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Michael M. Frumovitz, M. D., M.P.H.

Present Title & Affiliation

Primary Appointment

Assistant Professor, Department of Gynecologic Oncology, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX

Dual/Joint/Adjunct Appointment

Assistant Professor, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, Division of Gynecologic Oncology, The University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, TX
Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hermann Hospital, Houston, TX
Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX

Bio Statement

As a member of the M. D. Anderson Outreach Program, Dr. Frumovitz provides medical and surgical care to women with gynecologic malignancies in the greater Houston area.  His appointment to the faculty of Gynecologic Oncology at M.D. Anderson combined with his privileges at St. Luke’s Episcopal Hospital, Memorial Hermann Hospital, the Woman’s Hospital of Texas, Methodist Hospital, and Lyndon B. Johnson Hospital enable patients to be seen in a private-practice office setting with access to the amenities and specialized services of M. D. Anderson Cancer Center including radiation oncology, pathology review and clinical trials.

After graduating from the M. D. Anderson Gynecologic Oncology fellowship, Dr. Frumovitz was awarded the prestigious Fulbright Scholarship to pursue advanced laparoscopic training for the treatment of gynecologic malignancies in Lille, France.  He currently performs minimally invasive surgery for appropriate patients with cervical, endometrial, and early-stage ovarian cancers.  Dr. Frumovitz believes in working closely with the patient, the referring doctor and other subspecialty physicians in order to provide quality care through a comprehensive, multidisciplinary approach.

In addition to providing excellent patient care, Dr. Frumovitz continues to pursue his research interests which include quality of life and minimally invasive surgery for gynecologic cancers.  In addition, Dr. Frumovitz has pursued development of lymphatic mapping techniques for gynecologic malignancies and currently is the Principal Investigator or Co-principal Investigator on mapping studies of the vulva, vagina, and cervix.  He has authored and co-authored numerous articles in peer-reviewed journals on these and other subjects.  In addition, he has been invited to write book chapters and review articles on a variety of topics in gynecologic oncology.  Dr. Frumovitz remains an active speaker, both nationally and internationally.

Dr. Frumovitz is a member of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the Society of Gynecologic Oncologists where he sits on the Government Relations Committee and is board certified in Obstetrics and Gynecology and Gynecologic Oncology.  In addition, he serves as Reviewer for Gynecologic Oncology, the International Journal of Gynecologic Cancer, Obstetrics & Gynecology (popularly known as The Green Journal), and Annals of Surgical Oncology.


Office Address

The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center
1155 Herman Pressler Drive
P. O. Box 301439
Unit Number: Unit 1362
Houston, TX 77030
Room Number: CPB6.3562
Fax: (713) 792-7586

Education & Training

Degree-Granting Education

2004 The University of Texas at Houston School of Public Health, Houston, TX, MPH, Public Health
1997 University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, MD, Doctor of Medicine
1991 University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, BA, History of Art

Postgraduate Training

2003-2005 Clinical Fellowship, Gynecologic Oncology, University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, Diane Bodurka, M.D.
2001-2003 Research Fellowship, Gynecologic Oncology, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, Diane Bodurka, M.D.
1998-2001 Clinical Residency, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Columbia-Presbyterian Hospital, New York, NY, Jodi Lerner, M.D.
1997-1998 Clinical Internship, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Columbia-Presbyterian Hospital, New York, NY, Jodi Lerner, M.D.

Board Certifications

2008 American Board of Obstetrics & Gynecology Division of Gynecologic Oncology
2007 American Board of Obstetrics & Gynecology

Experience/Service

Administrative Appointments/Responsibilities

Resident Rotation Program Coordinator, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 2006-present
Fellowship Program Assistant Director, Department of Gynecologic Oncology, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 2006-present

