Kathryn J Burk, M.D.
Department of Emergency Medicine, Division of Internal Medicine
About Dr. Kathryn J Burk
Dr. Kathryn Burk is a provider in the MD Anderson Emergency Center and an Assistant Professor in the Department of Emergency Medicine. She is board-certified in Emergency Medicine and joined MD Anderson in 2014.
Present Title & Affiliation
Primary Appointment
Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Emergency Medicine, Division of Internal Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Education & Training
Degree-Granting Education
| 2008 | University of Texas Medical School at Houston, Houston, Texas, US, MD |
| 2003 | Baylor University, Waco, Texas, US, Bachelor of Arts, BA |
Postgraduate Training
| 2008-2011 | Clinical Residency, Emergency Medicine, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York |
| 2008-2008 | Medical Humanities, UT McGovern Center for Health, Humanities, and the Human Spirit, Houston, Texas |
Licenses & Certifications
| 2017 | American Heart Association |
| 2016 | Texas Medical Board |
| 2015 | American Heart Association |
| 2014 | Drug Enforcement Agency |
| 2013 | American Board of Emergency Medicine |
Experience & Service
Other Professional Positions
data gathering and supervising attending for first and second year UTHSC medical students, Malnutrition Clinic in Cuilapa, Guatemala, Cuilapa, 2014
Emergency Medicine Representative, Graduate Medical Education Committee, Houston, TX, 2010 - 2011
Treated patients for malaria, dengue, gastritis. Emergency care for the town of Petit Goave overnight. Included Red Cross hospital transfers by pickup truck, seven baby deliveries, penetrating trauma, and resuscitation cases, Walk-in Clinic in Leogane/Petit Goave, Haiti, Leogane/Petit Goave, 2010
Volunteer, Back-to-School Check, Houston, 2009
Provided obstetrical and gynecologic care, adult medicine and pediatric coverage in clinic. Provided health promotion education on malnutrition, dehydration and water sanitation to area ‘comedronas’ (village midwife), Clinic serving remote villages in Southern Guatemala, Nueva Santa Rosa, 2008 - 2014
Student Preceptee for Adult Medicine Clinic, Scribe for pharmacy refill, Hurricane Katrina Relief / George R. Brown Convention Center effort, Houston, TX, 2005
Chapter President, American Medical Women's Association, Houston, TX, 2005 - 2006
Raised funds for orphan charity, on-site home building, saw patients in clinic along side health officer. Spoke with ‘nursemothers’ about village health concerns, visited area schools, Watoto Village Orphan Charity, Watoto Village, 2005
Vice President, Chi's Service Sorority, Baylor University, Waco, TX, 2002 - 2002
Volunteer/assisted with English courses at La Universidad de Guadalajara, La Universidad de Guadalajara, Guadalajara, 2001
Member, Chi's Service Sorority, Baylor University, Waco, TX, 2001 - 2003
Intramural Institutional Committee Activities
Co-Chair, Wellness Initiative/Burn-Out Committee, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2019 - 2024
Extramural Institutional Committee Activities
Member, Patient Experience Committee, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2020
Member, Infection Control Committee, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2020 - Present
Member, EC Transformation Committee, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2020 - Present
Member, CREWS Champion, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2020 - Present
Selected Presentations & Talks
Local Presentations
- 2023. Use of Steroids in Cancer Patients - The Mystery of Steroids. Conference. 2023 Virtual Oncologic Emergency Medicine Conference. Houston, TX, US.
- 2022. Tumor Bleeding and Management. Invited. 2022 Oncologic Emergency Medicine Conference. Houston, Texas, US.
- 2020. Breaking Bad: Difficult Conversations in the Emergency Department. Invited. 2020 Oncologic Emergency Medicine Conference. Houston, TX, US.
- 2018. Dermatologic Emergencies. Invited. 2018 Oncologic Emergency Medicine Conference. Houston, TX, US.
- 2008. Suture / Splinting lab instructor. Conference. Baylor University, US.
- 2005. Medical Humanities Retreat. Conference. Baylor University, US.
Formal Peers
- 2025. Serious Illness Conversation Guide. Houston, Texas, US.
- 2024. Neutropenic Fever. Houston, Texas, US.
- 2024. Consultation Communication. Houston, Texas, US.
- 2021. Difficult Discussions: Showing Up Well. Visiting. Houston, TX, US.
- 2016. Chemotherapy Induced Nausea and Vomiting. Visiting. Houston, TX, US.
- 2016. Dermatologic Emergencies. Visiting. Houston, TX, US.
- 2012. Ethics - for Second Year Medical Students. Conference. Houston, TX, US.
- 2010. Haiti Transformed: Report from Petit Goave. Visiting, US.
- 2010. Key Management of Obstetrical / Gynecologic Emergencies for EMT/Paramedics Obstetric and Gynecologic Concerns in Emergency Medicine. Visiting. Houston, TX, US.
- 2009. Toxic Heart: Ingestions with Cardiotoxicity. Visiting. Rochester, NY, US.
- 2009. Core Concepts in Anesthesia and Sedation. Visiting. Rochester, NY, US.
- 2009. Ultrasound Review: Bedside Echo. Visiting. Rochester, NY, US.
Selected Publications
Peer-Reviewed Articles
- Burk, KJ, Stroh, JJ, Larkin, K, Chaftari, P, Langabeer, DM, Menendez, JR, Woodruff, JF, Hargrave, J, Zhu, H, Long, JP, Yeung, SJ, Alagappan, K, Qdaisat, AZ. Empathy Unmasked: Patient Perception of Physician Empathy in an Oncologic Emergency Setting. Journal of Emergency Medicine 68:43-53, 2025. e-Pub 2025. PMID: 39800593.
- Escobar A, Salem AM, Dickson K, Johnson TN, Burk KJ, Bashoura L, Faiz SA. Anticoagulation and bleeding in the cancer patient. Support Care Cancer 30(10):8547-8557, 2022. e-Pub 2022. PMID: 35579752.
Review Articles
- Cruz Carreras, MT, González Landrón, F, López, N, Padrón Alcántara, L, Markides, DM, Burk, KJ, Chaftari, P. Hematologic immune-related adverse effects of immune checkpoint inhibitors. Supportive Care in Cancer 33(10), 2025. e-Pub 2025. PMID: 41055801.
- Zoghbi M, Burk KJ, Haroun E, Saade M, Carreras MTC. Immune checkpoint inhibitor-induced diarrhea and colitis: an overview. Support Care Cancer 32(10):680, 2024. e-Pub 2024. PMID: 39311981.
Abstracts
- Robinson DJ, Oakes JL, Jones N, Burk K, Kingeter A, Kaden A, Roberts M. Incidental Pneumothorax Found after Blunt Abdominal Trauma. Annals of Emergency Medicine 52(4):S144, 2008. e-Pub 2008.
Patient Reviews
CV information above last modified March 30, 2026