Hart Donahue, M.D.
Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Division of Anesthesiology, Critical Care Medicine, and Pain Medicine
Present Title & Affiliation
Primary Appointment
Assistant Professor, Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Dual/Joint/Adjunct Appointment
Voluntary Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Clinical Sciences, University of Houston, Houston, Texas
Education & Training
Degree-Granting Education
| 2016 | The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas, US, MD |
| 2008 | The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, US, BBA in Finance |
| 2008 | The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, US, BS in Physics |
Postgraduate Training
| 2020-2021 | Clinical Fellowship, Regional Anesthesia and Acute Pain Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas |
| 2017-2020 | Clinical Residency, Anesthesiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas |
| 2016-2017 | Clinical Internship, General Surgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas |
Licenses & Certifications
| 2026 | ACLS |
| 2026 | PALS |
| 2021 | American Board of Anesthesiology |
| 2020 | DEA License |
| 2020 | Texas Medical Board |
Experience & Service
Faculty Academic Appointments
Clinical Specialist, Department of Critical Care Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 2021 - 2021
Administrative Appointments/Responsibilities
Resident Rotation Site Director, Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, 2022 - Present
Intramural Institutional Committee Activities
Elected Division Representative, PRS Faculty Compensation and Benefit Advisory Committee, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2025 - Present
Elected Division Representative, PRS Retirement Board, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2025 - Present
Elected Department Member, Faculty Senate, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2023 - 2025
Department Voting Member, Infection Control Committee, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2022 - Present
Core Faculty Member, Regional Anesthesia and Acute Pain Medicine Fellowship Program Evaluation Committee, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2022 - Present
Member, Faculty Recruitment Advisory Committee, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2021 - Present
Program Representative, GME House Staff Senate, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2020 - 2021
Extramural Institutional Committee Activities
Committee Member, BCM Anesthesiology Curriculum Committee, Baylor College of Medicine, 2023 - Present
Honors & Awards
| 2006 | Dr. Arnold Romberg Physics Scholarship, The University of Texas at Austin - Department of Physics |
| 2006 | Sigma Pi Sigma National Physics Honors Society, The University of Texas at Austin - Department of Physics |
Professional Memberships
Selected Presentations & Talks
Local Presentations
- 2022. Ultrasound-guided Vascular Access and TAP/QL Nerve Blocks Workshop. Invited. Ultrasound-guided Vascular Access and TAP/QL Nerve Blocks Workshop. Houston, TX, US.
- 2022. Effect of regional anesthesia only versus general anesthesia on cancer recurrence rate. Invited. Journal Club. Houston, TX, US.
- 2021. Neuroscience Anesthesiology Update. Invited. Grand Rounds. Houston, TX, US.
- 2021. Intraoperative Ventilation and Postoperative Pulmonary Outcomes. Invited. Grand Rounds. Houston, TX, US.
- 2020. Acute Pain. Invited. Grand Rounds. Houston, TX, US.
- 2019. Intraoperative Ventilation and Postoperative Pulmonary Outcomes. Invited. Grand Rounds. Houston, TX, US.
- 2019. Morbidity and Mortality Case Conference. Invited. Grand Rounds. Houston, TX, US.
- 2019. Anesthetic Management of Patients with Mitochondrial Disease. Invited. CA-II Poster Symposium. Houston, TX, US.
- 2018. Arterial Blood Gases. Invited. Grand Rounds. Houston, Texas, US.
- 2018. PONV Compliance and Outcomes. Invited. Grand Rounds. Houston, TX, US.
- 2015. Goodbye Lecture, Hello Engaged Classroom Learning. Invited. Grand Rounds. San Antonio, TX, US.
- 2011. Role of Cdk9 associated proteins in influencing HIV-1 Tat function. Invited. Molecular Virology and Microbiology Research Retreat. Houston, Texas, US.
Regional Presentations
- 2026. PBLD: Considerations for a Supraclavicular Nerve Block in the Presence of a Peripheral Nerve Stimulator. Invited. Texas Society of Anesthesiologists Annual Meeting 2026. San Antonio, Texas, US.
- 2026. Regional Anesthesia Workshop. Invited. Texas Society of Anesthesiologists Annual Meeting 2026. San Antonio, Texas, US.
