Omar Pacha, M.D.
Department of Dermatology, Division of Internal Medicine
Present Title & Affiliation
Primary Appointment
Associate Professor, Dermatology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Dual/Joint/Adjunct Appointment
Associate Professor, Dermatology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
Education & Training
Degree-Granting Education
| 2010 | Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, US, MD |
| 2005 | Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, US, BS in Biomedical Science |
Postgraduate Training
| 2012-2015 | Clinical Residency, Department of Dermatology, University of Texas Medical School, Houston, Texas |
| 2011-2012 | Research Fellowship, Department of Dermatology, University of Texas Medical School, Houston, Texas |
| 2010-2011 | Surgical Internship, Michael E. DeBakey Department of Surgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas |
Licenses & Certifications
| 2015 | American Board of Dermatology |
| 2011 | TX Medical Board Physician |
Experience & Service
Faculty Academic Appointments
Assistant Professor, Dermatology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 2015 - 2021
Other Professional Positions
Active Staff, Lyndon B. Johnson General Hospital, Houston, TX, 2015 - 2023
Active Staff, Memorial Hermann Hospital, Houston, TX, 2015 - 2023
Active Staff, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 2015 - Present
Extramural Institutional Committee Activities
Core member, Dermatology Research Review Comittee, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2021 - Present
Editorial Activities
Guest Editor, Journal of Immunotherapy and Precision Oncology, 2020 - 2020
Professional Memberships
Selected Presentations & Talks
Local Presentations
- 2024. Confessions. Invited. MDAnderson Internal Medicine Grand Rounds. Houston, Texas, US.
- 2012. Remitting Sernogative Symmetrical Synovitis with Pitting Edema. Conference. Remitting Sernogative Symmetrical Synovitis with Pitting Edema. Houston, TX, US.
- 2011. Acute Generalized Exanthematous Pustulosis - A result of Trileptal. Conference. Acute Generalized Exanthematous Pustulosis - A result of Trileptal. Houston, TX, US.
- 2011. Beta Blocker Use in Infantile Hemangiomas: A three year summary of clinical experience. Conference. Beta Blocker Use in Infantile Hemangiomas: A three year summary of clinical experience. Houston, TX, US.
- 2011. Giant Congenital Nevus and Neurocutaneous Melanosis. Conference. Giant Congenital Nevus and Neurocutaneous Melanosis. Houston, TX, US.
- 2011. Ecthyma Gangrenosum in an Immunocompetent Infant. Conference. Ecthyma Gangrenosum in an Immunocompetent Infant. Houston, TX, US.
Regional Presentations
- 2023. Systemic Therapies in Cancer Patients. Invited. Texas Dermatological Society. San Antonio, Texas, US.
- 2019. Primary Cutaneous Mycobacterium Avium Intracellulare in Patient with Chronic Neutrophilic Leukemia. Conference. Primary Cutaneous Mycobacterium Avium Intracellulare in Patient with Chronic Neutrophilic Leukemia, US.
- 2018. An Unusual Presentation of Blastic Plasmacytoid Dendritic Cell Neoplasm. Conference. An Unusual Presentation of Blastic Plasmacytoid Dendritic Cell Neoplasm, US.
Grant & Contract Support
| Title: | MD Anderson Institutional Research Grant "Biomarker Profiling Immunotherapy Related Cutaneous Adverse Events" |
| Funding Source: | MD Anderson |
| Role: | PI |
Selected Publications
Peer-Reviewed Articles
- Akhave, NS, Holder, AM, Davies, MA, Pacha, O, Weiser, R, Cimo, AM, Meric-Bernstam, F, Naing, A. Phase 2 study of ivonescimab in patients with cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma. Journal of Clinical Oncology 44(16):TPS9615-TPS9615, 2026. e-Pub 2026.
- Pacha, O, Patel, A, Curry, JL, Haymaker, CL, Ozirmak Lermi, N, Duose, D, Chen, K, Hajjar, J, Naing, A. Histologic and immune characterization of cutaneous immune-related adverse events induced by immune checkpoint inhibitors. Journal for immunotherapy of cancer 13(8), 2025. e-Pub 2025. PMID: 40780859.
- Muhaj, FF, Tran, J, Dai, J, Pacha, O, Patel, A. A retrospective case series of eight patients with epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitor–induced cutaneous toxicities managed with dupilumab. JAAD Case Reports 54:17-22, 2024. e-Pub 2024. PMID: 39583056.
