Meet Richard Ehlers, M.D.
Richard A Ehlers II, MD, FACS
Department of Breast Surgical Oncology, Division of Surgery
About Dr. Ehlers II
Dr. Ehlers is a native Texan, born in Vernon, TX. He is a graduate of Rice University (B.A. 1991) and The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston (M.D. 1995, M.S. 1999). After medical school, he completed residency training in the Department of Surgery at The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston in 2002. He went on to become a Fellow and Clinical Specialist at The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in the Departments of Surgical Oncology and Critical Care. In 2010, he rejoined the staff of The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center where he now serves as the Executive Medical Director and Associate Vice President for all of M.D. Anderson’s Houston Area Locations outside of the Texas Medical Center. Dr. Ehlers specializes in the care of patients with breast cancer and melanoma. He is certified by the American Board of Surgery and is a Fellow of the Society of Surgical Oncology, the American Society of Breast Surgeons, and the American College of Surgeons and is a member of the American Association for Physician Leadership and the American College of Healthcare Executives.
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Present Title & Affiliation
Primary Appointment
Executive Medical Director, Division of Houston Area Locations, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Associate Vice President, Division of Houston Area Locations, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Associate Professor, Department of Breast Surgical Oncology, Division of Surgery, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Dual/Joint/Adjunct Appointment
Associate Professor, Department of Surgery, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX
Hospital Appointment, Clear Lake Regional Medical Center, Clear Lake, TX
Hospital Appointment, St Luke's Woodlands Hospital, Woodlands, TX
Hospital Appointment, Memorial Hermann The Woodlands, The Woodlands, TX
Hospital Appointment, Memorial Hermann Pearland, Pearland, TX
Hospital Appointment, Memorial Hermann Memorial City Hospital, Houston, TX
Hospital Appointment, Memorial Hermann South East Hospital, Houston, TX
Education & Training
Degree-Granting Education
| 1999 | The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA, MS, Master of Medical Science |
| 1995 | The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA, MD, Doctor of Medicine |
| 1991 | Rice University, Houston, TX, USA, BA, English |
Postgraduate Training
| 2013-2018 | Certified Physician Executive, The American Association for Physician Leadership, Tampa, FL |
| 2002-2004 | Clinical Fellowship, Surgical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX |
| 1999-2002 | Clinical Residency, General Surgery, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX |
| 1997-1999 | Research Fellowship, Gastrointestinal physiology/molecular biology, Department of Surgery, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX |
| 1995-1997 | Clinical Internship, General Surgery, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX |
Board Certifications
| 2003 | Diplomat of the American Board of Surgery |
Experience & Service
Academic Appointments
Assistant Professor, Department of Surgery, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, 2016 - 2018
Center Medical Director, Division of Houston Area Locations (HALS), The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center - Bay Area, Nassau Bay, TX, 2012 - 2016
Hospital Appointment, St Luke's Sugar Land Hospital, Sugar Land, TX, 2010 - 2016
Assistant Professor, Department of Breast Surgical Oncology, Division of Surgery, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 2010 - 2016
Hospital Appointment, Houston Methodist St. John, Nassau Bay, TX, 2005 - 2017
Administrative Appointments/Responsibilities
Associate Medical Director, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 2010 - 2011
Chief of Surgery, San Jacinto Methodist Hospital, Baytown, TX, 2006 - 2006
Executive Director and Surgical Oncologist, Bay Area Cancer Surgery, Webster, TX, 2004 - 2008
Administrative Chief Resident, Department of Surgery, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, 2001 - 2002
Other Appointments/Responsibilities
Member, MD Anderson Ambulatory Practice Committee, Houston, TX, 2016 - 2017
Adventist Health Surgical site visit, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Network, Chicago, IL, 2015 - Present
Training and Manpower Pipeline Committee, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Network, Houston, TX, 2014 - 2015
Cancer Committee, Clear Lake Regional Medical Center, Houston, TX, 2014 - Present
Cancer Committee Member, Houston Methodist St. John Hospital, Nassau Bay, TX, 2013 - 2016
Surgical Executive Committee, Clear Lake Regional Medical Center, Houston, TX, 2008 - 2010
Surgical Oncologist, Surgical Specialists of Clear Lake, Clear Lake, TX, 2008 - 2010
Pharmacy and Therapeutics, ICU Advisory, General Medical Education, OR; Committee Member, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, 1996 - 1999
Cardiothoracic Surgery, Radiology, Pathology, Family Medicine; Internal Residency Review Committee, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, 1996 - 1998
Institutional Committee Activities
Committee Member, Clinical Operations Leadership Team, 2017 - Present
Committee Member, Institutional Biospecimen Utilization Committee, 2017 - Present
Committee Member, Patient Experience Strategic Initiative Task Force, 2017 - Present
Committee Member, Demand Generation Task Force, 2017 - 2019
Committee Member, Expansion Strategy Task Force, 2017 - 2017
Committee Member, Utilization Review Committee, 2015 - Present
Committee Member, Strategic Team P2-4 Room Allocation Strategy, 2014 - 2015
Committee Member, Medical Quality Planning, 2014 - Present
Committee Member, Division of Surgery Cancer Network Operations, 2014 - Present
Committee Member, Houston Strategy Advisory, 2014 - Present
Advisory Committee, Continuing Medical Education, 2011 - 2014
Honors & Awards
| 2006 | Smoke Free Spokesman, American Cancer Society |
| 1999 | Singleton Surgical Society Scientific Award, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX |
| 1998 | Jeanne B. Kempner Scholar Award, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX |
| 1996 | Outstanding Surgical PG-1 House Officer, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX |
| 1995 | Herman A. Barnett Memorial Award for Outstanding Performance in Anesthesiology and General Surgery, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX |
| 1994 | Honors in Surgery and Family Medicine, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX |
| 1994 | Alpha Omega Alpha National Medical Honor Society, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX |
| 1991 | Hanszen College of Senior Service Award, Rice University |
| 1987 | National Merit Scholar, Rice University |
Professional Memberships
Selected Publications
Peer-Reviewed Articles
- Fayanju OM, Mayo TL, Spinks TE, Lee S, Barcenas C, Smith BD, Giordano SH, Hwang RF, Ehlers RA, Selber JS, Walters R, Tripathy D, Hunt KK, Bucholz TA, Feeley TW, Kurer HM. Value-Based Breast Cancer Care: A Multidisciplinary Approach for Defining Patient-Centered Outcomes. Annals of Surgical Oncology, 2016. PMID: 26979306.
