Adebukola Owolabi, M.D.
Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Division of Anesthesiology, Critical Care Medicine, and Pain Medicine
Present Title & Affiliation
Primary Appointment
Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Clinical Sciences, Division of Anesthesiology, Critical Care Medicine, and Pain Medicine, Fertitta Family College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
Assistant Professor, Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Education & Training
Degree-Granting Education
| 2014 | University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, US, Doctor of Medicine (MD) |
| 2008 | Walsh University, North Canton, Ohio, US, Biology, Bachelor of Science (Honors) |
Postgraduate Training
| 2018-2019 | Clinical Fellowship, Regional Anesthesia and Acute Pain Medicine (RAAPM), Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin |
| 2015-2018 | Clinical Residency, Anesthesiology, McGovern Medical School at UT Health, Houston, Texas |
| 2014-2015 | Clinical Internship, Transitional Year, University of Maryland Midtown, Baltimore, Maryland |
Board Certifications
| 2019 | American Board of Anesthesiology |
Experience & Service
Academic Appointments
Assistant Professor, Department of Anesthesiology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, 2019 - 2022
Assistant Professor, Department of Anesthesiology, Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW), Wauwatosa, Wisconsin, 2018 - 2019
Administrative Appointments/Responsibilities
Quality Officer, Department of Anesthesiology & PeriOper Med, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, 2024 - Present
Co-Chair, Department of Dept of Anesthesiology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, 2024 - Present
Medical Student Clerkship Director, Department of Dept. of Anesthesiology, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, 2021 - 2022
Other Appointments/Responsibilities
Teaching Assistant, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio, 2011 - 2011
Chemist, Test America Inc, North Canton, Ohio, 2009 - 2010
Lab Analyst, Gojo Industries, Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, 2008 - 2009
Institutional Committee Activities
Member, Faculty Senate, 2024 - Present
Member, Regional anesthesia fellowship program evaluation, 2024 - Present
Member, Medical Records Committee, 2023 - Present
Member, Biocontainment Unit Team (BCU), 2021 - 2022
Member, Chair Advisory Committee (CAC), 2021 - 2022
Member, OR Efficiency Committee, 2021 - 2022
Member, Ultrasound use, 2021 - 2022
Honors & Awards
| 2024 | Awesome Job Award, UT MD Anderson Cancer Center |
| 2023 | 1st Place, UTMB GME 8th annual QI & Patient Safety Poster Session, University of Texas Medical Branch |
| 2018 | Highest Score (99th percentile), Anesthesia In-Training Exam (ITE), McGovern Medical School, Department of Anesthesiology |
| 2013 | Outstanding Minority Academic Achievement, Cincinnati Medical Association (CMA) |
| 2008 | Graduation with Honors, Walsh University |
Professional Memberships
Selected Publications
Manuals, Teaching Aids, Other Teaching Publications
- Lin M., Owolabi A.. Intraoperative Monitoring. Anesthesia Toolbox, 2022.
- Owolabi A, Spofford C.M. Abdominal Nerve Blocks. Anesthesia Toolbox, 2020.
- Owolabi A. Brachial Plexus Blocks.
Other Articles
- Owolabi A, Edward T Anesthetic considerations in cancer care. Current Opinion in Anesthesiology, 2025. PMID: 40084514.
- Simmons F, Roberson T, Owolabi A Perioperative management of the patient with end stage liver disease. Current Anesthesiology Reports 14(1), 2024.
- Duggan RP, Mefford AT, Palackic A, Owolabi A, Branski LK Regional Anesthesia for Reducing Postoperative Opioid Use in Split Thickness Skin Grafting. Journal of Burn Care & Research 43(1):S22-S23, 2022.
Abstracts
- Muthukumar A, Zavala AM, Kwater A, Donahue H, Ghebremichael S, Van meter A, Williams UU, Hodges SH, Owolabi A, Davis J, Popat K. Evaluating Ultrasound Guided Quadratus Lumborum and Transverse Abdominis Plane Block as Effective Post-Operative Analgesia Following Robotic Prostatectomies. ASER.
- Kwater PA, Owolabi A, Oliver J, Mani J, Morcous S, Pham S. Airway Obstruction Resulting in Inspiratory Stridor Post-Extubation secondary to Migrating Nasal Foley Catheter Balloon. Society of Anesthesiologists of Nepal 22nd Annual meeting.
- Gundre S, Pham S, Owolabi A, Muhammad K, Ramirez Manotas MF. Sedation on a Patient with Blue Rubber Bleb Nevus Syndrome. Texas society of Anesthesiologist (TSA).
- Wright E, Popat K, Kwater AP, Lazaris E, Donahue H, Ghebremichael, Hancher-Hodges S, Owolabi A, Zavala A, Mete V, 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.
