Ahsan Azhar, MBBS, MD, FACP, HMDC, FAAHPM
Department of Palliative, Rehabilitation and Integrative Medicine, Division of Cancer Medicine
Present Title & Affiliation
Primary Appointment
Associate Professor, Department of Palliative Care and Rehabilitation Medicine, Division of Cancer Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Education & Training
Degree-Granting Education
| 2001 | Education Commissions for Foreign Medical Graduates, Brooklyn, NY, USA, MD, Medicine |
| 2000 | King Edward Medical College, Lahore, PAK, MBBS, Medicine |
Postgraduate Training
| 2012-2013 | Clinical Fellowship, The University of MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX |
| 2002-2005 | Clinical Residency, Internal Medicine at Lutheran Medical Center, Brooklyn, NY |
Board Certifications
| 2016 | American Board of Hospice & Palliative Medicine |
| 2005 | American Board of Internal Medicine |
Experience & Service
Academic Appointments
Assistant Professor, Department of Palliative, Rehabilitation, & Integrative Medicine, Division of Cancer Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 2015 - 2022
Instructor, Department of Palliative, Rehabilitation, & Integrative Medicine, Division of Cancer Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 2014 - 2015
Residency Program Director, Division of Internal Medicine, Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital & Research Center, Lahore, 2009 - 2012
Administrative Appointments/Responsibilities
Acute Palliative & Supportive Care Unit (PSCU), Associate Medical Director, Department of Palliative, Rehabilitation, & Integrative Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 2017 - 2019
Department Head, Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital & Research Center, Lahore, 2009 - 2012
Head, Department of Employee Health Care Services, Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital & Research Center, Lahore, 2008 - 2012
Administrator, Department of Emergency Assessment Room, Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital & Research Center, Lahore, 2006 - 2012
Other Appointments/Responsibilities
Department Liaison, Quality Audit - Medical Documentation, Department of Palliative, Rehabilitation, & Integrative Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 2018 - 2019
Member, Fellow Selection Committee, Department of Palliative, Rehabilitation, & Integrative Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 2017 - Present
Member, APP Selection Committee, Department of Palliative, Rehabilitation, & Integrative Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 2017 - 2022
Member, Fellow Training, In-Service Examination Committee, Department of Palliative, Rehabilitation, & Integrative Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 2017 - 2017
Member, Library Committee, Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital & Research Center, Lahore, 2010 - 2011
Chairperson, Medical Education Committee, Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital & Research Center, Lahore, 2009 - 2011
Member, Nutritional Support Committee, Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital & Research Center, Lahore, 2009 - 2011
Member, Hospital Ethics Committee, Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital & Research Center, Lahore, 2009 - 2011
United Nations Examining Physician, Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital & Research Center, Lahore, 2008 - 2012
Tutor for courses - MRCP-1, Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital & Research Center, Lahore, 2005 - 2012
Reviewer-research proposals, Scientific Review Committee, Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital & Research Center, Lahore, 2005 - 2012
Institutional Committee Activities
Operational Medical Director, , Section of Palliative Care, Division of Cancer of Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Operational Medical Directors Team, 2020 - Present
Member, Faculty Senate, Department of Palliative, Rehabilitation, & Integrative Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2019 - 2021
Member, Medical Records Committee, Department of Palliative, Rehabilitation & Integrative Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2018 - Present
Consultantships
Consultant Palliative Care Physician, Symptom Management Consultants, Humble, TX, 2014 - 2014
Consultant Internist/Palliative Care Physician, Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital & Research Center, Lahore, Pakistan, 2013 - 2014
Consultant Internist/Hospitalist, Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital & Research Center, Lahore, Pakistan, 2005 - 2012
Honors & Awards
| 2004 | Chief Medical Resident, Lutheran Medical Center, New York |
| 2002 | Intern of the Year, Lutheran Medical Center, New York |
Professional Memberships
Selected Publications
Peer-Reviewed Articles
- Azhar A, Kim YJ, Haider A, Hui D, Balankari VR, Epner MC, Park M, Liu DD, Williams J, Frisbee-Hume SE, Allo JA, Bruera E. Response to Oral Immediate-Release Opioids for Breakthrough Pain in Patients with Advanced Cancer with Adequately Controlled Background Pain. Oncologist. e-Pub 2018. PMID: 30254187.
