About Dr. David M. Jablons
A distinguished name in thoracic surgery, Dr. David M. Jablons, M.D., FACS, served as the Professor and Chief of the Section of General Thoracic Surgery at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF).
He boasts an illustrious academic trajectory and a vibrant career. He held esteemed titles such as the Ada Distinguished Professor in Thoracic Oncology and the Nan T. McEvoy Distinguished Professor of Thoracic Surgical Oncology.
As the director of the UCSF Thoracic Oncology Laboratory, he also pursued medical research on molecular biology and genomics. His collaborative work with Bonnie J. Addario birthed the Addario Foundation, significantly advancing lung cancer research. Dr. Jablons is not just a healer but also a mentor, shaping future leaders in medicine.
Although Dr. Jablons has retired, he left a meaningful mark on the mesothelioma community. Get connected with doctors like him with our Free Doctor Match service.
Dr. Jablons’ Career Highlights
As an accomplished thoracic oncologist, Dr. Jablons’ career highlights include:
Dr. Jablons’ mark in thoracic oncology is indelible. His noteworthy contributions include:
- Securing an NIH grant to explore Wnt signaling in mesothelioma.
- Co-founding the UCSF Thoracic Oncology Conference.
- Pioneering genetic treatment research for mesothelioma and lung cancer.
- Establishing one of the globe’s largest tissue banks for cancer research.
- Serving as a U.S. Navy Commander and Chief of Thoracic Surgery at the Naval Hospital.
Dr. Jablons’ Background
Dr. Jablons holds a bachelor’s degree in American literature from Yale University and a medical degree from Albany Medical School at Union University.
During this time, he received a preceptorship from the National Cancer Institute that gave him the opportunity to work with Dr. Steven Rosenberg, an expert in tumor immunology and surgical oncology.
He completed his general surgery residency at Tufts University/New England Medical Center, followed by a cardiothoracic surgery residency at New York Presbyterian-Weill Cornell Medical Center (formerly Weill Cornell University Medical Center).
Dr. Jablons was mentored by the late Dr. David Sugarbaker at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, where he learned about mesothelioma firsthand.
As a result of that mentorship, Dr. Jablons and Dr. Sugarbaker completed a handful of mesothelioma publications together, focusing on genomics.
“[The lab] houses one of the largest thoracic tissue bank repositories in the U.S., with specimens for more than 1,300 patients, including fresh/frozen matched tissue (tumor, normal, serum, pbmc) for lung cancer, mesothelioma, and other cancers.”
Dr. Jablons served in the U.S. Navy as a commander and chief of thoracic surgery at Oak Knoll Naval Hospital. There, he met his wife, Dr. Tamara Jo Hicks, a psychotherapist and co-founder of Potrero Hill Psychotherapy.
In his former role at UCSF, Dr. Jablons helped further the world’s research and understanding of mesothelioma.
He helped create one of the world’s largest tissue banks, preserving tumors removed from the hospital’s patients and using them in biological cancer research.
This allowed Dr. Jablons and other researchers to access more specimens and conduct groundbreaking discoveries toward the improved treatment and cure of mesothelioma patients.
Medical Specializations
Dr. Jablons is a certified thoracic surgeon with expertise in the areas of:
- Genetic therapy
- Molecular pathway
- Stem cell research
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Dr. Jablons’ Career Accomplishments
Dr. Jablons is an accomplished oncologist who contributed significantly to the medical community’s molecular and genetic understanding of mesothelioma.
His gene therapies are a monumental step towards eradicating mesothelioma. He has developed and directed a leading thoracic program that continues to research new treatment options for various cancer types, hoping to find a cure for lung cancer.
Dr. Jablons is also a champion for cancer education and research. He co-founded the UCSF Thoracic Oncology Conference, which meets annually to connect top surgical oncologists worldwide.
Awards & Honors
- American Chemical Society Fellow
- America’s Top Doctors
- America’s Top Doctors for Cancer
- Surgical Resident Teaching Award – University of California
- TopDoc
Dr. Jablons’ Former Work
Dr. Jablons formerly led the Thoracic Oncology Program of the UCSF Helen Diller Cancer Center, where he worked directly with cancer patients to develop treatment plans.
He was also chief of General Thoracic Surgery at UCSF Medical Center and directed the university’s Thoracic Oncology Laboratory. At the lab, he researched genomics and molecular biology, including the Wnt signal transduction pathways that contribute to the creation of mesothelioma.
He acted as member of numerous professional organizations, including:
- American Association for Cancer Research
- American College of Chest Physicians
- International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC)
- Society of Thoracic Surgeons
- American Chemical Society Fellow
- America’s Top Doctors
- Surgical Resident Teaching Award – University of California
Notable Work by Dr. Jablons
Dr. Jablons co-authored and published a paper entitled, “Wnt inhibitory factor-1, a Wnt antagonist, is silenced by promoter hypermethylation in malignant pleural mesothelioma.”
Originally published in Volume 342, Issue 4 of Biochemical and BioPhysical Research Communications, this publication helped further the scientific community’s understanding of how cell signaling pathways can be modified to help prevent or eliminate cancers.
Wnt signaling is linked to the growth of mesothelioma, and this study used tissue samples to evaluate the impact of WIF-1, a protein, in stopping those signals. Eight of the nine samples tested demonstrated these positive results. The research concluded that inhibiting the Wnt pathways using WIF-1 protein is a promising therapy for treating malignant mesothelioma.
Get Connected with Top Doctors Like Dr. Jablons
Dr. David M. Jablons is a true paragon in thoracic oncology, his contributions both in the operating room and the laboratory have left an indelible mark on the world of medicine.
Whether through his surgical expertise, his research, or his mentorship, he continues to shape the future of thoracic oncology. If you’ve been diagnosed with mesothelioma or lung cancer, choosing the right doctor can be a matter of life and death.
Call (866) 608-8933 to get connected with top doctors like Dr. Jablons today.
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