Honors and Awards

2009 AAOGF Travel Award, The American Association of Obstetricians and Gynecologists Foundation
2008 AAOGF Travel Award, The American Association of Obstetricians and Gynecologists Foundation
2005 FRS Award for Outstanding Abstract Presentation, Felix Rutledge Society
2005 Fulbright Scholarship
2004 GlaxoSmithKline Fellows' Forum Award for Outstanding Podium Presentation
2001 Howard C. Taylor Resident Teaching Award
2000 Arnold P. Gold Foundation Humanism and Excellence in Teaching Award
2000 Solan Chao, M.D. Medical Teaching Award
1999 Arnold P. Gold Teaching Award
1997 Commencement Speaker, UCLA School of Medicine
1996 Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Honor Society
1994 AMSA/HPDP Fellowship

Professional Memberships

American Association of Gynecologic Laparoscopists
Member, Gynecologic Oncology Committee, 2008-present
Member, 2006-present
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
Member, 1997-present
American College of Surgeons
Member, 2008-present
Felix Rutledge Society
Member, Executive Board, 2008-present
Member, 2005-present
Harris County Medical Society, Houston, TX
Alternate Delegate to the Texas Medical Association representing the Houston Gynecological & Obstetrical Society, 2009
Houston Gynecology and Obstetrics Society, Houston, TX
Member-at-Large, Executive Board, 2009-present
Member, 2006-present
Society of Gynecologic Oncologists
Member, Government Relations Committee, 2005-present
Fellow Representative, Fellows Task Force Committee, 2003-2005
Member, 2001-present
Society of Laparoendoscopic Surgeons
Member, 2006-present