- Marques-Piubelli, ML, Seervai, RN, Mudaliar, K, Ma, W, Milton, D, Wang, J, Muhlbauer, A, Parra Cuentas, ER, Solis Soto, LM, Nagarajan, P, Speiser, J, Hudgens, CW, Cho, WC, Aung, PP, Patel, A, Pacha, O, Nelson, KC, Tetzlaff, M, Amaria, RN, Torres Cabala, CA, Prieto, V, Wistuba, II, Curry, JL. Gene expression profiling and multiplex immunofluorescence analysis of bullous pemphigoid immune-related adverse event reveal upregulation of toll-like receptor 4/complement-induced innate immune response and increased density of TH1 T-cells. Journal of cutaneous pathology 50(7):661-673, 2023. e-Pub 2023. PMID: 37150813.
- Bur D, Patel AB, Nelson K, Huen A, Pacha O, Phillips R, Heberton M. A retrospective case series of 20 patients with immunotherapy-induced bullous pemphigoid with emphasis on management outcomes. J Am Acad Dermatol 87(6):1394-1395, 2022. e-Pub 2022. PMID: 35940366.
- Lee KP, Koshelev MV, Team D, Pacha O. The effect of biologic therapy for immune-mediated inflammatory diseases on clinical outcomes of COVID-19 in the Greater Houston Area: a retrospective chart review. J Am Acad Dermatol 87(3):658-660, 2022. e-Pub 2022. PMID: 35016993.
- Patel AB, Farooq S, Welborn M, Amaria RN, Chon SY, Diab A, Glitza Oliva IC, Huen AO, Li SQ, Nelson KC, Pacha O, Patel SP, Rapini RP, Tawbi HA, Wong MK, McQuade J, Davies MA, Haydu LE. Cutaneous adverse events in 155 patients with metastatic melanoma consecutively treated with anti-CTLA4 and anti-PD1 combination immunotherapy: Incidence, management, and clinical benefit. Cancer 128(5):975-983, 2022. e-Pub 2021. PMID: 34724197.
- Lo JJ, Heberton MM, Pacha O, Huen AO, Patel AB. Biologic therapies for checkpoint inhibitor-induced cutaneous toxicities: a single-institution study of 17 consecutively treated patients. Support Care Cancer 30(2):989-994, 2022. e-Pub 2022. PMID: 34519869.
- Dao EA, George SJ, Heberton MM, Pacha O, Kovitz CA, Patel AB, Phillips RM. Periorbital edema associated with alpelisib. Cancer Treat Res Commun 32:100596, 2022. e-Pub 2022. PMID: 35834907.
- Masterson, WM, Morse, DC, Pacha, O. IL-17A Blockade Treatment Success in Erythrodermic Pityriasis Rubra Pilaris. SKIN: Journal of Cutaneous Medicine 5(5):542-545, 2021. e-Pub 2021.
- Hanania HL, Pacha O, Heberton M, Patel AB. Surgical Intervention for Paronychia Induced by Targeted Anticancer Therapies. Dermatol Surg 47(6):775-779, 2021. e-Pub 2021. PMID: 34029250.
- Farooq S, Narala S, Pacha O. Alectinib-associated drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms syndrome. JAAD Case Rep 6(12):1339-1341, 2020. e-Pub 2020. PMID: 33304973.
- Karri PV, Freemyer BD, Pacha O, Patel AB. Characterization of Cutaneous Adverse Events Associated With PI3K Inhibitors in 11 Patients. J Immunother Precis Oncol 3(4):141-146, 2020. e-Pub 2020. PMID: 35665373.
- Pacha O, Sallman MA, Evans SE. COVID-19: a case for inhibiting IL-17?. Nat Rev Immunol 20(6):345-346, 2020. e-Pub 2020. PMID: 32358580.
- Messer A, Brown AE, Pacha O, Boddu P, Geppner A, Kadia TM, Huen AO. Successful treatment of cutaneous adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma with imiquimod. JAAD Case Rep 5(11):979-981, 2019. e-Pub 2019. PMID: 31709290.
- Reddy, NA, Mays, SR, Pacha, O. Kaposi’s sarcoma in the immunosuppressed. Journal of Immunotherapy and Precision Oncology 2(3):74-78, 2019. e-Pub 2019.
