Denise Renee Nebgen, M.D., Ph.D.
Department of Gynecologic Oncology and Reproductive Medicine, Division of Surgery
About Dr. Denise Renee Nebgen
Dr. Denise Nebgen is a Professor in the Department of Gynecologic Oncology and Reproductive Medicine. She is a native Texan who received her MD and PhD from Northwestern University. As a general gynecologist, she provides comprehensive gynecologic care for women with cancer. Her specialties include the treatment of abnormal uterine bleeding, menopausal disorders, cervical dysplasia and ovarian cysts. She also treats vulvar disorders including graft vs. host disease, lichen planus and sclerosis. Dr. Nebgen manages the High Risk Ovarian Screening clinic which focuses on the management of women who have a genetically high risk for gynecologic cancer. She is the Principal Investigator on a first United States trial of prophylactic salpingectomy and delayed oophorectomy in BRCA patients. She is also a co-investigator on multiple quality of life studies.
Dr. Nebgen is Board Certified in Obstetrics and Gynecology and is an active member of the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Texas Association of Obstetrics and Gynecology. She is also on the Board of the Houston Gynecologic and Obstetric Society. Her clinical excellence and caring have been recognized in Houston’s Top Doctors, Texas Super Doctors, and Marquis Who’s Who in America.
Present Title & Affiliation
Primary Appointment
Professor, Gynecologic Oncology and Reproductive Medicine, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Dual/Joint/Adjunct Appointment
Professor, Gynecologic Oncology & Reproductive Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
Education & Training
Degree-Granting Education
| 1997 | Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, US, MD |
| 1995 | Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, US, Ph.D. in Molecular Biology and Biochemistry |
| 1988 | The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas, US, DDS in Dentistry |
Postgraduate Training
| 2019-2025 | Certified Menopause Practitioner (CMP), Menopause Society, Chicago, Illinois |
| 2018-2018 | Operative Hysteroscopic Treatment of Uterine Disorders, Medtronic Medical Education Program, Scottsdale, Arizona |
| 2015-2015 | Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery, AAGL 2015 Global Congress, Las Vegas, Nevada |
| 2015-2015 | Heart of Leadership Program, M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas |
| 2014-2014 | Faculty and Academic Development, Mastering Workplace Performance, M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas |
| 2014-2014 | Women Faculty Programs Course, Executive Training - Learning to Ask, M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas |
| 2012-2012 | Robotic Training, Gynecologic Oncology, Intuitive Surgical, da Vinci Surgical System, Houston, Texas |
| 2012-2012 | Mintos Course, Minimally Invasive Technology in Oncologic Surgery, M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston |
| 2012-2012 | Writing Winning Grants, M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas |
| 1997-2001 | Internship and Residency, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas |
| 1989-1990 | Internship, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois |
| 1988-1989 | Fellowship, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Baylor College of Dentistry, Dallas, Texas |
Licenses & Certifications
| 2026 | Texas Medical License |
| 2004 | American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology |
| 1999 | DEA |
Experience & Service
Other Professional Positions
EHR Super User, One Connect Electronic Health Record Transition, Houston, TX, 2015 - 2018
MD, Private Practice - Obstetrics & Gynecology, Houston, TX, 2001 - 2011
Intramural Institutional Committee Activities
Reviewer, Survivorship - Anal Cancer algorithm, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2026 - Present
Extramural Institutional Committee Activities
Member, Care Transformation Team Gynecologic Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2022 - Present
Member, Breast Service Line Center of Excellence, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2021 - Present
Member, Academic Leadership Team (ALT), The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2020 - Present
Member, LEAD Li-Fraumeni Program Clinical Working Group, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2019 - Present
Reviewer, Clinical Effectiveness, Algorithm, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2014 - Present
Member, Clinical Cancer Genetics Committee, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2012 - Present
Editorial Activities
Member of Editorial Review Board, National Comprehensive Cancer Network Review Board, 2016 - Present
Honors & Awards
| 2018 | Distinguished Educator Award, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Clinical Cancer Prevention |
| 2011 - 2023 | Best Doctors in Texas, Best Doctors Inc |
| 2011 - 2023 | Texas Super Doctors |
| 2010 - 2020 | Marquis Who's Who in the World |
| 2010 - 2015 | Marquis Who's Who in American Women |
| 2009 - 2021 | Marquis Who's Who in America |
| 1993 | Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Foundation Research Award |
| 1992 | American Association Dental Research (AADR) Chicago, Young Investigators Award |
| 1991 - 1995 | Northwestern University, Oral Biology Grant, National Institute of Health ($25,000) |
| 1991 | University of Chicago Surgical Training Grant, National Institute of Health |
| 1988 | Dental College Dean's List UTHSC-SA |
| 1988 | Quintessence Clinical Achievement in Restorative Dentistry Award |
Professional Memberships
Grant & Contract Support
| Date: | 2024 - 2025 |
| Title: | Early Detection of Ovarian Cancer: Normal Risk Ovarian Cancer Screening Study 2 (NROSS2) |
| Funding Source: | VICTORY Houston |
| Role: | PI |
| ID: | FP24584 |
Selected Publications
Peer-Reviewed Articles
- Aoun E, Lawson B, Awujo C, Nebgen D, Soletsky BR, Chisholm GB, Lu KH, Nitecki Wilke R. Oncologic outcomes of incidental serous tubal intraepithelial carcinoma and associated high-grade serous carcinoma in high-risk patients undergoing risk-reducing surgery. Int J Gynecol Cancer 36(2), 2024. e-Pub 2024. PMID: 39496390.