Selected Publications

Peer-Reviewed Original Research Articles
1. Frumovitz M, Sun C, Drip, Schmeler K, Deavers M, dos Reis R, Levenback C, Ramirez P. Parametrial involvement in radical hysterectomy specimens for women with early-stage cervical cancer. Obstet Gynecol 114(1):93-99, 7/2009. PMID: 19546764.
2. Ricks AM, Han LY, Rashid A, Frumovitz M. Gallbladder carcinoma presenting as a pelvic mass with elevated serum testosterone: A case report. J Reprod Med 54(4):259-260, 4/2009. PMID: 19438170.
3. Kitahara S, Walsh C, Frumovitz M, Malpica A, Silva EG. Vascular Pseudoinvasion in Laparoscopic Hysterectomy Specimens for Endometrial Carcinoma: A Grossing Artifact? Am J Surg Pathol 33(2):298-303, 2/1/2009. e-Pub 11/3/2008. PMID: 18987543.
4. Mabrouk M, Frumovitz M, Greer M, Sharma S, Schmeler KM, Soliman PT, Ramirez PT. Trends in laparoscopic and robotic surgery among gynecologic oncologists: A survey update. Gynecol Oncol 112(3). e-Pub 1/2009. PMID: 19138793.
5. Suri A, Frumovitz M, Milam MR, dos Reis R, Ramirez PT. Preoperative pathologic findings associated with residual disease at radical hysterectomy in women with stage IA2 cervical cancer. Gynecol Oncol 112(1). e-Pub 10/2008. PMID: 18952270.
6. Frumovitz M, Sun CC, Jhingran A, Schmeler KM, Dos Reis R, Milam MR, Soliman PT, Taylor K, Ramirez PT. Radical hysterectomy in obese and morbidly obese women with cervical cancer. Obstet Gynecol 112(4):899-905, 10/2008. PMID: 18827134.
7. Frumovitz M, Soliman PT, Greer M, Schmeler KM, Moroney J, Bodurka DC, Ramirez PT. Laparoscopy training in gynecologic oncology fellowship programs. Gynecol Oncol 111(2). e-Pub 9/20/2008. PMID: 18804849.
8. Obermair A, Gebski V, Frumovitz M, Soliman PT, Schmeler KM, Levenback C, Ramirez PT. A phase III randomized clinical trial comparing laparoscopic or robotic radical hysterectomy with abdominal radical hysterectomy in patients with early stage cervical cancer. J Minim Invasive Gynecol 15(5):584-8, Sep-Oct, 9/2008. PMID: 18722970.
9. Euscher ED, Malpica A, Atkinson EN, Levenback CF, Frumovitz M, Deavers MT. Ultrastaging Improves Detection of Metastases in Sentinel Lymph Nodes of Uterine Cervix Squamous Cell Carcinoma. Am J Surg Pathol 32(9):1336-43, 7/30/2008. PMID: 18670356.
10. Frumovitz M, Levenback CF. Is lymphatic mapping in uterine cancer feasible? Ann Surg Oncol 15(7):1815-7, 7/2008. e-Pub 5/13/2008. PMID: 18473144.
11. Ramirez PT, Soliman PT, Schmeler KM, dos Reis R, Frumovitz M. Laparoscopic and robotic techniques for radical hysterectomy in patients with early-stage cervical cancer. Gynecol Oncol 110(3 Suppl 2):S21-4, 5/19/2008. e-Pub 5/19/2008. PMID: 18486966.
12. Ramirez PT, Frumovitz M, Dos Reis R, Milam MR, Bevers MW, Levenback CF, Coleman RL. Modified uterine manipulator and vaginal rings for total laparoscopic radical hysterectomy. Int J Gynecol Cancer 18(3):571-5, 5/2008. e-Pub 8/10/2007. PMID: 17692091.
13. Frumovitz M, Levenback CF. Lymphatic mapping and sentinel node biopsy in vulvar, vaginal, and cervical cancers. Oncology (Williston Park) 22(5):529-36; discussion 538-9, 542-3, 4/30/2008. PMID: 18533402.
14. Frumovitz M, Gayed IW, Jhingran A, Euscher ED, Coleman RL, Ramirez PT, Levenback CF. Lymphatic mapping and sentinel lymph node detection in women with vaginal cancer. Gynecol Oncol 108(3):478-81, 3/2008. e-Pub 1/2008. PMID: 18190952.
15. dos Reis R, Frumovitz M, Milam MR, Capp E, Sun CC, Coleman RL, Ramirez PT. Adenosquamous carcinoma versus adenocarcinoma in early-stage cervical cancer patients undergoing radical hysterectomy: An outcomes analysis. Gynecol Oncol 107:458-63, 9/2007. PMID: 17854872.
16. Frumovitz M, dos Reis R, Sun CC, Milam MR, Bevers MW, Brown J, Slomovitz BM, Ramirez PT. Comparison of total laparoscopic and abdominal radical hysterectomy for patients with early-stage cervical cancer. Obstet Gynecol 110:96-102, 7/2007. PMID: 17601902.
17. Milam MR, Frumovitz M, dos Reis R, Broaddus RR, Bassett RL Jr, Ramirez PT. Preoperative lymph-vascular space invasion is associated with nodal metastases in women with early-stage cervical cancer. Gynecol Oncol 106:12-5, 7/2007. PMID: 17498783.
18. Leblanc E, Narducci F, Frumovitz M, Lesoin A, Castelain B, Baranzelli MC, Taieb S, Fournier C, Querleu D. Therapeutic value of pretherapeutic extraperitoneal laparoscopic staging of locally advanced cervical carcinoma. Gynecol Oncol 105:304-11, 5/2007. PMID: 17258799.
19. Frumovitz M, Sood AK. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) pathway as a therapeutic target in gynecologic malignancies. Gynecol Oncol 104:768-78, 3/2007. PMID: 17306693.
20. Frumovitz M, Bodurka DC, Broaddus RR, Coleman RL, Sood AK, Gershenson DM, Burke TW, Levenback CF. Lymphatic mapping and sentinel node biopsy in women with high-risk endometrial cancer. Gynecol Oncol 104:100-3, 1/2007. PMID: 16963111.
