Dr. John M. Carethers is an esteemed physician-scientist and healthcare leader currently serving as Vice Chancellor for Health Sciences at the University of California San Diego. He is also a Distinguished Professor of Medicine and an Adjunct Professor in Public Health. With a strong clinical and academic background in gastroenterology and internal medicine, Dr. Carethers is widely recognized for his research in colorectal cancer, tumor genetics, and health disparities. He has held numerous leadership roles and contributed significantly to national medical organizations. His dedication to mentoring, research, and equitable healthcare continues to shape the future of medical science and education.
UC San Diego | United States
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Education and Training
Dr. John M. Carethers began his academic journey at Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan, where he earned a B.S. in Biological Sciences with a minor in Chemistry (1981–1985). He continued at Wayne State University School of Medicine, graduating with High Distinction with an M.D. in 1989. He then completed an Internship (1989–1990) and Residency (1990–1992) in Internal Medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston under the leadership of Dr. John T. Potts. Dr. Carethers pursued a Fellowship in Gastroenterology at the University of Michigan Medical Center from 1992 to 1995 and simultaneously engaged in postdoctoral research training under Dr. Stephen J. Weiss. From 1993 to 1995, he worked as a research-track fellow in the laboratory of Dr. C. Richard Boland, focusing on the genetics and mechanisms of cell death in colon cancer. He further expanded his leadership skills through several executive programs, including the AAIM Executive Leadership Program at Harvard (2005), UCSD Physician Leadership Academy (2007–2009), AAMC Council of Deans Fellowship (2015–2016), and the Big Ten Academic Alliance Leadership Program (2018–2019).
Research Interests
Dr. Carethers is internationally recognized for his work in colorectal cancer research. His areas of expertise include mechanisms of tumor progression, tumor genetics, and tumor markers. He has conducted extensive studies on DNA mismatch repair, molecular pathology, and microsatellite instability. His work also addresses familial cancer syndromes, disparities in colorectal cancer outcomes among minority populations, and strategies to improve colorectal cancer screening—especially in early-onset cases.
Honors and Awards
Dr. Carethers has received numerous prestigious awards and honors throughout his career. Notably, in 2023, he was the Commencement Keynote Speaker at Stonybrook University Renaissance School of Medicine and was honored with the naming of the “John Carethers, MD Conference Room” at the University of Michigan. He was elected Vice-President of the American Clinical and Climatological Association (ACCA) and became a member of the Blue Ridge Academic Health Group (BRAHG). In 2024, he was inducted as a Fellow of the American Association for Cancer Research (FAACR) and received the Recognition Award at the 10th Annual Cancer Health Disparities Symposium hosted by SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University.
Memberships and Professional Activities
Dr. Carethers is deeply involved in academic leadership and professional mentoring. He has served as a mentor for Research Scholar Awardees from the University of Kansas and Duke University. He was part of the AGA’s DDW Abstract Review panel (2023), chaired the AGA Recognition Prize Selection Committee (2023–2024), and served on the AGA Leadership Pathways Task Force (2024–2025). His commitment to addressing social determinants of health was evident as he spoke at the DDW session on Food Insecurity and Colon Cancer in Washington, D.C., in May 2024. Additionally, he is a reviewer for the GI Opportunity Fund and continues to engage in collaborative efforts to enhance colorectal cancer screening strategies, including with Exact Sciences.
Notable Publications
Genomic and epigenetic instability in colorectal cancer pathogenesis
Authors: William M Grady, John M Carethers
Journal: Gastroenterology
Year: 2008
Genetics and genetic biomarkers in sporadic colorectal cancer
Authors: John M Carethers, Barbara H Jung
Journal: Gastroenterology
Year: 2015
Mismatch repair proficiency and in vitro response to 5-fluorouracil
Authors: John M Carethers, Dharam P Chauhan, Daniel Fink, Sibylle Nebel, Robert S Bresalier, Stephen B Howell, C Richard Boland
Journal: Gastroenterology
Year: 1999
Use of 5-fluorouracil and survival in patients with microsatellite-unstable colorectal cancer
Authors: John M Carethers, E Julieta Smith, Cynthia A Behling, Lanchinh Nguyen, Akihiro Tajima, Ryan T Doctolero, Betty L Cabrera, Ajay Goel, Christian A Arnold, Katsumi Miyai, C Richard Boland
Journal: Gastroenterology
Year: 2004
Evidence for a Connection between the Mismatch Repair System and the G2 Cell Cycle Checkpoint
Authors: Mary T Hawn, Asad Umar, John M Carethers, Giancarlo Marra, Thomas A Kunkel, C Richard Boland, Minoru Koi
Journal: Cancer Research
Year: 1995