Ali Haider, MD
Department of Palliative, Rehabilitation and Integrative Medicine, Division of Cancer Medicine
About Dr. Haider
Dr. Ali Haider is an Associate Professor in the Department of Palliative, Rehabilitation and Integrative Medicine and the Medical Director of the Supportive Care Center. Dr. Haider’s ambition is to practice evidence-based aspects of palliative care by providing symptom management in advanced cancer, providing supportive education, while fostering a caring relationship to help relieve psychosocial, emotional, and spiritual distress among cancer patients and families. His research interest includes cancer pain, opioid management, and patient centered communication. He is particularly interested in the evolution of telemedicine and the impact of information technology such as electronic health records on patient-centered communication and have conducted several randomized controlled trials which are published in peer reviewed high impact journals. He is board certified in Internal Medicine & Hospice and Palliative Care by the American Board of Internal 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
Medical Director, Department of Supportive Care Center, Division of Cancer Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Education & Training
Degree-Granting Education
| 2006 | Education Commissions for Foreign Medical Graduates, Brooklyn, NY, USA, MD, Medicine |
| 2002 | King Edward Medical University, Lahore, PAK, MBBS, Medicine |
Postgraduate Training
| 2014-2015 | Clinical Fellowship, Hospice and Palliative Care, The University of MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX |
| 2007-2010 | Clinical Residency, Internal Medicine, Grand Rapid Medical Education Partners/Michigan State University Program, Grand Rapids, MI |
| 2002-2004 | House Job, General Medicine, Department of Medicine, Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences, Islamabad |
Board Certifications
| 2016 | American Board of Hospice and Palliative Medicine |
| 2010 | 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
Assistant Professor, Department of Acute Care, Division of Internal Medicine, Spectrum Health Hospital Grand Rapids, Michigan State University Internal Medicine Residency Training Program, Grand Rapids, MI, 2010 - 2014
Institutional Committee Activities
Member, Institution Review Board-1, 2021 - 2022
Member, Clinical Effectiveness Committee, 2019 - 2022
Member, Psychosocial, Behavioral and Health Services Research Committee (PBHSRC), 2018 - 2019
Member, Intensive Physician Board Review Course in Hospice and Palliative Medicine Organizing Committee, 2018 - Present
Member, Annual Interdisciplinary Conference on Supportive Care, Hospice and Palliative Medicine Organizing Committee, 2018 - Present
Member, Clinical Competency Committee for Fellowship, 2017 - Present
Faculty Senator, MD Anderson Faculty Senate, 2017 - 2019
Member, Fellow Selection Committee, Department of Palliative, Rehabilitation, & Integrative Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2016 - Present
Director, Utilization Management Review Committee, SHH, 2010 - 2014
Member, Interdisciplinary Rounding Model Committee, SHH, 2010 - 2014
Member, Pneumonia Committee, SHH, 2010 - 2014
Member, DVT Committee, SHH, 2010 - 2014
Honors & Awards
| 2008 | Best Poster Presentation, Grand Rapids Medical Education Partners Annual Research Day |
Professional Memberships
Selected Publications
Peer-Reviewed Articles
- Dev R, Haider A. Alcohol, Tobacco, and Substance Use and Association with Opioid Use Disorder in Patients with Non-Malignant and Cancer Pain: A Review. Anesthesiology Reports, 2020.
- Hui D, De La Rosa A, Wilson A, Nguyen T, Wu J, Delgado-Guay M, Azhar A, Arthur J, Epner D, Haider A, De La Cruz M, Heung Y, Tanco K, Dalal S, Reddy A, Williams J, Amin S, Armstrong TS, Breitbart W, Bruera E. Neuroleptic strategies for terminal agitation in patients with cancer and delirium at an acute palliative care unit: a single-centre, double-blind, parallel-group, randomised trial. Lancet Oncol 21(7):989-998, 2020. e-Pub 2020. PMID: 32479786.
- Madden K, Haider A, De Moraes R, Naqvi S, Enriquez P, Wu J, Williams J, Liu D, Bruera E. Frequency of Concomitant Use of Gabapentinoids and Opioids Among Patients with Cancer-Related Pain at an Outpatient Palliative Care Clinic. J Palliat Med, 2020.
- Hui D, Abdelghani E, Chen J, Dibaj S, Zhukovsky D, Dev R, Tanco K, Haider A, Azhar A, Reddy A, Epner D, Arthur J, Dalal S, Heung Y, Reddy S, De La Cruz M, Liu D, Bruera E. Chronic Non-Malignant Pain in Patients with Cancer Seen at a Timely Outpatient Palliative Care Clinic. Cancers (Basel) 12(1), 2020. e-Pub 2020. PMID: 31952220.
- Hui D, Hernandez F, Larsson L, Liu D, Kilgore K, Naberhuis J, Virgilio A, Reddy S, Reddy A, Dalal S, Haider A, Driver L, Azhar A, Dev R, Bruera E. Prophylactic Fentanyl Sublingual Spray for Episodic Exertional Dyspnea in Cancer Patients: A Pilot Double-Blind Randomized Controlled Trial. J Pain Symptom Manage 58(4):605-613, 2019. e-Pub 2019. PMID: 31276809.
- Haider A, Qian Y, Lu Z, Naqvi S, Zhuang A, Reddy A, Dalal S, Arthur J, Tanco K, Dev R, Williams J, Wu J, Liu D, Bruera E. Implications of the Parenteral Opioid Shortage for Prescription Patterns and Pain Control Among Hospitalized Patients With Cancer Referred to Palliative Care. JAMA Oncol 5(6):841-846, 2019. PMID: 30896771.
