Adriana H. Wechsler, MD
Department of Emergency Medicine, Division of Internal Medicine
Present Title & Affiliation
Primary Appointment
Associate Professor, Emergency Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
Associate Patient Safety and Quality Officer, Emergency Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
Dual/Joint/Adjunct Appointment
Associate Professor, Emergency Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
Education & Training
Degree-Granting Education
| 1991 | Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US, Doctor of Medicine |
| 1987 | Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, US, Health Science Program, Professional Program |
| 1985 | Brandeis University, Waltham, Massachusetts, US, English, Ph.D. Candidate |
| 1981 | Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, US, Literature, BA |
Postgraduate Training
| 2021-2021 | Postgraduate Fellow, Emergency Medicine Quality & Safety Certification, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA |
| 1992-1994 | Resident, Internal Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA |
| 1991-1992 | Intern, Internal Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA |
| null-2017 | Clinical Safety & Effectiveness Certification, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas |
Licenses & Certifications
| 1994 | American Board of Internal Medicine |
Experience & Service
Faculty Academic Appointments
Assistant Professor, Emergency Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 2017 - 2019
Assistant Professor, Emergency Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 1999 - 2005
Assistant Professor, Emergency Medicine, Brown School of Medicine, Memorial Hospital, Providence, RI, 1995 - 1997
Instructor, Internal Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 1991 - 1994
Administrative Appointments/Responsibilities
Associate Patient Safety and Quality Officer, Emergency Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, 2018 - Present
Other Professional Positions
Clinical Specialist, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 2009 - 2017
Diabetologist, Diabetes America, Houston, TX, 2007 - 2014
Hospitalist, Memorial Hermann Southwest Hospital, Houston, TX, 2005 - 2006
Emergency Physician, McKenna General Hospital, New Braunfels, TX, 1997 - 1999
Internist, San Antonio Institute of Medicine, San Antonio, TX, 1997 - 1999
Emergency Physician, Christus Santa Rosa Hospital, San Antonio, TX, 1997 - 1999
Attending, Emergency Medicine, Memorial Hospital Rhode Island, Brown University, Pawtucket, Texas, 1995 - 1997
Emergency Physician, Newton Wellesley Hospital, Tufts Medical School, Newton, MA, 1994 - 1995
Intramural Institutional Committee Activities
Member, Program Evaluation Committee - Oncologic Emergency Medicine Fellowship, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2022 - Present
Member, Internal Medicine Research Committee, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2021 - Present
Member, Pain Task Force, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2021 - Present
Member, Anticoagulation Stewardship Committee, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2020 - 2024
Membership, Acute Cancer Cancer Center (ACCC) Code Blue Workgroup, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2020 - 2022
Member, Medical Practice Committee, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2020 - Present
Alternate, Credentials Committee of the Medical Staff, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2020 - Present
Member, Glycemic Management Committee (GlycAT), The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2019 - Present
Lead, Therapeutic Duplication Workgroup, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2019 - 2021
Member, Emergency Department Surge and Overcrowding Committee, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2019 - 2020
Member, Faculty Academic Review Committee, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2019 - Present
Patient Safety and Quality Officer, Emergency Center Quality and Safety Committee, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2018 - Present
Member, Internal Medicine Quality and Safety Council, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2018 - Present
Extramural Institutional Committee Activities
Member, Department Representative, MD Anderson Faculty Senate, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2018 - 2024
Member, MDACC Transfusion Committee, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2018 - Present
Editorial Activities
2023 Annual Meeting Abstract Reviewer, Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer, 2023 - 2023
Honors & Awards
| 2021 | 2021 Quality Caring Award finalist, MD Anderson Cancer Center |
| 1991 | Menninger Scholarship, Jefferson Medical College |
Selected Presentations & Talks
Local Presentations
- 2025. Morbidity & Mortality Conference: Extravasation Injuries, Opioid Toxicity. Emergency Medicine Educational Series. Houston, Texas, US.
- 2025. Characteristics and presentation of patients with suspected cancer seeking care at an oncologic emergency department. Department of Internal Medicine Research Retreat. Poster. Department of Internal Medicine Research Retreat. Houston, Texas, US.
- 2024. Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors - All of Your Questions Answered. Invited. Emergency Medicine Education Series. Houston, TX, US.
- 2024. Patients with Suspicion of Cancer Presenting to the Oncologic Emergency Department. Poster. MDACC Oncologic Emergency Medicine Conference. Houston, Texas, US.
- 2024. Resuscitation in an Oncologic Emergency Department: Incidence and Characteristics. Poster. MDACC Oncologic Emergency Medicine Conference. Houston, Texas, US.
- 2023. Superior Vena Cava Syndrome, An Oncologic Emergency. Invited. MD Anderson Emergency Medicine Education Series. Houston, Texas, US.
