Dakim Gaines, MD, PhD

Assistant Professor

Dr. Gaines is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Radiation Oncology at the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center. He completed his undergraduate degree in molecular biology from St. Mary's College of Maryland.  He then went on to obtain a combined M.D./Ph.D. from Rutgers University and completed his residency training at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.  During his residency he was accepted into the ABR Holman Pathway, a specialized research pathway, where he studied the immunologic changes in kidney cancer after stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT).  During residency he also served on the executive committee for the Association of Residents in Radiation Oncology and as the Chair of the Global Health subcommittee. He specializes in the management of genitourinary cancers, sarcoma, and palliative/inpatient radiotherapy.  

Honors/Awards

  • ECOG-ACRIN Minority Scholarship Award, 2021
  • Best Intern Award, Jersey Shore University Medical Center, 2019
  • M.D./Ph.D. Award, Rutgers-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, 2018
  • Cold Spring Harbor Asia Best Presentation Fellowship Award, Suzhou, China, 2016
  • Distinguished Alumni Award, REU-Colorado State University, 2015

Education/Training

  •  Residency: Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN
  •  Internship: Jersey Shore University Medical Center
  •  Graduate School: Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
  •  Medical School: Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
  •  Undergraduate: St. Mary's College of Maryland