UCSD Profiles

search, discover, network

Dr. David Easter is a general surgeon whose passion is education, with special interests in surgical oncology, diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, and laparoscopic surgery. Patients who have complicated diseases or symptoms come from throughout the San Diego region and beyond to see Dr. Easter for evaluation and treatment. He has had patients come for his opinion from as far away as Israel, Japan and Saudi Arabia. Dr. Easter is dedicated to providing the best in surgical care through translating the latest research discoveries into clinical practice. He is certified by the American Board of Surgery.

As a recent Director of the Clinical Oncology Programs for the Rebecca and John Moores UCSD Cancer Center, Dr. Easter has organized the Cancer Center’s clinical and research efforts to provide the finest possible care for cancer patients. At the Cancer Center, he has created specialized clinical teams to care for patients who have specific types of cancer, such as breast cancer. He recently passed the leadership of the Cancer Clinics to another physician so he can concentrate on safety for patients in the setting of surgical care and education.

Dr. Easter also participates in the Graduate Medical Education Committee as the Program Director for General Surgery, the Patient Care Committee, and a number of other groups that influence patient care at UCSD. Recently, UCSD honored Dr. Easter as the first UCSD recipient of the Vice Chancellor's Excellence in Clinical Care award. At UCSD and in national surgical organizations, Dr. Easter is a leader in developing new ways to ensure that medical students and surgical residents receive excellent training in the increasingly complex world of surgery.

In his research at UCSD, Dr. Easter conducts clinical and basic science studies in many areas, including techniques and results of laparoscopic surgery procedures, the causes and treatment of gastrointestinal reflux disease, approaches to surgical training, and empathy in doctor-patient communication. One of his recent studies addressed ways for physicians to improve their ability to help cancer patients understand and discuss their fears during a clinic visit. Dr. Easter conducts patient clinics and performs surgeries at UCSD’s medical center in Hillcrest.

Dr. Easter speaks English, Spanish, and traveler’s French.