Jerome Carl Landry, MD, MBA, a radiation oncologist at Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University, a professor at Emory University School of Medicine, and former medical director of Grady Memorial Hospital, died recently.
Landry was born and raised in Louisiana. After overcoming neurologic complications of polio at a young age, he graduated magna cum laude from Xavier University in New Orleans and then earned his medical degree from Harvard Medical School.
He joined Emory University in 1983 as a resident in internal medicine, prior to returning to Harvard for his residency training in radiation therapy at Massachusetts General Hospital, where he was chief resident in his final year. He later received an MBA degree from Kennesaw State University in Kennesaw, Georgia.
In 1987, he returned to Emory to join a small group of medical and surgical oncologists that formed what is now known as the Winship Cancer Institute.
Additionally, he was tasked with developing radiation oncology services at Grady Memorial hospital, and was medical director there until 2016.
An expert and pioneer in the field of radiation oncology and treatment of gastrointestinal tumors, Landry was the first to use and develop image-guided and advanced therapeutic techniques that now define modern radiation treatments and continue to improve patient outcomes.
He published extensively on intensity modulated radiation therapy for gastrointestinal tumors and soft tissue sarcomas, providing on-site IMRT training in more than 40 radiation oncology centers in the United States and abroad. His work has been highlighted at medical and academic conferences.
“Dr. Landry’s ground-breaking research in developing new techniques in radiation therapy has helped to improve cancer care for patients with cancer in Georgia and beyond,” said Jeffrey Bradley, James W. Keller Distinguished Professor in Radiation and interim chair for the Emory Department of Radiation Oncology. “His transformative work established Winship of Emory as a leader in IMRT.”
“Landry was a leader in the field of GI oncology and led national clinical trials,” said Suresh Ramalingam, executive director of Winship Cancer Institute. “He leaves a long-lasting legacy in the field and at Winship.”
During his time at Winship, Landry won numerous awards and was recognized by his peers as one of the best doctors in America by several publications, including Atlanta Magazine.
Jerome was a foundational figure in our department, a passionate advocate for patient care at Grady, and beyond his academic accomplishments, he was a genuinely kind person who provided joy to those who knew him.
Joseph Shelton
“Jerome was a foundational figure in our department, a passionate advocate for patient care at Grady, and beyond his academic accomplishments, he was a genuinely kind person who provided joy to those who knew him,” said Joseph Shelton, associate professor of radiation oncology and medical director of the Loughlin Radiation Oncology Center at Grady Memorial Hospital. “He was a valued mentor and friend to me throughout my career.”
After three decades, Landry left Emory in 2016 for health-related issues, but remained an engaged and valuable resource to those at Emory. In 2018, an endowed professorship was established in his name—and is held by David S. Yu, the inaugural Jerome Landry, MD, Chair of Cancer Biology and associate professor of radiation oncology.
“He was a force in our department, mentoring and training countless faculty and students,” Yu said.
Landry is survived by his long-time partner, Dwillete Johnson.
In lieu of flowers and to honor Landry’s passionate service to this institution, the family requests donations be made to Emory University to support the endowed professorship named in his honor and to host an annual invited lecture at Winship Cancer Institute on topics related to his passions: representation of racial minorities in medicine, oncologic and health care delivery in underserved populations, and evolving paradigms in radiation and cancer care.
Contributions can be made to the Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University, Office of Gift Records, Emory University, 1762 Clifton Rd. NE, Suite 1400, Atlanta, GA 30322.
