Thomas F. Rahlfs,
Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Division of Anesth CC & Pain Med -Clinical
Present Title & Affiliation
Primary Appointment
Professor, Department of Anesthesiology, UT MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Education & Training
Degree-Granting Education
| 1981 | Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA, MD, Medicine |
| 1977 | Duke University, Durham, NC, USA, BSE, Biomedical Engineering Magna Cum Laude |
Postgraduate Training
| 2004-2005 | Certificate in Business Management Course, American Society of Anesthesiologists, Houston, TX |
| 2003-2004 | 5 Element Acupuncture, Acupuncture, The Institute of Classical Five-Element Acupuncture, Inc, Santa Monica, CA |
| 2000-2001 | Course in Medical Acupuncture (300 hours), Acupuncture, Helms Medical Acupuncture Institute/UCLA, Los Angeles, CA |
| 1982-1984 | Clinical Residency, Anesthesiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX |
| 1981-1982 | Clinical Internship, Flexible, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX |
Board Certifications
| 2002 | ABA Recertification |
| 1986 | American Board of Anesthesiology |
Experience & Service
Academic Appointments
Associate Professor, Department of Anesthesiology, UT MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 1992 - 1997
Assistant Professor, Department of Anesthesiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 1986 - 1992
Administrative Appointments/Responsibilities
Division Head ad interim, UT MD Anderson Cancer Center, Division of Anesthesiology and Critical Care, Houston, TX, 2015 - 2016
Department Chair, Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, UT MD Anderson Cancer Center, Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Houston, TX, 2010 - 2021
Officer of the Day, Operating Room, UT MD Anderson Cancer Center, Operating Room, Houston, TX, 2010 - 2021
Billing and Compliance, Medical Director, Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, UT MD Anderson Cancer Center, Department of Anesthesiology, Houston, TX, 2005 - 2013
Medical Director, Department of Operating Room, UT MD Anderson Cancer Center, Operating Room, Houston, TX, 1998 - 1999
Deputy Division Head, Deputy Division Head ad interim, UT MD Anderson Cancer Center, Division of Anesthesiology and Critical Care, Houston, TX, 1998 - 1999
Deputy Department Chair, UT MD Anderson Cancer Center, Department of Anesthesiology, Houston, TX, 1996 - 2002
Clinical Medical Director, Department of Anesthesiology,, UT MD Anderson Cancer Center, Operating Room, Houston, TX, 1993 - 2000
Medical Board Member-at-large, Harris County Hospital District, Houston, TX, 1988 - 1989
Institutional Committee Activities
Member, Making Cancer History Patient Care Award Nomination Committee, 2015 - 2016
Chair, Division of Anesthesiology & Critical Care Executive Committee, 2015 - 2016
Co-Chair, Operating Room Committee, 2014 - 2020
Alternate member, Medical Practice Committee, UT MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2013 - 2020
Member, Research Charges for Innovative New Trials (ReCINT) Committee, UT MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2013 - 2014
Member, Medical Quality Planning Committee, UT MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2013 - 2019
Member, Clinical Faculty Review Committee, UT MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2012 - 2015
Member, Operating Room Executive Committee: OR Functions Group, 2012 - 2021
Member, Clinical Research Advisory Committee, UT MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2011 - 2014
Member, Surgery Safety Committee, Division of Surgery, UT MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2011 - 2014
Member, Faculty Incentive Program Subcommittee, UT MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2011 - 2014
Member, Executive Committee, Division of Surgery, UT MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2010 - 2021
Member, Operating Room Committee, UT MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2009 - 2014
Member, Surgical Services Advisory Committee, Division of Surgery, UT MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2009 - 2014
Representative, Faculty Senate, UT MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2008 - 2010
alternate, Credentialing Committee of the Medical Staff, UT MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2003 - 2005
Chairman, Equipment and Technology Committee, Division of Anesthesiology & Critical Care, UT MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2002 - 2010
Honors & Awards
| 2005 | Listed in 'America's Best Doctors' |
| 1995 | “Department of the Year Award” to the Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care, MDACC Procurement Services |
| 1990 | “Golden Apple Award” for excellence in teaching, Department of Anesthesiology, Baylor College of Medicine |
Professional Memberships
Selected Publications
Peer-Reviewed Articles
- Hagan K, Bhavsar S, Arunkumar R, Grasu R, Dang A, Carlson R, Cowles C, Arnold B, Potylchansky Y, Rahlfs T, Lipski I, Walsh C, Jiminez F, Nguyen A, Feng L, Cata J. Association Between Perioperative Hyperglycemia and Survival in Patients With Glioblastoma. Journal of Neurosurgical Anesthesiology. e-Pub 2016. PMID: 27438798.
- Chen J, Gottumukkala R, Menon V, Majumdar A, Kundra S, Chen J, Gi YJ, Mistry NA, Zhang J, Su X, Li S, Lin S, Javle M, Mishra B, White J, Rashid A, Beauchemin N, Weston BR, Shafi MA, Stroehlein J, Davila M, Wu X, Rahlfs TF, Mishra L. Mutational profiles reveal an aberrant TGFbeta-CEA regulated pathway in adenomas. PloS One 11(4), 2016.