- Williams SA, Ehlers RA, Hunt KK, Yi M, Kuerer HM, Singletary SE, Ross MI, Feig BW, Symmans WF, Meric-Bernstam F. Metastases to the breast from non breast solid neoplasms: presentation and determinants of survival. Cancer 110(4):731-7, 2007. PMID: 17582626.
- Ethridge RT, Chung DH, Slogoff M, Ehlers RA, Hellmich MR, Rajaraman S, Saito H, Uchida T, Evers BM. Cyclooxygenase-2 gene disruption attenuates the severity of acute pancreatitis and pancreatitis-associated lung injury. Gastroenterology 123(4):1311-22, 2002. PMID: 12360491.
- Ethridge RT, Hashimoto K, Chung DH, Ehlers RA, Rajaraman S, Evers BM. Selective inhibition of NF-kappaB attenuates the severity of cerulein-induced acute pancreatitis. J Am Coll Surg 195(4):497-505, 2002. PMID: 12375755.
- Angel CA, Ehlers RA. Images in clinical medicine. Atloido-occipital dislocation in a small child after air-bag deployment. N Engl J Med 345(17):1256, 2001. PMID: 11680446.
- Ethridge RT, Ehlers RA, Hellmich MR, Rajaraman S, Evers BM. Acute pancreatitis results in induction of heat shock proteins 70 and 27 and heat shock factor-1. Pancreas 21(3):248-56, 2000. PMID: 11039468.
- Ehlers RA, Kim Sh, Zhang Y, Ethridge RT, Murrilo C, Hellmich MR, Evans DB, Townsend CM, Mark Evers B. Gut peptide receptor expression in human pancreatic cancers. Ann Surg 231(6):838-48, 2000. PMID: 10816627.
- Ehlers RA, Zhang Y, Hellmich MR, Evers BM. Neurotensin-mediated activation of MAPK pathways and AP-1 binding in the human pancreatic cancer cell line, MIA PaCa-2. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 269(3):704-8, 2000. PMID: 10720480.
- Wang Q, Ding Q, Dong Z,Ehlers RA, Evers BM. Downregulation of mitogen-activated protein kinases in human colon cancers. Anticancer Res 20(1A):75-83, 2000. PMID: 10769637.
- Ehlers RA, Hernandez A, Bloemendal LS, Ethridge RT, Farrow B, Evers BM. Mitochondrial DNA damage and altered membrane potential (delta psi) in pancreatic acinar cells induced by reactive oxygen species. Surgery 126(2):148-55, 1999. PMID: 10455877.
- Ethridge RT, Ehlers RA.. Pancreatic heat shock protein 27 is increased with acute pancreatitis. Surg Forum 50:27-29, 1999.
- Ehlers RA, Bonnor RM, Wang X, Hellmich MR, Evers BM. Signal transduction mechanisms in neurotensin-mediated cellular regulation. Surgery 124(2):239-46; discussion 246-7, 1998. PMID: 9706144.
- Ehers RA, Evers BM.. Stimulation of the JNK signaling pathway by the gut hormone neuotensin acting through its high-affinity receptor. Surg Forum 49:159-160, 1998.
Manuals, Teaching Aids, Other Teaching Publications
- Ehlers RA. Pocket Companion to Sabiston: Textbook of Surgery. WB Sanders, 2002.
Abstracts
- Ethridge RT, Chung DH, Ehlers RA, Rajaraman S, Evers BM.. Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) gene disruption markedly attenuates the severity of acute pancreatitis and pancreatitis-associated lung injury. Gastroenterology(118):A166, 2000.
- Rui X-L, Hellmich HL, Ehlers RA, Fleming RYD, Evers BM, Townsend CM Jr, Hellmich MR.. A novel cholecystokinin-B/gastrin receptor splice variant is expressed in human colon cancers. Gastroenterology 118:A533, 2000.
- Ehtridge RT, Ehlers RA, Evers BM. Acute pancreatitis results in induction of heat shock factor-1 and heat shock protein 70. Gastroenterology 116:A1122, 1999.
- Ehtridge RT, Ehlers RA, Evers BM.. Coordinate induction of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and NF-kB in acute pancreatitis. Gastroenterology 116:A1122, 1999.
Book Chapters
- Ehlers RA, Kuerer HM, Singletary ES. Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy in Breast Cancer. In: The M.D. Anderson Cancer Center Approach. BC Decker: Hamilton, 2004.
- Ehlers RA, Evers BM (ed). Signaling pathways in GI cancers. In: Molecular Mechanisms of Gastrointestinal Cancers. Landes Bioscience: Austin, 1999.
Grant & Contract Support
| Title: | Surgical Studies of Signaling Mechanisms in GI Cancers |
| Funding Source: | National Institute of Health Fellowship Award |
| Role: | Principal Investigator |
Patient Reviews
CV information above last modified November 22, 2021