- 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 LA, Kurian J, Kwater AP. Quadratus Lumborum Catheters for Abdominal Wall Analgesia Following DIEP Flap Reconstruction. American Society of Regional Anesthesia (ASRA) Annual Meeting.
- Wright, Zavala, Shrestha, Kwater, Popat, Meter V, Williams, Ghebremichael, Hancher-Hodges, Donahue, Owolabi, Muthukumar, Speer, Shrestha, Kurian. External Oblique Intercostal Block: An Alternative Technique for Regional Anesthesia in Oncologic Abdominal Surgery. American Society of Regional Anesthesia (ASRA) Annual Meeting.
- Gressen, Kwater, Popat, Oliver, Mani, Faruki, Ramirez, Owolabi. Combining Blocks for Hip Arthroplasty: PENG, Femoral Nerve, and Lateral Femoral Cutaneous Nerve Blocks for Postoperative Analgesia. American Society of Regional Anesthesia (ASRA) Annual Meeting.
- Owolabi A, Mensah C, Kwater A, Pennycuff J, Huang H, Ramirez M, Tsai E. Brachial Plexus Block for Lymphovenous Bypass Surgery: A Case report. American Society of Regional Anesthesia (ASRA)- accepted for presentation.
- Tsai Edward, Adebukola Owolabi, Kwater Andrzej, Popat Keyuri, Donahue Hart, Hancher-Hodges Shannon, Ghebremichael Semhar, Van Meter Antoinette, Williams Uduak, Garcia V, Sherestha Linda, A Zavala. External Oblique Intercostal Block in Ostomy Patients: Case Reports. American Society of Regional Anesthesia (ASRA) Annual Meeting.
- Burke C, Shrestha LA, Owolabi A, Popat K, Tsai E, Kurian J, Kwater A. Erector Spinae Plane Block Catheter for Respiratory Rescue Following Open Nephrectomy. American Society of Regional Anesthesia (ASRA)- to be presented.
- Burke Charles, Shrestha Linda, Adebukola Owolabi, Popat Keyuri, Tsai, Edward, Kurian, Jessy, Kwater, Andrzej. Erector Spinae Plane Block Catheter for Respiratory Rescue Following Open Nephrectomy. American Society of Regional Anesthesia (ASRA) Annual Meeting.
- Keyuri Popat, Andrzej Kwater, Edward Tsai, Asca Mary Zavala, Owolabi A, Saman Nekobar. Assessment of Post Discharge Pain Complaints to Improve Patient Experience: A Quality Improvement Project. American Society of Regional Anesthesia (ASRA) Annual Meeting.
- M. Ramirez Manotas, Villa Manrique, N. Staes, Owolabi A, C. Ledet. Perioperative management of massive splenomegaly in myelofibrosis: a case report. European Society of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care.
- M. Ramirez Manotas, J.F Villa Manrique, N. Staes, Owolabi A, C. Ledet. Perioperative management of massive splenomegaly in myelofibrosis: a case report. European Journal of Anesthesia.
- Owolabi A, Abd-Elsayed A, Gorelik L, Fortman J. Use Of Continuous Nerve Catheters For Managing Frequent Debridement In A Patient With Factor V Leiden And Extensive Lower Extremity Ulcers. Ohio Society of Anesthesiologists (OSA) meeting.
- Owolabi A, Kofo-Idowu F, Alao H. Things are not Always What they Seem (An Unusual Presentation of Gastric Cancer). American College of Physicians (ACP) meeting.
- Owolabi A, Tariq, Ekeoduru R. Catastrophe During Routine PICC Line Placement: Iatrogenic Pericardial Tamponade in 5-month-old Infant. American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) meeting.
- Owolabi A, Rupasinghe M, Karel R. Anesthetic Management of Uterine Rupture in an Unscarred Uterus. American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) meeting.
- Adebukola Owolabi, MD, Christina Spofford, MD. Parasternal Block as an Effective and Rapid Pain Management Option for Sternal Fracture. American Society of Regional Anesthesia (ASRA) meeting.
- Traudt R, Weierstahl K, Spofford C, Owolabi A, Groth J. Serratus Anterior Plane Catheter as Alternative to Thoracic Epidural for Pain Management in Patients with Multiple Rib Fractures and Contraindications to Epidural Analgesia. American Society of Regional Anesthesia (ASRA).
- Sam T, Owolabi A. Sphenopalatine Block for Refractory Migraine: A Case Report. 20th Annual Pain Medicine Meeting.
- Crutsinger C, Zemmedhun G, Owolabi A. Unilateral Lingual Neuropraxia Following Placement of i-Gel™ Airway Device: A Case Report. Presented at the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) meeting.
