Robert T. Dess MD
Assistant Professor, Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor Michigan; Prostate Cancer Co-Lead within the Michigan Radiation Oncology Quality Consortium (MROQC)
Dr. Dess is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Radiation Oncology at the University of Michigan. He attended medical school at University of Chicago and did his residency in radiation oncology at the University of Michigan where he joined the faculty upon completion of his training. He practices in several locations -- at the University of Michigan Ann Arbor main campus, where he leads the High Dose Rate (HDR) prostate brachytherapy program, and at the Brighton Center for Specialty Care as the primary genitourinary radiation oncologist.
Dr. Dess has published extensively in peer-reviewed journals on the topics of prostate, lung and breast cancer. His guiding principle is to deliver the right treatment to the right patient at the right time. To that end, he has worked with a rich network of collaborators to create novel prognostic models to characterize prostate cancer disease aggressiveness, to analyze racial outcomes differences and settings in which disparities are minimized, and to advance more convenient forms of treatment including stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) and characterize long-term quality of life post-treatment. He is interested in maximizing efficacy, minimizing burden, and understanding the long-term toxicity risks of treatment.
Dr. Dess also serves as the co-lead for prostate cancer within the Michigan Radiation Oncology Quality Consortium (MROQC) where he works to improve state-wide care.