- Nebgen DR, Cheng L, Alousi AM, Ferrajoli A. Decreased Transfusions in Premenopausal Patients Undergoing Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem-Cell Transplantation Given Leuprolide According to an Abnormal Uterine Bleeding Algorithm. JCO Oncol Pract 21(4):OP2400169, 2024. e-Pub 2024. PMID: 39284100.
- Arzola A, Chang E, Rooney MK, Corrigan K, Das P, Ludmir EB, Koay EJ, Minsky BD, Smith GL, Messick C, Morris VK, Nebgen D, Crane CH, Holliday EB. Daily Vaginal Dilator Use During Radiation for Women With Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Anus: Vaginal Wall Dosimetry and Patient-Reported Sexual Function. Pract Radiat Oncol 14(2):e105-e116, 2024. e-Pub 2024. PMID: 37898354.
- Nebgen, D, Domchek, SM, Kotsopoulos, J, De Hullu, JA, Crosbie, EJ, Paramanandam, VS, Brood - van Zanten, MM, Norquist, BM, Guise, TA, Rozenberg, S, Kurian, A, Pederson, HJ, Yuksel, N, Michaelson-Cohen, R, Bober, SL, da Silva Filho, AL, Johansen, N, Guidozzi, F, Evans, G, Menon, U, Kingsberg, SA, Powell, CB, Grandi, G, Marchetti, C, Jacobson, M, Brennan, DJ, Hickey, M. Care after premenopausal risk-reducing salpingo-oophorectomy in high-risk women. BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology 130(12):1437-1450, 2023. e-Pub 2023. PMID: 37132126.
- Rayes N, Bowen D, Peterson CB, Norquist BM, Coffin T, Gavin K, Polinsky D, Crase J, Bakkum-Gamez JN, Blank SV, Munsell MF, Nebgen D, Fleming GF, Olopade OI, Law S, Zhou A, Levine DA, D'Andrea A, Lu KH, Swisher,EM. Remotely Delivered Cancer Genetic Testing in the Making Genetic Testing Accessible (MAGENTA) Trial: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Oncol 9(11):1547-1555, 2023. e-Pub 2023. PMID: 37707822.
- Coffin, T, Bowen, D, Swisher, EM, Lu, KH, Rayes, N, Norquist, BM, Blank, S, Levine, DA, Bakkum-Gamez, JN, Fleming, GF, Olopade, OI, D’Andrea, AD, Nebgen, D, Peterson, CB, Munsell, M, Gavin, K, Lechner, R, Crase, J, Polinsky, D, Romero, IL. An Accessible Communication System for Population-Based Genetic Testing. JMIR Formative Research 6(10), 2022. e-Pub 2022. PMID: 36251350.
- Coffin, T, Bowen, D, Lu, KH, Swisher, EM, Rayes, N, Norquist, BM, Blank, S, Levine, DA, Bakkum-Gamez, JN, Fleming, GF, Olopade, OI, Romero, IL, D'Andrea, A, Nebgen, D, Peterson, CB, Munsell, M, Gavin, K, Crase, J, Polinsky, D, Lechner, R. Using Social Media to Facilitate Communication About Women’s Testing. JMIR Formative Research 6(9), 2022. e-Pub 2022. PMID: 36155347.
- Ryan, NA, Snowsill, T, McKenzie, E, Monahan, KJ, Nebgen, D. Should women with Lynch syndrome be offered gynaecological cancer surveillance?. The BMJ 374, 2021. e-Pub 2021. PMID: 34475027.
Abstracts
- Cun HT, Nebgen DR, Lu KH. The complexity of decision-making for risk-reducing surgery in women with lynch syndrome, 2020. e-Pub 2020.
- Nebgen D, Lu, KH, Chisholm GB, Sun C, Earles T, Soletsky BR, Lynch PM. Lynch Syndrome: Combined endometrial and colon cancer screening results. 8th Biennial Meeting, International Society for Gastrointestinal Hereditary Tumors, 2019. e-Pub 2019.
- Gillespie JL, Chisholm GB, Nebgen DN. Use of Transvaginal Ultrasound in the Evaluation of Endometrial Pathology in Women with a History of Tamoxifen Use and Postmenopausal Bleeding. Poster presentation, WAGO Annual Conference, Park City, UT(2016-0370), 2018. e-Pub 2018.
- Nebgen DR. Serous Tubal Intraepithelial Carcinoma (STIC) in High-Risk Patients: Age, Risk of Primary Peritoneal Cancer, and Precursor Escape. SGO.
Book Chapters
- Dunn, TN, Nebgen, D. Nonpregnant and False-Positive Causes of β-hCG Elevation, 132-146, 2024.
- Nebgen, D, Palaszewski, D. Abnormal Uterine Bleeding, 24-37, 2024.
- Daniels, MS, Nebgen, D, Ryan, N. Hereditary Gynecologic Cancer Predisposition Syndromes, 38-59, 2024.
Books (edited and written)
- Nebgen DR, McKenzie L. Caring for the Female Cancer Patient – Gynecologic Considerations, 2024.
- McKenzie, LJ, Nebgen, D. Caring for the Female Cancer Patient - Gynecologic Considerations, 2024.
Patient Reviews
CV information above last modified September 03, 2026