David L. Ramirez, MD
Department of Breast Medical Oncology, Division of Cancer Medicine
Present Title & Affiliation
Primary Appointment
Deputy Chair, Breast Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
Associate Medical Director, Breast Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Associate Professor, Breast Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Department Quality Officer, Breast Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Dual/Joint/Adjunct Appointment
Deputy Chair, Breast Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
Associate Professor, Breast Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Education & Training
Degree-Granting Education
| 2003 | Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, US, MD |
| 1999 | University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, Texas, US, Bachelor of Science, BS |
Postgraduate Training
| 2009-2012 | Clinical Fellowship, University of California Davis Cancer Center, Sacramento, California |
| 2006-2009 | Clinical Residency, University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, Texas |
Licenses & Certifications
| 2012 | Medical License |
| 2009 | Oncology |
| 2009 | Hematology |
| 2006 | Internal Medicine |
| 2006 | Medical License |
Experience & Service
Faculty Academic Appointments
Assistant Professor, Breast Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 2015 - 2021
Assistant Professor, Internal Medicine, The University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, TX, 2014 - 2015
Attending Faculty in Oncology Clinic, Harris County Hospital District, Lyndon B. Johnson General Hospital, Houston, TX, 2012 - 2015
Assistant Professor, General Oncology, Harris Health Systems/Lyndon B. Johnson General Hospital, Houston, TX, 2012 - 2015
Administrative Appointments/Responsibilities
Deputy Chair, Breast Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, 2026 - Present
Associate Medical Director, Breast Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 2021 - Present
Department Quality Officer, Breast Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 2020 - Present
Educational/CME Director, Breast Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 2016 - Present
Fellowship Steering Committee Member, Breast Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 2016 - Present
Breast Surgical Oncology Fellowship Program, Breast Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 2016 - Present
Other Professional Positions
Clinical Oncologist/Hematologist, Kaiser Permanente, Vacaville, CA, 2009 - 2012
Extramural Institutional Committee Activities
Backup Member, Credentials Committee of the Medical Staff (CCMS),, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2020 - 2025
Member, Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2019 - 2023
Co-Chair, Breast Multidisciplinary Tumor Board, LBJ General Hospital, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2013 - Present
Member, Fellowship Steering Committee Member, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2012 - Present
Honors & Awards
| 2025 - Present | Division of Cancer Medicine Teacher of the Year Award, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center Hematology/Medical Oncology Fellowship Program |
| 2025 - Present | Division of Cancer Medicine State of Division - Faculty Awards, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center |
| 2024 | Division of Cancer Medicine Leadership in Education Award, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center Hematology/Oncology Fellowship Program |
| 2023 - 2024 | Division of Cancer Medicine Teaching Department of the Year, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center Hematology/Medical Oncology Fellowship Program |
| 2022 - 2023 | Division of Cancer Medicine Teacher of the Year Award, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center Hematology/Medical Oncology Fellowship Program |
| 2022 | President's recognition of faculty excellence–education and mentorship advancement, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center |
| 2021 - 2024 | Division of Cancer Medicine Teacher of the Year Award, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center Hematology/Medical Oncology Fellowship Program |
| 2020 - 2021 | Division of Cancer Medicine Teacher of the Year Award, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center Hematology/Medical Oncology Fellowship Program |
| 2019 - 2020 | Division of Cancer Medicine Teacher of the Year Award, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center Hematology/Medical Oncology Fellowship Program |
| 2019 | Multidisciplinary Educator of the Year, Breast Surgical Oncology Fellowship Program The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center |
| 2013 | Fellow's Teaching Award, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center |
| 2013 | Division of Cancer Medicine Educator of the Year, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center |
| 2013 | Vicente Valero LBJ Clinical Educator of the Year Award, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center |
| 1999 - 2003 | Ruth Batson Academic Medical Scholarship |
| 1999 - 2003 | Massachusetts Medical Society Scholar |
| 1997 | Alpha Lambda Delta |
| 1997 | Who's Who - Collegiate Scholars |
| 1997 | Alpha Epsilon Delta |
| 1996 - 1999 | Dean's List at the University of Texas at El Paso |
| 1996 | All-American Scholar Collegiate Award |
| 1996 | Golden Key National Honor Society |
Selected Presentations & Talks
Local Presentations
- 2022. Improving rates of germline genetic testing among breast cancer patients. Conference. The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. Houston, TX, US.
