Dr. Steven D. Leach

Dr. Steven D. Leach, MD, is a nationally recognized surgical oncologist and cancer biologist specializing in pancreatic cancer, stem cell biology, and tumor biology. He serves as Director of the Dartmouth Cancer Center and is a Professor of Surgery and Medicine at the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth. Dr. Leach earned his medical degree from Emory University School of Medicine and completed his residency in surgery at Yale-New Haven Hospital, followed by a fellowship in surgical oncology at the University of California, San Francisco. He is board-certified in Surgery and is known for his leadership in pancreatic cancer research and academic cancer center development.

Dr. Leach’s research has focused on the molecular and cellular mechanisms of pancreatic cancer initiation and progression, with particular emphasis on pancreatic stem cells and developmental signaling pathways. He has contributed to the understanding of oncogenic KRAS-driven tumor biology and has helped define potential therapeutic targets for early-stage pancreatic cancer. His laboratory has been continuously funded by the National Cancer Institute, and his work has been published in leading scientific journals. Dr. Leach has also been a principal investigator in collaborative studies aimed at advancing precision medicine for pancreatic malignancies.

Beyond his scientific and clinical leadership, Dr. Leach is a dedicated academic leader and mentor. Prior to joining Dartmouth, he held faculty positions at Johns Hopkins University, where he directed the Gastrointestinal Cancer Program at the Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center. He is active in national organizations including the American Surgical Association and the American Association for Cancer Research. Through his commitment to pancreatic cancer research, surgical innovation, and academic leadership, Dr. Steven D. Leach has played a central role in shaping the future of cancer care and cancer center development.