Founders

David C. Whitcomb, M.D., Ph.D.
Founder, Consultant
Professor Whitcomb completed a doctorate in physiology and a medical degree at Ohio State University. Postdoctoral training included medical residency, gastroenterology fellowship and postdoctoral training under Ian Taylor MD PhD at Duke University. Dr. Whitcomb joined the faculty of the University of Pittsburgh in 1991, and is the Giant Eagle Foundation Professor of Cancer Genetics, Professor of Medicine (with tenure), Professor of Cell Biology & Molecular Physiology, Professor of Human Genetics, Chief of the Division of Gastroenterology and Medical Director of the UPMC Liver-Pancreas Institute's Comprehensive Pancreas Program. Professor Whitcomb co-founded the Center for Genomic Sciences (now part of the Genomics and Proteomics Core Laboratory), served as Director of the Nutrition Support Service and Director of Gastroenterology for the Pittsburgh VA Healthcare System. As a member of many professional and scientific societies, he served as president of the American Pancreatic Association and Chairman of the Pancreatic Disorders Section of the American Gastroenterology Association. He founded and leads the Midwest Multicenter Pancreatic Study Group and the Collaborative Alliance for Pancreatic Education and Research (CAPER). He started and directs PancreasFest, an annual international translational meeting every July in Pittsburgh. Dr. Whitcomb has received dozens of honors and awards: he was voted by his peers as a Best Doctor in America, selected one of ASG Review's Top 75 Gastroenterologists in America (November 2010), and named by Becker's ACS Review as one of the 20 Great Physicians in Pennsylvania (May 26, 2011). He has written over 300 scientific articles and edited 8 books. He is among the most-cited authors in the field of pancreatic diseases with multiple landmark papers. He has become a pioneer in the use of mathematics, genetics, neurosciences, immunology, epidemiology and clinical sciences to study complex inflammation disorders and cancer risks of the digestive system. He served as principal investigator of several major National Institutes of Health-sponsored multicenter studies and leads one of the top human genetics programs for complex diseases. His pioneering work in developing an effective programs for delivering the information needed for personalized medicine is being studied and emulated by other leading programs throughout the country.

Jessica Michelle Gibson
Founder, President and Chief Executive Officer
With a compelling background in specialty pharmaceutical sales and biotechnology marketing, Jessica Gibson brings energy, enthusiasm and service-oriented focus to SMART-MD. After graduating from the University of Pittsburgh with a bachelors of science in emergency medicine, Jessica earned certification as a paramedic and gained clinical experience with an ambulance team in Pittsburgh, PA. Seeking greater opportunities she moved to Southern California, where she gained experience working in the biotechnology and diagnostics field with Gene Wiz. In 2007 she was recruited as a pharmaceutical sales representative for Shionogi Pharmaceuticals Inc. She won the top sales representative in the company in her rookie year (National Representative and Presidents Club) and continued to be a leader during her time at Shionogi. In 2011 she accepted a specialty sales position with Purdue Pharmaceuticals, where she won the top 5 national awards in her first full year (National, Regional and District Representative, Presidents Council, and National Product leader). She gained working knowledge of the changing healthcare market as well as the regulatory guidelines in the pharmaceutical and molecular diagnostic space. Her passion for revolutionary changes in health care became a driving force for the development of SMART-MD and the development and marketing plan to move cutting edge science into the community where it will do the most good.