David R. Flum

David R. Flum, MD, MPH, is a board-certified Professor of Surgery and Associate Chair for Research at the University of Washington (UW) Department of Surgery. He also holds adjunct appointments in the UW School of Public Health and School of Pharmacy. As Medical Director of the Surgical Outcomes Research Center (SORCE) and director of the Comparative Effectiveness Research Translation Network (CERTAIN), Dr. Flum leads impactful research on surgical outcomes and healthcare delivery systems.

• Education: MD from University of Miami School of Medicine (1991), MPH from UW (2002), and multiple fellowships including Robert Wood Johnson Scholar and surgical residencies.

Dr. Flum's research focuses on comparative effectiveness of surgical interventions for common conditions like appendicitis, diverticulitis, and diabetes. He has conducted seminal trials comparing appendectomy vs. antibiotics and gastric bypass vs. medical management, contributing to evidence-based surgical practices. His work spans health systems improvement, including a state-wide checklist campaign and a $32 million CMS Innovation grant.

Current research trends include leveraging real-world evidence for quality improvement, health economics of surgical care, and stakeholder engagement in clinical trial design. Dr. Flum's mentorship extends to PhD and MPH students, with a legacy of training over 50 residents and faculty in outcomes research.

Key contributions include the CODA Trial (appendectomy vs. antibiotics) and COSMID trial (colectomy vs. medical management). He collaborates extensively through the UW Centers for Comparative and Health Systems Effectiveness (CHASE) Alliance and the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) methodology committee.