21. Slomovitz BM, Sun CC, Frumovitz M, Soliman PT, Schmeler KM, Pearson HC, Berenson A, Ramirez PT, Lu KH, Bodurka DC. Are women ready for the HPV vaccine? Gynecol Oncol 103:151-4, 10/2006. PMID: 16551476.
22. Slomovitz BM, Ramirez PT, Frumovitz M, Soliman PT, Bevers M, Coleman RL, Levenback C. Electrothermal bipolar coagulation for pelvic exenterations. Gynecol Oncol 102:534-6, 9/2006. PMID: 16483643.
23. Zighelboim I, Ramirez PT, Gao F, Slomovitz BM, Sun C, Frumovitz M, Jhingran A, Levenback C. Retroperitoneal lymph node resection in patients with cervical cancer. Surg Oncol 15:79-83, 8/2006. PMID: 17035002.
24. Elting LS, Cooksley C, Bekele BN, Frumovitz M, Avritscher EB, Sun C, Bodurka DC. Generalizability of cancer clinical trial results: prognostic differences between participants and nonparticipants. Cancer 106(11):2452-8, 6/2006. PMID: 16639738.
25. Frumovitz M, Coleman RL, Gayed IW, Ramirez PT, Wolf JK, Gershenson DM, Levenback CF. Usefulness of preoperative lymphoscintigraphy in patients who undergo radical hysterectomy and pelvic lymphadenectomy for cervical cancer. Am J Obstet Gynecol 194(4):1186-93; discussion 1193-5, 4/2006. PMID: 16580331.
26. Frumovitz M, Gershenson DM. Fertility-sparing therapy for young women with endometrial cancer. Expert Rev Anticancer Ther 6(1):27-32, 2006. PMID: 16375641.
27. Frumovitz M, Ramirez PT, Levenback C. Lymphatic mapping and sentinel node detection in gynecologic malignancies of the lower genital tract. Curr Oncol Rep 7(6):435-43, 11/2005. PMID: 16221380.
28. Sun CC, Frumovitz M, Bodurka DC. Quality of life and gynecologic malignancies. Curr Oncol Rep 7(6):459-65, 11/2005. PMID: 16221383.
29. Frumovitz M, Sun CC, Schover LR, Munsell MF, Jhingran A, Wharton JT, Eifel P, Bevers TB, Levenback CF, Gershenson DM, Bodurka DC. Quality of life and sexual functioning in cervical cancer survivors. J Clin Oncol 23(30):7428-36, 10/2005. PMID: 16234510.
30. Marquez RT, Baggerly KA, Patterson AP, Liu J, Broaddus R, Frumovitz M, Atkinson EN, Smith DI, Hartmann L, Fishman D, Berchuck A, Whitaker R, Gershenson DM, Mills GB, Bast RC, Jr, Lu KH. Patterns of gene expression in different histotypes of epithelial ovarian cancer correlate with those in normal fallopian tube, endometrium, and colon. Clin Cancer Res 11(17):6116-26, 9/2005. PMID: 16144910.
31. Hoekstra AV, Riben MW, Frumovitz M, Liu J, Ramirez PT. Well-differentiated papillary mesothelioma of the peritoneum: a pathological analysis and review of the literature. Gynecol Oncol 98(1):161-7, 7/2005. PMID: 15894368.
32. Martinez-Roman S, Frumovitz M, Deavers MT, Ramirez PT. Metastatic carcinoma of the gallbladder mimicking an advanced cervical carcinoma. Gynecol Oncol 97(3):942-5, 6/2005. PMID: 15943996.
33. Frumovitz M, Singh DK, Meyer L, Smith DH, Wertheim I, Resnik E, Bodurka DC. Predictors of final histology in patients with endometrial cancer. Gynecol Oncol 95(3):463-8, 12/2004. PMID: 15581947.
34. Ramirez PT, Frumovitz M, Wolf JK, Levenback C. Laparoscopic port-site metastases in patients with gynecological malignancies. Int J Gynecol Cancer 14(6):1070-7, 11/2004. PMID: 15571612.
35. Ramirez PT, Frumovitz M, Bodurka DC, Sun CC, Levenback C. Hormonal therapy for the management of grade 1 endometrial adenocarcinoma: a literature review. Gynecol Oncol 95(1):133-8, 10/2004. PMID: 15385122.
36. Frumovitz M, Slomovitz BM, Singh DK, Broaddus RR, Abrams J, Sun CC, Bevers M, Bodurka DC. Frozen section analyses as predictors of lymphatic spread in patients with early-stage uterine cancer. J Am Coll Surg 199(3):388-93, 9/2004. PMID: 15325608.
37. Frumovitz M, Ramirez PT, Greer M, Gregurich MA, Wolf J, Bodurka DC, Levenback C. Laparoscopic training and practice in gynecologic oncology among Society of Gynecologic Oncologists members and fellows-in-training. Gynecol Oncol 94(3):746-53, 9/2004. PMID: 15350368.
38. Frumovitz M, Ramirez PT, Tortolero-Luna G, Malpica A, Eifel P, Burke TW, Levenback C. Characteristics of recurrence in patients who underwent lymphatic mapping for vulvar cancer. Gynecol Oncol 92(1):205-10, 2004. PMID: 14751159.
39. Frumovitz MM. Thomas Eakins' Agnew Clinic. a study of medicine through art. Obstet Gynecol 100(6):1296-300, 12/2002. PMID: 12468177.
40. Lindheim SR, Frumovitz M, Sauer MV. Recruitment and screening policies and procedures used to establish a paid donor oocyte registry. Hum Reprod 13(7):2020-4, 7/1998. PMID: 9740470.
41. Wayne NL, Frumovitz M. Calcium influx following onset of electrical afterdischarge is not required for hormone secretion from neuroendocrine cells of Aplysia. Endocrinology 136(1):369-72, 1995. PMID: 7828555.
42. Braunstein GD, Frumovitz M, Do L, Seliktar J, Gonzales E. The beta-core fragment of chorionic gonadotropin is not complexed to macromolecules in amniotic fluid. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 78(6):1349-53, 6/1994. PMID: 7515386.

