J. Joshua Smith, M.D., Ph.D. is an Associate Member on the Colorectal Service in the Department of Surgery at MSK. His objective as a surgeon and physician scientist is to uncover more precise treatments for each individual rectal and colon cancer patient. He actively cares for patients with rectal, colon, and anal cancer using modern surgical methods in a cutting-edge multidisciplinary setting in New York.  He is the co-Chair of the GI Oncology portfolio for the Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology, the co-chair of the GI Surgery Committee for the Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology, and is a member of the NCI’s Rectal Anal Task Force.  He serves as the Chair and Primary Investigator for the Janus Rectal Cancer Trial, an NCI-approved Phase II trial investigating clinical complete response and nonoperative management (NOM) in patients with rectal cancer through the Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology, SWOG and NRG Oncology (NCT02008656). He remains an active co-investigator for the paradigm-changing, randomized trial integrating NOM for selected patients with rectal cancer (NCT02008656 – The OPRA Trial).  He leads an NCI-funded laboratory at MSK working to understand the molecular underpinnings of disease progression in patients with rectal cancer and to develop individualized disease models facilitating both effective research and precision treatment.  Dr. Smith also serves as PI of the T32 Surgical Oncology Training Grant at MSK.