Doctor's Bio
Dr. David Kooby, MD, is a surgical oncologist who specializes in treating complex cancers and tumors of the pancreas, liver, bile ducts, stomach, and esophagus. He also has expertise in conditions affecting the spleen and adrenal glands.
An internationally recognized leader in pancreatic and liver surgery, Dr. Kooby uses minimally invasive, robotic, and traditional open surgical techniques to provide treatment tailored to each patient’s condition and needs. His goal is to provide effective cancer treatment while supporting the best possible recovery and quality of life.
Dr. Kooby is also a leader in surgical research, with a particular focus on improving treatments and outcomes for people with pancreatic and other gastrointestinal cancers. He is a founding member of the Central Pancreas Consortium and has helped advance minimally invasive pancreatic surgery through research, education, and collaboration with surgeons around the world.
Board Certifications
American Board of Surgery
Affiliations
Emory
Education & Training
- Medical School: SUNY Downstate Medical Center
- Internship: Medical College of Pennsylvania
- Residency: Vanderbilt University School of Medicine
Fellowships
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
Locations and Directions
Grady Memorial Hospital
OPEN 24 HOURS
Visiting hours are from 8 a.m. – 10:30 p.m. daily
Publications
- ASO Visual Abstract: Optimal Timing of Adjuvant Therapy for Patients with Poorly Differentiated Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma.
Shah MM, Mavani PT, Goyal S, Kooby DA, Sarmiento JM, Kempker JA, Fishbein TM, Kennedy TJ, Gillespie TW
Annals of surgical oncology. 2026;33(5):4144-4145.
PMID: 41811392 - Optimal Timing of Adjuvant Therapy in Patients with Poorly Differentiated Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma.
Shah MM, Mavani PT, Goyal S, Kooby DA, Sarmiento JM, Kempker JA, Fishbein TM, Kennedy TJ, Gillespie TW
Annals of surgical oncology. 2026;33(5):4107-4117.
PMID: 41697473 - "Horses out of the barn": pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma frequently extends beyond the grossly visible tumour, requiring microscopic rectification for accurate T-staging.
Saka B, Memis B, Balci S, Erbarut Seven I, Pehlivanoglu B, Bagci P, Esmer R, Tarcan Z, Cheng JD, Maithel SK, Kooby DA, Sarmiento J, El-Rayes B, Reid MD, Basturk O, Adsay NV
Histopathology. 2026;88(7):1385-1394.
PMID: 41589621 - Intersection of Black race and carbohydrate antigen 19-9 nonproduction underpins worse pathologic response to neoadjuvant therapy in pancreatic cancer.
Martos MP, Dickey EM, Abdilleh K, Ahmad SA, Maithel SK, Leigh-Matijakovich N, Kim HJ, Abbott DE, Zafar SN, Kooby DA, Parikh AA, Hosein PJ, Merchant NB, Datta J, Hester CA
Cancer. 2025;131(21):e70130.
PMID: 41176658 - Intratumoral Heterogeneity of Ki67 Index and Its Impact on the Diagnosis and Prognostication of Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors: Hot-Spot Count Differs Significantly from Random-Area Count.
Eren OC, Ohike N, Tuncel D, Bagci P, Balci S, Adsay DE, Esmer R, Saka B, Pehlivanoglu B, Xue Y, Sarmiento J, Maithel SK, Kooby DA, Krasinskas A, Reid MD, Basturk O, Adsay V
Endocrine pathology. 2025;36(1):36.
PMID: 41076497 - Postoperative outcomes with minimally invasive minor hepatectomy based on ECOG performance status - analysis of multi-institutional database.
Mavani PT, Goyal S, Hogg ME, Kamath AS, Iannitti DA, Simo KA, Helton WS, E Serrano P, Onkeni EO, Geller DA, Polanco PM, El-Hayek K, Warner SG, Cleary SP, Alseidi A, Zaidi MY, Russell MC, Maegawa F, Nguyen KT, Sarmiento JM, Maithel SK, Kooby DA, Shah MM,
Surgical endoscopy. 2025;39(11):7680-7689.
PMID: 40935944 - Defining the reliability of bladder scan in patients with obesity with postoperative urinary retention.
Mavani PT, Ajay PS, Wagner HB, Meyer BI, Shah M, Sok CP, Gamboa AC, Goyal S, Switchenko JM, Maithel SK, Kooby DA, Shah MM
Surgery. 2025;
PMID: 40633286 - Conversion of Robotic Distal Pancreatectomy: Predictors and Outcomes in an International Multicenter Study.
Müller PC, Sedlaczek P, Billeter AT, Shen B, Jin J, Nickel F, Guidetti C, Kauffmann E, Purchla J, Berchtold C, Tschuor C, Krohn PS, Burgdorf SK, Jonas JP, Bussmann FJ, Saint-Marc O, Iben-Khayat A, Andel PCM, Molenaar IQ, Wellner U, Keck T, Moeckli B, Toso C, Di Benedetto F, Valle V, Giulianotti P, Roulin D, Martinie J, Rama M, Lavu H, Yeo CJ, Mavani PT, Shah MM, Kooby DA, He J, Boggi U, Hackert T, Borel-Rinkes IHM, Clavien PA, Müller BP, Kuemmerli C
Annals of surgery. 2025;
PMID: 40607707 - Decreasing Complications After Ivor-Lewis Esophagectomy: Is a Totally Minimally Invasive Approach the Solution?
Mavani PT, Sok C, Ajay PS, Cao Y, Bonanno AM, Cardona K, Fernandez FG, Force SD, Khullar OV, Russell MC, Staley CA, Shah MM, Kooby DA, Sancheti MS
Journal of surgical oncology. 2025;132(2):308-316.
PMID: 40530950 - Multi-Institutional Analysis of Pancreaticoduodenectomy for Nonfamilial Periampullary Adenoma: A Novel Risk Score to Guide Shared Decision-Making.
Mavani PT, Sok C, Eng N, Marra A, Foroutani L, Alseidi A, Hariri H, Wilson G, Ahmad SA, Scoggins C, Hester C, Datta J, Merchant N, LeCompte M, Kim HJ, Sigler G, Zafar N, Weber S, Prela O, Carpizo D, Kasting C, Fields R, Sarmiento JM, Russell MC, Shah MM, Maithel SK, Kooby DA
Journal of the American College of Surgeons. 2025;240(4):392-402.
PMID: 39831703
PLANNING
PREPARING FOR YOUR VISIT
Whether you’re a patient or you’re visiting one, a little planning beforehand can make your visit to Grady easier and more comfortable. Here, you’ll find everything you need to prepare for your visit, including an appointment checklist, admissions information, dining options, and much more.