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About James D. Murphy, MD

James D. Murphy, MD, is a board-certified radiation oncologist who specializes in gastrointestinal cancers. and palliative radiotherapy. Within the radiation oncology team, Dr. Murphy is chief of the Gastrointestinal Tumor Service and chief of palliative radiation therapy.

As an associate professor in the Department of Radiation Medicine and Applied Sciences, Dr. Murphy instructs medical students, residents and fellows at UC San Diego School of Medicine. He leads clinical trials involving pancreatic cancer, and serves as the site principal investigator on cooperative group trials, which are part of the National Cancer Institute-sponsored program.

Dr. Murphy oversees an active health outcomes research group. His ongoing health outcomes projects include identifying and reducing health disparity, creating patient-based risk assessment tools, and defining the patterns of radiation care across the US on a population-based level. He is also a core faculty member of the CREST program within UC San Diego Altman Clinical and Translational Research Institute, and teaches courses in health services research and clinical decision analysis.

Dr. Murphy has co-authored many abstracts and has published over 60 journal articles. His work has appeared in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, the Journal of Clinical Oncology and Cancer, among others. He serves as a reviewer for numerous medical journals, and serves as an editor for the International Journal of Radiation Oncology Biology Physics, also known as the Red Journal.

He completed his radiation oncology residency at Stanford University School of Medicine. Dr. Murphy earned his medical degree from University of Michigan Medical School. He is board certified in radiation oncology.

Dr. Murphy is a member of numerous medical societies, including the American Society for Therapeutic Radiation Oncology, the American College of Radiology, the American Society of Clinical Oncology, the Radiological Society of North America and the Association of Residents in Radiation Oncology.

Outside of work, Dr. Murphy enjoys cycling, hiking, snowboarding, surfing, sailing and medical statistics. Dr. Murphy's wife, Heidi, is a palliative care physician for UC San Diego Health, and they have a daughter, Laura, and a son, William.

UC San Diego Health Links
For more information, see Cancer Services.

Insurance Information
UC San Diego Health accepts most major health insurance plans, but you should verify that your plan covers this provider and all services and locations. The information in the link below does not apply to affiliate providers, who are not employed by UC San Diego Health.
Health Insurance Plans Accepted

Medical Degree

  • University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI

Residency

  • Stanford University, School of Medicine, Stanford, CA

Gender

  • Male

Date Joined Staff

  • 2012-08-01

Board Certifications

  • Radiation Oncology

Conditions and Treatments

  • Palliative Radiotherapy
  • Pancreatic Cancer
  • Gastrointestinal Cancer
Insurance Information
UC San Diego Health accepts most major health insurance plans, but you should verify that your plan covers this provider and all services and locations. The information in the link below does not apply to affiliate providers, who are not employed by UC San Diego Health.
Health Insurance Plans Accepted
  • Cancer

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