- 2025. Point of Care Ultrasound and Hemodynamic Monitoring Workshop. Invited. Texas Society of Anesthesiologists Annual Meeting 2025. San Antonio, Texas, US.
- 2024. Point of Care Ultrasound and Hemodynamic Monitoring Workshop. Invited. Texas Society of Anesthesiologists Annual Meeting 2024. San Antonio, Texas, US.
- 2024. Regional Anesthesia Workshop - Regional Anesthesia for the High Risk Patient. Invited. Texas Society of Anesthesiologists Annual Meeting 2024. San Antonio, Texas, US.
- 2023. Point of Care Ultrasound and Hemodynamic Monitoring Workshop. Invited. Texas Society of Anesthesiologists Annual Meeting 2023. Round Rock, Texas, US.
- 2023. Basic Regional Anesthesia Course. Invited. Texas Ultrasound Extravaganza Cadaveric, Live Model & Simulation Workshop. Houston, Texas, US.
- 2022. Advanced Regional Anesthesia. Invited. Texas Society of Anesthesiologists Annual Meeting 2022 - Anesthesia Technologist Breakout Conference. Round Rock, Texas, US.
- 2022. Point of Care Ultrasound and Hemodynamic Monitoring Workshop. Invited. Texas Society of Anesthesiologists Annual Meeting 2022. Round Rock, Texas, US.
National Presentations
- 2020. Continuous Suprascapular Block to Treat Malignant Shoulder Pain that is Exacerbated by Radiation Therapy. Poster. Annual Pain Medicine Meeting 2020. Virtual, US.
International Presentations
- 2026. Point of Care Ultrasound Workshop. Invited. International Symposium of Critical Care in Cancer Patients. Houston, US.
- 2026. Pheochromocytoma: Updated Anesthetic Management and MD Anderson’s Experience. Invited. MDACC and Chile Cancer Anesthesia Symposium. Santiago, CL.
- 2026. Oncopocus Workshop. Invited. MDACC and Chile Cancer Anesthesia Symposium. Santiago, CL.
- 2026. Truncal Nerve Blocks Workshop. Invited. MDACC and Chile Cancer Anesthesia Symposium. Santiago, CL.
Selected Publications
Peer-Reviewed Articles
- Boyev A, Popat K, Gottumukkala VNR, Kwater AP, Chiang YJ, Prakash LR, Newhook TE, Arvide EM, Dewhurst WL, Bruno ML, Van Meter A, Hancher-Hodges S, Ghebremichael S, Williams U, Donahue H, Soliz J, Tzeng CD. Postoperative pain scores and opioid use after standard bupivacaine vs. liposomal bupivacaine regional blocks for abdominal cancer surgery: A propensity score matched study. Am J Surg 237:115770, 2024. e-Pub 2024. PMID: 38789322.
- Khouqeer A, Chen PC, Donahue H, Espinoza A, Ghanta R, Mattox K, Wall M. Delayed Migration of an Intrathoracic Foreign Body with Endobronchial Erosion. ACS Case Reviews in Surgery 2(4):34-38, 2019. e-Pub 2019.
- Ramakrishnan R, Liu H, Donahue H, Malovannaya A, Qin J, Rice AP. Identification of novel CDK9 and Cyclin T1-associated protein complexes (CCAPs) whose siRNA depletion enhances HIV-1 Tat function. Retrovirology 9:90, 2012. e-Pub 2012. PMID: 23110726.
- Ramakrishnan R, Chiang K, Liu H, Budhiraja S, Donahue H, Rice AP. Making a Short Story Long: Regulation of P-TEFb and HIV-1 Transcriptional Elongation in CD4+ T Lymphocytes and Macrophages. Biology (Basel) 1(1):94-115, 2012. e-Pub 2012. PMID: 24832049.
- Ramakrishnan R, Donahue H, Garcia D, Tan J, Shimizu N, Rice AP, Ling PD. Epstein-Barr virus BART9 miRNA modulates LMP1 levels and affects growth rate of nasal NK T cell lymphomas. PLoS One 6(11):e27271, 2011. e-Pub 2011. PMID: 22102884.
