Semhar J Ghebremichael, M.D.
Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Division of Anesthesiology, Critical Care Medicine, and Pain Medicine
Present Title & Affiliation
Primary Appointment
Associate Professor, Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Division of Anesthesiology, Critical Care Medicine, and Pain Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Education & Training
Degree-Granting Education
| 2008 | UT School of Medicine at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas, US, Doctor of Medicine |
| 2003 | University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, US, Human Development, Bachelor of Science |
Postgraduate Training
| 2009-2012 | Resident, Anesthesiology, McGovern Medical School at UT Health |
| 2008-2009 | Intern, Internal Medicine, McGovern Medical School at UT Health, Houston, Texas |
| null-2018 | Clinical Safety and Effectiveness, Quality and Safety, McGovern Medical School at UT Health |
Licenses & Certifications
| 2023 | Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support |
| 2016 | Focus Assessed Transthoracic Echocardiography (FATE), Basic |
| 2013 | American Board of Anesthesiology |
| 2012 | Texas Medical License |
Experience & Service
Faculty Academic Appointments
Associate Professor, Department of Anesthesiology, Critical Care and Pain Medicine, McGovern Medical School at UT Health, Houston, TX, 2019 - 2019
Assistant Professor, Department of Anesthesiology, Critical Care and Pain Medicine, McGovern Medical School at UT Health, Houston, TX, 2012 - 2019
Administrative Appointments/Responsibilities
Executive Medical Director - Anesthesia Services, Department of Perioperative Services, Procedures and Therapeutics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 2021 - Present
Associate Clinical Medical Director, Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 2021 - Present
Acute Pain Resident Rotation Site Director, Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 2020 - 2022
Residency Program Director, Department of Anesthesiology, Critical Care and Pain Medicine, McGovern Medical School at UT Health, Houston, TX, 2017 - 2019
Medical Director, Post Anesthesia Care Unit, Memorial Hermann - TMC, Houston, TX, 2016 - 2017
Assistant Residency Program Director and Director of Internship, Department of Anesthesiology, Critical Care and Pain Medicine, McGovern Medical School at UT Health, Houston, TX, 2014 - 2017
Assistant Operating Room Manager, Department of Anesthesiology, Critical Care and Pain Medicine, McGovern Medical School at UT Health, Houston, Texas, 2013 - 2019
Other Professional Positions
Physician Champion, ERAS Taskforce, Memorial Hermann Hospital-Texas Medical Center, Houston, TX, 2014 - 2019
Assistant Operating Room Manager, McGovern Medical School at UT Health, Houston, TX, 2013 - 2019
Director, Capital Equipment Purchase, McGovern Medical School at UT Health, Houston, TX, 2013 - 2018
Institutional Committee Activities
Member, Academic Review Committee, 2022 - Present
Educational Pillar Co-Lead, DACCPM Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, 2021 - 2023
Executive Medical Director - Anesthesia Services, OR Functions, 2021 - Present
Member, OR Advisory Committee, 2021 - Present
Member, Mid-Career Faculty Committee, 2021 - Present
McGovern Medical School At-Large Representative, UT Health Houston Interfaculty Council (IFC), 2018 - 2019
Physician Champion, ERAS Care Redesign, 2018 - 2019
Member, Surgeon's Council Committee, 2017 - 2019
Chair, MHMD Perioperative CPC, 2017 - 2019
Chair, Scheduling Committee, 2017 - 2019
Faculty Senate, Senator, 2015 - 2019
Department of Anesthesiology Representative, Curriculum Committee, 2015 - 2017
Member, MHMD Supply Chain CPC, 2014 - 2018
Facilitator, Anesthesiology Journal Club, 2014 - 2017
Member, Infectious Disease Sub-Committee, 2014 - 2016
Chair, Program Evaluation Committee, 2013 - 2019
Chair, Education Committee, 2013 - 2019
Chair, Residency Recruitment Committee, 2013 - 2019
Chair, Clinical Competency Committee, 2013 - 2019
Co- Chair, Transition to Anesthesiology Practice, Curriculum Development Lecture Series, Problem Based Learning, Simulation Training and Wet Lab, 2013 - 2017
Honors & Awards
| 2019 | Dean's Teaching Excellence Award, McGovern Medical School at UT Health |
| 2018 | Dean's Teaching Excellence Award, McGovern Medical School at UT Health |
| 2017 | Dean's Teaching Excellence Award, McGovern Medical School at UT Health |
| 2016 | Dean's Teaching Excellence Award, McGovern Medical School at UT Health |
| 2015 | Dean's Teaching Excellence Award, McGovern Medical School at UT Health |
| 2015 | Faculty of the Year, Acute Pain Medicine, McGovern Medical School at UT Health |
Professional Memberships
Selected Presentations & Talks
Local Presentations
- 2022. Moderator, Healthcare Disparities in the Management of Chronic Pain: An Ethical Dilemma. Panelist. DACCM DEI. Houston, Texas, US.
