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 |
Licenses & Certifications
| 2024 | ASA Diagnostic POCUS Certificate Program |
| 2023 | DEA |
| 2021 | Basic Focused Assessed Transthoracic Echocardiography |
| 2019 | American Board of Anesthesiology |
| 2018 | Texas Medical License |
Experience & Service
Faculty 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, Annual Anesthesia Tech Conference, Department of Dept of Anesthesiology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, 2024 - 2025
Medical Student Clerkship Director, Department of Dept. of Anesthesiology, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, 2021 - 2022
Other Professional Positions
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
Intramural Institutional Committee Activities
Member, Faculty Senate, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2024 - 2025
Member, Regional anesthesia fellowship program evaluation, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2024 - Present
Member, Medical Records Committee, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2023 - Present
Member, Biocontainment Unit Team (BCU), University of Texas Medical Branch, 2021 - 2022
Member, Chair Advisory Committee (CAC), Department of Anesthesiology, University of Texas Medical Branch, 2021 - 2022
Member, OR Efficiency Committee, Department of Anesthesiology, University of Texas Medical Branch, 2021 - 2022
Member, Ultrasound use, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2021 - 2022
Extramural Institutional Committee Activities
Member, Planning committee for accredited continuing education: Local Anesthetic Systemic Toxicity (LAST), The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2025 - Present
Editorial Activities
Problem based Learning: Regional Anesthesia and Pain Assessment Quizzes, Anesthesia Toolbox, 2018
Honors & Awards
| 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 Presentations & Talks
Local Presentations
- 2026. Block Educational Materials. Invited. Urology APP Monthly Meeting. Houston, Texas, US.
- 2026. Use of Ketamine in the ICU for Acute Pain Management. Invited. Houston, TX, US.
- 2025. Ketamine in Pain Management: Indications, Benefits, and Boundaries. Invited. Department of Palliative and Hospice Medicine Grand Rounds. Houston, TX, US.
- 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. Invited. 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.
- 2019. Overview of Regional Anesthesia and Acute pain Service. Invited. American Society of Anesthesia Technologist and Technicians (ASATT) Annual Meeting. Milwaukee, Wisconsin, US.
National Presentations
- 2025. Cancer and Anesthesia: Clinical Considerations and Best Practices. Invited. National Medical Association (NMA) Annual Conference. Chicago, Illinois, US.
- 2025. Green is Good: Reducing the Environmental Footprint of Anesthesia. Panelist. International Anesthesia Research Society (IARS) Annual Meeting. Honolulu, Hawaii, US.
International Presentations
- 2026. Regional Anesthesia in Cancer Patients. Invited. MDACC- Chile Cancer Anesthesia Symposium. Santiago, CL.
- 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 Blocks. Invited. African Society of Regional Anesthesia (AFSRA) Annual Meeting. nairobi, KE.
Formal Peers
- 2026. Workshop: Chest wall blocks and Abdominal wall blocks. Santiago, Santiago Metropolitan, CL.
- 2025. Ultrasound Guided Regional Anesthesia. Tampa, Florida, US.
- 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.
- 2021. Regional Anesthesia Workshop- thoracolumbar, upper/lower extremity. Webster, Texas, US.
- 2021. Brachial Plexus Blocks Workshop. Round rock, Texas, US.
- 2018. Lower Extremity blocks Workshop. Madison, Wisconsin, US.
Selected Publications
Peer-Reviewed Articles
- Cassius M, Owolabi A, Stephanie B., Juan C., Pascal OA. Outcomes Related to Perioperative Use of Octreotide for Hemodynamic Control.
Invited Articles
- Simmons F, Roberson T, Owolabi A. Perioperative management of the patient with end stage liver disease. Current Anesthesiology Reports 14(1), 2024. e-Pub 2024.
Review Articles
- Juan F Villa, Amanda Strang, Owolabi A, Maria F Ramirez. Addressing Pain in Oral Mucositis: Narrative Review of Current Practices and Emerging Treatments. Journal of Pain Research 15, 2025. e-Pub 2025. PMID: 40718715.
- Owolabi A, Edward T. Anesthetic considerations in cancer care. Current Opinion in Anesthesiology 38(3):287-293, 2025. e-Pub 2025. PMID: 40084514.
- 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. e-Pub 2022.
Professional Educational Materials
- Lin M., Owolabi A.. Intraoperative Monitoring. Anesthesia Toolbox, 2022.
- Owolabi A. Brachial Plexus Blocks, 2021.
- Owolabi A, Spofford C.M. Abdominal Nerve Blocks. Anesthesia Toolbox, 2020.