- 2013. Effects of Competitive E-Learning Board Review Curriculum on Hematology-Oncology fellows' Knowledge Competency and Satisfaction: A Case Study. Conference. UTMB Academy of Master Teachers - AMT Symposium. Houston, TX, US.
Regional Presentations
- 2010. ASCO Update. Conference. Kaiser Permanente, US.
- Journal Club - Multiple Presentations 2006 to 2009. Conference. UC Davis Cancer Center, US.
- Journal Club. Conference. Kaiser Permanente, US.
- "I Can Cope" 2010, 2011. Conference. Kaiser Permanente, US.
- Anemia Core Lecture (Second Year Medical Students). Conference. UC DAVIS Cancer Center, US.
- 13th Annual Cancer Research Symposium: Latino Palliative Care: An ACS Funded Pilot Study. Conference. UC Davis Cancer Center, US.
National Presentations
- 2025. Updates in the Treatments of Locally Advanced Breast Cancer from a Medical Oncology Perspective. Invited. Society of Surgical Oncology Fellows Institute (SSO). Houston, Texas, US.
- 2024. Updates in the Treatments of Locally Advanced Breast Cancer from a Medical Oncology Perspective. Invited. Society of Surgical Oncology Fellows Institute (SSO). Houston, Texas, US.
- 2023. Updates in the Treatments of Locally Advanced Breast Cancer from a Medical Oncology Perspective. Invited. Society of Surgical Oncology Fellows Institute (SSO). Houston, Texas, US.
- 2022. Updates in the Treatments of Locally Advanced Breast Cancer from a Medical Oncology Perspective. Invited. Society of Surgical Oncology Fellows Institute (SSO). Houston, Texas, US.
Formal Peers
- 2021. ESMO RxPonder trial, Updated Multidisciplinary Management. Visiting. Houston, TX, US.
- 2020. Update Locally Advanced Breast Cancer. Visiting. Houston, TX, US.
Selected Publications
Peer-Reviewed Articles
- Singareeka Raghavendra, A, Kettner, NM, Kwiatkowski, DN, Damodaran, S, Wang, Y, Ramirez, DL, Gombos, DS, Hunt, KK, Shen, Y, Keyomarsi, K, Tripathy, D. Phase I trial of hydroxychloroquine to enhance palbociclib and letrozole efficacy in ER+/HER2− breast cancer. npj Breast Cancer 11(1), 2025. e-Pub 2025. PMID: 39865083.
- Piha-Paul SA, Tseng C, Tran HT, Fu S, Dumbrava EE, Yap TA, Naing A, Lim J, Murphy MB, Ramirez DL, Soliman PT, Sood AK, Meric-Bernstam F. Phase I trial of neratinib plus palbociclib in advanced cancers with HER family alterations. ESMO Open 10(12):105895, 2025. e-Pub 2025. PMID: 41223631.
- Shaker, S, Patel, D, Bisen, AK, Ramirez, DL. Impact of targeted interventions on reducing emergency department visits in breast cancer patients receiving chemotherapy. JCO Oncology Practice 21:433, 2025. e-Pub 2025.
- Shaker, S, Patel, D, Bisen, AK, Sun, SX, Ramirez, DL. Right care, right place. Journal of Clinical Oncology 43:e23229-e23229, 2025. e-Pub 2025.
- Kuerer, HM, Valero, V, Smith, BD, Krishnamurthy, S, Diego, EJ, Johnson, HM, Lin, Y, Shen, Y, Lucci, A, Shaitelman, SF, Mitchell, MP, Boughey, JC, White, RL, Hunt, KK, Yang, WT, Rauch, GM, Moseley, T, Leung, J, Huang, ML, Candelaria, RP, Adrada, BE, Arribas, E, van la Parra, RF, Ramirez, DL, Teshome, M, Hwang, RF, Miggins, MV, Piotrowski, MJ, Correa Refinetti, AP, Ehlers II, RA, Mouabbi, JA, Colen, JS, Loveland-Jones, C, Lesnikowski, BA, Samiian, L, Chong, C, Black, DM, Desyder, SM, Sun, SX, Nguyen, TM. Selective Elimination of Breast Surgery for Invasive Breast Cancer A Nonrandomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Oncology 11(5):529-534, 2025. e-Pub 2025. PMID: 40152443.
