Dr. David Tom Cooke is a Professor at the University of California, Davis School of Medicine. He is the Chief of the Division of General Thoracic Surgery, Director of the General Thoracic Surgery Robotics Program, and Vice Chair for Faculty Development and Wellness for the Department of Surgery. Dr. Cooke specializes in the surgical treatment of malignant and benign lung and esophageal disease and is a national leader in robotic thoracic surgery.

Dr. Cooke's research includes oncologic trials, surgical outcomes/health services research, patient-centered outcomes research, surgical education, medical social media, and public medical communication. He has authored over 100 peer-reviewed publications. Dr. Cooke is recognized by Castle and Connolly and Sacramento Magazine as one of America's Top Doctors. He is a director of the American Board of Thoracic Surgery, a member of the American Surgical Association, and an associate member of the American College of Surgeons Academy of Master Surgeon Educators.

Dr. Cooke currently serves on the American Lung Association National Lung Cancer Expert Medical Advisory Panel. He is co-founder of #LCSM (Lung Cancer Social Media), the patient-centered social media patient engagement network. Since its inception in 2013, the #LCSM community has more than 60,000 participants; 700,000 tweets; and two billion impressions.

Dr. Cooke completed his cardiothoracic surgery education and training at the University of Michigan, his general surgery residency at the Massachusetts General Hospital, his medical school education at Harvard Medical School, and his undergraduate education at the University of California, Berkeley.