Megan E. Daly, MD, Appointed Chair of UCI Department of Radiation Oncology

The UC Irvine School of Medicine is pleased to announce the appointment of Megan E. Daly, MD, as the new chair of the Department of Radiation Oncology, effective January 26, 2026.

Daly joins UC Irvine from the UC Davis School of Medicine, where she currently holds the Jennifer Rene Harmon Tegley and Elizabeth Erica Harmon Endowed Chair in Cancer Clinical Research, and serves as Professor of Clinical Radiation Oncology and Associate Director of Clinical Research for the UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center.

Vision for Growth and National Recognition

In her new leadership role, Daly will oversee all administrative and operational aspects of the Department of Radiation Oncology. Her strategic focus will be advancing the growth and development of the department’s leading-edge clinical care, educational and research programs.

Daly is committed to strengthening the department’s national recognition through the recruitment, development and retention of high-impact clinicians and researchers, while fostering a collaborative training environment with strong mentorship. She will work closely with the department’s three specialty divisions and faculty physicians to advance its mission: enhancing discovery and innovation in biology, medical physics and health services research.

Clinical and Research Expertise

A physician for 14 years and board-certified in radiation oncology, Daly’s clinical practice is focused on the treatment of thoracic malignancies and lymphoma. She is specialized in highly advanced radiotherapy techniques, including stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT), intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT), and image guided radiation therapy (IGRT).

As an accomplished clinical trialist, her research focuses on developing novel treatment strategies for early-stage, inoperable lung cancer, radiation/immunotherapy combinations, theranostic approaches in lung cancer patients, and strategies to reduce the toxicity of thoracic radiation. Daly has secured funding as a principal investigator from the Department of Defense and has served as lead or co-lead investigator on numerous cooperative group clinical trials. Most notably, she served as study chair for an international Phase III trial evaluating the integration of immunotherapy and stereotactic body radiotherapy for early-stage lung cancer.

National Leadership and Honors

Daly brings significant national leadership experience to UC Irvine. She serves as co-chair of the National Cancer Institute’s (NCI) Thoracic Malignancies Steering Committee and leads the SWOG Lung Committee’s radiation subcommittee. She also previously chaired the American Society of Clinical Oncology’s (ASCO) Thoracic Cancer Guideline Advisory Group, and has led several national guideline panels for the American Society for Radiation Oncology and ASCO.

A prolific scholar, Daly has authored more than 110 peer-reviewed publications and nine book chapters. Her achievements have been recognized with honors, including the Amador Cancer Research Foundation’s Christine and Helen Landgraf Award and her selection to the Southwest Oncology Group (SWOG) Leadership Academy.

Daly earned both her bachelor’s and medical degrees from Stanford University, where she also completed her residency in radiation oncology after a transitional internship at Santa Clara Valley Medical Center, serving as co-chief resident. A lifelong learner, Daly is also a PADI-certified open-water scuba diver and a three-time U.S. Olympic Trials qualifier in the marathon.

Dean Stamos extends his sincere gratitude to Vahid Yaghmai, MD, for his dedicated service as interim chair for the Department of Radiation Oncology, leading up to Daly’s arrival in January.