James E Goodnight, associate dean for clinical affairs and director of the Practice Management Board, is responsible for designing the structure, rules, responsibilities, funding needs and physician medical practice goals for UC Davis.

A member of the UC Davis faculty since 1980, Goodnight is recognized as a skilled leader and a compassionate, dedicated clinician. Before attaining his current position, he served as the first director of UC Davis Cancer Center and for 12 years as chair of the Department of Surgery.

As a physician, Goodnight specializes in treating malignant melanoma, breast cancer, pelvic tumors and bone and soft-tissue cancers. He is nationally recognized for the use and refinement of limb-sparing procedures for treating sarcoma. His research interests focus on early cancer detection, advancing minimally invasive surgical procedures, improving cancer patient survival, individualizing patient care and reducing disparities in cancer treatment.