- Lumsden S, Snow E, Zavala A, Hancher-Hodges S, Popat K, Owolabi A, Oliver JA, Shrestha LA, Kurian J, Kwater A. Erector Spinae (ESP) Block Catheters for Chest and Abdominal Wall Analgesia Following DIEP Flap Reconstruction. American Society of Regional Anesthesia (ASRA) Spring Meeting.
- Khatker M, Lumsden S, Kwater A, Van Meter A, Williams U, Owolabi A. Combined Interscalene-Supraclavicular Block with Liposomal Bupivacaine for Radical Resection of Humerus/Shoulder Hemiarthroplasty. American Society of Regional Anesthesia (ASRA) Spring Meeting.
- Torck A, Filardi R, Owolabi A. ECMO guidewire placement preceding rigid bronchoscopy for significant hypopharyngeal mass. American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA).
Book Chapters
- Adebukola Owolabi, Chelsea Thomas, Flora Simmons. Pain Management in Gastric and Colorectal Onco-Surgery. In: Pain Management in Cancer Patients. Springer.
- Juan F Villa,, Owolabi A, Maria F Ramirez. Opioid-free-anesthesia: a good option for cancer surgery?. In: Boosting the Immune System of Surgical Cancer Patients: A Guide for Onco-Anesthesiology Management.
Selected Presentations & Talks
Local Presentations
- 2024. Anesthetic considerations in Liver Disease. Invited. Dept of Anesthesiology Grand Rounds. Houston, Texas, US.
- 2022. Brachial Plexus Blocks. Invited. Dept of Anesthesiology Grand rounds. Galveston, Texas, US.
- 2021. Perioperative Septic Shock Management. Invited. Dept of Anesthesiology Grand Rounds. Galveston, Texas, US.
- 2020. Contrast Induced Nephropathy. Invited. Dept of Anesthesiology Grand Rounds. Galveston, Texas, US.
- 2019. Peripheral Nerve Injury. Invited. Dept of Anesthesiology Grand Rounds. Wauwatosa, Wisconsin, US.
- 2017. Frailty and anesthetic complications in the elderly. Invited. Dept of Anesthesiology Grand rounds. Houston, Texas, US.
- 2017. Intra-operative relative Hypotension and Post-operative stroke. Invited. Dept of Anesthesiology Grand rounds. Houston, Texas, US.
Regional Presentations
- 2024. Interpectoral and Pectoserratus Blocks. Texas Society of Anesthesiologist (TSA) Annual Meeting. San Antonio, Texas, US.
- 2023. Anesthesia in the Operating Room. Invited. Association of Surgical Technologist (AST) Annual Meeting. Houston, Texas, US.
- 2023. Monitors in Anesthesia Practice. Invited. Anesthesia Technician annual Meeting. Houston, Texas, US.
- 2022. Sickle Cell Acute Pain Management. Invited. Internal Medicine Grand Rounds. Galveston, Texas, US.
- 2022. Should Ultrasound Guided Regional Analgesia be the Standard of Care in 2022?. Invited. Texas Society of Anesthesiologist Annual Meeting. Austin, Texas, US.
- 2021. World of Regional Anesthesia. Invited. Texas Society of Anesthesiologist (TSA): Anesthesia Technicians meeting- COVID Affected. Round Rock, Texas, US.
- 2020. Inpatient Acute Pain Management. Invited. Department of Internal Medicine Grand Round Lecture. Galveston, Texas, US.
National Presentations
- 2024. Green is Good: Reducing the Environmental Footprint of Anesthesia. Panelist. International Anesthesia Research Society (IARS) Annual Meeting. Honolulu, Hawaii, US.
- 2019. Overview of Regional Anesthesia and Acute pain Service. Invited. American Society of Anesthesia Technologist and Technicians (ASATT) Annual Meeting. Milwaukee, Wisconsin, US.
International Presentations
- 2024. Role of Regional Anesthesia in Rib Fractures: PVB vs ESP. Invited. African Society of Regional Anesthesia (AFSRA) Annual Meeting. Nairobi, KE.
- 2024. Regional Anesthesia Workshop. Invited. African Society of Regional Anesthesia (AFSRA) Annual Meeting. nairobi, KE.
Formal Peers
- 2024. Regional Anesthesia Workshop- multiple blocks. Houston, Texas, US.
- 2024. Ultrasound Guided Regional Anesthesia. Houston, Texas, US.
- 2024. Pectoserratus and Interpectoral Blocks. San Antonio, Texas, US.
- 2023. Truncal block Workshop. Houston, Texas, US.
- 2023. Lower Extremity Blocks. Houston, Texas, US.
Grant & Contract Support
| Date: | 2024 - Present |
| Title: | Impact of Dexmedetomidine as an Adjuvant Analgesic for Fascial Plane Blocks during Abdominal Surgery |
| Funding Source: | ongoing |
| Role: | Co-I |
Patient Reviews
CV information above last modified May 15, 2025