Jayanthi Lea, M.D.

Interim Vice-Chair of Clinical Operations, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology

Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center

Patricia Duniven Fletcher Distinguished Professorship in Gynecological Oncology

Obstetrics and Gynecology - Gyn Oncology
Surgical Treatment for Gynecologic Cancer
Tumor debulking for ovarian and fallopian tube cancer

Biography

Jayanthi Lea, M.D., is a nationally recognized expert in gynecologic cancers and serves as Chief of the Division of Gynecologic Oncology and Medical Director of the Gynecologic Oncology Service at UT Southwestern Medical Center. She is also the Interim Vice Chair of Clinical Operations for the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Board certified in both gynecologic oncology and obstetrics and gynecology, Dr. Lea specializes in the comprehensive care of patients with ovarian, endometrial, cervical, and other gynecologic malignancies. She is highly skilled in complex cancer surgeries, including radical hysterectomy, ovarian cancer cytoreduction, and endometrial cancer procedures, as well as in advanced minimally invasive techniques such as robotic and laparoscopic surgery.

Dr. Lea earned her undergraduate degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and completed her medical education at McGill University and East Carolina University. She completed residency training in obstetrics and gynecology at Riverside Methodist Hospital in Columbus, Ohio, followed by a four-year fellowship in gynecologic oncology at UT Southwestern, where she was selected as a scholar in the prestigious NIH Reproductive Scientist Development Program.

Her research focuses on developing novel clinical trials for cervical and ovarian cancer, and she has authored multiple peer-reviewed publications in these areas. A strong advocate for patient-centered innovation, Dr. Lea leads a division whose mission is to deliver exceptional, evidence-based care in a compassionate, multidisciplinary environment while advancing the science and equity of gynecologic oncology.

Dr. Lea has published extensively in prestigious journals and been recognized for her clinical excellence with numerous honors, including D Magazine’s Best Doctors and Texas Monthly Super Doctors.

Meet Dr. Lea

Gynecologic Oncologist

Jayanthi Lea, M.D., has dedicated her career to guiding women through one of the most challenging journeys they may face – being diagnosed with a gynecologic cancer. As a nationally recognized specialist at UT Southwestern Medical Center, she cares for women of all ages who have ovarian, endometrial, cervical, or other reproductive system cancers. Dr. Lea combines state-of-the-art treatment with heartfelt compassion, helping her patients feel supported and empowered every step of the way.

Her approach is comprehensive, from the initial evaluation to treatment planning and long-term follow-up, ensuring that each patient receives expert care tailored to their specific needs. Dr. Lea is highly skilled in advanced surgical techniques, including minimally invasive and fertility-sparing procedures, and offers access to leading-edge therapies and clinical trials not typically available at most centers.

In addition to her clinical work, she’s an active leader in national cancer research, helping shape the future of care through her work with the National Cancer Institute’s Gynecologic Oncology Group (GOG), the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, and the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Dr. Lea understands how cancer affects not just the individual but the entire family. That deep empathy influences how she cares for her patients. Her goal is to provide the most expert, compassionate care possible—because every woman deserves both hope and healing.

She speaks both English and Tamil and welcomes patients from all backgrounds.

Education & Training

Other Post Graduate Training - UT Southwestern (2000-2004)
Fellowship - UT Southwestern Medical Center (2000-2004), Gynecologic Oncology
Residency - Riverside Methodist Hospital (1997-2000), Obstetrics & Gynecology
Internship - Riverside Methodist Hospital (1996-1997), Obstetrics & Gynecology
Medical School - East Carolina University (1993-1996)

Professional Associations & Affiliations

Society of Gynecologic Oncology
NRG Oncology Group
American Society of Clinical Oncology
American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology
American College of Surgeons
American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division Member

Honors & Awards

Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society
D Magazine Best Doctor
Best Doctors in North Carolina
Best Doctors in America
Best in Category Research Award, American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinical Meeting
Reproductive Scientist Development Program Scholar, NIH K12 Award
Fellow, American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology
James F. Nolan Award for Best Scientific Presentation
Fellow, American College of Surgeons