- 2019. Enhanced Recovery After Surgery. Visiting. Enhanced Recovery After Surgery. Houston, TX, US.
- 2019. Enhanced Recovery After Surgery. Visiting. Grand Rounds, Department of Urology. Houston, Texas, US.
- 2019. Enhanced Recovery After Surgery. Invited. Department of Surgery and Anesthesiology. Houston, Texas, US.
- 2018. Narcotic Drugs for Pain Control in Surgery. Panelist. Annual Surgical Disruptive Technology Summit. Houston, Texas, US.
- 2018. Enhanced Recovery After Surgery. Visiting. Grand Rounds, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. Houston, US.
- 2017. Impact of Enhanced Recovery After Surgery. Panelist. Department of Gynecologic Oncology. Houston, Texas, US.
- 2014. So, You Want to do Trauma?. Invited. Grand Rounds, Department of Anesthesiology, US.
Regional Presentations
- 2021. Moderator, Anesthesiology and Enhanced Perioperative Recovery. Conference. Texas Medical Association, TX, US.
- 2015. Airway Management in Trauma. Invited. Texas Society of Anesthesiologists - Anesthesiology Technician Meeting, US.
National Presentations
- 2022. Life Saving Skills Every Physician Anesthesiologist Should Know: A Cadaveric Workshop (invited presenter). Invited. American Society of Anesthesiologists. New Orleans, LA, US.
- 2018. Life Saving Skills Every Physician Anesthesiologist Should Know: A Cadaveric Workshop (invited presenter). Invited. American Society of Anesthesiologists Annual Meeting. San Francisco, CA, US.
- 2018. Point-of-Care Ultrasound Workshop (invited presenter). Invited. Louisiana Society of Anesthesiologists Meeting. New Orleans, LA, US.
- 2017. Difficult Airway Workshop (invited presenter). Invited. American Society of Anesthesiologists Annual Meeting. Boston, MA, US.
- 2017. Life Saving Skills Every Physician Anesthesiologist Should Know: A Cadaveric Workshop (invited presenter). Invited. American Society of Anesthesiologist Annual Meeting, MA, US.
- 2017. Steps Scores to Success on the American Board of Anesthesiology (ABA) Basic Exam. Invited. American Society of Anesthesiologists. Boston, MA, US.
- 2016. Difficult Airway Workshop (invited presenter). Invited. American Society of Anesthesiologists Annual Meeting. Chicago, IL, US.
- 2015. Difficult Airway Workshop (invited presenter). Invited. ASA Annual Meeting. San Diego, CA, US.
International Presentations
- 2026. Cytoreduction and HIPEC, Experience at MD Anderson. Invited. MD Anderson Cancer Center and Chile Cancer Anesthesia Symposium. Santiago, CL.
Selected Publications
Peer-Reviewed Articles
- Fields BC, Soliz JM, Speer BB, Hancher-Hodges S, Popat KU, Ghebremichael SJ, Van Meter A, Williams UU, Wang X, Hwang H, Bruno ML, Dewhurst WL, Arvide EM, Ikoma N, Maxwell JE, Kim MP, Katz MHG, Tzeng CD, Newhook TE. Repeat versus Single Quadratus Lumborum Block to Reduce Opioids After Open Pancreatectomy (RESQU-BLOCK): A Randomized Clinical Trial. Ann Surg, 2025. PMID: 40421798.
- Boyev, A, Popat, KU, Gottumukkala, V, Kwater, AP, Chiang, YJ, Prakash, L, Newhook, TE, Arvide, EM, Dewhurst, WL, Bruno, M, Van Meter, A, Hancher-Hodges, S, Ghebremichael, SJ, Williams, UU, Donahue, H, Soliz, J, Tzeng, CD. Postoperative pain scores and opioid use after standard bupivacaine vs. liposomal bupivacaine regional blocks for abdominal cancer surgery. American Journal of Surgery 237, 2024. e-Pub 2024. PMID: 38789322.
