Robert Wegner, M.D., FASA
Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Division of Anesthesiology, Critical Care Medicine, and Pain Medicine
Present Title & Affiliation
Primary Appointment
Associate Professor, Division of Anesthesiology, Critical Care, and Pain Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Dual/Joint/Adjunct Appointment
Adjunct Assistant Professor, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio
Education & Training
Degree-Granting Education
| 2010 | McGovern Medical School at UTHealth, Houston, Texas, US, Medicine, Doctor of Medicine (MD) |
| 2006 | Baylor University, Waco, Texas, US, Forensic Science, Bachelor of Science |
Postgraduate Training
| 2014-2015 | Clinical Fellowship, Critical Care Fellowship, PGY-5, McGovern Medical School at UTHealth, Houston, Texas |
| 2011-2014 | Clinical Residency, Anesthesiology Residency, PGY-2 to PGY-4, McGovern Medical School at UTHealth, Houston, Texas |
| 2010-2011 | Clinical Internship, Preliminary Surgery Internship, PGY-1, St. John Providence Hospital, Southfield, Michigan |
Licenses & Certifications
| 2020 | National Board of Echocardiography (Testamur) |
| 2015 | American Board of Anesthesiology Critical Care Medicine |
| 2015 | American Board of Anesthesiology; Anesthesiology |
| 2013 | Texas Medical License |
Experience & Service
Faculty Academic Appointments
Assistant Professor, Department of Internal Medicine, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth), Houston, TX, 2018 - 2019
Assistant Professor, Anesthesiology, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth), Houston, TX, 2015 - 2019
Administrative Appointments/Responsibilities
Medical Education Director, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Houston, Texas, 2024 - Present
Physician Liaison for Certified Anesthesiologist Assistants, Anesthesiology & PeriOper Med, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, 2024 - Present
Director, TIPS Education Center, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, 2023 - 2025
Capital Equipment Lead, Anesthesiology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, 2021 - 2024
Editor, Medical Power Plan (EMR Physician Order Sets), Memorial Hermann Hospital System, Houston, TX, 2019 - 2019
Medical Director, Master of Science in Anesthesia (AA) Program, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Houston, TX, 2018 - 2019
Director of Certified Anesthesiologist Assistant Practice, Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, UT Health McGovern Medical School, Houston, TX, 2018 - 2019
Other Professional Positions
Assistant Clinical Director (Board Runner), UT Health McGovern Medical School, Department of Anesthesiology, Houston, TX, 2017 - 2019
Intramural Institutional Committee Activities
Voting Member, Code Blue Committee, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2025 - Present
Voting Member, Clinical Health Education Programs (CHEP) Committee, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2025 - Present
Extramural Institutional Committee Activities
Member, non voting, The Association of Anesthesiologist Assistant Education Programs Executive Committee (AAAEP), american academy of anesthesiologist assistants, 2024 - Present
Member, Supply Inventory Management Solution RFP Committee, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2022 - 2024
Member, Cardiac Monitoring Steering Committee, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2022 - 2024
Chair, Capital Equipment/VAT Committee, Division of Anesthesiology, Critical Care, and Pain Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2021 - 2024
Member, Division of Anesthesiology, Critical Care, and Pain Medicine Executive Committee, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2021 - Present
Member, Faculty Senate Education Committee, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2021 - 2023
Member, Graduate Medical Education Committee (GMEC), The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2020 - 2023