Professional Educational Materials
- Donahue H. Anesthesia Technology Fast Track Program. MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2024.
- Donahue H, Speer BB, Popat K. Acute Pain Medicine Resident Orientation Manual. MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2020.
Editorials
- Villa JF, Donahue H, Rajaram R, Cata JP. Intercostal nerve blocks take the lead: rethinking regional analgesia for video-assisted thoracic surgery. J Thorac Dis 18(3):259, 2026. PMID: 41988247.
Abstracts
- Chen A, Owolabi A, Ghebremichael S, Williams U, Meter AV, Hancher S, Donahue H, Kwater A, Popat K, Tsai EH. Ultrasound-Guided Posterior Quadratus Lumborum Block (QLB) with Catheters for Geriatric Open Abdominal Hernia Repair Surgery: A Case Report. MD Anderson Cancer Center Division of Anesthesiology, Critical Care, and Chronic Pain Education and Research Day, 2026. e-Pub 2026.
- Chen A, Petersen M, Donahue H, Owolabi A, Kwater A, Tsai EH. Ultrasound-guided Thoracic Paravertebral Block for Geriatric Oncological Breast Surgery: A Case Report. MD Anderson Cancer Center Divison of Anesthesiology, Critical Care, and Chronic Pain Education and Research Day, 2026. e-Pub 2026.
- Lange J, Muthukumar A, Popat K, Donahue H, Zavala A, Yevich S, Kurian J, Kwater A. Regional Anesthesia Strategies for Recurrent Cryoablation of Shoulder Fibromatosis. Annual Regional Anesthesiology and Acute Pain Medicine Meeting, 2026. e-Pub 2026.
- Durham G, Brenchley B, Morcous S, Donahue H, Mensah C, Bradley S. Perioperative Management of Lung Tumor Resection Adherent to Great Vessels: A Case Report. Annual Thoracic Anesthesia Symposium and Workshops, 2026. e-Pub 2026.
- Sillot P, Wright E, Popat K, Hancher-Hodges S, Williams U, Owolabi A, Zavala A, Ghebremichael S, Van Meter A, Donahue H, Tsai E, Kurian J, Shrestha L, Kwater A. Quadratus Lumborum Catheters for Comprehensive Analgesia Following DIEP Flap Reconstruction – A Case Series. Annual Regional Anesthesiology and Acute Pain Medicine Meeting, 2026. e-Pub 2026.
- John S, Gonugunta A, Kwater A, Tsai E, Hancher-Hodges S, Zavala A, Owolabi A, Van Meter A, Williams U, Donahue H, Ghebremichael S, Popat K. Opioid-Sparing Postoperative Analgesia Using Bilateral Quadratus Lumborum Catheters. Annual Regional Anesthesiology and Acute Pain Medicine Meeting, 2026. e-Pub 2026.
- Sillot P, Popat K, Williams U, Van Meter A, Donahue H, Tsai E, Kurian J, Shrestha L, Kwater A. Anterior Quadratus Lumborum Catheters for Oncologic Abdominal Wall Resection and Flap Reconstruction. Annual Regional Anesthesiology and Acute Pain Medicine Meeting, 2026. e-Pub 2026.
- Tsai E, Owolabi A, Kwater A, Popat K, Donahue H, Hancher-Hodges S, Ghebremichael S, Van Meter A, Williams U, Garcia V, Shrestha L, Kurian J, Zavala A. External Oblique Intercostal Block in Ostomy Patients: Case Reports. Annual Regional Anesthesiology and Acute Pain Medicine Meeting, 2025. e-Pub 2025.
- Wright E, Donahue H, Ghebremichael S, Owolabi A, Popat K, Hancher-Hodges S, Meter AV, Williams U, Zavala A, Speer B, Shrestha L, Kurian J, Kapur S, Kwater A. Quadratus Lumborum Block Catheters for Abdominal Wall Analgesia Following DIEP Flap Reconstruction. Annual Regional Anesthesiology and Acute Pain Medicine Meeting, 2024. e-Pub 2024.