- Chen WS, Tetzlaff MT, Diwan H, Jahan-Tigh R, Diab A, Nelson K, Glitza IC, Kaunitz GJ, Johnson D, Torres-Cabala C, Pacha O, Taube JM, Maloney K, Prieto VG, Curry JL. Suprabasal acantholytic dermatologic toxicities associated checkpoint inhibitor therapy: A spectrum of immune reactions from paraneoplastic pemphigus-like to Grover-like lesions. J Cutan Pathol. e-Pub 2018. PMID: 29943453.
- Tetzlaff MT, Nagarajan P, Chon S, Huen A, Diab A, Omar P, Aung PP, Torres-Cabala CA, Mays SR, Prieto VG, Curry JL. Lichenoid Dermatologic Toxicity From Immune Checkpoint Blockade Therapy: A Detailed Examination of the Clinicopathologic Features. Am J Dermatopathol 39(2):121-129, 2017. e-Pub 2017. PMID: 28134729.
- J Curry J, M Tetzlaff M, C Torres-Cabala C, O Pacha O, A Huen A, P Nagarajan P, A Diab A, C Drucker C, R Rapini R, V Prieto V. Clinical and histologic patterns of dermatologic toxicity from immune checkpoint blockade therapy. Experimental Dermatology, 2016. e-Pub 2016.
- Pacha O, Hebert AA. Ecthyma gangrenosum and neutropenia in a previously healthy child. Pediatr Dermatol 30(6):e283-4, 2013. e-Pub 2013. PMID: 22471737.
- Pacha O, Schlichte MJ, Hebert AA. Psoriasis and Pityriasis Rubra Pilaris. in: Severe Skin Diseases in Children:21-35, 2013. e-Pub 2013.
- Gifford KA, Pacha O, Hebert AA, Nelson CL, Kirsner SM, Ballo MT, Bloom ES. A new paradigm for calculating skin dose. Brachytherapy 12(2):114-9, 2013. e-Pub 2013. PMID: 22884255.
- Pacha O, Kadikoy H, Amro M, Haque W, Abdellatif A. Torsades de pointes and prolonged QT syndrome in Takotsubo cardiomyopathy. J Cardiovasc Med (Hagerstown) 13(8):536-40, 2012. e-Pub 2012. PMID: 20075742.
- Gupta A, Pacha O, Skaria R, Huynh T, Truong L, Abdellatif A. Retroperitoneal sarcoma presenting as acute renal failure, secondary to bilateral renal artery invasion. Clin Nephrol 78(2):164-8, 2012. e-Pub 2012. PMID: 22790462.
- Pacha O, Pickett MM, Hebert AA. Scrotal Buschke-Lowenstein tumor in an AIDS patient. Sex Transm Dis 39(3):236-7, 2012. e-Pub 2012. PMID: 22337113.
- Pacha O, Hebert AA. Treating atopic dermatitis: safety, efficacy, and patient acceptability of a ceramide hyaluronic acid emollient foam. Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol 5:39-42, 2012. e-Pub 2012. PMID: 22690129.
- Pacha, O, Cohn, WE, Dinh, T, Fishman, IJ. Fluoroscopy guided implantation of penile prosthesis in cases of severe fibrosis. Journal of Men's Health 7(1):42-44, 2010. e-Pub 2010.
- Pacha O, Cohn WE, Dinh T, Fishman IJ. Fluroscopy guided implantation of penile prosthesis in cases of severe fibrosis. Mens Health 7(1):42-44, 2010. e-Pub 2010.
Review Articles
- Patel AB, Pacha O. Skin Reactions to Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors. Adv Exp Med Biol 1342:319-330, 2021. e-Pub 2021. PMID: 34972971.
- Pacha O, Hebert AA. Pediatric photosensitivity disorders. Dermatol Clin 31(2):317-26, 2013. e-Pub 2013. PMID: 23557658.
- Pacha, O, Sambrano, BL, Hebert, AA. Skin Barrier Repair in Eczema. Current Dermatology Reports 1(3):115-122, 2012. e-Pub 2012.
- Phillips CB, Pacha O, Biliciler-Denkta G, Hebert AA. A review of beta antagonist treatment for infantile hemangioma. J Drugs Dermatol 11(7):826-9, 2012. e-Pub 2012. PMID: 22777223.