Faculty Senator, Faculty Senate, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2020 - 2023
Member, COVID Treatment Algorithm Work Group, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2020 - 2022
Member, Anesthesia Education Committee, Department of Anesthesiology, UT Health McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2019 - 2019
Member, Perioperative Services Subcommittee of the MHMD Clinical, Memorial Hermann Hospital System, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2018 - 2019
Member, Medical Information Committee, Memorial Hermann Hospital System, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2018 - 2019
Member, Faculty Senate, UT Health McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2018 - 2019
Member, Finance Committee, Department of Anesthesiology, UT Health McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2017 - 2019
Member, QUEST (QUality and Efficiency STeering) Committee, Department of Anesthesiology, UT Health McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2017 - 2019
Member, Faculty Recruitment Committee, Department of Anesthesiology, UT Health McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2017 - 2019
Member, Hospital Code Blue Committee, Memorial Hermann Hospital TMC, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2016 - 2019
Honors & Awards
| 2023 | Golden Apple Award, Baylor College of Medicine |
| 2019 - 2023 | Fellow of American Society of Anesthesiologists, American Society of Anesthesiologists |
| 2017 - 2018 | Evan Pivalizza Outstanding Clinical Faculty Teaching Award, UT Health McGovern Medical School, Houston, Texas |
| 2017 - 2018 | Neurosurgery Anesthesiologist Faculty of the Year Teaching Excellence Award, UT Health McGovern Medical School, Houston, Texas |
| 2015 - 2019 | Dean’s Teaching Excellence Award, UT Health McGovern Medical School, Houston, Texas |
Professional Memberships
Selected Presentations & Talks
Regional Presentations
- 2024. Point of Care Ultrasound and Hemodynamic Monitoring Workshop. Invited. Texas Society of Anesthesiologist Annual Meeting. San Antonio, Texas, US.
- 2023. Point of Care Ultrasound and Hemodynamic Monitoring Workshop. Invited. Texas Society of Anesthesiologists Annual Meeting. Round Rock, Texas, US.
- 2022. Point of Care Ultrasound and Hemodynamic Monitoring Workshop. Conference. Point of Care Ultrasound and Hemodynamic Monitoring Workshop. Round Rock, TX, US.
- 2019. Point of Care Ultrasound and Hemodynamic Monitoring Workshop. Conference. Point of Care Ultrasound and Hemodynamic Monitoring Workshop. Bastrop, TX, US.
National Presentations
- 2019. Everything you wanted to know about starting an Enhanced Recovery after Cardiac Surgery (ERACS) Program – Transition from OR to ICU, ICU Fast-tracking, and Post-ICU recovery (managing complications). Conference. Everything you wanted to know about starting an Enhanced Recovery after Cardiac Surgery (ERACS) Program – Transition from OR to ICU, ICU Fast-tracking, and Post-ICU recovery (managing complications). Orlando, FL, US.
- 2018. What's New in Noninvasive Monitoring. Conference. What's New in Noninvasive Monitoring. Houston, TX, US.
- 2017. Systolic Anterior Motion of the Mitral Valve after Aortic Valve Replacement for Aortic Stenosis diagnosed by Transesophageal Echocardiography. Conference. Systolic Anterior Motion of the Mitral Valve after Aortic Valve Replacement for Aortic Stenosis diagnosed by Transesophageal Echocardiography. Boston, MA, US.
- 2017. Successful Anesthetic in a Patient with COPA Syndrome. Conference. Successful Anesthetic in a Patient with COPA Syndrome. Boston, MA, US.
- 2017. General Trauma and Burns. Conference. General Trauma and Burns. Houston, TX, US.
- 2016. To Clot or Not: Coagulopathies and Anticoagulation in the ICU. Conference. To Clot or Not: Coagulopathies and Anticoagulation in the ICU. Houston, TX, US.
Formal Peers
- 2018. "Blood Component Therapy". Invited, US.
- 2017. "Multimodal Analgesia". Invited. Houston, TX, US.
- 2017. "Critical Care Medicine". Invited. Houston, TX, US.