- Haider A, Tanco K, Epner M, Azhar A, Williams J, Liu DD, Bruera E. Physicians' Compassion, Communication Skills, and Professionalism With and Without Physicians' Use of an Examination Room Computer: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Oncol 4(6):879-881, 2018. PMID: 29710136.
- Azhar A, Wong AN, Cerana AA, Balankari VR, Adabala M, Liu DD, Williams JL, Bruera E. Characteristics of Unscheduled and Scheduled Outpatient Palliative Care Clinic Patients at a Comprehensive Cancer Center. J Pain Symptom Manage 55(5):1327-1334, 2018. e-Pub 2018. PMID: 29410087.
- Tanco K, Azhar A, Rhondali W, Rodriguez-Nunez A, Liu D, Wu J, Baile W, Bruera E. The Effect of Message Content and Clinical Outcome on Patients' Perception of Physician Compassion: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Oncologist. e-Pub 2017. PMID: 29118266.
- Azhar A, Yennurajalingam S, Ramu A, Zhang H, Haider A, Williams JL, Dibaj SS, Liu DD, Bruera E. Timing of Referral and Characteristics of Uninsured, Medicaid, and Insured Patients Referred to the Outpatient Supportive Care Center at a Comprehensive Cancer Center. J Pain Symptom Manage. e-Pub 2017. PMID: 29129738.
- Reddy A, Vidal M, Stephen S, Baumgartner K, Dost S, Nguyen A, Heung Y, Kwan S, Wong A, Pangemanan I, Azhar A, Tayjasanant S, Rodriguez E, Waletich J, Lim KH, Wu J, Liu D, Williams J, Yennurajalingam S, Bruera E. The Conversion Ratio From Intravenous Hydromorphone to Oral Opioids in Cancer Patients. J Pain Symptom Manage 54(3):280-288, 2017. e-Pub 2017. PMID: 28711751.
- Yennurajalingam S, Tannir NM, Williams JL, Lu Z, Hess KR, Frisbee-Hume S, House HL, Lim ZD, Lim KH, Lopez G, Reddy A, Azhar A, Wong A, Patel SM, Kuban DA, Kaseb AO, Cohen L, Bruera E. A Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial of Panax Ginseng for Cancer-Related Fatigue in Patients With Advanced Cancer. J Natl Compr Canc Netw 15(9):1111-1120, 2017. PMID: 28874596.
- Allo JA, Cuello D, Zhang Y, Reddy SK, Azhar A, Bruera E.. Patient Home Visits: Measuring Outcomes of a Community Model for Palliative Care Education. J Palliat Med, 2016. PMID: 26652056.
- de la Cruz M, Reddy A, Vidal M, Tanco K, Azhar A, Silvestre J, Liu D, Wu J, Bruera E. Impact of a Palliative Care Checklist on Clinical Documentation. Journal of Oncology Practice 12(2):e241-e247, 2016. e-Pub 2015. PMID: 26733626.
Invited Articles
- Azhar A, Bruera E. 'Outcome measurement and complex physical, psychosocial and spiritual experiences of death and dying. Ann Palliat Med 7(Suppl 3):S231-S243, 2018. e-Pub 2018. PMID: 30180737.
Abstracts
- Azhar, A. Physician attire and palliative care patients’ perception of physician compassion and professionalism: A randomized controlled trial (RCT). Palliative & Supportive Care in Oncology Symposium-(ASCO), 2018.
- Haider A, Azhar A, Naqvi S, Nguyen K, Edwards T, Park M, Liu D, Bruera E.. Concurrent use of Opioids and Benzodiazepines or Non-Benzodiazepines Sedative Hypnotics Among Cancer Patients Referred to Outpatient Palliative Care Clinic of a Comprehensive Cancer Care Center. Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Center-(MASCC), 2018.
- Haider A, Azhar A, Naqvi S, Nguyen, K, Edwards T, Park M, Liu D, Bruera E. Concurrent use of Opioids and Benzodiazepines or Non-Benzodiazepines Sedative Hypnotics Among Cancer Patients Referred to Outpatient Palliative Care Clinic of a Comprehensive Cancer Care Center. Annual Assembly of Hospice and Palliative Care-(AAHPM), 2018.
