Jens Tan, MD, MEd, FRCPC
Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Division of Anesthesiology, Critical Care Medicine, and Pain Medicine
Present Title & Affiliation
Primary Appointment
Professor, Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Director of Anesthesia Services, Interventional Radiology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
Education & Training
Degree-Granting Education
| 2004 | University of Toronto, Toronto, CA, Master of Education in Education |
| 2001 | University of Toronto, Toronto, CA, MD |
| 1997 | University of Western Ontario, London, CA, BS in Physical Therapy |
Postgraduate Training
| 2001-2006 | Clinical Residency, Anesthesiology, University of Toronto, Toronto |
Licenses & Certifications
| 2023 | ACLS |
| 2018 | DEA |
| 2016 | College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario |
| 2015 | Physician Full Permit |
| 2006 | Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada |
Experience & Service
Faculty Academic Appointments
Associate Professor, Anesthesiology & PeriOper Med, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, 2017 - 2023
Assistant Professor, Anesthesiology & PeriOper Med, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, 2012 - 2017
Assistant Professor, Anesthesiology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, 2009 - 2012
Instructor, Anesthesiology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, 2007 - 2009
Administrative Appointments/Responsibilities
Medical Director, Anesthesiology & PeriOper Med, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, 2015 - 2021
Chair, anes, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, 2015 - 2017
Associate Medical Director, Anesthesiology & PeriOper Med, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, 2014 - 2015
Medical Student Education Director, Anesthesiology, Washington University in St Louis, Saint Louis, Missouri, 2012 - 2012
Other Professional Positions
Simulation-based Team Training for Low Frequency, High Impact Events, Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 2022 - Present
Chair - Implementation of Stanford OR Emergency Manuals, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 2019 - Present
Consultant, Implementation of Handoff Protocol for EPIC, Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Division of Anesthesiology and Critical Care, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 2015 - Present
Faculty Liaison for Anesthesia Technicians, Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Division of Anesthesiology and Critical Care, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 2014 - 2015
Intramural Institutional Committee Activities
Member, Simulation-based Team Training for Low Frequency, High Impact Events, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2022 - Present
Member, Department COVID Task Force, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2020 - 2020
Extramural Institutional Committee Activities
Member, COVID Operations Team, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2020 - 2020
Member, Sedation and Procedures Committee, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2019 - Present
Member, CMS CoP Workgroup, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2019 - 2019
Co Leader, Action Team Therapeutic Duplication (CMS Readiness), The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2019 - 2019
Member, Accreditation and Regulatory Readiness Executive Steering Committee (CMS Readiness Committee), The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2019 - 2019
Member, Cancer Fellowship Committee, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2018 - Present
Member, Surgical Process Excellence for Cancer Care, Perioperative Committee Tasked to Improve Operating Room Efficiency, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2015 - 2016
Member, Inpatient Operations Steering Committee, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2015 - 2016
Honors & Awards
| 2024 | Faculty Educator of the Year for Advanced Airway Management Fellowship, Department of Anesthesiology |
| 2021 | Faculty Educator of the Year 2021, Department of Anesthesiology |
| 2008 | Outstanding MD Clinical Instructor Award, Washington University in St. Louis School of Nursing, Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist Program |
| 2003 | Alan K. Laws Fellowship, Department of Anesthesia, University of Toronto |
Professional Memberships
Selected Presentations & Talks
Local Presentations
- 2025. Principles of Sedation for IR. Invited. IR Fellows Core Curriculum. Houston, Texas, US.
- 2025. Anesthesia Considerations for Head and Neck Surgery. Invited. Head and Neck Surgery Core Curriculum. Houston, Texas, US.
- 2025. Effect of High Frequency Jet Ventilation on the formation of Atelectasis during Percutaneous Image-Guided Ablation. Poster. MDA Summer Research Day. Houston, Texas, US.
- 2025. Postoperative Handoffs. Invited. Division of Surgery Fellows Orientation. Houston, Texas, US.
- 2025. Postoperative Handoffs. Invited. Division of Surgery Fellows Orientation. Houston, Texas, US.
- 2022. Postoperative Handoffs. Conference. Postoperative Handoffs. Houston, TX, US.
- 2022. Postoperative Handoffs. Conference. Postoperative Handoffs. Houston, TX, US.
- 2021. Tracheal Mass in SVC syndrome - Morbidity and Mortality. Conference. Tracheal Mass in SVC syndrome - Morbidity and Mortality. Houston, TX, US.
- 2021. Malignant Hyperthermia. Conference. Malignant Hyperthermia. Houston, TX, US.
- 2020. Principles of Sedation - Anesthesia Considerations. Conference. Principles of Sedation - Anesthesia Considerations. Houston, TX, US.
- 2019. Stanford Emergency Manual for Perioperative Critical Events – Theory and Implementation at MDA. Conference. Stanford Emergency Manual for Perioperative Critical Events – Theory and Implementation at MDA. Houston, TX, US.
- 2016. Armband Identification of ICD OFF. Conference. Armband Identification of ICD OFF. Houston, TX, US.