- Reddy, JP, Sherry, AD, Fellman, B, Liu, S, Bathala, TK, Haymaker, CL, Cohen, L, Smith, B, Ramirez, DL, Shaitelman, SF, Chun, SG, Medina-Rosales, M, Teshome, M, Brewster, A, Barcenas, CH, Reuben, A, Ghia, AJ, Ludmir, EB, Weed, D, Shah, SJ, Mitchell, MP, Woodward, W, Gomez, D, Tang, C. Adding Metastasis-Directed Therapy to Standard-of-Care Systemic Therapy for Oligometastatic Breast Cancer (EXTEND). International Journal of Radiation Oncology Biology Physics 121(4):885-893, 2025. e-Pub 2025. PMID: 39486645.
- Yam, C, Patel, MM, Hill, H, Sun, R, Bassett Jr, R, Kong, EK, Damodaran, S, Koenig, KB, Abouharb, S, Saleem, S, Bisen, AK, Murthy, RK, Ramirez, DL, Rauch, GM, Adrada, BE, Candelaria, RP, Wang, X, Mittendorf, EA, Thompson, A, White, JB, Ravenberg, EE, Clayborn, A, Ding, Q, Booser, DJ, Oke, OC, Brewster, A, Hortobagyi, GN, Ibrahim, NK, Litton, J, Valero, V, Arun, BK, Tripathy, D, Chang, J, Chen, K, Korkut, A, Moulder, S, Huo, L, Lim, B, Ueno, NT. Targeting the Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Pathway in Chemotherapy-Resistant Triple-Negative Breast Cancer. Cancer Research Communications 4(10):2823-2834, 2024. e-Pub 2024. PMID: 39356138.
- Iwase T, Cohen EN, Gao H, Alexander A, Kai M, Chiv V, Wang X, Krishnamurthy S, Liu D, Shen Y, Kida K, Reuben A, Layman RM, Ramirez DL, Tripathy D, Moulder SL, Yam C, Valero V, Lim B, Reuben JM, Ueno NT. Maintenance Pembrolizumab Therapy in Patients with Metastatic HER2-negative Breast Cancer with Prior Response to Chemotherapy. Clin Cancer Res 30(11):2424-2432, 2024. e-Pub 2024. PMID: 38629963.
- Yam C, Mittendorf EA, Garber HR, Sun R, Damodaran S, Murthy RK, Ramirez DL, Karuturi M, Layman RM, Ibrahim N, Rauch GM, Adrada BE, Candelaria RP, White JB, Ravenberg E, Clayborn A, Ding QQ, Symmans WF, Prabhakaran S, Thompson AM, Valero V, Tripathy D, Huo L, Moulder SL, Litton JK. A phase II study of neoadjuvant atezolizumab and nab-paclitaxel in patients with anthracycline-resistant early-stage triple-negative breast cancer. Breast Cancer Res Treat 199(3):457-469, 2023. e-Pub 2023. PMID: 37061619.
- Lopez G, Eng C, Overman M, Ramirez DL, Liu W, Beinhorn C, Sumler P, Prinsloo S, Li Y, Chen M, Bruera E, Cohen L. Publisher Correction: A randomized pilot study of oncology massage to treat chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy. Sci Rep 13(1):8318, 2023. e-Pub 2023. PMID: 37221249.
- Lopez G, Eng C, Overman M, Ramirez DL, Liu W, Beinhorn C, Sumler P, Prinsloo S, Li Y, Chen M, Bruera E, Cohen L. A randomized pilot study of oncology massage to treat chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy. Sci Rep 12(1):19023, 2022. e-Pub 2022. PMID: 36348045.
