in the field. 

About the University of Maryland Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center

The University of Maryland Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center is a National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center within the University of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore, the flagship academic hospital of the University of Maryland Medical System. It offers a multidisciplinary approach to treating all types of cancer and has an active clinical and basic science research program through its relationship with the University of Maryland School of Medicine. The center is ranked among the top 50 cancer programs in the country by US News & World Report. www.umgccc.org