Molly Thomas

Molly Thomas is an inflammatory bowel disease specialist and physician-scientist at Oregon Health & Science University School of Medicine, Department of Medicine. She is board-certified in Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology, specializing in Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, microscopic colitis, celiac disease, and inflammatory gastrointestinal complications related to cancer immunotherapy.

Her educational background includes:

• B.S. from Stanford University
• Ph.D. from University of California, San Francisco
• M.D. from University of California, San Francisco
• Internal Medicine Residency at Massachusetts General Hospital
• Gastroenterology Fellowship at Massachusetts General Hospital

Dr. Thomas's research focuses on immunology and inflammatory responses in gastrointestinal diseases, with particular emphasis on the intersection between cancer immunotherapy and gastrointestinal complications. Her work combines clinical care with translational research, investigating how patient experiences can inform scientific understanding of inflammatory gastrointestinal diseases. She has published extensively on immune checkpoint inhibitor complications, inflammatory bowel disease mechanisms, and immune responses in conditions like COVID-19.

Her research demonstrates a clear trend toward increasingly sophisticated immune profiling techniques, moving from basic immunological studies to single-cell transcriptomic analyses of tissue samples. Her work spans multiple disciplines including gastroenterology, immunology, oncology, and infectious disease, reflecting the interdisciplinary nature of modern medical research.

Dr. Thomas is an active member of several professional organizations:

• American Gastroenterological Association
• American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases
• Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer

As a physician-scientist, she maintains a dual role as a longitudinal care provider building long-term relationships with patients, an advocate supporting patients in understanding their diseases, and a researcher inspired by clinical observations to improve care for individuals with inflammatory gastrointestinal conditions. Her collaborative approach is evident in her numerous multi-institutional research projects, particularly with Massachusetts General Hospital researchers.