Gavin Peter Dunn, MD, PhD

Not currently accepting new patients

4.891525 average rating from 59 patient reviews

Specialties

Affiliation

Mass General Brigham

Provider Locations

  • Boston, MA

Dr. Dunn is a board-certified neurosurgeon who specializes in neurosurgical oncology. At MGH, he is the Director of the Center for Brain Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy. His practice centers on the management of patients with primary and metastatic brain cancers as well as general neurosurgical conditions. He has a comprehensive background employing technological adjuncts such as awake surgery, cortical mapping, laser ablation, fluorescence-guided surgery, and stereotactic radiosurgery. He is a fellow and member of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS), member of the Congress of Neurological Surgeons (CNS) and Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC), and member of the Board of Directors of the Society for Neuro-Oncology (SNO).

Born in London, Dr. Dunn grew up in central Missouri and graduated summa cum laude from Princeton University. He received his MD and PhD degrees in the Medical Scientist Training Program at the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis where his doctoral work in cancer immunology was performed with Dr. Robert Schreiber. He completed his neurosurgical training at the Massachusetts General Hospital, where he conducted postdoctoral research in functional cancer genomics with Dr. William Hahn at the Broad Institute and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Prior to joining MGH, Dr. Dunn was an Associate Professor of Neurological Surgery and a Bursky Scholar in the Andrew M. and Jane M. Bursky Center for Human Immunology and Immunotherapy Programs at Washington University where he was also the Director the Neurological Surgery Residency Training Program.

Dr. Dunn’s NIH-funded research program focuses on understanding the immune response to brain tumors and the fundamental basis of CNS immunobiology in order to improve the lives of patients with brain cancers. His work on the Brain Tumor Immunity cycle involves preclinical models as well as translational work and has resulted in the development of novel personalized cancer vaccine clinical studies. He is a co-chair of a clinical trial through the Alliance for Clinical Trials in Neuro-Oncology focused on recurrent glioblastoma.

Dr. Dunn is also a Captain in the United States Navy Reserves Medical Corps.

Education & Training

  • Residency: Massachusetts General Hospital, Neurological Surgery, 2013
  • Internship: Massachusetts General Hospital, General Surgery, 2007
  • Medical Education: Washington University, 2006

Board Certifications

  • Neurological Surgery, American Board of Neurological Surgery

Languages Spoken

  • English

Age Group Treated

  • Adults

Patient Feedback

4.891525 average rating from 59 reviews

  • Very understanding of the importance of my procedure or surgery .

    2026-07-01

  • I had a brain tumor and Dr Dunn basically saved my life. So, I can't say enough positive things about him. He is not only very gifted in his job but also a very good human. I am very grateful. Tremendous care.

    2026-05-27

  • The visit with Dr Dunn and Nurse [redacted] went very well. I had some prepared questions which were answered thoroughly. Dr Dunn pulled up some of my imaging and guided me through exactly what my condition is and explained what we might expect and what the plan is for future actions .He was confidence inspiring and I felt comfortable that I was getting good advice . Both Dr Dunn and Nurse [redacted] asked and answered all the appropriate questions and look forward to receiving their care as we move forward.

    2026-05-27

  • The Doctors answered all my questions. [redacted]

    2026-05-23

  • Dr. Gavin was attentive, informative and understanding.

    2026-05-20

  • Very happy with experience

    2026-04-15

  • Excellent

    2026-04-02

  • Professional kind explains everything

    2026-03-19

  • Dr . Dunn is excellent about explaining things clearly. He is always polite and respectful and I appreciate his positive attitude.

    2026-03-18

  • The provider was very, very respectful and treated me with dignity and explained everything to me that so I could understand. Thank you.

    2026-02-27

  • This doctor is really good with special needs and I'm grateful for the time that he spent with me. Thank you.

    2026-02-20

  • Yes, I was incredibly impressed not only with the doctor, his knowledge, his reputation, and the way he interacted with me during the phone call, but the whole system leading up to the phone call has been like clockwork, and I so appreciate that.

    2026-02-13

  • This provider and his staff are amazing. I am still feel so very blessed to have had this provider and staff to treat me. They saved my life.

    2026-02-11

  • Dr Dunn was very professional, respectful, and considerate. He took his time explaining the results and proposing next steps.

    2026-02-05

  • Doctor Dunn had an important surgery so apologized that he couldn't be more attentive. His assistant was most helpful and all was fine. Nothing urgent for me and very grateful for all the attention and care I received when I had my stroke. I have a Had a complete recovery, so very lucky and thankful to all your staff. Regards, [redacted]

    2026-01-22

  • Yes, Dr. Dunn was highly knowledgeable, had a great bedside manner, listened very carefully to what I had to say, discussing about my life and, you know, like where I can fit in this surgery. Overall, I highly recommend him to any of my friends, even to the outside world. Yeah, he's an excellent professional. Thank you.

    2026-01-16

  • Dr Dunn was extremely caring and was very thorough with explaining the course of care. He is an excellent doctor.

    2026-01-14

  • He has excellent patient communication skills and is a warm empathetic person

    2025-12-11

  • The collaboration of my care provider so far so good Totally Impressed and Satisfied

    2025-11-09

  • This provider was intelligent; shared recent CT Scan report to me & my husband so we were able to understand results. Dr Dunn was kind & caring. We have our surgical date.

    2025-11-05

  • Dr. Dunn was very friendly and put me at ease while going over the medical situation . He provided clear reasoning for his recommendations and was very helpful for referrals outside neurosurgery.

    2025-10-16

  • Dr Dunn was very professional, & put at ease immediately. I highly recommend him

    2025-10-15

  • He appreciated that I had done my homework, explained options in plain words and listened to my concerns. He has my complete confidence.

    2025-10-08

  • This was my first visit with this replacement specialist. He was up to date with me & all my medical issues. Made a referral for a neurologist after listening to my conserns. Discussed what he would do going forward with my medical follow up with him. Couldn't have asked for a better dr. Very happy

    2025-10-08

  • Expert, caring and there when needed!

    2025-10-08

  • Excellent. All what [redacted] was looking for, he filled in every tab exactly someone that I have great confidence by speaking with. And as I will say, he just answered all my concerns.

    2025-09-12

  • He listened carefully and explained things very well. He is very kind and calmed my fears...I feel confident I that he is one of the best Dr's to deal and treat my condition.

    2025-08-27

Accepted Insurance

  • Tufts Medicare Preferred
  • Wellpoint
  • Medicaid ME
  • Senior Whole Health
  • Railroad Medicare
  • Mass General Brigham Health Plan
  • Medicaid CT
  • Medicare
  • Medicaid NH
  • Harvard Pilgrim Health Care
  • TriCare
  • Fallon Health
  • MassHealth
  • Aetna
  • Blue Cross Blue Shield
  • Commonwealth Care Alliance
  • Cigna
  • Multiplan
  • Humana
  • Tufts Health Plan
  • Coventry
  • Beech Street
  • Blue Cross Blue Shield Medicare
  • Medicaid VT
  • Medicaid RI
  • United Health Care
  • WellSense