- 2016. Management of the Difficult Airway: How Anesthesia Technicians Can Make a Difference. Conference. Management of the Difficult Airway: How Anesthesia Technicians Can Make a Difference. Houston, TX, US.
- 2015. Improving the Quality of Anesthesia to PACU Communication. Conference. Improving the Quality of Anesthesia to PACU Communication. Houston, TX, US.
- 2015. Management of the Difficult Airway - How Anesthesia Technicians Can Make a Difference. Conference. Management of the Difficult Airway - How Anesthesia Technicians Can Make a Difference. Houston, TX, US.
- 2015. Advanced Approaches to PACU Emergencies. Conference. Advanced Approaches to PACU Emergencies. Houston, TX, US.
- 2015. A New Protocol for Post Operative Handoffs. Conference. A New Protocol for Post Operative Handoffs. Houston, TX, US.
Regional Presentations
- 2022. Sedation for Interventional Radiology. Conference. Sedation for Interventional Radiology, US.
- 2020. Principles of Sedation. Conference. Principles of Sedation, US.
- 2012. A Case of Intraoperative Pneumothorax, Grand Rounds, Department of Anesthesiology & Perioperative Medicine. Conference. A Case of Intraoperative Pneumothorax, Grand Rounds, Department of Anesthesiology & Perioperative Medicine, US.
- 2010. Updates in Airway Management. Conference. Updates in Airway Management. Lake of the Ozarks, MO, US.
- 2004. Obstacles to proper timing of prophylactic antibiotics for surgical site infections. Conference. Obstacles to proper timing of prophylactic antibiotics for surgical site infections, Ontario, CA.
- 2000. Preparedness of students for the internal medicine clerkship. Conference. Preparedness of students for the internal medicine clerkship. Toronto, Ontario, CA.
- 1998. Prevention of hypoxemia following cardiac surgery with repeated vital capacity maneuver. Conference. Prevention of hypoxemia following cardiac surgery with repeated vital capacity maneuver. Toronto, Ontario, CA.
National Presentations
- 2022. Successful airway management of unexpected tracheal mass during stenting for superior vena cava syndrome – A Case Report. Conference. Successful airway management of unexpected tracheal mass during stenting for superior vena cava syndrome – A Case Report. Virtual, US.
- 2021. Using Quality Improvement Tools to Develop and Assess a Postoperative Handoff Protocol. Conference. Using Quality Improvement Tools to Develop and Assess a Postoperative Handoff Protocol. n/a (virtual), US.
- 2020. Lung Isolation for Cryoablation in Interventional Radiology. Conference. Lung Isolation for Cryoablation in Interventional Radiology. n/a, US.
- 2020. Preparation For Covid 19 Patients Undergoing Operating Room And Non Operating Room Anesthesia Procedures At A Major Academic Cancer Center. Conference. Preparation For Covid 19 Patients Undergoing Operating Room And Non Operating Room Anesthesia Procedures At A Major Academic Cancer Center. n/a, US.
- 2016. A Survey of Anesthesia Providers and Post Anesthesia Care Unit Nurses to Assess Satisfaction with a Postoperative Handoff Protocol. Conference. A Survey of Anesthesia Providers and Post Anesthesia Care Unit Nurses to Assess Satisfaction with a Postoperative Handoff Protocol. New York, NY, US.
- 2015. Perioperative Severe Hypotension in a Patient with Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia Type IIb. Conference. Perioperative Severe Hypotension in a Patient with Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia Type IIb. New York, NY, US.
- 2015. Using Quality Improvement Methods to Measure a Postoperative Handoff Protocol. 2015 Annual Meeting and International Science Symposium. Conference. Using Quality Improvement Methods to Measure a Postoperative Handoff Protocol. 2015 Annual Meeting and International Science Symposium. Honolulu, HI, US.
- 2015. OPPE Metrics Improve Compliance with Intraoperative Handoff Procedures. 2015 Annual Meeting and International Science Symposium. Conference. OPPE Metrics Improve Compliance with Intraoperative Handoff Procedures. 2015 Annual Meeting and International Science Symposium. Honolulu, HI, US.
- 2015. Improving transitions of care through implementation of a standardized handoff at a comprehensive cancer center. Conference. Improving transitions of care through implementation of a standardized handoff at a comprehensive cancer center. Phoenix, AZ, US.
- 2014. A Survey of Anesthesia Providers and PACU RN’s to Assess Satisfaction with Postoperative Handoff Processes. Conference. A Survey of Anesthesia Providers and PACU RN’s to Assess Satisfaction with Postoperative Handoff Processes. New Orleans, LA, US.
- 2014. Development of a Protocol to Improve Postoperative Handoffs. Conference. Development of a Protocol to Improve Postoperative Handoffs. San Antonio, TX, US.
International Presentations
- 2025. Respiratory motion control during stereotactic thermal ablation of malignant liver tumors: clinical solutions to a technical problem. Poster. SPIE Medical Imaging 2025. San Diego, US.
- 2024. Initial Experience with Stereotactic Percutaneous Thermal Ablation of Liver Tumors in a Large Academic Center in the United States: A Prospective Registry-Based Study. Poster. CIRSE 2024. Lisbon, US.
