John W. Davis, MD

John W. Davis, MD

MD Anderson Cancer Center

Houston, Texas

John W. Davis, MD, is a Professor of Urology and Director of the Urosurgical Prostate Program at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. He received his BS in Biology at Davidson College in North Carolina in 1990. He then went on to earn his medical degree at the University of Virginia in 1994 and completed his residency training at Eastern Virginia Graduate School of Medicine in Norfolk. Dr. Davis had fellowship training in prostate cancer research in the Department of Microbiology and Molecular Cell Biology at Eastern Virginia Medical School, and received an American Foundation of Urologic Disease Scholar award for proteomic applications in prostate cancer biomarkers. He completed a Clinical Fellowship in Urologic Oncology at the MD Anderson Cancer Center, and a Fellowship in Laparoscopic Urology at Charité Hospital in Berlin, Germany, under the mentorship of Ingolf Tuerk.

Dr. Davis’ clinical interests include patients with urologic cancers, laparoscopic/robotic surgery, and general urology. His academic interests include quality of life after prostate cancer treatment, outcomes for robotic radical prostatectomy, high-risk prostate cancer trials, active surveillance for prostate cancer, and development of robotic surgical techniques for invasive bladder cancer. He has participated as an investigator in several Southwest Oncology Group and industry-sponsored clinical trials.

Talks by John W. Davis, MD

Integrating Care in Advanced Prostate Cancer

Integrating Care in Advanced Prostate Cancer

Posted by | Sep 2024

John W. Davis, MD, addresses the economic burden and stress experienced by patients due to high treatment costs in advanced prostate cancer (APC) management. He stresses that this aspect of APC care often goes under-discussed.

In this 11-minute presentation, Dr. Davis highlights direct costs such as medications, hospital stays, and physician fees, as well as indirect costs including lost income and travel expenses. He emphasizes that these financial strains can lead to treatment non-adherence, delayed care, and worsened clinical outcomes.

John W. Davis, MD, highlights the different ways integrated care models can be adopted across healthcare systems to enhance the management of advanced prostate cancer. By fostering a collaborative approach and eliminating barriers, Dr. Davis believes that the future of advanced prostate cancer care will be strengthened.

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Game Changers in Prostate Cancer Diagnostics: Imaging Probably Wins the Most

Game Changers in Prostate Cancer Diagnostics: Imaging Probably Wins the Most

Posted by | Sep 2024

John W. Davis, MD, FACS, discusses significant advancements in prostate cancer diagnostics, emphasizing the transformative role of imaging as a tool that enhances the accuracy of prostate cancer detection and management. Davis highlights that advanced imaging techniques, rather than traditional diagnostic methods such as PSA levels and biopsies, have revolutionized the diagnostic landscape.
In this 18-minute talk, Dr. Davis asserts that mpMRI offers superior sensitivity and specificity to conventional methods. Davis elaborates on integrating mpMRI in active surveillance protocols, improving the monitoring of low-risk patients, and reducing the burden of invasive procedures. Furthermore, Davis addresses the evolving role of PSMA PET/CT scans, which provide exceptional accuracy in detecting metastatic and recurrent prostate cancer. In addition, biomarkers are discussed in detail, complementary with imaging tools.

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Surgical Planning for Robotic Prostatectomy When You Are Not the First Surgeon to the Site: Access and Salvage Challenges

Surgical Planning for Robotic Prostatectomy When You Are Not the First Surgeon to the Site: Access and Salvage Challenges

Posted by | Aug 2024

John W. Davis, MD, FACS, explores the complexities associated with surgical planning for robotic prostatectomy, particularly when the surgeon is not the first to operate on the site. He underscores the importance of meticulous preoperative planning, which includes thoroughly reviewing the patient’s medical history.

Dr. Davis discusses various challenges that surgeons may encounter, such as scar tissue formation, adhesions, and changes in the pelvic anatomy. He also addresses adapting robotic surgical techniques to accommodate the patient’s altered anatomy.
In addition to access challenges, Dr. Davis delves into the complexities of salvage prostatectomy. Despite these challenges, he stresses that successful outcomes are achievable with proper planning and technique.

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Patient Safety Concerns in Urologic Cancer Surgery and Treatment During the COVID-19 Outbreak

Patient Safety Concerns in Urologic Cancer Surgery and Treatment During the COVID-19 Outbreak

Posted by | Apr 2020

John W. Davis, MD, Professor of Urology and Director of the Urosurgical Prostate Program at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas, discusses how the Center is dealing with the COVID-19 crisis by setting up a committee to determine on a case-by-case basis which surgeries are to move forward, as well as which elective surgeries are still being performed. While trying to be cognizant of the need to conserve resources, the urology department is focusing primarily on large renal tumors and invasive bladder cancer. Overall, they have reduced the OR and ICU capacity to about 25% in order to make room for COVID-19 admissions. Dr. Davis also details the need to test all patients for COVID-19 prior to any elective surgery in order to lessen potential negative outcomes, self-quarantine for two weeks prior to surgery, and, if possible, delay surgery altogether in order to prevent an undiagnosed patient from infecting the OR team. This is particularly true in favorable, intermediate-risk cases that can be delayed anywhere from six months to a year without affecting outcomes.

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