We recently learned the sad news that pioneering geneticist Dr. Jessica Davis passed away peacefully at her home last week. She served as Division Chief of Medical Genetics at Weill Cornell for over 20 years in the 1980s. As someone who was known for building bridges and fostering collaboration, during her tenure at Weill Cornell she “crossed the street” to participate in teaching conferences and beyond at Hospital for Special Surgery. In 2003 she co-founded the Kathryn O. and Alan C. Greenberg Center for Skeletal Dysplasias at HSS, where she worked until her retirement in 2023.
Dr. Davis was a Brooklyn native who graduated from Wellesley College and followed in her father’s footsteps to pursue a career in medicine. After earning her medical degree from Columbia University, she was among the first generation of clinicians who combined genetics and compassionate care of disabled children. By all accounts, she was a skilled and caring teacher and mentor. Before coming to Weill Cornell, she began her career at Albert Einstein College of Medicine Hospital and North Shore University Hospital on Long Island. She served as a leader in multiple organizations supporting students, physicians, genetic counselors, and other allied healthcare professionals over the years. Dr. Jessica Davis was a pioneer in clinical genetics who was instrumental in building the foundation of genetics today.
A memorial service was held on February 25, 2026, at Plaza Jewish Community Chapel.