Grant & Contract Support
| Date: | 2024 |
| Title: | Human Factors for the F&P Optiflow Air/Oxygen Flow Controller |
| Funding Source: | Fisher and Paykel |
| Role: | Co-PI |
| Date: | 2023 |
| Title: | RE: Fisher & Paykel - Optiflow Switch |
| Funding Source: | Fisher & Paykel |
| Role: | PI |
| ID: | FPH-101-4385 |
Selected Publications
Peer-Reviewed Articles
- Cuenca, JA, Hanmandlu, A, Wegner, RC, Botdorf, JS, Tummala, S, Iliescu, C, Nates, JL, Reddy, DS. Management of respiratory failure in immune checkpoint inhibitors-induced overlap syndrome. BMC Anesthesiology 23(1), 2023. e-Pub 2023. PMID: 37700240.
- Reddy, DS, Cuenca, JA, Botdorf, JS, Muthu, M, Hanmandlu, A, Wegner, RC, Crommett, JW, Gutierrez, C, Rathi, N, Sajith, B, Knafl, M, Abbas, HA, Woodman, SE, Nates, JL, Aaroe, AE, Aloia, TA, Andrews, L, Badami, KK, Baganz, JA, Bajwa, P, Baker, LR, Barbosa, GR, Beird, H, Bourgeois, M, Brock, K, Burton, EM, Cata, JP, Chung, C, Cutherell, M, Dabaja, BS, Draetta, G, French, KE, Futreal, A, Gibbons, C, Godoy, M, Gunther, J, Hutcheson, KA, Jaffray, D, John, TM, Lee, JJ, Litton, J, McEnery, KW, Palaskas, NL, Ravi, V, Scheet, PA, Schmidt, S, Subbiah, IM, Tawbi, H, Wu, J, Yao, JC. Clinical Characteristics and Cause of Death Among Hospitalized Decedents With Cancer and COVID-19. Mayo Clinic Proceedings 98(3):451-457, 2023. e-Pub 2023. PMID: 36868753.
- John TM, Malek AE, Mulanovich VE, Adachi JA, Raad II, Hamilton AR, Shpall EJ, Rezvani K, Aitken SL, Jain N, Klein K, Martinez F, Jacob CN, Cherian SV, Manzano JM, Muthu M, Wegner, R. Migratory Pulmonary Infiltrates in a Patient With COVID-19 Infection and the Role of Corticosteroids. Mayo Clin Proc 95(9):2038-2040, 2020. e-Pub 2020. PMID: 32861345.
- Markham T, Wegner R, Hernandez N, Lee JW, Choi W, Eltzschig HK, Zaki J. Assessment of a multimodal analgesia protocol to allow the implementation of enhanced recovery after cardiac surgery. J Clin Anesth 54:76-80, 2019. e-Pub 2019. PMID: 30412813.
- Williams G, Grewal N, Wegner R, Contreras D, Patterson V. Regulations Regarding OR Head Attire Appear Discordant with Literature. Clin Infect Dis 67(9):1470-1471, 2018. e-Pub 2018. PMID: 29846558.
- Chaudhry R, Kukreja N, Tse A, Pednekar G, Mouchli A, Young L, Didyuk O, Wegner R, Grewal N, Williams GW. Trends and Outcomes of Early Versus Late Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy Placement in Patients With Traumatic Brain Injury:. Nationwide Population-based Study, 30(3):251-257, 2018. e-Pub 2018. PMID: 28459729.
- Chaudhry R, Kukreja N, Tse A, Pednekar G, Mouchli A, Young L, Didyuk O, Wegner R, Grewal N, Williams GW. Gastrointestinal Complications After Cardiac Surgery:. J Neurosurg Anesthesiol 30(3):251-257, 2018. e-Pub 2018. PMID: 28459729.
- Chaudhry R, Wegner R, Zaki JF, Pednekar G, Tse A, Kukreja N, Grewal N, Williams GW. Incidence and Outcomes of Heparin-Induced Thrombocytopenia in Patients Undergoing Vascular Surgery. J Cardiothorac Vasc Anesth 31(5):1751-1757, 2017. e-Pub 2017. PMID: 28864160.
