URBANDALE, IA, July 14, 2026 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Gregory D. Kennedy, MD, PhD, has been selected for inclusion in Marquis Who's Who. As in all Marquis Who's Who biographical volumes, individuals profiled are selected on the basis of current reference value. Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility, and prominence in a field are all taken into account during the selection process.

Marked by two decades of outstanding service and a tireless devotion to improving access to care for individuals with cancer, Dr. Kennedy currently serves as chief medical officer of the cancer service line at UnityPoint Health in Des Moines, Iowa. In this capacity since 2026, he oversees programs across seven regional cancer centers within a 40-hospital network and has built comprehensive system-wide cancer care platforms that integrate surgical, medical and radiation oncology services.

Dr. Kennedy works collaboratively with various market presidents to develop tumor boards and cancer programs, establishing hub and spoke models for cancer care throughout Iowa. He has assumed full budgetary control of cancer services across the UnityPoint system and continues to maintain a limited clinical practice, performing colonoscopies one day each week.

Prior to joining UnityPoint Health, Dr. Kennedy excelled within the educational sector as a professor at the University of Alabama at Birmingham from 2016 to 2026. He held several key leadership roles during his tenure, including executive vice chair of the Department of Surgery from 2023 to 2025 and director of gastrointestinal surgery from 2016 to 2023. As director, he achieved significant milestones by expanding the school's gastrointestinal surgery program from seven surgeons to more than 20 while retaining the entire team without departures. Under his leadership, the platform grew from operating in one hospital and one clinic to serving seven hospitals across Alabama, increasing its value from approximately $2 million to over $10 million in the process.

Dr. Kennedy's earlier academic appointments include associate professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison from 2013 to 2016 and assistant professor from 2007 to 2013. He also held the position of vice chair of quality within the Department of Surgery there from 2012 to 2016, during which he contributed to advancing quality initiatives and patient safety protocols.

Alongside his primary roles, Dr. Kennedy served as past president of both the Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract and the Society of University Surgeons. Also a member of the Southern Surgical Association, the Society of Clinical Surgery and the American College of Healthcare Executives, he was recognized as a fellow of the American College of Surgeons, the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgery and the American Surgical Association.

Hailing from an equally accomplished academic background, Dr. Kennedy earned a Master of Business Administration from Collat School of Business at the University of Alabama at Birmingham in 2024, equipping him with advanced skills in healthcare management and leadership. Earlier in his journey, he obtained a Doctor of Philosophy in oncology and cancer biology from University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2003, a Doctor of Medicine from University of Washington - School of Medicine in 1996 and a Bachelor of Science in biomedical sciences from Montana State University in 1992.

To augment his knowledge and professional qualifications, Dr. Kennedy is board certified in surgery by the American Board of Surgery Inc. and board certified in colorectal surgery by the American Board of Colon and Rectal Surgery.

Reflecting on his storied journey to date, Dr. Kennedy attributes his success primarily to the strong work ethic instilled by his parents and his passion for helping others — a philosophy rooted in his upbringing in a small and close-knit Montana town. As the first member of his family to attend college, he initially aspired to become a family physician but ultimately gravitated toward surgery due to its complexity and impact on cancer care. Approximately three-quarters of his clinical practice has focused on colon and rectal cancer while advancing robotic and minimally invasive techniques.

Dr. Kennedy is also immensely grateful to have had two outstanding mentors: Dr. Layton Rikkers, known for his servant leadership style and prioritizing team-centered accomplishments over personal recognition, and Dr. Bill Sugden, who inspired Dr. Kennedy through his intellectual curiosity as well as his scientific contributions in researching the Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV). Both Dr. Rikkers and Dr. Sugden taught him that it is acceptable to admit not knowing the answer to a question and to continue searching for answers and solutions.

Beyond his clinical and academic achievements, Dr. Kennedy has made substantial contributions through his own mentorship efforts, guiding numerous residents and medical students who have gone on to successful careers. He has also been involved civically as a volunteer with Wildwood Hills Ranch in Iowa since 2026.

Also a prolific contributor to medical literature, Dr. Kennedy has authored or co-authored more than 110 publications in peer-reviewed journals as well as over 50 book chapters. He has served as an editor for a basic science textbook and contributed to multiple leadership textbooks, sharing his knowledge and experience with both current and future generations of healthcare specialists.

Determined to further his impact in the coming years, Dr. Kennedy aims to position UnityPoint Health as Iowa's leading provider for cancer treatment by fostering relationships at state and national levels and ensuring equitable access to high-quality care for all patients — including those in rural communities. His vision is to establish a gold standard for cancer care that sets an example for other healthcare systems while prioritizing teamwork and patient outcomes above personal accolades.

Though his life and career count many milestones, Dr. Kennedy considers his greatest achievement to be his family — including his wife of more than 30 years, Teri, and their two accomplished daughters Victoria and Alexis — and his legacy as a mentor dedicated to advancing both patient care and professional development within medicine.

About Marquis Who's Who®:
Since 1899, when A. N. Marquis printed the First Edition of Who's Who in America®, Marquis Who's Who® has chronicled the lives of the most accomplished individuals and innovators from every significant field of endeavor, including politics, business, medicine, law, education, art, religion and entertainment. The suite of Marquis® publications, including Who's Who in America® and Who's Who in the World®, remains an essential biographical source for thousands of researchers, journalists, librarians and executive search firms around the globe. Marquis® publications can be viewed at the official Marquis Who's Who® website, www.marquiswhoswho.com.

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