Dr. Roife & his wife Julia enjoy exploring the outdoors.
At Premier Surgical Associates of Knoxville and Cleveland, TN, we take pride in the quality of care we provide to our patients. We are proud of our experienced, board-certified surgeons who share the same values and vision that we have.
We are very happy to welcome a new addition to our Premier Surgical Oncology Team – Dr. David Roife.
Dr. Roife is the latest physician to join our Premier Surgical at Fort Sanders Regional office. He specializes in gastrointestinal cancer surgery. His main interest is in surgery for cancers of the liver and pancreas, and also treats colon and rectal cancer, melanoma, sarcoma, and non-cancerous problems such as gallbladder disease.
Let’s get to know him better…
Tell us about yourself and why did you get into surgical oncology?
“I was born in Houston and had been living there for my whole life. I attended college at Rice University in the same city, then got into medical school in Galveston before moving back to Houston for residency. I then took the surgical oncology fellowship in Tampa and now am working as an oncology surgeon with Premier Surgical in Knoxville.
I have an older cousin who worked as a doctor and serves as a big inspiration for me. I got into oncology as both of my grandparents died from pancreatic cancer.
I love the hands-on, helping aspect of being an oncology surgeon. It allows me to help people, being the end-of-the-line decision-maker, and with research, contribute to the new frontier of surgical oncology.”
What’s your personal philosophy when it comes to taking care of your patients?
“Cancer can be a long journey that comes with a lot of steps along the way. It can be overwhelming and confusing, but I’d like my patients to know that I’ll be there for them every step of the way. I’ll make sure that they’re getting the right treatment at the right time and see the right specialists.”
What are your other interests?
“I’m a computer nerd. I love building computer hardware, and I have been doing it for twenty years. I’m also into gardening–that’s where I like to spend all my time on the weekend. I’ve grown some hydrangeas, which I’m excited about because they weren’t successfully growing in Houston. And I’m a big aquarium guy too. I have an axolotl, a freshwater salamander. He looks like the Dragon, Toothless in How to Train Your Dragon, so I named him Toothless. I also have two large ornamental goldfish, and a small tank full of bright red dwarf shrimp.”
What else would you like your patients to know about you?
“I’ve spent over 10 years in training and research in this field, so I have extensive knowledge to confidently approach many complicated situations, and I want my patients to feel safe and trust my abilities as their surgeon. I’m very excited to be part of the Premier Surgical group and to be of help to cancer patients.”
Dr. David Roife is accepting new patients. To request an appointment, please call the Premier Surgical Fort Sanders office at (865) 524-3695 or visit https://www.premiersurgical.com/fort-sanders-premier-appointment-request/.