Faculty spotlight: Dr. Manju George – turning experience into impact

For Dr. Manju George, science is about more than discovery, it is about people.

Originally trained in veterinary medicine in India, Dr. George earned a doctorate in veterinary virology and built a career in cancer research before joining the John D. Bower School of Population Health as an assistant professor.

In 2017, her path changed when she was diagnosed with stage III rectal cancer. The experience reshaped her perspective on research and its purpose. “As a researcher, I was driven by curiosity,” she said. “After my diagnosis, I wanted to be part of research that made a difference to people.”

During treatment, she connected with an online colorectal cancer community, where she began translating complex science into practical information for patients and caregivers. That work quickly grew into a broader role in education and advocacy.

Dr. George has since helped develop patient education programs, launched initiatives that connect patients with leading experts and contributed to national efforts to improve cancer research and care.

Now at UMMC, she brings that perspective to both her teaching and community work. She also chairs the Mississippi Colorectal Cancer Roundtable, working to improve screening and outcomes across the state.

At SOPH, Dr. George’s work reflects a core principle of population health: that knowledge matters most when it reaches the people who need it.