Health Disparities Expert Named Chair of Department of Radiation Oncology

Mack Roach III, MD, professor of radiation oncology and urology, has been named chair of the Department of Radiation Oncology. "Dr. Roach is recognized as one of America's leading authorities on the use of radiation to treat localized prostate cancer and as a prominent crusader against health care disparities," says David Kessler, MD, dean of the UCSF School of Medicine and vice chancellor for medical affairs. Roach has served the department as director of clinical research since 2001, as vice chair since 2003 and as interim chair since January 2006. The selection was made after a nationwide search by a committee led by Margaret Tempero, MD, chief of medical oncology. Roach led one of the most important prospective randomized RTOG (Radiation Therapy Oncology Group) trials involving radiation therapy, one that demonstrated the value of pelvic nodal radiotherapy for patients with high-risk prostate cancer, Kessler noted in his announcement of the appointment. Roach is also considered to be a pioneer in the use of 3D-conformal-intensity modulated radiotherapy and in image-guided radiotherapy, having popularized the use of online portal imaging. He served as lead author for the 1996, 2000 and pending 2007 editions of the American College of Radiology Appropriateness Criteria guidelines for defining how men in this country should be treated with radiotherapy. Roach is considered a preeminent authority in disparities in outcomes from cancer treatment in underserved populations, and has chaired the Special Populations Committee of the RTOG since 1995. He currently serves as principal investigator on a National Cancer Institute U-56 Health Care Disparities Grant specifically designed to address the issue of inferior outcomes for minorities and other underserved populations. He is the recipient of numerous honors and awards, including being named one of the 10 Most Influential African Americans in the Bay Area for 2005 and serving as the president of the John Hale Medical Society from 2005 to 2006. Roach earned his undergraduate degree in physics from Morehouse College and his MD degree from Stanford University. He completed his internship and a year of residency training at Martin Luther King Jr. General Hospital, in Los Angeles and served as chief resident in internal medicine at Highland Hospital in Oakland. Roach joined the UCSF faculty in 1990 after completing fellowship training in medical oncology and a residency in radiation oncology at UCSF and Stanford, respectively. During his past year as interim chair, he has led a number of significant improvements in his department, including recruitment of key new faculty and executive staff and the launching of a redesigned department website. Related Links: Radiation Oncology Recruits Breast Expert, Among Other Improvements
UCSF Today, July 27, 2006 UCSF Researcher One of Bay Area's 10 Most Influential African Americans
UCSF Today, April 13, 2006