David C. Rice

Bio

David C. Rice, M.B., is the associate professor of surgery at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. With an interest in surgery for thoracic malignancies, Rice is well known for his research in mesothelioma cancer.

His primary interest involves managing mesothelioma with surgery. Throughout his research, Rice has worked with some of the most renowned mesothelioma specialists to further understand the effects of using intensity-modulated radiation therapy after performing surgery.

While studying the outcome of this approach, Rice has maintained a focus on improving the survival rate in the patients he treats.

His research has also helped improve some of the approaches used to diagnose and stage mesothelioma before surgery. Rice is currently part of a multinational program that is responsible for revising the present mesothelioma staging system. Because of his expertise in mesothelioma treatment, Rice has been invited to speak at national and international events. Much of his work has been published and he currently serves on the Scientific Advisory Board of the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation.

Even though mesothelioma may require aggressive treatment approaches to see results, Rice's methods to treat patients with thoracic tumors often involve less invasive procedures. Patients not looking to combat some of the harsh side effects that accompany common mesothelioma treatments find his approach more desirable.

Since graduating from medical school in 1991, Rice has completed residencies and fellowships at the Mayo Clinic. He continues to serve as a consultant surgeon for two nearby hospitals in Texas and was the director of the Mesothelioma Surgery Program at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center from 2003 to 2008.

Rice is board certified with the American Board of Thoracic Surgeons and has received several recognitions for his teachings in thoracic surgery.

Publications

Rice's most recent mesothelioma article, "Surgical Therapy of Mesothelioma," was published in the 2011 issue of Recent Results Cancer. He completed this article - as well as "Invited Commentary" and "Surgery for Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma" alone, but has co-authored over a dozen other mesothelioma publications.