- Cukierman DS, Paredes-Flores M, Guerra-Londono JJ, Carlson R, Hagan K, Ghebremichael S, Hagberg C, Ge PS, Raju GS, Rhim A, Cata JP. Corrigendum to Nasal continuous positive pressure versus simple face mask oxygenation for adult obese and obstructive sleep apnea patients undergoing colonoscopy under propofol-based general anesthesia without tracheal intubation: A randomized controlled trial. J Clin Anesth 97, 2024. e-Pub 2024. PMID: 37989650.
- Cukierman DS, Perez M, Guerra-Londono JJ, Carlson R, Hagan K, Ghebremichael S, Hagberg C, Ge PS, Raju GS, Rhim A, Cata JP. Nasal continuous positive pressure versus simple face mask oxygenation for adult obese and obstructive sleep apnea patients undergoing colonoscopy under propofol-based general anesthesia without tracheal intubation: A randomized controlled trial. Journal of Clinical Anesthesia 89:111196, 2023. e-Pub 2023. PMID: 37406462.
- Tanner LD, Chen HY, Chauhan SP, Sibai BM, Ghebremichael SJ. Enhanced recovery after scheduled cesarean delivery: a prospective pre-post intervention study. J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med 35(25):9170-9177, 2022. e-Pub 2022. PMID: 34957893.
- DiPeri, TP, Newhook, TE, Day, RW, Chiang, YJ, Dewhurst, WL, Arvide, EM, Bruno, M, Scally, CP, Roland, CL, Katz, MH, Vauthey, JN, Chang, GJ, Badgwell, BD, Perrier, ND, Grubbs, EG, Lee, JE, Tzeng, CD, Bednarski, BK, Chen, IB, Comeaux, RJ, Cox, DM, Feig, BW, Fisher, SB, Fournier, KF, Ghebremichael, SJ, Gibson, H, Gourmelon, NC, Graham, PH, Hancher-Hodges, S, Hunt, KK, Ikoma, N, Ivey MPAS, SL, Keung, EZ, Ledet, CR, Limmer, AR, Mansfield, PF, Mayon, L, Messick, C, Popat, KU, Rajkot MPAS, NF, Rodriguez-Bigas, MA, Santos, DA, Skibber, JM, Speer, BB, Soliz, J, Tillman, MM, Torres, KE, Van Meter, A, Williams, UU, You, YN. A prospective feasibility study evaluating the 5x-multiplier to standardize discharge prescriptions in cancer surgery patients. Surgery Open Science 9:51-57, 2022. e-Pub 2022. PMID: 35663797.
- Markham TH, de Haan JB, Guzman-Reyes S, Zaki JF, Ghebremichael SJ, Artime C, Pivalizza EG. Anesthesiology Resident Performance on the US Medical Licensing Examination Predicts Success on the American Board of Anesthesiology BASIC Staged Examination: An Observational Study. J Educ Perioperative Med 22(3):E646, 2020. e-Pub 2020. PMID: 33225016.
- de Haan JB, Tabba S, Lee LO, Ghebremichael S, Sen S, Shoham D, Hernandez N. Posterior Quadratus Lumborum Block for Labor Analgesia: A Case Report. A A Pract 14(7):e01193, 2020. e-Pub 2020. PMID: 32371824.
- Hernandez N, Ghebremichael SJ, Sen S, de Haan JB. Opioid-Free Cesarean Section with Bilateral Quadratus Lumborum Catheters. Local Reg Anesth 13:17-20, 2020. e-Pub 2020. PMID: 32104062.
- Hernandez N, de Haan J, Clendeninn D, Meyer DE, Ghebremichael S, Artime C, Williams G, Eltzschig H, Sen S. Impact of serratus plane block on pain scores and incentive spirometry volumes after chest trauma. Local and Regional Anesthesia 12:59-66, 2019. e-Pub 2019. PMID: 31447581.
- Pivalizza EG, Nwokolo OO, Ghebremichael S, Markham TH, Guzman-Reyes S, Gumbert SD, Williams GW. Does the American Board of Anesthesiology BASIC Examination Really Affect Anesthesiology Resident Knowledge Acquisition?. Anesthesiology 129(6):1189-1190, 2018. e-Pub 2018. PMID: 30422857.
- Sridhar S, Guzman-Reyes S, Gumbert SD, Ghebremichael S, Edwards AR, Hobeika MJ, Dar WA, Pivalizza EG. The New Kidney Donor Allocation System and Implications for Anesthesiologists. Semin Cardiothoracic Vasc Anesth 22(2):223-228, 2018. e-Pub 2018. PMID: 28868984.