- Azhar A, Hui D, Kim Y J, Balankari V, Epner M C, Park M, Williams J, Frisbee S, Allo J, Bruera E. Response to Oral Opioids for Breakthrough Pain (BTP) in Advanced Cancer Patients with Adequately Controlled Background Pain. European Association for Palliative Care-(EAPC), 2017.
- Azhar A, Haider A, Naqvi S, Wong A, Cerana M, Adabala M, Balankari V, Liu D, Dibaj S, Williams J, Bruera E. Frequency of concomitant use of opioids and psychoactive medications among cancer patients referred to outpatient palliative care at a comprehensive cancer center. J Clinical Onocology(35 Suppl 31S), 2017.
- Haider A, Tanco K, Epner M, Azhar A, Williams J, Frisbee-Hume S, Allo J, Liu D, Bruera E. Effects of examination room computer on cancer patient's perception of physician's compassion, communication skills, and professionalism: A randomized clinical trial. J Clinical Onocology 35 Suppl 31S, 2017.
- Wong A, Azhar A, Balankari V, Adabala M, Liu D, Williams J, Bruera E. Characteristics of Patients with Unscheduled Versus Scheduled Visits to Outpatient Supportive Care Center (SCC) at a Comprehensive Cancer Center. Palliative & Supportive Care in Oncology Symposium-(ASCO), 2016.
- Yennu S, Tannir N, Williams J, Hess K, Frisbee-Hume S, House H, Fosella F, Lim Z, Lopez G, Reddy A, Azhar A, Wong A, Patel S, Kaseb A, Lu Z, Cohen L, Bruera E. Effects of High-Dose Asian Ginseng (Panax Ginseng) to Improve Cancer-Related Fatigue: Results of a Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Randomized Controlled Trial. Palliative & Supportive Care in Oncology Symposium-(ASCO), 2016.
- Azhar A, Yennu S, Ramu A, Zhang H, Haider A, Williams J, Bruera E. Referral Patterns and Characteristics of Uninsured Versus Insured Patients Referred to the Outpatient Supportive Care Center (SCC) at a Comprehensive Cancer Center. Palliative Care in Oncology Symposium-(ASCO), 2016.
- Zhang, Y, Reddy, S, Azhar, A, Bruera, E, Delgado, MO. Bus Rounds: Measuring Outcomes of A Community Model for Palliative Care Education. Sage Journals, 2014.
- De La Cruz M, Reddy A, Tanco K, Vidal M, Azhar A, Silvestre J, Chisholm G, Williams J, Bruera E.. Palliative Care Checklist: A Documentation Improvement Tool. ASCO Quality Symposium. e-Pub 2013.
Book Chapters
- Haider A, Azhar A, Madden K. In: Palliative Care in Critically Ill Cancer Patients. . In: Nates J., Price K. (eds) Oncologic Critical Care. Springer, Cham, 2019.
- Azhar A. Last Hours of Life. In: Oxford American Handbook Hospice and Palliative Medicine and Supportive Care Flashcards. Oxford American Handbook, 2018.
- Azhar A, Bruera E. Constipation. In: Handbook of Palliative Medicine and Supportive Care. 6th, 2018.
- S.K. Reddy, Ahsan Azhar. Pain and Palliative Care in Head and Neck Cancer. In: Textbook of Palliative Medicine and Supportive Care. 2nd, 2017.
- Ahsan Azhar, Shalini Dalal. "Fever, Sweats, and Hot Flashes". In: Textbook of Palliative Medicine and Supportive Care. 2nd, 2015.
- Azhar A, Bruera, E. Constipation. In: Handbook of Palliative Medicine and Supportive Care. 5th, 2015.
- A. Azhar, S.K. Reddy. Pain; Conservative Management. In: Cancer Rehabilitation Medicine Quick Reference Series. Demos Medical Publishing, 2014.
- A. Azhar, Ivo W. Tremont-Lukats, Paul Walker. Seizures. In: Internal Medicine Issues in Palliative Cancer Care; A Practical Guide. Oxford University Press: New York, 205, 2014.
Letters to the Editor
- Haider A, Tanco K, Epner M, Azhar A, Williams J, Liu D, Bruera E. Physicians’ Compassion, Communication Skills, and Professionalism With and Without Physicians’ Use of an Examination Room Computer: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Oncology: E1-E3, 2018.
Patient Reviews
CV information above last modified January 10, 2024