Mack Roach III

Mack Roach III, MD, is Professor of Radiation Oncology at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) and a national leader in prostate-cancer clinical trials and cancer-disparities research. He has served as Principal Investigator on multi-institutional NIH-funded studies for over two decades, chairs NRG Oncology genitourinary trials, and co-authors the NCCN prostate-cancer guidelines.

Education & Training:

• BS Physics, Morehouse College, 1975
• MD, Stanford University School of Medicine, 1979
• Fellow, Medical Oncology, UCSF, 1981-1983
• Resident, Radiation Oncology, Stanford University, 1984-1987

Research Focus: Professor Roach’s work spans prostate-cancer radiotherapy optimization (including MRI-Linac and particle therapy), androgen-deprivation therapy duration, brachytherapy combinations, AI-guided treatment personalization, and the biology and sociology of prostate-cancer racial disparities. His publications repeatedly integrate large randomized phase III datasets with modern genomics and machine-learning tools to reduce over-treatment while preserving survival.

Recent Publication Trends (2023-2025): Fifteen major papers explore three dominant themes—(1) pragmatic/phase III trials that refine radiation and hormonal therapy sequencing, (2) AI and imaging innovations for tumor characterization and fairness across ancestries, and (3) policy and community papers that quantify structural racism’s impact on prostate-cancer outcomes and survivorship.

Honors & Awards:

• Outstanding Intern of the Year (Charles R. Drew Award)
• American Cancer Society Fellow & Career Development Awardee
• Fellow, American College of Radiology
• Repeated "Best Doctors in America" selection
• President, John Hale Medical Society
• Listed among "10 Most Influential African Americans in the Bay Area" for healthcare leadership

Funding & Leadership: Continuous NIH support since 1994 includes the U56 SFSU/UCSF Comprehensive Cancer Partnership (2002-2010) and the P20 NAPTA particle-therapy optimization consortium (2015-2018). He co-chairs the NRG Prostate Cancer AI Working Group and serves on NCI’s Cancer Disparities Research Partnership oversight committee, mentoring faculty and fellows across radiation oncology, urology, and population sciences.

Laboratory & Teams: While clinical-trial oriented, his "lab" is the NRG Prostate Cancer AI Consortium and the UCSF prostate service, integrating radiation physicists, data scientists, urologic oncologists, and community advocates to translate trial findings into equitable care.