Invited Articles
1. Ramirez PT, Schmeler KM, Soliman PT, Frumovitz M. Fertility preservation in patients with early cervical cancer: Radical trachelectomy. Gynecol Oncol 110(3 Suppl 2):S25-8, 5/2008. e-Pub 5/2008. PMID: 18501409.
2. Frumovitz M, Ramirez PT, Levenback CF. Lymphatic mapping and sentinel lymph node detection in women with cervical cancer. Gynecol Oncol 110(3 Suppl 2):S17-20, 5/2008. e-Pub 5/2008. PMID: 18502488.
3. Frumovitz M, Ramirez PT. Total laparoscopic radical hysterectomy: Surgical technique and instrumentation. Gynecol Oncol 104:S13-S16, 2/2007. PMID: 17157362.
4. Coleman RL, Frumovitz M, Levenback CF. Current perspectives on lymphatic mapping in carcinomas of the uterine corpus and cervix. J Natl Compr Canc Netw 4(5):471-8, 5/2006. PMID: 16687095.

Book Chapters
1. Frumovitz M. Lymphatic mapping and sentinel node biopsy in gynecologic cancers. In: Textbook in Gynaecologıcal Oncology. Ed(s) Ali Ayhan, Murat Gultekın, Polat Dursun. Gunes Tıp Kıtabevleri: Ankara, Turkey, 2009.
2. Frumovitz M, Slomovitz BM, Bodurka DC. Obstetric and Gynecologic Issues. In: Medical Care of Cancer Patients. Ed(s) Sai-Ching Jim Yeung, MD, PhD; Carmen P. Escalante, MD; Robert F. Gagel, MD. B. C. Decker, Inc., People's Medical Publishing House: Shelton, Connecticut, 641-646, 2009.
3. Frumovitz M, Bodurka DC. Neoplastic diseases of the vulva. In: Comprehensive Gynecology, 5th. Ed(s) Katz VL, Lentz GM, Lobo RA, Gershenson DM. Mosby Elsevier: Philadelphia, 781-800, 2007.
4. Frumovitz M, Levenback C, Coleman R. Predictive values of sentinel lymph nodes. In: Prognostic and Predictive Factors in Gynecologic Cancers. Informa UK Ltd: London, 325-336, 2007.

Last updated: 9/11/2009