- Haque W, Kadikoy H, Pacha O, Maliakkal J, Hoang V, Abdellatif A. Osteonecrosis secondary to antiphospholipid syndrome: a case report, review of the literature, and treatment strategy. Rheumatol Int 30(6):719-23, 2010. e-Pub 2010. PMID: 20012628.
- Fanari Z, Kadikoy H, Haque W, Pacha O, Abdellatif A. Medical management of primary hyperparathyroidism with concomitant multiple myeloma. Intern Med 49(6):581-4, 2010. e-Pub 2010. PMID: 20228595.
Other Articles
- Dao EA, George SJ, Heberton MM, Pacha O, Kovitz CA, Patel AB, Phillips RM Erratum to "Periorbital edema associated with alpelisib" [Cancer Treatment and Research Communications 32 (2022) 100596]. Cancer Treat Res Commun 33:100654, 2022. PMID: 36463021.
- Narala S, Kash N, Pacha O An unusual presentation of blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasm. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology 81(4):AB19, 2019.
Abstracts
- Payne AS, Nunez D, Volkov J, Thompson D, Werner M, Stadanlick J, Ishikawa L, Cicarelli J, Lam Q, Miller C, Sheipe K, Vieira S, Porter D, Micheletti R, Maverakis E, Abedi M, Fairley JA, Farooq U, Marinkovich M, Weng W, Dominguez A, Pacha O, Zhou A, Mehta J, Shinohara M, Maloney D, Milone M, Binder G, Chang D, Basu S. 0434 Clinical and translational data from a first-in-human study of a novel precision cellular immunotherapy (DSG3-CAART) in mucosal pemphigus vulgaris. Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2025.
- Pacha O, Hebert AA. Beta Blocker Use in Infantile Hemangiomas: A three year summary of clinical experience.
- Pacha O, Pacha R, Hebert A. Rickettsia on Safari.
- Cho WC, MD1, Vangipuram R, MD2, Pacha O, MD2, Nagarajan P, MD, PhD1. Cutaneous Metastasis of Medullary Thyroid Carcinoma with Interstitial Growth Pattern. College of American Pathologists.
- Perito P, Pacha O, Khera M. Intra-Facial Placement of the penile prosthesis reservoir: A Novel Technique for the High Risk Patient.
- Akhave N, Holder A, Davies M, Pacha O, Weiser R, Meric-Bernstam F, Naing A. Abstract CT243: Phase 2 study of Ivonescimab in patients with cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma.
Book Chapters
- Patel AB, Pacha O. Skin Reactions to Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors. In: Adv Exp Med Biol, 235-246, 2020.
- Patel AB, Pacha O. Skin Reactions to Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors. In: Adv Exp Med Biol, 117-129, 2018.
- Patel AB, Pacha O. Skin Reactions to Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors. In: Adv Exp Med Biol. Springer, 175-184, 2017.
- Pacha, O, Hebert, AA. Tuberous Sclerosis, 229-233, 2014.
- Pacha, O, Hebert, AA. Keratosis Pilaris Atrophicans, 367-370, 2014.
- Pacha, O, Schlichte, M, Hebert, AA. Psoriasis and pityriasis rubra pilaris, 21-35, 2014.
- Pacha O, Hebert AA. Hemangiomas. In: Treatment of Skin Disease, 2013.
- Pacha O, Schlichte M, Hebert AA. Severe Skin Diseases in Children: Beyond Topical Therapy. In: Severe Psoriasis and Pityriasis Rubra Pilaris in Children, 2013.
Letters to the Editor
- Alam, Z, Alameddine, R, McKenzie, A, Cherradi, R, Fatah, A, Pacha, O. Elevated risk of oral cancer in patients with lichen planus. Archives of Dermatological Research 317, 2025.
- Alameddine, R, Ahmad, N, Alam, Z, Pacha, O. Celiac disease associated with alopecia areata. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology 92: e183-e184, 2025.
- Cherradi R, Bouchelkia I, Haque S, Ezuruike J, Pacha O. A Dark Side of Calcium Channel Blockers: Increased Risk of Stasis Dermatitis. Int J Dermatol 64: 1526-1528, 2025.
Patient Reviews
CV information above last modified August 24, 2026