"I try to develop a thoughtful, careful treatment plan for any patient that I am asked to evaluate. When the decision to perform surgery is made, the procedure is planned in advance and implemented to deliver the optimal technically precise operation that will result in a favorable outcome, dependent on the disease and patient’s overall health status.“I spend enough time thoroughly evaluating the patient to make the correct complex decisions as whether to operate, what type of preparation is needed for surgery, the specific operation to be performed, and the post-operative care and long term follow-up.“I try to bring the patient and family into the decision-making process with detailed explanation and empathy. I try to make the post-operative care as comfortable as possible and to minimize complications and shorten recovery time."
Dr. Jackson joined Kelsey-Seybold Clinic in 1981 and serves as senior surgeon for the Department of Surgery. He cares for his patients at the Main Campus. Since 1986, Dr. Jackson has served as chair and liaison physician of the Cancer Committee for the Kelsey-Seybold Cancer Center, a program which he spearheaded. It is the first freestanding cancer center in the United States to receive the prestigious American College of Surgeons’ Commission on Cancer commended accreditation. Dr. Jackson has been re-certified multiple times by the American Board of Surgery.
Professional Background:
Dr. Jackson received several awards and graduated with high honors from the University of Louisville in 1974. He then completed a five-year surgery residency at The University of Texas Southwestern-affiliated hospitals in Dallas.
After completing a one-year fellowship in Surgical Oncology at The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, he stayed on as a faculty associate in surgery for an additional year.
Academic and Clinical Position
Dr. Jackson is an associate clinical professor of Surgery at Baylor College of Medicine and University of Texas Medical School at Houston. He’s taught core and senior elective medical students at Baylor College of Medicine since 1981. At St. Luke’s, he works with the residents in surgery from both medical schools.
Clinical Interests
Dr. Jackson’s clinical interests include all things surgical. In addition to general surgery, he focuses on Endocrine and advanced, minimally invasive and gastrointestinal surgery.
He has also studied head and neck cancer, surgical oncology and gastrointestinal tumors.
Publications
During his residency at University of Texas Southwestern-affiliated hospitals, and again as a resident at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Dr. Jackson completed clinical research, and published and presented scientific papers. He’s also contributed chapters to three books, including Aging, Stress and Health and The History of Surgery in Houston.
Professional Associations
Dr. Gilchrist has served as the local president of the American Cancer Society and was the Texas South Chair of the Physician Liaison Program of the Commission on Cancer of the American College of Surgeons. In addition, he is a member of the following organizations:
- American College of Surgeons
- Society of Surgical Oncology
- Societe Internationale de Chirurgie
- American Head and Neck Society
- American Association of Endocrine Surgeons
- Parkland Surgical Society
- Texas Medical Association
- Houston Surgical Society.
Hobbies and Special Interests
Outside of the operating room, Dr. Jackson enjoys photography, golf, gardening, playing tennis, biking, travelling, birding and spending time with his family and grandkids.