- 2023. Emergency Medicine Procedures and their Complications. Invited. MD Anderson Emergency Medicine Education Series. Houston, Texas, US.
- 2022. Head & Neck Oncologic Emergencies. Invited. MD Anderson Emergency Medicine Education Series. Houston, Texas, US.
- 2022. Characteristics and outcomes of intracranial hemorrhage in cancer patients visiting the emergency department. 2022 Division of Internal Medicine Research Retreat. Houston, Texas, US.
- 2022. Neurologic Emergencies. MDACC Oncologic Emergency Medicine Conference. Houston, Texas, US.
- 2021. Therapeutic Duplication Prevention. Invited. Division of Internal Medicine Grand Rounds. Houston, Texas, US.
- 2021. Transfusions in Oncologic Emergencies. Invited. MD Anderson Emergency Medicine Education Series. Houston, Texas, US.
- 2021. What Makes a Case Series. Invited. MD Anderson Emergency Medicine Education Series. Houston, Texas, US.
- 2020. Identifying cancer-related predictors for cancer associated venous thromboembolisms. 2020 Division of Internal Medicine Research Retreat. Houston, Texas, US.
- 2020. Concurrent incidental venous thrombosis in cancer patients presenting with incidental pulmonary embolism: characteristics and outcomes. Division of Internal Medicine Research Retreat. Houston, Texas, US.
- 2020. Transfusions in Oncologic Emergencies. Invited. MD Anderson Emergency Medicine Education Series. Houston, Texas, US.
- 2020. Oral Bleeding Emergencies. Invited. MD Anderson Emergency Medicine Education Series. Houston, Texas, US.
- 2020. Panelist for Clinical Innovation: Expanding Enhanced Recovery Beyond Surgery. Global Enhanced Recovery Symposium. Houston, Texas, US.
- 2020. Improving Non-Opioid Pain Management in the Cancer Patient Presenting to the Emergency Department. 2020 Oncologic Emergency Conference. Houston, Texas, US.
- 2019. Spontaneous intracranial hemorrhage in oncologic patients presenting to an Oncologic Emergency Department. 2019 Global Academic Programs Conference. Houston, Texas, US.
- 2019. Cardiac Quality Cases; Emergency Medicine RME”. Invited. MD Anderson MD Anderson Emergency Medicine Education Series Education Series. Houston, Texas, US.
- 2018. ERAS: the other ER. Invited. MD Anderson Emergency Medicine Education Series. Houston, Texas, US.
- 2016. Incidence and mortality of spontaneous intracranial hemorrhage in oncologic patients presenting to the Emergency Department of a comprehensive cancer center. 2017 Division of Internal Medicine Research Retreat. Houston, Texas, US.
- 2015. Characteristics and presentation of patients with suspected cancer seeking care at an oncologic emergency department. Poster. Department of Internal Medicine Research Retreat. Houston, Texas, US.
Regional Presentations
- 2003. Communicating with the Difficult Patient. Conference. 7th Annual Optimal Management of the Adult Patient. Houston, TX, US.
National Presentations
- 2025. Disparities and Access to Care: Accessing Cancer Care Through the ED. 2025 Oncologic Emergency Medicine conference: Past, Present, and Future. Houston, TX, US.
- 2024. Optimizing access to care for new cancer patients discharged from an Observation Unit. Poster. ASCO Quality Conference. San Francisco, ca, US.
- 2021. Use of Bamlanivimab in Cancer Patients with Mild-to-Moderate COVID-19. ID Week Virtual Conference. virtual.
- 2018. Incidence and mortality of spontaneous intracranial hemorrhage in oncologic patients presenting to the Emergency Department of a comprehensive cancer center. Conference. SAEM Annual Meeting. Indianapolis, IN, US.
International Presentations
- 2023. Presentation and characteristics of patients with suspicion of cancer presenting to an oncologic emergency department. European Emergency Medicine Congress. Barcelona, ES.
- 2023. Outcomes of Cancer Patients Resuscitated in the Emergency Department. MASCC/JASCC/ISOO Annual Meeting. Nara, JP.
- 2019. Effects of Prior Radiation Therapy on Survival in Cancer Patients with Intracranial Hemorrhage Presenting to the Emergency Department. MASCC 2019. San Francisco, US.
- 2019. Procalcitonin: Promise and Precaution; Use and Limits in the Cancer Patient in the Emergency Department. 2nd World Congress on Infectious Diseases. London, GB.
- 2018. Incidence and mortality of spontaneous intracranial hemorrhage in oncologic patients presenting to the Emergency Department of a comprehensive cancer center. Conference. MASCC. Vienna, AT.