- Chaudhry R, Zaki J, Wegner R, Pednekar G, Tse A, Sheinbaum R, Williams GW. Gastrointestinal Complications After Cardiac Surgery: A Nationwide Population-Based Analysis of Morbidity and Mortality Predictors. J Cardiothorac Vasc Anesth 31(4):1268-1274, 2017. e-Pub 2017. PMID: 28800983.
- Wegner R, Akwar D, Guzman-Reyes S, Pednekar G, Chaudhry R, Grewal N, Kukreja N, Mancillas OL, Williams GW, Nwokolo O. Evaluating the Adjuvant Effect of Dexamethasone to Ropivacaine in Transversus-Abdominis Plane Block for Inguinal Hernia Repair and Spermatocelectomy: Randomized-Controlled Trial;. Pain Physician 20(5):413-418, 2017. e-Pub 2017. PMID: 28727704.
- Chaudhry R, Batra S, Mancillas OL, Wegner R, Grewal N, Williams GW. In-Hospital Mortality with Use of Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy in Traumatic Brain Injury Patients: Results of a Nationwide Population-Based Study. Neurocrit Care 26(2):232-238, 2017. e-Pub 2017. PMID: 27905046.
Review Articles
- Williams GW, Jones WS, Chaudhry R, Cai C, Pednekar GS, Long AC, Chouhan S, Artime C, Wegner R, Grewal NK, Patterson VM, Contreras DA, Ferrario L. Intraoperative Anesthesiology Management and Patient Outcomes for Surgical Revascularization for Moyamoya Disease: A Review and Clinical Experience. J Neurol Surg A Cent Eur Neurosurg 80(3):143-148, 2019. e-Pub 2019. PMID: 30818408.
Professional Educational Materials
- Wegner R. Anesthesia Toolbox, 2016.
Abstracts
- Souman B, Qaddumi WN, Cuenca JA, Wegner R, Botdorf J, Nates JL, Reddy DR. Hypophysitis and Pneumonitis Secondary to Checkpoint Inhibitor Combination Therapy: A Case Report. Critical Care Medicine 50(1):307, 2022. e-Pub 2022.
- Reddy DR, Muthu M, Cuenca JA, Wegner RC, Crommett J, Gutierrez C, Haque S, Botdorf J, Rathi R, Manjappachar N, Sajith B, Nates JL. End of Life Care and Clinical Characteristics of Non-Survivor Cancer Patients with COVID-19. Critical Care Medicine 50(1):259, 2022. e-Pub 2022.
- Cuenca JA, Wegner RC, Botdorf J, Iliescu CA, Nates JL, Reddy DR. Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors-induced Overlap Syndrome: A Case Series. Critical Care Medicine 50(1):326, 2022. e-Pub 2022.
- Reddy DR, Botdorf J, Crommett J, Cuenca JA, Malik I, Wegner RC, Grami P, Nates JL. Performance of an Automated Deterioration Index as an Early Warning System for ICU Outreach. Critical Care Medicine 50(1):607, 2022. e-Pub 2022.
- Williams G, Aijazi M, Hernandez N, Zhang X, Xiao AK, Contreras DA, Grewal NK, Patterson VM, Wegner R. Empty Gut: Evaluation and Measurement of Preoperative Total Emptying with Gastric Ultrasound Technique. American Society of Anesthesiologists Annual Meeting 114(5):1086-92, 2018. e-Pub 2018.
- Chaudhry R, Kukreja N, Jones WS, Pednekar G, Wegner R, Grewal NK, Williams G. Do Pre-existing Autoimmune Diseases Predispose Patients to an Increased Risk of Heparin Induced Thrombocytopenia?. American Society of Anesthesiologists 108(9):2937-41, 2017. e-Pub 2017.
Letters to the Editor
- Chaudhry R, Zaki J, Wegner R, Pednekar G, Tse A, Sheinbaum R, Williams GW. Response to Xue et al. J Cardiothorac Vasc Anesth 32: e85-e86, 2018.
Patient Reviews
CV information above last modified July 22, 2026