- Wright E, Donahue H, Ghebremichael S, Kwater A, Hancher-Hodges S, Owolabi A, Popat K, Speer B, Meter AV, Williams U, Shrestha L, Zavala A. External Oblique Intercostal Block: An Alternative Technique For Regional Anesthesia in Oncologic Abdominal Surgery. Annual Regional Anesthesiology and Acute Pain Medicine Meeting, 2024. e-Pub 2024.
- Gressen J, Reskallah A, Donahue H, Wright E, Bradley SL, Lai E, Kwater A. Ultrasound-Assisted Spinal Anesthesia in the Setting of Post-COVID Pulmonary Sequelae. Annual Regional Anesthesiology and Acute Pain Medicine Meeting, 2024. e-Pub 2024.
- Wright E, Lazaris E, Kwater A, Donahue H, Ghebremichael S, Hancher-Hodges S, Owolabi A, Meter AV, Williams U, Zavala A, Speer B, Popat K. Analysis of Postoperative Pain, Opioid Requirements, and Surgical Time in Robotic Cystectomy With or Without Regional Anesthesia. Annual Regional Anesthesiology and Acute Pain Medicine Meeting, 2024. e-Pub 2024.
- Muthukumar A, Zavala A, Donahue H, Ghebremichael S, Meter AV, Williams U, Owolabi A, Davis J, Popat K. Evaluating Ultrasound Guided Quadratus Lumborum and Transverse Abdominis Plane Block as Effective Post-operative Analgesia Following Robotic Prostatectomies. Annual Congress of Enhanced Recovery and Perioperative Medicine, 2023. e-Pub 2023.
- Patel S, Fletcher D, Qing Y, Li L, Alvarez-Breckenridge C, North R, Tatsui C, Rhines L, Donahue H, Popat K, Bird J. The placement of intraoperative epidural catheters reduces inpatient postoperative pain after complex oncologic spine surgery. Global Spine Congress 13(2):4S - 214S, 2023. e-Pub 2023.
- Snow E, Kwater A, Donahue H, Lumsden S, Pham S, Meter AV. Thoracic Paravertebral Surgical Block for Resection of SCC to Avoid Intubation in Difficult Airway Patient. Annual Regional Anesthesiology and Acute Pain Medicine Meeting, 2023. e-Pub 2023.
- Lumsden S, Donahue H, Ghebremichael S, Kwater A, Oliver J, Meter AV, Mani J, Williams U, Zavala A. Dual Epidural Catheter System for Pediatric Analgesic Management of Radiation-Induced Sacral Osteosarcoma. Annual Regional Anesthesiology and Acute Pain Medicine Meeting, 2023. e-Pub 2023.
- Zavala M, Kwater A, Donahue H, Ghebremichael S, Van-Meter A, Williams U, Hancher-Hodges S, Shrestha L, Kurian J, George M, Tamirisa N, Teshome M, Popat K. Identifying mastectomy patients who benefit most from Erector Spinae Plane block as a component of perioperative care to reduce pain after surgery. International Anesthesia Research Society 2023, 2023. e-Pub 2023.
- Igwe P, Kurian J, Lumsden S, Kwater A, Hancher-Hodges S, Van Meter A, Zavala A, Ghebremichael S, Donahue H, Williams U, Popat K. Erector Spinae Plane (ESP) Block for Postoperative Analgesia After Total Mastectomy. Annual Pain Medicine Meeting, 2022. e-Pub 2022.
- Panchapakesan K, Donahue H, Zavala A, Kwater AP. Cosyntropin as Prophylaxis for Post-Dural Puncture Headache In Surgical Patients. American Society of Anesthesiologists Annual Meeting, 2022. e-Pub 2022.
- Dang A, Strang A, Williams C, Donahue H, Kwater AP, Idowu T. Epiglottitis Presentation in an Adult Patient with Acute Myeloid Leukemia: A Case Report. Society for Airway Management Scientific Meeting and Workshop, 2022. e-Pub 2022.
- Strang A, Zavala A, Donahue H, Lord R, B Wegner B. Feeling your way into the trachea when nothing else is working: Digital intubation for emergency intubation outside the operating room. Society for Airway Management Scientific Meeting and Workshop, 2022. e-Pub 2022.