- 2018. Spontaneous Intracranial Hemorrhage in the Oncologic Patient. 11th Annual World Cancer Congress. Philadelphia, US.
Formal Peers
- 2023. Emergency Medicine Simulation Labs. Houston, Texas, US.
- 2022. HRO (High Reliability Organization) Championship Trainer. Houston, Texas, US.
Grant & Contract Support
| Title: | Efficacy and Renal Effects of Novel GLP-1 agonist relative to sitagliptin |
| Funding Source: | n/a |
| Role: | PI |
| ID: | GLP114130 |
Selected Publications
Peer-Reviewed Articles
- Wechsler AH. Optimizing access to care for new patients with cancer discharged from an observation unit. JCO Oncol Pract 20(11_suppl):119, 2024.
- Wechsler AH, Sandoval M, Viets-Upchurch J, Cruz Carreras M, Page VD, Elsayem A, Qdaisat A, Yeung SJ. Prior Advanced Care Planning and Outcomes of Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation in the Emergency Department of a Comprehensive Cancer Center. Cancers (Basel) 16(16), 2024. e-Pub 2024. PMID: 39199606.
- Wattana MK, McIntyre M, Wechsler A, Brock PA, Dupler F, Yeung SJ, Qdaisat A. Presentation and characteristics of patients with suspicion of cancer presenting to an oncologic emergency department. The Journal of Emergency Medicine 66(6):e742, 2024. e-Pub 2024.
- Arani, N, Wechsler, AH. Hyperkalemia in the setting of severe leukocytosis. American Journal of Emergency Medicine 66:174.e1-174.e2, 2023. e-Pub 2023. PMID: 36658022.
- Qdaisat, AZ, Wechsler, AH, Cruz Carreras, MT, Menendez, JR, Lipe, D, Highsmith, EA, Kamal Jomaa, M, Al-Breiki, A, Rojas Hernandez, CM, Wu, CC, Yeung, SJ. Concomitant Deep Vein Thrombosis in Cancer Patients with Unsuspected Pulmonary Embolism. Cancers 14(18), 2022. e-Pub 2022. PMID: 36139673.
- Qdaisat, AZ, Wechsler, AH, Yeung, SJ, Rojas Hernandez, CM, Samudrala, P, Kamal Jomaa, M, Li, Z. Characteristics and Outcomes of Intracranial Hemorrhage in Cancer Patients Visiting the Emergency Department. Journal of Clinical Medicine 11(3), 2022. e-Pub 2022. PMID: 35160096.
- Brock P, Wechsler AH, Dagher H, Lipe DN, Chaftari P, Chaftari A, Gaeta MS, Johnson TN, Coussirat DJ, Aitken SL, Jiang Y, Malek A, Hachem RY, Raad II. Use of Bamlanivimab in Cancer Patients with Mild-to-Moderate COVID-19. Open Forum Infectious Diseases 8(1):S372-S373, 2021. e-Pub 2021.
- Lipe DN, Galvis-Carvajal E, Rajha E, Wechsler AH, Gaeta S. Immune checkpoint inhibitor-associated myasthenia gravis, myositis, and myocarditis overlap syndrome. Am J Emerg Med 46:51-55, 2021. e-Pub 2021. PMID: 33721590.
- Yeung SJ, Qdaisat A, Chaftari P, Lipe D, Merlin J, Rajha E, Wechsler A, Sandoval M, Viets J, Al-Breiki A, Shah M, Pandey R, Kamal M, Khattab O, Toale K, Wattana M, Elsayem A, Gaeta S, Brock P, Reyes-Gibby C, Alagappan K. Diagnosis and management of immune-related adverse effects of immune checkpoint therapy in the emergency department. J Am Coll Emerg Physicians Open 1(6):1637-1659, 2020. e-Pub 2020. PMID: 33392573.
- Wechsler AH, Elsayem A, Yeung SC. Survival in Cancer Patients with Intracranial Hemorrhage Presenting to the Emergency Department. Journal of Emergency Medicine 59(5):767, 2020. e-Pub 2020.
- Wechsler AH, Vu N. Barriers to Non-opioid Pain Management in the Cancer Patient Presenting to the Emergency Department. ASCO Quality Care Symposium 59(5):772-773, 2020. e-Pub 2020.
Invited Articles
- Wechsler A. Pyelonephritis in non-pregnant women. Clin Evid(11):2527-33, 2004. e-Pub 2004. PMID: 15652120.
- Wechsler A. Recurrent cystitis in non-pregnant women. Clin Evid(10):2210-8, 2003. e-Pub 2003. PMID: 15555199.
Review Articles
- Abdeldaem KS, Wechsler AH. Reducing blood culture contamination in adult patients with cancer presenting to the emergency department. JCO Oncol Pract 19(11_suppl):393, 2024.
