Varsha Pawate, MD
Department of Palliative, Rehabilitation and Integrative Medicine, Division of Cancer Medicine
Present Title & Affiliation
Primary Appointment
Assistant Professor, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
Dual/Joint/Adjunct Appointment
Assistant Professor, Palliative Care and Rehabilitation Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Education & Training
Degree-Granting Education
| 2016 | University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Basseterre, KN, MD |
| 2011 | Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, US, Biology, BS |
Postgraduate Training
| 2021-2022 | Clinical Fellowship, Hospice & Palliative Care, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas |
| 2016-2019 | Clinical Residency, Family Medicine, Research Medical Center, Kansas City, Missouri |
Licenses & Certifications
| 2022 | Hospice and Palliative Medicine |
| 2019 | Texas Medical Board License |
| 2019 | American Board of Family Medicine |
Experience & Service
Administrative Appointments/Responsibilities
Scheduling Committee Lead, Palliative, Rehabilitation and Integrative Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, 2025 - Present
Other Professional Positions
Associate Medical Director/Urgent Care Physician, Care Now Urgent Care, Dallas, TX, 2019 - 2021
Intramural Institutional Committee Activities
Member, Inpatient Clinical Informatics Advisory Board, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2026 - Present
Member, Clinical Effectiveness Advisory Committee, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2026 - Present
Member, Junior Faculty Committee, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
Extramural Institutional Committee Activities
Committee member, Credentials Committee of the Medical Staff, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2026 - Present
Head of scheduling committee, Palliative Supportive Care Scheduling Committee, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, 2025 - Present
Member, Fellow interview committee, Hospice and Palliative medicine Fellowship program, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, 2024
Member, Rotation Scheduling Team Committee, Department of Palliative, Rehabilitation and Integrative Medicine, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, 2023 - Present
Member, Fellow interview committee, Hospice and Palliative medicine Fellowship program, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, 2023
Member, 26th Supportive and Palliative care Clinical and Research Symposium Organizing committee, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2023 - Present
Honors & Awards
| 2024 | Clinical Safety and Effectiveness Program certification, UT MD Anderson Cancer Center |
Professional Memberships
Selected Presentations & Talks
Local Presentations
- 2026. Benefits of Safely Prescribing Methadone. Invited. PRIM Grand Rounds. Houston, Texas, US.
- 2025. Take Home Naloxone and Stakeholder Perceptions. Invited. Grand Rounds. Houston, Texas, US.
- 2024. Cough. Invited. Grand Rounds. Houston, Texas, US.
- 2023. Benefits of Safely Prescribing Methadone. Invited. Grand Rounds. Houston, Texas, US.
Regional Presentations
- 2025. Career in Palliative Care. Invited. College Station, Texas, US.
National Presentations
- 2026. Difficult Opioid Conversions. Invited. 29th Supportive and Palliative Care Clinical and Research Symposium. Houston, Texas, US.
- 2024. We Do Not Want to Go Home To Die: A Case with Multidimensional Decision Making at the Time of Discharge. Poster. 27th Supportive & Palliative Care Clinical and Research Symposium. Houston, Texas, US.
International Presentations
- 2026. Catch the Patch: A Quality Improvement Project to Improve Documentation on Transdermal Patches Among Inpatients at a Comprehensive Cancer Center. Poster. MASCC/ISOO 2026. Melbourne, AU.
- 2026. Benefits of Safely Prescribing Methadone. Invited. Lausanne District, CH.
- 2024. Perception Of Take-Home Naloxone Among Caregivers of Patients with Cancer Pain at Elevated Risk for Opioid Overdose; A Prospective Survey Study. Poster. MASCC. Lille, FR.
- 2022. Role of Interdisciplinary Palliative and Supportive Care Services at Comprehensive Cancer Center; A Case Report. Poster. MASCC/ISOO Annual Meeting. Toronto, CA.
Selected Publications
Peer-Reviewed Articles
- Pawate V, Davila JSA, Reddy A, Bruera E. Routine Monitoring of QTc Interval as a Barrier for Efficient Use of Methadone in Palliative Care. J Pain Symptom Manage 67(2):e147-e150, 2023. e-Pub 2023. PMID: 37863373.
- Arthur J, Pawate V, Lu Z, Yennurajalingam S, Azhar A, Reddy A, Epner D, Hui D, Tanco K, Delgado Guay MO, Vidal M, Chen M, Bruera E. Helpfulness of Question Prompt Sheet for Patient-Physician Communication Among Patients With Advanced Cancer: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Netw Open 6(5), 2023. e-Pub 2023. PMID: 37129892.
- Ann-Yi S, Pawate V, Necroto V, Milbury K, Bruera E. Children of Advanced Cancer Patients Need Better Support: A Case Report. Palliative & Supportive Care.
Review Articles
- Gonzalez, AA, Jimenez, GJ, Rozman de Moraes, A, Geng, Y, Pawate, V, Khan, R, Narayanan, S, Yennu, S. Psychological Interventions for Insomnia in Patients with Cancer. Cancers 16(22), 2024. e-Pub 2024. PMID: 39594805.
Other Articles
- Pawate V, Davila JSA, Rozman de Moraes A, Williams L, Bruera E, Reddy A Caregiver Perceptions Toward Naloxone for Cancer Patients at Risk of Opioid Overdose. Palliative & Supportive Care, 2026.
- Amaram-Davila J, Pawate V, Yennurajalingam S, Rizvi AM, Kandaswamy R, Mccullough-roach R, Admane S, Kim MJ, Reddy A, Feng L, Driver L, Bruera E, Arthur JA, Koyyalagunta L Urine Drug Testing at an Ambulatory Pain Clinic in Patients Receiving Opioids for Cancer Pain. Cancers, 2026.
- Pawate V, Ganesh S, Nguyen K, Dev R, Bruera E Myoclonus at the end of life: a case report highlighting the need for comprehensive medical management. Annals of Palliative Medicine.
Abstracts
- Pawate V, Bruera E, Haider A. Role of Interdisciplinary Palliative and Supportive Care Services at Comprehensive Cancer Center; A Case Report. Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer.
- Pawate V, Amaram-Davila J, Rozman De Moraes A, Reddy A, Bruera E. Perception Of Take-Home Naloxone Among Caregivers of Patients with Cancer Pain at Elevated Risk for Opioid Overdose. MASCC/ISOO.
- Admane S, Pawate V, Chen M, Hui D, Bruera E, Reddy A. Opioid Prescribing and Referral Timing Following a System-Wide Inpatient Goals-of-Care Initiative. MASCC 2026.
- Pawate V, Alviarez DL, Tovbin M, Stewart H, George MC, Hui D, Bruera E, Amaram-Davila JS. Catch the Patch. MASCC 2026.
Book Chapters
- Pawate V. Hypercalcemia and Symptomatic Metabolic Disturbances. In: The MD Anderson Supportive and Palliative Care Handbook.
Patient Reviews
CV information above last modified October 08, 2026