- 2022. Successful airway management of unexpected tracheal mass during stenting for superior vena cava syndrome – A Case Report. Conference. International Anesthesia Research Society. Virtual, US.
- 2021. Anesthesiology for Interventional Radiology. Invited. International Academic Oncology Meeting 2021 / INCAN 75th Anniversary Conference,. Virtual, MX.
- 2021. Using Quality Improvement Tools to Develop and Assess a Postoperative Handoff Protocol. Conference. 17th World Congress of Anaesthesiologists. n/a (virtual), US.
- 2019. An effective solution for the kinking pediatric endotracheal tube. Conference. WAMM - World Airway Management Meeting. Amsterdam, NL.
- 2019. The histopathologic characteristics of Xanthoma Disseminatum does not increase the risk of intubation or extubation. Conference. WAMM - World Airway Management Meeting. Amsterdam, NL.
- 2019. SuperNO2VA and General Anesthesia Postoperative Care. Conference. WAMM - World Airway Management Meeting. Amsterdam, NL.
- 2015. Using Quality Improvement Methods to Measure a Postoperative Handoff Protocol. 2015 Annual Meeting and International Science Symposium. Conference. International Anesthesia Research Society. Honolulu, US.
- 2015. OPPE Metrics Improve Compliance with Intraoperative Handoff Procedures. 2015 Annual Meeting and International Science Symposium. Conference. International Anesthesia Research Society. Honolulu, US.
- 2015. Improving transitions of care through implementation of a standardized handoff at a comprehensive cancer center. Conference. ASCO Quality Care Symposium. Phoenix, US.
Formal Peers
- 2023. Fire Safety in OR. Houston, Texas, US.
Selected Publications
Peer-Reviewed Articles
- Su J, Bailard N, Tan J, Lim J, Vu C, Dong W, Zheng G. Factors Associated with Emergency Difficult Tracheal Intubation and Difficult Airway Management in a Non–Operating Room Setting at a Cancer Treatment Center. ACE QI 1(1), 2025. e-Pub 2025.
- Paolucci, I, Albuquerque Marques Silva, J, Lin, YM, Fellman, B, Jones, KA, Tatsui, CE, Weinberg, J, Ruiz, JR, Tan, J, Brock, K, Bale, R, Odisio, BC. Study Protocol STEREOLAB. Cardiovascular and Interventional Radiology 46(12):1748-1754, 2023. e-Pub 2023. PMID: 37563313.
Review Articles
- Wang, M, Tan, J, Lin, YM, Paolucci, I, Jackson, TA, Cata, JP. High-Frequency Jet Ventilation for Percutaneous Image-Guided Tumor Ablation. A and A Practice:e02106, 2026. e-Pub 2026. PMID: 41460248.
Abstracts
- Donahue H, Zavala M, Sansguiri A, Huynh K, Casal R, Sullivan E, Idowu O, Kuban J, Castro N, Tan J. Successful airway management of unexpected tracheal mass during stenting for superior vena cava syndrome - A Case Report. International Anesthesia Research Society, 2022. e-Pub 2022.
- Tan JA, Purugganan R, Rebello E, Dang A, Lim L, Hagan K, Ruiz JR. Using Quality Improvement Tools to Develop and Assess a Postoperative Handoff Protocol. Anesthesia & Analgesia 133(Supplement 2 3S):1632-1633, 2021. e-Pub 2021.
- Tan JA, Purugganan R, Rebello E, Dang A, Lim L, Hagan K, Ruiz JR. Using Quality Improvement Tools to Develop and Assess a Postoperative Handoff Protocol. Anesthesia & Analgesia 133(Supplement 2 3S):1632-1633, 2021. e-Pub 2021.
- Tan J, Ruiz JR, Vachhani S, Bailard N, Yevich S. Lung Isolation for Cryoablation in Interventional Radiology. American Society of Anesthesiologists, 2020. e-Pub 2020.
- Tan J, Cowles C, Soliz J. Preparation for Covid 19 Patients Undergoing Operating Room and Non Operating Room Anesthesia Procedures at a Major Academic Cancer Center. American Society of Anesthesiologists, 2020. e-Pub 2020.
- Burnett T, Tan J, Hancher-Hodges S, Arnold B, Syed T, Rice J, Andrabi T, Popovich S, French K, Hagberg C. SuperNO2VA™ and general anesthesia postoperative care. Trends in Anaesthesia and Critical Care 20:e186, 2020. e-Pub 2020.
- Huang Y, Tsai J, Tan J, Van Meter A. AN EFFECTIVE SOLUTION FOR THE KINKING PEDIATRIC. Trends in Anaesthesia and Critical Care 30:e106-e107, 2020. e-Pub 2020.
- Tan JA, Ruiz JR, Zheng G. The histopathologic characteristics of Xanthoma Disseminatum does not increase the risk of intubation or extubation. Trends in Anaesthesia and Critical Care 30, 2020. e-Pub 2020.
Patient Reviews
CV information above last modified July 22, 2026