- Wechsler AH. Spiritual care support of goal concordant care in the oncologic emergency setting. JCO Oncol Pract 19(11_suppl):274, 2023.
- Sandoval, M, Wechsler, AH, Alhajji, Z, Viets-Upchurch, J, Brock, PA, Lipe, D, Al-Breiki, A, Yeung, SJ. Evaluation and management of acute high-grade immunotherapy-related neurotoxicity. Heliyon 9(3), 2023. e-Pub 2023. PMID: 36851967.
- Lipe DN, Rajha E, Wechsler AH, Gaeta S, Palaskas NL, Alhajji Z, Viets-Upchurch J, Chaftari P. Cardiotoxicity associated with immune checkpoint inhibitors and CAR T-cell therapy. Am J Emerg Med 50:51-58, 2021. e-Pub 2021. PMID: 34274878.
Other Articles
- Wechsler AH Increasing non-opioid pain management in the cancer patient presenting to the emergency department. Journal of clinical oncology 38(29_suppl), 2020.
- Wechsler AH Barriers to Non-opioid Pain Management in the Cancer Patient Presenting to the Emergency Department. Journal of Emergency Medicine, 2020.
Abstracts
- Wechsler AH. Resuscitation in an Oncologic Emergency Department: Incidence and Characteristics. MASCC/JASCC/ISOO Annual 32(suppl 1), 2024.
- Wechsler AH. Optimizing access to care for new patients with cancer discharged from an observation unit. ASCO Quality Care Symposium 20(10_suppl):119, 2024.
- Ngueyn K, Spallone A, Wechsler AH. Reducing Blood Culture Contamination in Adult Patients with Cancer Presenting to the Emergency Department. Antimicrobial Stewardship and Healthcare Epidemiology 4(S1):134, 2024.
- Abdeldaem KS, Wechsler AH, Santos M, Nguyen KU, Cameron B, Ayers H, Richardson GB, Zaghian M, Spallone A, Bhatti MM. Reducing blood culture contamination in adult patients with cancer presenting to the emergency department. ASCO Quality Care Symposium 19(11):393, 2023. e-Pub 2023.
- Viets JM, Heard RB, King EC, Vu T, Andrews BS, Hughes AM, Page VD, Smith C, Stroh J, Wechsler AH. Spiritual care support of goal concordant care in the oncologic emergency setting. ASCO Quality Care Symposium 19(11):274, 2023. e-Pub 2023.
- Wechsler AH, Qdaisat A, Plexman K, Elsayem A. Outcomes of Cancer Patients Resuscitated in the Emergency Department. MASCC/ISOO Annual Meeting 31(399):163-164, 2023. e-Pub 2023.
- Gaeta MS, Bourenane SS, Milling DN, Vu N, Wechsler AH, Brock PN, Drew RT, Grami P, Alagappan K. Checking the sepsis pulse in cancer patients presenting to triage. SAEM 28(S1), 2021. e-Pub 2021.
- Wechsler AH, Ngoc. Increasing non-opioid pain management in the cancer patient presenting to the emergency department. ASCO Quality Care Symposium 38(29), 2020. e-Pub 2020.
- Wechsler A, Qdaisat A, Jomaa MK, Yeung SC. Effect of prior radiotherapy on overall survival of cancer patients with acute intracranial hemorrhage. MASCC/ISOO Annual Meeting 27(1):S134, 2019. e-Pub 2019.
- Wechsler AH. Incidence, Symptomatology, and Mortality of Spontaneous Intracerebral Hemorrhage in Oncologic Patients Presenting to the Emergency Department. Conference: Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer Annual meeting 2018 (MASCC 2018), 2018.
- Wechsler AH. Incidence and mortality of spontaneous intracranial hemorrhage in oncologic patients presenting to the Emergency Department of a comprehensive cancer center. MASCC/ISOO Annual Meeting 26(2):S43-S44, 2018. e-Pub 2018.
- George M, Kruse B, Gallardo L, Jenkins N, Wechsler A, Waits M, Mansfield P, Hwu P, Yennu S, Gottumukkala V, Aloia T. Process Development for Enhanced Recovery in Medical Oncology. MASCC/ISOO Annual Meeting 26(2):S261-S262, 2018. e-Pub 2018.
Book Chapters
- Kruse J, Fink MP, Carlson RW, Wechsler AH, et al. Heat Stroke. In: Saunders Manual of Critical Care. 1. Saunders, 2002.
- Kruse J, Fink MP, Carlson RW, Wechsler AH, et al. Calcium Channel Blocker Overdose. In: Saunders Manual of Critical Care. 1. Saunders, 2002.
Patient Reviews
CV information above last modified July 22, 2026