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E. David Crawford, MD

E. David Crawford, MD


Editor-in-Chief, Emeritus
Grand Rounds in Urology
Jack A. Vickers Director of Prostate Research
Professor of Urology
University of California, San Diego

San Diego, California

Researcher-physician E. David Crawford, MD, Jack A. Vickers Director of Prostate Research and Professor of Urology at the University of California, San Diego, has devoted his career in medicine to educating the public about men's health issues and finding effective techniques and procedures to address prostate cancer, the most common malignancy affecting men in the United States.

Dr. Crawford received his medical degree from the University of Cincinnati and his postgraduate training included an internship and residency in urology at the Good Samaritan Hospital in Cincinnati. He subsequently completed a genitourinary cancer fellowship at the University of California Medical Center in Los Angeles.

Dr. Crawford is an internationally recognized expert in benign prostate hypertrophy, urologic cancers, and in particular, prostate cancer. He has conducted research in the treatment of advanced bladder cancer, metastatic adenocarcinoma of the prostate, hormone-refractory prostate cancer, and other areas of urological infections and malignancies. He has authored or coauthored over 810 scientific articles, has published seven textbooks, authored over 60 book chapters, and provided more than 2,200 educational talks for patients and physicians.

In an effort to raise public awareness about prostate health, Crawford in 1989 founded the Prostate Conditions Education Council (PCEC). The non-profit organization is comprised of a consortium of leading physicians, health educators, scientists, and men's health advocates. PCEC's advocacy for free or low-cost prostate screening has affected the lives of millions of American men. He currently chairs the PCEC.

Crawford is an active member of many national and international organizations, including the American Society of Clinical Oncology, the American Urological Association (AUA), and the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Within the AUA, he has been a member of the Committee to Study Urologic Research Funding and the prostate cancer clinical trials subcommittee. Crawford served on the board of governors, the scientific advisory board of the Southwest Oncology Group, and was chairman of the Genitourinary Cancer Committee for 27 years. This group is the largest clinical trials group in the world.

Crawford's involvement in the national prostate cancer arena has been widely recognized. He has received many honors and awards, including the CAP Cure Annual Award for Scientific Presentation in 1999 In 1997, he was presented with a 'Freddie Award" at the AMA International Health and Medical Film Competition for the program, ITV: The Cutting Edge Medical Report (Prostate Cancer: Understanding, Diagnosing, and Defeating), which Crawford hosted with special guest, retired General Norman Schwarzkopf.

Crawford again won a prestigious 'Freddie Award" 5 years ago... He is a member of Best Doctors of America and was named Healthcare Provider of the Year in the Denver Metro area by the Denver Business Journal.

He has been recognized as one of the Best Doctors of America for the past two decades and is recognized as one of the top 20 urologists in the country, for men, by Men’s Health Magazine. In 2018 he received the honor of being named the Distinguished Alumnus of the Year from the University of Cincinnati School of Medicine. In May of 2019, he received the Presidential citation from the American Urological Association recognizing for his “tireless role in genitourinary cancer research that has benefited countless urologic cancer patients.” He accepted the position of Editor in Chief of Grand Rounds in Urology in June of 2019. In 2021, he was the recipient of the Merle Stringer, M.D. annual award for excellence in medicine by the Florida State Medical Association.

Disclosures:

Talks by E. David Crawford, MD

Urologic Debate Part 2: MRI vs. Molecular Markers: Which One Should I Use? Markers Perspective

Urologic Debate Part 2: MRI vs. Molecular Markers: Which One Should I Use? Markers Perspective

Posted by | Nov 2020

In the second part of this urologic debate, E. David Crawford, MD, Editor-in-Chief of Grand Rounds in Urology and Professor of Urology at the University of California, San Diego, argues that while MRI has a role in prostate cancer detection, PSA and other molecular marker tests should be used earlier in sequence. He notes that while many healthcare providers are unhappy with the current state of early detection for prostate cancer, this has less to do with PSA’s merits as a test for determining the relative risk of prostate cancer, and more with a lack of good guidance on how to interpret it. Dr. Crawford argues that all men with a PSA greater than 1.5 should receive further evaluation, first for evidence of benign prostatic hyperplasia, and then for prostate cancer. Other molecular markers can help determine increased risk and help doctors decide whether or not to biopsy, and marker tests like ConfirmMDx can also help if a biopsy is inconclusive. Dr. Crawford concludes by noting that MRI is best used after patients have been biopsied.