- Ghebremichael S, Sridhar S, Guzman-Reyes S, Pivalizza EG. Dramatic change in cerebral oximetry during liver transplantation. Proc (Baylor Univ Med Cent) 31(2):185-186, 2018. e-Pub 2018. PMID: 29706813.
- Burnett T, Mancillas O, Cai C, Ghebremichael S, Gumbert S, Vanga N, Hagberg C. AirSPACE device for real-time positioning during laryngoscopy. Trends in Anaesthesia and Critical Care 15:29-36, 2017. e-Pub 2017.
- Ghebremichael S, Gumbert SD, Vanga N, Mancillas O, Bunnett T, Cai C, Hagberg C. Evaluation of SuperN02VATM Mask Technology in a Clinical Setting: A Pilot Study. Trends in Anesthesia and Critical Care 16:54-61, 2017. e-Pub 2017.
- Gumbert SD, Normand KC, Artime CA, Nwokolo OO, Williams G, Guzman-Reyes S, Ghebremichael S, Sridhar S, Graham-Carlson AD, Pawelek O, Jain R, Hagberg CA, Pivalizza EG. Reliability of Faculty Evaluated Scoring System for Anesthesiology Resident Applicants. Journal of Clinical Anesthesia 31:131-6, 2016. e-Pub 2016. PMID: 27185695.
- Ghebremichael SJ, Ghebremichael S, Guzman-Reyes S. Guillain Barre and Anesthesia— Intraoperative Disaster?. Open Access Library Journal, 2015. e-Pub 2015.
Review Articles
- Gumbert SD, Kork F, Jackson ML, Vanga N, Ghebremichael S, Wang CY, Eltzschig HK. Perioperative Acute Kidney Injury. Anesthesiology 132(1):180-204, 2020. e-Pub 2020. PMID: 31687986.
Professional Educational Materials
- Nichols, Ghebremichael, Taylor. The Unequal Burden of COVID-19 on Minority Communities. ASA Monitor, 2021.
- Williams G, Gumbert S, Nwokolo O, Ghebremichael SJ, Pivalizza E. Do We Abdicate Advocacy Teaching Responsibilities When Working for a Public Institution?. ASA Monitor, 2016.
Abstracts
- 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. American Society of Regional Anesthesia Annual Meeting.
- Ghebremichael S, Cruz M, Idowu T. Difficulty Airway...When is Flexible Scope Not Enough?. World Airway Management Meeting.
- Loubser P, Ghebremichael S. Initiation of a Computerized Physician Order Entry System in the PACU - Perceptions of an Academic Anesthesiology Department. American Society of Anesthesiologists.
- Gumbert S, Normand KC, Pivalizza E, Airtime C, Nwokolo O, Ghebremichael S, Sridhar S, Williams G, Hagberg CA. Evaluation of the Inter-rater Faculty Reliability Utilizing a Standard Resident Interview Scoring System. American Society of Anesthesiologists.
- Pivalizza EG, Patel, Ghebremichael S, Normand K, Artime C. Medication Utilization Evaluation of Intra-operative Albumin Use. American Society of Anesthesiologists.
- Hernandez N, Ghebremichael SJ, Loselevich V, Williams G, Artime C, Chowdhury S, George R. A Novel Technique: Serratus Plan Book with Liposomal Bupivacaine for Multiple Rib Fractures. American Society of Regional Anesthesia.
- Ghebremichael, Dabhade, Artime, Ramirez-Chapman, Ferrario, Vanga. Use of Oral Aprepitant in the Prevention of POVN Pineal Cyst Resection-A Retrospective study. Society of Neuroscience in Anesthesiology and Critical Care.
- Ghebremichael S, Dabhade S, Artime C, Normand, Ferrario L, Vanga N. Incidence of Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting in Patients Undergoing Pineal Cyst Resection. Society for Neuroscience in Anesthesiology and Critical Care.
- Ghebremichael S, Artime, Gumbert, Nwokolo, Guzman-Reyes, Williams. Evaluation of United States Medical Licensing Exam (USMLE) Step Scores Success on the American Board of Anesthesiology (ABA) Basic Exam. American Society of Anesthesiologists.
- Lima, Lofton, Sridhar, Ghebremichael, Vanga, Ramirez-Chapman, Ferrario. Anesthetic Management of Moyamoya Disease Revascularization Procedures. Society for Neuroscience in Anesthesiology and Critical Care.
- Ha, Hernandez, Clendenin, Ghebremichael, Hagberg. Pressure: Are you doing it right? A New Technique Description with Ultrasonographic Images Confirming Mechanical Esophageal Compression. World Congress of Regional Anesthesiology International Meeting.
