Douglas Gross

Douglas S. Gross, M.D., Ph.D., is a Distinguished Professor in the Department of Cell Biology and Human Anatomy at the University of California, Davis School of Medicine, holding a joint appointment as Clinical Professor of Pediatrics in the Medicine faculty. He teaches gross anatomy to medical students, serves as course director for undergraduate human anatomy (CHA 101/101L) and human clinical neuroanatomy (CHA 103), and contributes to courses such as Human Architecture and Function (MDS 471) and the Pediatric Clerkship (Peds 430). As a practicing general pediatrician at the UC Davis Urgent Care Center, he manages children with acute illnesses and injuries, directs the student-run RIVER Mobile Pediatric Clinic delivering school-based primary care to underserved communities, and participates in clinical training for medical students, pediatric interns, and residents. A member of California’s federal Disaster Medical Assistance Team (CA-11), he provides rapid-response medical care during disasters, acts of terrorism, or outbreaks.

Gross earned a B.A. in Biology from Franklin and Marshall College in 1972, an M.S. in Anatomy and Neuroendocrinology from the University of Michigan in 1973, a Ph.D. in Anatomy and Neuroendocrinology from the University of Michigan in 1976, and an M.D. from UC Davis School of Medicine in 1990, followed by pediatrics internship and residency at UC Davis Health from 1990 to 1993. Joining the UC Davis faculty in 1979, his early career focused on neuroendocrinology research, yielding publications including "Quantitative immunocytochemistry of hypothalamic and pituitary hormones: validation of an automated, computerized image analysis system" (Journal of Histochemistry and Cytochemistry, 1985), "The mammalian hypophysial pars tuberalis: a comparative immunocytochemical study" (General and Comparative Endocrinology, 1984), and "The ovine pars tuberalis: a naturally occurring source of partially purified gonadotropes which secrete luteinizing hormone in vitro" (Endocrinology, 1984). No longer active in research, he leads global health initiatives, including medical teams to Central America and Africa, collaboration with the World Health Organization on the Integrated Management of Childhood Illness program to reduce child mortality, and directing a pediatric care improvement project at Haiti’s public state hospital through the University of California Haiti Initiative. His contributions to teaching and public service have garnered major awards, such as the UC Davis Academic Senate Distinguished Teaching Award (2005), C. John Tupper Prize for Excellence in Teaching (2006), Distinguished Scholarly Public Service Award (2007), multiple Kaiser Foundation Hospitals Annual Awards for Excellence in Teaching Basic Sciences (1983, 1999, 2003, 2011), Hibbard Williams Award for Extraordinary Achievement (2011), Distinguished Alumnus Award (2014), and Emil M. Mrak International Award (2016).

Professional Email: dsgross@health.ucdavis.edu