Project Investigator Biography

Mack Roach III, M.D. University of California, San Francisco 1600 Divisadero Street, Room H1031 San Francisco, CA 94115-1708 phone: (415) 353-7175 fax: (415) 353-9883 email: mroach@radonc.ucsf.edu

Dr. Mack Roach is a Professor, Director for Clinical Research, Vice Chair, and Interim Chair all in the Department of Radiation Oncology & Urology at UCSF. Dr. Roach has also served on the Board of Scientific Advisers (BSA) (which advises the Director of the National Cancer Institute) and was Co-Chair of the Special Populations Committee of the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG). He has published widely on cancer-related topics, including the significance of race in cancer survival. In addition to his work in health disparities, Dr. Roach is recognized as a major authority on the treatment of localized prostate cancer with radiation therapy and chaired one of the nation’s most important clinical trials. He served as senior author in 1996, 2000, and for the pending 2006 treatment planning guidelines published by the American College of Radiation to define how men in this country should be treated for prostate cancer with radiotherapy.

Dr. Roach has helped establish a city-wide Prostate Health Initiative to serve the African-American community. He helped create a new model for hospitals, clinics, and faith-based groups to collaborate in providing cancer education, prevention, and early detection services. In less than two years, the Prostate Health Initiative has educated over 4000 men, screened 200, and counseled many more. He also runs a “Minister’s educational program” in which local ministers are trained to discuss with their congregations screening and the early detection of prostate, colorectal, and breast cancer and to dispel myths and misinformation. Throughout his professional career, Dr. Roach has focused on the healthcare needs of traditionally underserved groups. He is currently principal investigator on a National Cancer Institute Health Disparities grant designed to address the issue of inferior outcomes for minorities and other underserved populations.

Dr. Roach received a B.S in Physics from Morehouse College in Atlanta, GA and his MD from Stanford University School of medicine. Since 1990 he has worked as a Professor in the Department of Radiation Oncology at the University of California, San Francisco, CA.