David Henry Gorski

Dr. David Henry Gorski is a Professor of Surgery and Oncology at Wayne State University School of Medicine and a surgical oncologist specializing in breast cancer surgery at the Karmanos Cancer Institute. He serves as faculty in the WSU Graduate Program in Cancer Biology and previously held positions at Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey and Robert Wood Johnson Medical School.

Dr. Gorski earned his MD from the University of Michigan in 1988 and completed a PhD in cellular physiology at Case Western Reserve University in 1994. His dissertation focused on 'Homeobox Gene Expression and Regulation in Vascular Myocytes.' He completed his surgical residency at University Hospitals of Cleveland and a surgical oncology research fellowship at The University of Chicago.

Dr. Gorski's research program spans three interconnected areas: (1) repurposing riluzole for triple negative breast cancer treatment, (2) developing tumor glucocorticoid receptor status as a predictive biomarker, and (3) quality improvement initiatives in breast cancer care. His laboratory investigates the role of metabotropic glutamate receptors in breast cancer progression and the transcriptional regulation of vascular endothelial cell phenotype. His early work on angiogenesis inhibitors and radiation therapy synergy has had significant impact in the field, with his 1999 paper receiving over 900 citations.

Analysis of Dr. Gorski's publication history reveals a strategic evolution from fundamental molecular research to translational applications and clinical quality improvement. His recent work demonstrates particular focus on addressing disparities in breast cancer care and developing novel approaches for aggressive breast cancer subtypes.

Dr. Gorski's contributions to the field have been recognized through several prestigious awards:

• Advanced Clinical Research Award in Breast Cancer from the American Society of Clinical Oncology (2007)
• Multiple research grants from The Breast Cancer Research Foundation (2008-2010)
• Department of Defense Breast Cancer Research Program Breakthrough Award for his work on riluzole mechanism of action

As an educator and mentor, Dr. Gorski has advised numerous students through the WSU Graduate Program in Cancer Biology. His research has been consistently funded by major organizations including the NIH, Department of Defense, and the Conquer Cancer Foundation of ASCO. Through his leadership in MiBOQI, he collaborated with 25 Michigan hospitals to improve breast cancer care quality across multiple dimensions. Dr. Gorski also maintains a prominent public role as the managing editor of Science-Based Medicine, where he critically examines claims related to alternative medicine and promotes evidence-based medical practices, making him a distinctive voice at the intersection of clinical oncology and scientific skepticism.