- Gottumukkala V, Arunkumar R, Bhavsar S, Dang AQ, Popat KU, Arnold BA, Rahlfs TF, Raza SM. Enhanced Recovery After Surgery for Oncological Craniotomies. Journal of Clinical Neuroscience. e-Pub 2015.
- Ruiz JR, Ensor JE, Lim JW, Van Meter A, Rahlfs TF. Phenothiazine vs 5HT3 Antagonist Prophylactic Regimens to Prevent Post-Anesthetic Care Unit Rescue Antiemetic: An Observational Study. Open Journal of Anesthesiology 5(2):27-32, 2015. e-Pub 2015.
- Rahlfs T, Purugganan R, McMillian L. The Role of the Anesthesiologists in Resource Management. Advances in Anesthesia 25, 2007.
- Albo D, Wayne JD, Hunt KK, Rahlfs TF, Singletary SE, Ames FC, Feig BW, Ross MI, Kuerer HM. Anaphylactic reactions to isosulfan blue dye during sentinel lymph node biopsy for breast cancer. Am J Surg 182(4):393-8, 2001. PMID: 11720678.
- Rahlfs TF, Jones RL. Risks and outcomes in oncology patients undergoing anesthesia and surgery. Int Anesthesiol Clin 36(3):141-9, 1998. PMID: 10812422.
- Rahlfs TF, Jones RL. Risks and Outcomes in Oncology Patients Undergoing Anesthesia and Surgery. The Cancer Bulletin 47(1):78-82, 1995.
- Cata JP, Wang H, Keerty V, Potylchansky Y, Nguyen AT, Rahlfs TF, Prabhu SS. Perioperative Factors Associated with Progression-Free and Overall Survival after Brain Cancer Surgery. Journal of Clinical Anesthesia.
Abstracts
- Grasu R, Dang A, Cata J, Carlson R, Arunkumar R, Raty S, Arnold B, Hagan K, Bhavsar S, Lipski I, Davis M, Peng A, Rahlfs T. Use of Scalp Block in Patients Undergoing Craniotomy: A Retrospective Review of Patients at a Large Cancer Center. Presented at the 70th Post Graduate Assembly in Anesthesiology, New York, New York, 2016.
- Rebello E, Kowalski A, Kee S, Goravanchi F, Norman P, Ruiz J, Hernandez M, Rahlfs T. Implementing a Mentoring Program and Faculty Academic Productivity at the American Society of Anesthesiologists' Annual Meeting: An 11 Year Assessment. Anesthesia and Analgesia 123:97-98, 2016.
- Lewis V, Deneen J, Modaro C, Campbell A, Goravanchi F, Rice J, Rigby D, Veazie M, Wu N, Rahlfs T. Improving On Time First Starts in the Operating Room. Presented at the Celebrating Improvement Program, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 2015.
- Tan J, Ruiz J, Roquemore J, Stevens C, Rahlfs T. OPPE Metrics Improve Compliance with Intraoperative Handoff Procedures. Presented at the ASA Annual Anesthesia Practice Management Conference, Atlanta, GA, 2015.
- Van Meter A, Ensor J, Lim J, Rahlfs TF, Ruiz JR. Leadership Emphasis Improves PONV Guideline Adherence; but Anesthetists Changed from a Risk Adjusted to a Fixed Guideline Compliance for PONV Prophylaxis. Presented at SAMBA annual meeting, Scottsdale, AZ, 2013.
- Rahlfs TF, Ferson DZ, Law BK, Gokaslan Z, Arens JF. Pulse Oximeter Malfunction Caused by the Use of the StealthStation System During Neurosurgery. Anesthesiology 96:A597, 2002.
- Rahlfs TF. A Relative Value Guide for Evaluating Anesthesia Faculty. Presented at the Association of Anesthesia Clinical Directors annual meeting, Dallas, TX, 1999.
- Rahlfs TF. A Relative Value Guide for Evaluating Anesthesia Faculty. J Clin Anesth , 1999.
- Ferson DZ, Supkis DE, Rahlfs TF. Evaluation of the Intubating LMA as a Primary Airway Device and a Guide for Blind Intubation. Anesthesiology 87(3):A485, 1997.
- Rahlfs TF, Heckendorn D, Smith CA, Jones RL. Materials Usage Coefficients: A Method for Defining and Monitoring the Efficiency of Materials Utilization. Association of Anesthesia Clinical Directors, 1995.
- Rahlfs TF, Heckendorn D, Smith CA, Jones RL. Materials Usage Coefficients: A Method for Defining and Monitoring the Efficiency of Materials Utilization. J Clin Anesth, 1995.
Book Chapters
- Ferson DZ, Rahlfs TF. Laryngeal Mask Airway: Its Impact on Airway Management. In: Problems in Anesthesia. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 23-29, 2001.
- Albright GA, Ferguson JE, Joyce TH, Rahlfs TF, Stevenson DK. Obstetric Shock, Pulmonary Disorders, Hemorrhage and Postpartum Intensive Care. In: Anesthesia in Obstetrics-Maternal, Fetal and Neonatal Aspects. Butterworth, 1986.
Grant & Contract Support
| Title: | Acupuncture to Prevent Postoperative Paralytic ileus |
| Funding Source: | NIH/NCCAM |
| Role: | Collaborator |
Patient Reviews
CV information above last modified March 05, 2024