Biography
Dr. Joseph De Soto M.D., Ph.D., F.A.I.C. after leaving the U.S. Army where he served as a
combat medic where he received a commendation from the Commandant of the U.S. Army
Medical Corp for his performance , obtained his B.S. degree in biophysical chemistry from La
Sierra University in Riverside California. While at La Sierra he began his research career in
theoretical & medicinal chemistry under theoretical-physical chemist Dr. Leland Wilson. While
at La Sierra, Dr. De Soto published papers in Medicinal Chemistry. Dr. De Soto then attended
Howard University in Washington D.C. obtaining his M.D. and Ph.D. degrees with specializations
in Cancer, Pharmacology and Toxicology. At Howard University, under Dr. Donnell Bowen- one
of the fathers of chemotherapy- he published some of the earliest papers combining hormonal
and chemo-therapy to treat breast cancer. He also taught Pharmacology, Biochemistry and
Pathophysiology, Cadaver Lab as an instructor to Undergraduate, Nursing, PharmD , Physician
Asst. and Medical students for five years during this time. Afterwards, Dr. De Soto went to the
National Institutes of Health (NIH) where he completed his Fellowship in Translational Medicine
& Oncology under the eminent Geneticist Dr. Chuxia Deng.
At NIH, Dr. De Soto investigated the novel use of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase PARP
inhibitors in the treatment of breast cancer. This work lead to him being named named the
Fellow of the Year at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). His research resulted in several
national and international publications and presentations. During his time as a Fellow, Dr. De
Soto taught in the evenings at Mountain States University to Nursing and Pre-Professional
Students anatomy lab, anatomy & physiology, pathophysiology and microbiology. After
completing his Fellowship at the NIH, Dr. De Soto spent 3 years at the Dept. of Defense as
faculty of record on-line and in person , biochemistry, pathophysiology, pharmacology, and
biological & chemical weapons; coordinating, developing, and teaching these courses in full. He
taught and mentored nursing, doctoral and medical students. He also established the
Laboratory of Translational Oncology & Drug Development where he was the Director and led 6
projects and supervised 6 doctoral level staff and several technicians. While at the Dept. of
Defense, bringing in over 1 million dollars in grant money. This Laboratory developed drugs for
breast, ovarian and pancreatic cancer evaluating both the efficacy and toxicity of the agents
involved.
Dr. De Soto left the Dept. of Defense for a faculty position at the Appalachian College of
Pharmacy, where he continued he research and evaluation of experimental drugs and
medications. He was Faculty of Record for the majority of the integrated pathophysiology and
pharmacology courses for the first 2 years of the three year curriculum. He taught all aspects of
SIMS LAB, pathophysiology, pharmacology and biochemistry and started new courses and
electives including Research I and II and Clinical Research. . He has also been faculty of the year
4 out of the past 6 years he has taught. He also was instrumental in bringing together local
hospitals, physician’s and pharmacist’s in order to increase the understanding and partnerships
between all groups. Dr. De Soto also served as the Medical Advisor for United States Senator
Robert Byrd who was President Pro-Tempore of the United States Senate and Chairman of the
Appropriations Committee.
Dr. Joseph De Soto has published over 100 peer reviewed and invited articles in
Medicine, Oncology, and Pharmacology. He has also been an invited speaker to over ten
National & International Medical, Drug Development and Cancer conferences including the
World Breast Cancer Congress, The National Meeting of the National Medical Association,
National Meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, International Translational
Medicine Meeting, International Symposium on Targeted Anti-Cancer Therapies, and the World
Cancer Congress. He has served on multiple Government Institutional Review Boards, Patent &
Technology Committees and Ethic Committees. He has been faculty of the year 4 out of the
past 6 years.
Dr. Joseph De Soto has also been named as a Life Fellow of the American Institute of
Chemists. Dr. De Soto is a member of the American Chemical Society, The American Institute of
Chemists, The American Medical Association, The National Medical Association, The American
Association for Cancer Research, The American Association of Pharmacology & Experimental
Therapeutics, and The American Society for Clinical Oncology. Dr. De Soto received a signed
U.S. Constitution from the President Pro-Tempore of the United States Senate for his work on
the behalf of the poor in the Appalachia, and has served as a Presidential Elector. Joseph writes
a monthly medical column for a regional newspaper called “The Journal” in West Virginia and
the Virginia Mountaineer newspaper in SW Virginia. His hobbies include rescuing dogs, weight
lifting, target shooting, watching motor bike racing, and tennis. He also has a lifelong interest in
history and theology and speaks and reads Spanish, Ladino and Hebrew. He is a member of the
Magen David Sephardic Congregation-Beit Eliahu synagogue.