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PC Markers Algorithm

PC Markers Algorithm

Posted by | Sep 2020

E. David Crawford, MD, Editor-in-Chief of Grand Rounds in Urology and Professor of Urology at University of California, San Diego, discusses how the PC Markers algorithm simplifies the process of screening, diagnosing, and treating prostate cancer for primary care physicians and urologists. Family practitioners and internists order 90% of PSA tests in men, but may be overwhelmed with other health concerns in their patients when deciding to refer them to urologists. Dr. Crawford discusses data behind the identification of PSA >1.5ng/ml as the trigger point for screening, with a significant increase in cancer diagnosis between 1.5-4.0ng/ml. He also notes that 73% of PSA tests are still below the 1.5ng/ml threshold of eligibility for further PCa screening. Dr. Crawford then details the development of the PC Markers algorithm and how it combines a range of blood, urine, and imaging biomarkers to better inform primary care physicians and urologists in how to proceed with prostate cancer screening, diagnosis, and treatment.

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Point-Counterpoint: There is a Role for Currently Available Biomarkers/Genomics in the Risk Stratification of Prostate Cancer

Point-Counterpoint: There is a Role for Currently Available Biomarkers/Genomics in the Risk Stratification of Prostate Cancer

Posted by | Jun 2020

E. David Crawford, MD, Editor-in-Chief of Grand Rounds in Urology, and Alan H. Bryce, MD, Chair of the Division of Hematology and Medical Oncology and Assistant Professor of Medicine at the Mayo Clinic in Phoenix, Arizona, present a Point-Counterpoint on the relative value of genomics and biomarkers in prostate cancer risk stratification. Dr. Crawford, presenting the pro side, argues that doctors need to do biomarker testing to know which patients to biopsy, follow closely, and treat with radiation. Dr. Bryce, presenting the con side, contends that while germline testing is beneficial, other biomarker tests have inconsistent results for prostate cancer patients.

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Challenging Cases in Advanced Prostate Cancer- mHSPC

Challenging Cases in Advanced Prostate Cancer- mHSPC

Posted by | May 2020

E. David Crawford, MD, Editor-in-Chief of Grand Rounds in Urology and Professor of Urology at University of California, San Diego, gives his expertise on next generation biomarkers in prostate cancer screening. Firstly, Dr. Crawford qualifies the new standard of PSA >1.5 ng/mL, specifically how it aids in early detection of disease and acts as a surrogate for BPH, prostate cancer, and prostatitis. Following this, Dr. Crawford reviews the clinical needs and genomic markers of prostate cancer. In conclusion, he describes his algorithm for PSA screening.

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Next Generation Biomarkers – As Reflex, Combination, or First Line?

Next Generation Biomarkers – As Reflex, Combination, or First Line?

Posted by | May 2020

E. David Crawford, MD, Editor-in-Chief of Grand Rounds in Urology and Professor of Urology at University of California, San Diego, gives his expertise on next generation biomarkers in prostate cancer screening. Firstly, Dr. Crawford qualifies the new standard of PSA >1.5 ng/mL, specifically how it aids in early detection of disease and acts as a surrogate for BPH, prostate cancer, and prostatitis. Following this, Dr. Crawford reviews the clinical needs and genomic markers of prostate cancer. In conclusion, he describes his algorithm for PSA screening.

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