Dr. Jaffray is world-renowned for pioneering technological advances in cancer care and research, leading the science and practice of medical physics, and for being a thought-leader in digital and computational technologies in health. Recruited to The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in 2019, Dr. Jaffray is the institution’s inaugural chief technology and digital officer, bringing decades of scientific expertise, technology management skills, and has a proven track-record as an innovator and entrepreneur. In this role, he directs the strategic design, acquisition, management, and implementation of an enterprise-wide technology infrastructure to safeguard the integrity and availability of MD Anderson’s systems, data, and intellectual property assets.
Under his leadership, MD Anderson’s Technology, Data, and Innovation team advances robust, state-of-the-art data management practices, designs and deploys new digital technologies, and assures cybersecurity across MD Anderson’s campuses, while also coordinating technology-enabled innovation. He is also a founding co-Director of MD Anderson’s new Institute for Data Science in Oncology - an effort focused on bringing data science to every decision we make across MD Anderson.
Dr. Jaffray is a full professor with dual appointments for Radiation Physics and Imaging Physics. He holds 47 patents and has authored more than 300 peer-reviewed publications in cancer science and technology, including the development of new radiation treatment machines, the exploration of the fundamental limits of imaging system performance, the development of novel nanoparticle formulations for improved detection of cancer, and challenges in global health. He is a recipient of the ASTRO Gold Medal for lifetime impact on the field of radiation oncology. More recently, he was recognized for his leadership in 2021 as a Fellow of the International Union for Physical and Engineering Sciences in Medicine and in 2022 as a Fellow of the National Academy of Inventors.