- Yam, C, Rauch, GM, Rahman, T, Karuturi, MS, Ravenberg, EE, White, JB, Clayborn, A, McCarthy, P, Abouharb, S, Lim, B, Litton, J, Ramirez, DL, Saleem, S, Stec, J, Symmans, WF, Huo, L, Damodaran, S, Sun, R, Moulder, S. A phase II study of Mirvetuximab Soravtansine in triple-negative breast cancer. Investigational New Drugs 39(2):509-515, 2021. e-Pub 2021. PMID: 32984932.
- Joechle K, Vega EA, Okuno M, Simoneau E, Ogiso S, Newhook TE, Ramirez DL, Holmes AA, Soliz JM, Chun YS, Tzeng CD, Lee JE, Vauthey JN, Conrad C. Middle Hepatic Vein Roadmap for a Safe Laparoscopic Right Hepatectomy. Ann Surg Oncol 26(1):296, 2019. e-Pub 2019. PMID: 30465224.
- Litton JK, Scoggins M, Ramirez DL, Murthy RK, Whitman GJ, Hess KR, Adrada BE, Moulder SL, Barcenas CH, Valero V, Gomez JS, Mittendorf EA, Thompson A, Helgason T, Mills GB, Piwnica-Worms H, Arun BK. A feasibility study of neoadjuvant talazoparib for operable breast cancer patients with a germline BRCA mutation demonstrates marked activity. NPJ Breast Cancer 3:49, 2017. e-Pub 2017. PMID: 29238749.
- Gibson G, Ramirez DL, Maier J, Castillo C, Das S. Giardia lamblia: Incorporationof free and conjugated fatty acids into glycerol-based phospholipids. Experimental Parasitology 92(1): 1-11, 1999. e-Pub 1999.
Abstracts
- Nead K, Kim T, Sherry A, McDowell T, Johnson K, Su S, Vijayan S, Yang J, Chun S, Msaouel P, Tannir N, Jonasch E, Corn P, Ramirez D, Smaglo B, Zhao D, Ludmir E, Tran P, Scheet P, Tang C. Clonal Hematopoiesis Following Radiation Therapy as a Novel Predictor of Cancer Control and Survival: Analyses from Prospective Trials. ASTRO 68th Annual Meeting, 2026. e-Pub 2026.
- Yam C, Radko A, Huo L, Singareeka A, Ohanjanyan E, Yudina A, Kushnarev V, Hill H, Abouharb S, Adrada B, Arun B, Barcenas C, Bisen A, Brewster A, Buzdar A, Mac Gregor MC, Damodaran S, Garber H, Guirguis M, Hassan A, Ibrahim N, Karuturi M, Kong E, Layman R, Moscol G, Mouabbi J, Murthy R, Nasrazadani A, Nelson B, Iheme AN, Oke O, Patel M, Pohlmann P, Ramirez D, Saleem S, Sukumar J, Sun J, Thomas P, Walters R, Wei P, Williams M, Wright M, Woodward WA, Hunt KK, Litton JK, Valero V, Tripathy D, Rauch G, Goldberg M, Korkut A. Circulating Immune Correlates of Pathological Response to Neoadjuvant Pembrolizumab Plus Chemotherapy in High-Risk, Early-Stage Triple-Negative Breast Cancer. SABCS 2025, 2025. e-Pub 2025.
- Shaker S, Ramirez DL. Atypical Presentation of Invasive Lobular Carcinoma Presenting as Periorbital Swelling Despite Negative Mammogram. 2025 SABCS, 2025. e-Pub 2025.
- Klein K, Ramirez DL. Unexpected B-hCG elevation in metastatic inflammatory breast cancer: A diagnostic dilemma. 2025 SABCS, 2025. e-Pub 2025.
- Sargent EN, Ramirez DL. A Functional Reversal of Leptomeningeal Disease without CNS Directed Therapy. 2025 SABCS, 2025. e-Pub 2025.
- Shaker S, Ramirez DL. Impact of targeted interventions on reducing emergency department visits in breast cancer patients receiving chemotherapy. 2025 ASCO Quality Care Symposium, 2025. e-Pub 2025.
- Ramirez DL. Right care, right place: Improving urgent care for breast cancer patients on chemotherapy. 2025 ASCO Annual Meeting, 2025. e-Pub 2025.