- Edward Tsai, Adebukola Owolabi, Keyuri Popat, Asca Zavala, Andrzej Kwater, Jessica Brown. Local Anesthetic Systemic Toxicity (LAST) Module. University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center Education Center.
Other Articles
- Jenny Pennycuff, Nicolas Cortes-Mejía, Mike Hernandez, Owolabi A, Jose Soliz, Juan Cata Evaluating the impact of GLP-1 receptor agonists on postoperative pain management in patients undergoing cancer surgery: A retrospective study, 2026. PMID: 41698178.
- Nicolas A., Juan Jose, Juan Jose, Diana F., Owolabi A, Paloma L, Eric Slawka, Rachel Hicklens, Juan P. Cata The effect of dexmedetomidine as an adjunct to transversus abdominis plane block in adults undergoing abdominal non-obstetric surgery under general anesthesia: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
Abstracts
- 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, 2025. e-Pub 2025.
- Maria Ramirez, Juan Felipe Villa, Owolabi A. Anesthesia Consideration for Massive Splenomegaly. American Society of Anesthesiologist (ASA) Annual Meeting. e-Pub 2025.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- C. Melton B.S, T. Phan, Barry C., Zavala A., Owolabi A. Two Epidurals for Multilevel Pain Control Following Two-Stage Resection of Sacral Chondroblastic Osteosarcoma. MD Anderson Education and Research Day.
- Blessina Babu, Keyuri Popat, Owolabi A, Mary Zavala, Edward Tsai. Rescue Rectus Sheath Catheters Following Emergent Exploratory Laparotomy for Small Bowel Obstruction. MD Anderson Education and Research Day.
- Phan T, Prabhu M, Owolabi A, K. Popat. TAP Blocks in Robotic Colectomy: A Retrospective Review of Pain, Opioid Use, and Recovery Outcomes. MD Anderson Education and Research Day.
- J Pennycuff, NC Mejia, M Hernandez, Owolabi A, J Soliz, J Cata. Evaluating the impact of GLP-1 agonists on postoperative pain management in patients undergoing cancer surgery: A retrospective study. MD Anderson Education and Research Day.
- Owolabi A, Alexander Mai, Aarohi Thakar, Julie Mani MD, Alec Hendon, Dilip Thakar, Shaker Morcous, Jenny Pennycuff. Managing Severe Post-Operative Subcutaneous Emphysema After Right Lobectomy. MD Anderson Education and Research Day.
- Tsai, E, Owolabi A, Kwater, A.. Combined paravertebral and Pectoserratus plane blocks as the primary anesthetic for a 98-year-old female undergoing right total mastectomy with axillary lymphadenectomy. European Society of Regional Anesthesia (ESRA) Conference.
- C. Melton, Anokwuru Chinasa, T. Phan, C. Barry, A. Zavala, Owolabi A. Use of Dual Epidural Catheters in Sacral Tumor Resections. Texas Society of Anesthesiologist (TSA) Annual Meeting.
- Owolabi A, Gavin Ovsak, Jenny Pennycuff, Sydney Pham, Arun Muthukumar, Maria MF. Intraoperative Shock Liver during a Liver Trisegmentectomy. American Society of Anesthesiologist (ASA) Annual Meeting.
- Owolabi A. The Effect of Dexmedetomidine as an Adjunct to Transversus Abdominis Plane Block in Adults undergoing Abdominal Non-Obstetric Surgery under Genral Anesthesia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. American Society of Anesthesiologist (ASA) Annual Meeting.
- Brenchley B, Stephanie Bradley MD, Adebukola Owolabi MD, Pascal Owusu-Agyemang MD, Juan Cata MD. Perioperative Octreotide Use May Be Associated With Increased Risk of Acute Kidney Injury in Abdominal Cancer Surgery. International Anesthesia Research Society.
- T. Lim, E. Tsai, Owolabi A. Use of Serratus Anterior Plane Block (SAPB) as a Surgical Anesthesia in a Segmental Mastectomy. American Society of Regional Anesthesia (ASRA)- pending.
- 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.
- 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).
- 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.
- 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.
- Torck A, Filardi R, Owolabi A. ECMO guidewire placement preceding rigid bronchoscopy for significant hypopharyngeal mass. American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA).
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
Book Chapters
- 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.
- Adebukola Owolabi, Chelsea Thomas, Flora Simmons. Pain Management in Gastric and Colorectal Onco-Surgery. In: Pain Management in Cancer Patients. Springer.
Patient Reviews
CV information above last modified April 15, 2026