- Tabba, De Haan, Hernandez, Sen, Seshachellam, Ghebremichael. Can Labor Analgesia be Provided with Single-Shots Blocks? A New Horizon for OB Anesthesia. American Society of Regional Anesthesia and Acute Pain Medicine Meeting.
- Igwe P, Kurian J, Lumsden S, Kwater A, Hancher-Hodges S, VanMeter A, Zavala A, Ghebremichael S, Donahue H, Williams U, Popat K. Erector Spinae Plane (ESP) Block for Postoperative Analgesia after Total Mastectomy. American Society of Regional Anesthesia.
- Lasala J, Ghebremichael SJ, Potylchansky Y, Brown J, Van Meter A, Vachhani S, Hagan K, Williams U, Pham S, Morcous S, Reskallah A, Phillips B, Matute G, Soliz J. Optimizing Anesthesiology Department Efficiency: A Case for Reducing Certified Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) Overtime. Association of Anesthesia Clinical Directors.
- Lasala J, Ghebremichael SJ, Potylchansky Y, Brown J, Van Meter A, Vachhani S, Hagan K, Williams U, Pham S, Morcous S, Reskallah A, Phillips B, Matute G, Soliz J. Cost and Personnel Savings in a 23-hour Surgical Center: Physician Anesthesiologist vs. Certified Nurse Anesthetist Backup 2nd Call System. Association of Anesthesia Clinical Directors.
- Lumsden S, Zavala M, Kwater A, Ghebremichael S, Van Meter A, Williams U, Donahue H, Hancher S, Teshome M, Tamirisa N, 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.
- Garcia J, Lumsden S, Donahue H, Ghebremichael S, Kwater A, Oliver JA, Meter V A, Mani J, Williams U, Zavala. Dual Epidural Catheter System for Pediatric Analgesic Management of Radiation-Induced Sacral Osteosarcoma. American Society of Regional Anesthesia.
- Wright E, Popat K, Kwater A, Lazaris E, Donahue H, Ghebremichael S, Hancher-Hodges S, Owolabi A, Zavala M, VanMeter, A, Williams U, Muthukumar A, Speer B. Analysis of Postoperative Pain, Opioid Requirements, and Surgical Time in Robotic Cystectomy with or Without Regional Anesthesia. American Society of Regional Anesthesiologists.
- Wright E, Popat K, Kwater AP, Lazaris E, Donahue H, Ghebremichael S, Hancher-Hodges S, Owolabi A, Zavala A, Van Meter A, Williams UU, Muthukumar A, Speer B, Shrestha LA, Kurian J. Analysis of Postoperative Pain, Opioid Requirements, and Surgical Time in Robotic Cystectomy with or Without Regional Anesthesia. American Society of Regional Anesthesia (ASRA) Annual Meeting.
- Wright E, Zavala A, Kwater AP, Popat K, Van Meter A, Williams UU, Ghebremichael S, Hancher-Hodges S, Donahue H, Owolabi A, Muthukumar, Speer B, Shrestha LA, Kurian j. External Oblique Intercostal Block: An Alternative Technique for Regional Anesthesia in Oncologic Abdominal Surgery. American Society of Regional Anesthesia Annual Meeting.
- Wright E, Popat K, Hancher-Hodges S, Owolabi A, Zavala A, Donahue H, Ghebremichael S, Van Meter A, Williams UU, Muthukumar A, Speer B, Kapur S, Shrestha L.A, Kurian J, Kwater AP. Quadratus Lumborum Catheters for Abdominal Wall Analgesia Following DIEP Flap Reconstruction. American Society of Regional Anesthesia (ASRA) Annual Meeting.
- Ghebremichael SJ, Hernandez N. Breast Surgery: Are We Doing the Right Blocks?. European Society of Regional Anesthesia.
Letters to the Editor
- de Haan JB, Markham T, Ghebremichael S. Considerations of a Resident Recruitment Committee on the USMLE Step 1 Examination. Acad Med 94: 922-923, 2019.
- Pivalizza EG, Ghebremichael SJ, Markham TH, Guzman-Reyes S, Nwokolo OO, Williams GW, Gumbert SD. More on Fatigue Mitigation for Anesthesiology Residents. Anesthesia & Analgesia 127: 32, 2018.
- Pivalizza EP, Gumbert SD, Ghebremichael S, Artime C, Sridhar S, Daily WH. All Work Hours are not Equal. Anesthesiology 124(6): 1412-3: 1412-3, 2016.
Patient Reviews
CV information above last modified August 31, 2025