- Klein K, Park Hwang J, Valero V, Ramirez DL, Kaushik J. Viral hepatitis screening in patients with early breast cancer receiving cancer therapy: A quality improvement initiative. 2024 ASCO Annual Meeting 42(16), 2024. e-Pub 2024.
- Iwase T, Alexander A, Cohen EN, Gao H, Chiv VY, Kai M, Kida K, Krishnamurthy S, Liu D, Shen Y, Ramirez DL, Reuben A, Tripathy D, Booser DJ, Moulder, SL, Yam C, Valero V, Lim B, Reuben JM, Ueno NT. Biomarker analysis of phase II pembrolizumab maintenance treatment after chemotherapy response in patients with HER2-negative inflammatory breast cancer and triple-negative breast cancer. 2023 ASCO Annual Meeting 41(16), 2023. e-Pub 2023.
- Singareeka Raghavendra A, Kwiatkowski D, Damodaran S, Kettner NM, Ramirez DL, Gombos DS, Hunt K, Shen Y, Keyomarsi K, Tripathy D. Phase I safety and efficacy study of autophagy inhibition with hydroxychloroquine to augment the antiproliferative and biological effects of preoperative palbociclib plus letrozole for estrogen receptor-positive, HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer (MBC). 2021 ASCO Annual Meeting 39(15), 2021. e-Pub 2021.
- Lopez G, Eng C, Overman MJ, Liu W, Cohen L, Ramirez DL, Beinhorn CM, Sumler PA, Chen M, Bruera E, Prinsloo S, Li Y. A Pilot Study of Oncology Massage to treat Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy (CIPN). 2019 ASCO Annual Meeting 37(15), 2019. e-Pub 2019.
- Lopez G, Eng C, Overman M, Ramirez DL, Liu W, Beinhorn C, Sumler P, Prinsiloo S, Chen M, Li Y, Bruera E, Cohen L. A Pilot Study of Oncology Massage to treat Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy (CIPN). 2019 Supportive Care in Oncology Symposium 37(15), 2019. e-Pub 2019.
- Corredor J, Cordero-Hernandez I, Ramirez DL, Arun B. Development of provider ordered genetic testing pathway and electronic medical record best practice advisory (BPA) to aid in germline genetic testing for patients with metastatic breast cancer. 2023 ASCO Quality Care Symposium 19(11).
- Farmer LL, Terrell JA, Ramirez DL. Timeliness of care for breast cancer patients with a single day multidisciplinary clinic. 2023 ASCO Annual Meeting 41(16).
- Lim B, Seth S, Huo L, Layman R, Valero V, Thompson A, White J, Litton J, Damodaran S, Candelaria R, Arun B, Rauch G, Murthy R, Zhao L, Zhang J, Ding Q, Symmans SW, Ramirez D, Ibrahim N, Thomas P, Moulder S, Ueno NT. Comprehensive Profiling of Androgen Receptor-Positive (AR+) Triple-Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC) Patients Treated with Standard Neoadjuvant Therapy (NAT)+/-Enzalutamide. 2020 ASCO.
- Damodaran S, Lu D, Schwartz-Gomer J, Valero V, Ramirez D, Saleem S, Ueno NT, Ibrahim NK, Karuturi M, Murthy RK, Moulder SL, Litton JK. A phase Ib trial of bintrafusp alfa and eribulin in patients with metastatic triple negative breast cancer (TNBC). San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium 2022.
Book Chapters
- Ramirez DL, Hughes C, Eid A. Oncology Fourth Addition. In: Approach to Internal Medicine. Springer, 203-257, 2015.
Web Publications
- Klein K, Hwang J, Valero V, Ramirez D, Kaushik J. Viral Hepatitis Screening in Early Breast Cancer Patients Receiving Cancer Therapy: A Quality Improvement Initiative, 2026.
- Newman AB, Damodaran S, Ramirez DL, Keyomarsi K, Barcenas CH. CDK4/6 Inhibitor Rechallenge in ER-Positive Breast Cancer: Understanding Which Patient Populations May Benefit.
Patient Reviews
CV information above last modified August 18, 2026