Books & Publications

Publications
- Prognostic indicators of recurrence and treatment-free interval in uterine carcinosarcoma.
  Vintzileos W, Beer H, Sunkara Y, Pruszynski J, Lea J, Gynecologic oncology 2025 Jun 198 154-160
- Surgical staging identifies occult metastases in over 50% of uterine-confined carcinosarcoma.
  Vintzileos W, Beer H, Miller D, Lea J, Gynecologic oncology reports 2025 Apr 58 101722
- Tumor Treating Fields therapy in platinum-resistant ovarian cancer: Results of the ENGOT-ov50/GOG-3029/INNOVATE-3 pivotal phase 3 randomized study.
  Vergote I, Copeland LJ, Van Gorp T, Laenen A, Scambia G, Thaker PH, Cibula D, Colombo N, Lea J, Gonzalez-Martin A, Korach J, Sehouli J, Monk BJ, Heinzelmann-Schwarz V, Berger R, Buscema J, Lau S, Madry R, Denys H, Pepin JT, Salutari V, Bagaméri A, Ardizzoia A, Henry S, Cecere SC, Hruda M, Iglesias DA, Manso L, Shai A, O'Malley DM, European journal of cancer (Oxford, England : 1990) 2025 Mar 219 115306
- PAX2 is Transcriptionally Silenced by a Distinct Mechanism of Epigenetic Reprogramming to Initiate Endometrial Carcinogenesis.
  Sahoo SS, Ramanand SG, Cuevas IC, Gao Y, Lee S, Abbas A, Zhang X, Kumar A, Koduru P, Roy S, Broaddus RR, Bae-Jump VL, Gladden AB, Lea J, Lucas E, Xing C, Kobayashi A, Mani RS, Castrillon DH, bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology 2024 Dec
- SWOG/NCI Phase II Dual Anti-CTLA-4/PD-1 Blockade in Rare Tumors (DART): Non-Epithelial Ovarian Cancer.
  Chae YK, Othus M, Patel SP, Wilkinson KJ, Whitman-Purves EM, Lea J, Schallenkamp JM, Adra N, Appleman LJ, Alden M, Thomes Pepin J, Ellerton JA, Poklepovic A, Walter A, Rampurwala MM, Robinson WR, Kim HS, Chung LI, McLeod CM, Lopez G, Chen HX, Sharon E, Streicher H, Ryan CW, Blanke CD, Kurzrock R, Clinical cancer research : an official journal of the American Association for Cancer Research 2024 Oct
- RBN-2397, a PARP7 Inhibitor, Synergizes with Paclitaxel to Inhibit Proliferation and Migration of Ovarian Cancer Cells.
  Spirtos AN, Aljardali MW, Challa S, Koul S, Lea JS, Kraus WL, Camacho CV, bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology 2024 Sep
- Oxygenation in cervical cancer and normal uterine cervix assessed using blood oxygenation level-dependent (BOLD) MRI at 3T.
  Hallac RR, Ding Y, Yuan Q, McColl RW, Lea J, Sims RD, Weatherall PT, Mason RP NMR in biomedicine 2012 Dec 25 12 1321-30
- Lymph node metastasis in endometrioid adenocarcinomas of the uterine corpus with occult cervical involvement.
  Boren T, Lea J, Kehoe S, Miller DS, Richardson D Gynecologic oncology 2012 Oct 127 1 43-6
- Cervical cancer.
  Lea JS, Lin KY Obstetrics and gynecology clinics of North America 2012 Jun 39 2 233-53
- Correlation of cone biopsy with findings at radical hysterectomy and use of adjuvant radiation therapy.
  Boren TP, Carrick K, Kehoe SM, Lea J, Miller DS, Richardson DL Gynecologic oncology 2012 Mar 124 3 508-11
- Secondary Cytoreductive Surgery for Platinum Sensitive Ovarian Cancer
  Schorge JO, Wingo SN, Bhore R, Hefferenan TP, Lea JS Int. Journal of Gynecology and Obstetrics November 2009
- Secreted Protein Acidic and Rich in Cysteine (SPARC) as a Regulator of Murine Ovarian Cancer Growth and Sensitivity
  Phelps SLB, Carbon J, Miller A, Castro Rivera E, Arnold S, Brekken R, Lea JS American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology 2009 200:180
- Implications of EGFR Inhibition in Ovarian Cancer Cell Proliferation
  Phelps SLB, Schorge JO, Peyton MJ, Shigematsu H, Xiang L, Miller DS, Lea JS Gynecologic Oncology 2008 411-17
- Silencing of HPV 18 Oncoproteins with RNA Interference Causes Growth Inhibition of Cervical Cancer Cells.
  Lea JS, Sunaga N, Sato M, Kalahasti G, Burbee DG, Minna JD, Muller CY Reproductive Sciences January 2007 Vol 14, No 1 20-28
- Silencing of HPV 18 Oncoproteins with RNA Interference Causes Growth Inhibition of Cervical Cancer Cells.
  Lea JS, Sunaga N, Sato M, Kalahasti G, Burbee DG, Minna JD, Muller CY Reproductive Sciences. January 2007 Vol. 14, No.1 20-28
- Understanding the Mecahnisms of FHIT Inactivation in Cervical Cancer for Biomarker Development
  Lea JS, Ashfaq R, Muneer S, Burbee DG, Miller DS, Minna JD, Muller CY Journal Soc Gynecol Invest 2004 11 329-37
- Adenosquamous Histology Predicts Poor Outcome
  Lea JS, Coleman RL, Garner EO, Duska LR, Miller DS, Schorge JO Gynecologic Oncology 2003 91:558-62
- Cervical Adenocarcinoma in situ in Women Younger than Forty Years
  Lea JS, Shin CH, Sheets EE, Gehrig PA, Coleman RL, Duska LR, Miller DS, Schorge JO Gynecologic Oncology 2002 87:129-132
- Stage IIB-IVB Cervical Adenocarcinoma: Prognostic Factors and Survival
  Lea JS, Wenham RM, Sheets EE, Duska LR, Coleman RL, Miller DS, Schorge JO Gynecologic Oncology 2002 84:115-9
- The Role of Para-Aortic Lymph Node Dissection in Early Stage Cervical Adenocarcinoma
  Lea JS, Sheets EE, Duska LR, Miller DS, Coleman RL, Muller CY, Schorge JO Gynecologic Oncology 2002 285:288