- Vu C, Sharma I, Zavala A, Idowu T, Kwater AP, Donahue H, Oliver JA, Bankston CB, Panchapakesan K, Singh-Heir J. Quality Improvement Project for Patients with Tracheostomy/Laryngectomy for Emergency Airway Events. Society for Airway Management Scientific Meeting and Workshop, 2022. e-Pub 2022.
- Sharm I, Farson L, Williams C, Williams UU, Kwater AP, Donahue H, Zavala A, Hancher-Hodges S, Casarez V, Ramirez M. Nasal flexible intubation with POM mask. MD Anderson Cancer Center Divison of Anesthesiology, Critical Care, and Chronic Pain Education and Research Day, 2022. e-Pub 2022.
- Panchapakesan K, Donahue H, Zavala A, Kwater AP. Cosyntropin as Prophylaxis for Post-Dural Puncture Headache in Surgical Patients. MD Anderson Cancer Center Divison of Anesthesiology, Critical Care, and Chronic Pain Education and Research Day, 2022. e-Pub 2022.
- Igwe P, Hancher-Hodges S, Van Meter A, Williams UU, Zavala A, Ghebremichael S, Donahue H, Kwater AP, Popat K. ESP Block for Postoperative Analgesia after Total Mastectomy. MD Anderson Cancer Center Divison of Anesthesiology, Critical Care, and Chronic Pain Education and Research Day, 2022. e-Pub 2022.
- Vu C, Sharma I, Zavala A, Idowu T, Kwater AP, Donahue H, Oliver JA, Bankston CB, Panchapakesan K, Singh-Heir J. Quality Improvement Project for Patients with Tracheostomy/Laryngectomy for Emergency Airway Events. MD Anderson Cancer Center Divison of Anesthesiology, Critical Care, and Chronic Pain Education and Research Day, 2022. e-Pub 2022.
- Idowu T, Huynh K, Sansguiri A, Hancher-Hodges S, McHugh T, Adenekan M, Kwater AP, Donahue H, Popat K, Idowu O, Benton M, Speer B, Perry J, Zavala A. Continuous Glucose Monitoring Devices in the Perioperative Period. MD Anderson Cancer Center Divison of Anesthesiology, Critical Care, and Chronic Pain Education and Research Day, 2022. e-Pub 2022.
- Strang A, Zavala A, Donahue H, Lord R, Wegner B. Feeling your way into the trachea when nothing else is working: Digital intubation for emergency intubation outside the operating room. MD Anderson Cancer Center Divison of Anesthesiology, Critical Care, and Chronic Pain Education and Research Day, 2022. e-Pub 2022.
- Sullivan E, Donahue H, Tan J, Zavala A, Idowu O. Successful airway management of unexpected tracheal mass during stenting for superior vena cava syndrome - A Case Report. International Anesthesia Research Society Meeting, 2022. e-Pub 2022.
- Sullivan E, Donahue H, Tan J, Zavala A, Idowu O. Successful airway management of unexpected tracheal mass during stenting for superior vena cava syndrome - A Case Report. Society of Critical Care Anesthesiologists Annual Meeting, 2022. e-Pub 2022.
- Brown J, Ramirez M, Mena G, Lasala J, Hancher-Hodges S, Zavala A, Donahue H, Popat K, Roland C. Bilateral Erector Spinae Catheters for Oncologic Abdominal Sarcoma Surgery. World Congress of Anaesthesiologists, 2021. e-Pub 2021.
- Donahue H, Tran K, Lai E, Hancher-Hodges S. Continuous Suprascapular Block to Treat Malignant Shoulder Pain that is Exacerbated by Radiation Therapy. Annual Pain Medicine Meeting, 2020. e-Pub 2020.
Book Chapters
- Vu C, Popat K, Donahue H. Acute Pain in Critical Care Oncologic Patients. In: Oncologic Critical Care. 2. Springer Cham, 2026.
- Kwater A, Donahue H, Brown J, Mena G. Perioperative Analgesic Management. In: Principles of Gynecologic Oncology Surgery. 2nd. Elsevier, 2024.
Patient Reviews
CV information above last modified September 04, 2026