David Spiegel

Dr. David Spiegel is the Jack, Lulu and Sam Willson Professor of Medicine, Associate Chair of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Director of the Center on Stress and Health, and Medical Director of the Center for Integrative Medicine at Stanford University School of Medicine. He has been a member of Stanford's academic faculty since 1975, establishing himself as a leading figure in psycho-oncology, hypnosis research, and trauma psychology. His career spans clinical practice, research, and teaching with a focus on the mind-body connection in health and disease.

Dr. Spiegel's research interests center on the psychological, behavioral, and biological effects of stress, particularly in cancer patients. His work has demonstrated connections between psychological states and physiological processes, including studies showing how diurnal cortisol rhythms can predict breast cancer survival. He has also made significant contributions to understanding dissociative disorders, hypnosis, and trauma responses. His research often bridges clinical psychology with neuroscience and medicine to explore how psychological interventions might influence disease outcomes.

Dr. Spiegel's extensive publication record reflects his expertise across multiple domains, with recent work focusing on dissociative disorders in DSM-5, trauma classification systems, and the relationship between depression symptoms and survival in metastatic breast cancer. His research demonstrates consistent themes of exploring mind-body connections, developing evidence-based psychological interventions, and investigating the biological correlates of psychological states.

• 12th Holland Distinguished Leadership Award, The American Psychosocial Oncology Society (2014)
• Arthur M Sutherland Award for Lifetime Achievement, International Psycho-Oncology Society (2011)
• Member, Institute of Medicine of the National Academies (2012)
• Docteur Honoris Causa, de l'Universite de la Mediterranee (1999)
• Ernest R. Hilgard Award for Scientific Excellence (2003)

Dr. Spiegel has secured substantial grant funding for his research on stress and cancer, trauma responses, and mind-body medicine. His work has been supported by the National Institutes of Health and other major funding agencies. He has mentored numerous students and researchers throughout his career, emphasizing rigorous methodology and clinical relevance in psychological research. As Director of the Center on Stress and Health, he oversees a multidisciplinary team investigating the biological and psychological aspects of stress responses in various medical conditions.

Dr. Spiegel maintains an active clinical practice alongside his research, applying evidence-based psychological approaches to patient care. His integrative medicine center combines conventional treatments with complementary approaches to address the physical, emotional, and existential aspects of serious illness. His work continues to influence both clinical practice and research in psycho-oncology, trauma psychology, and mind-body medicine.