- Azhar A, Haider A, Ali Naqvi SM, Wong AN, Dibaj SS, Liu DD, Williams JL, Bruera E. Frequency of Concomitant Use of Opioids and Psychoactive Medications Among Cancer Patients Referred to Outpatient Palliative Care. J Pain Symptom Manage 57(6):e7-e10, 2019. e-Pub 2019. PMID: 30878298.
- Prado BL, Haider A, Naqvi S, Pestana RC, Williams JL, Dibaj S, Liu D, Allo J, De La Cruz V, Bruera E. Changes in the Care Setting of First Consults to Palliative and Supportive Care Over a Seven-Year Period. J Pain Symptom Manage 57(1):86-92, 2019. e-Pub 2018. PMID: 30315915.
- 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 24(1):125-131, 2019. e-Pub 2018. PMID: 30254187.
- Arthur J, Tanco K, Park M, Haider A, Maligi C, Dalal S, Naqvi SMA, Liu D, Bruera E. Personalized Pain Goal as an Outcome Measure in Routine Cancer Pain Assessment. J Pain Symptom Manage 56(1):80-87, 2018. e-Pub 2018. PMID: 29526610.
- 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 Oncology 4(6):879-881, 2018. PMID: 29710136.
- 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 55(3):973-978, 2018. e-Pub 2017. PMID: 29129738.
- Haider A, Zhukovsky DS, Meng YC, Baidoo J, Tanco KC, Stewart HA, Edwards T, Joy MP, Kuriakose L, Lu Z, Williams JL, Liu DD, Bruera E. Opioid Prescription Trends Among Patients With Cancer Referred to Outpatient Palliative Care Over a 6-Year Period. J Oncol Pract 13(12):e972-e981, 2017. e-Pub 2017. PMID: 29028417.
- Arthur J, Tanco K, Haider A, Maligi C, Park M, Liu D, Bruera E. Assessing the prognostic features of a pain classification system in advanced cancer patients. Support Care Cancer 25(9):2863-2869, 2017. e-Pub 2017. PMID: 28386785.
- Tanco K, Arthur J, Haider A, Stephen S, Yennu S, Liu D, Bruera E. The impact of a simplified documentation method for the Edmonton classification system for cancer pain (ECS-CP) on clinician utilization. Support Care Cancer 25(2):575-580, 2017. e-Pub 2016. PMID: 27722795.
- Arthur JA, Haider A, Edwards T, Waletich-Flemming J, Reddy S, Bruera E, Hui D. Aberrant Opioid Use and Urine Drug Testing in Outpatient Palliative Care. J Palliat Med 19(7):778-82, 2016. e-Pub 2016. PMID: 27171327.
- Reddy A, Tayjasanant S, Haider A, Heung Y, Wu J, Liu D, Yennurajalingam S, Reddy S, de la Cruz M, Rodriguez EM, Waletich J, Vidal M, Arthur J, Holmes C, Tallie K, Wong A, Dev R, Williams J, Bruera E. The opioid rotation ratio of strong opioids to transdermal fentanyl in cancer patients. Cancer 122(1):149-56, 2016. e-Pub 2015. PMID: 26451687.
- Arthur JA, Reddy A, Smith U, Hui D, Park M, Liu D, Vaughan-Adams N, Haider A, Williams J, Bruera E. Practices and perceptions regarding intravenous opioid infusion and cancer pain management. Cancer. e-Pub 2019. PMID: 31291011.
- Haider A, Azhar A, Nguyen K, Dev R, Naqvi SMA, Naqvi SMA, Edwards T, Reddy A, Dalal S, Tanco KC, Arthur J, Williams JL, Park M, Liu DD, Dibaj SS, Bruera E. Concurrent use of opioids with benzodiazepines or nonbenzodiazepine sedatives among patients with cancer referred to an outpatient palliative care clinic. Cancer. e-Pub 2019. PMID: 31460669.
- Reddy A, Vidal M, Haider A, Arthur J, Hui D, Wu J, Liu D, Holmes C, Carrol M, Dalal S, Dev R, Tanco K, Bruera E. A retrospective review of the use of oxymorphone immediate release for long term pain control in cancer patients with gastrostomy tubes. Ann Palliat Med. e-Pub 2021. PMID: 33549000.
- Kim S, Haider A, Reddy A, Bruera E. Management challenges at end-of-life in a patient with agitated delirium and benzodiazepine withdrawal at comprehensive cancer care center. Ann Palliat Med. e-Pub 2020. PMID: 33222450.
- Arthur JA, Tang M, Lu Z, Hui D, Nguyen K, Rodriguez EM, Edwards T, Yennurajalingam S, Dalal S, Dev R, Reddy A, Tanco K, Haider A, Liu DD, Bruera E. Random urine drug testing among patients receiving opioid therapy for cancer pain. Cancer. e-Pub 2020. PMID: 33231885.
- Zhukovsky DS, Haider A, Williams JL, Naqvi S, Joshi N, Mills S, Soliman PT, Mathew B, Bodurka D, Meyer LA, Westin S, Frumovitz M, Nowitz MB, Archie L, Fenton S, Lang K, Boving V, Bruera E. An Integrated Approach to Selecting a Prepared Medical Decision Maker. J Pain Symptom Manage. e-Pub 2020. PMID: 33348030.
- Azhar A, Tanco K, Haider A, Park M, Liu D, Williams JL, Bruera E. Challenging the Status Quo of Physician Attire in the Palliative Care Setting. Oncologist. e-Pub 2020. PMID: 32073181.
- Qian Y, Haider A, Lu Z, Naqvi S, Zhuang A, Nguyen K, Reddy A, Arthur J, Tanco K, Williams J, Wu J, Liu D, Naberhuis J, Bruera E. Factors Associated with Improvement in Uncontrolled Cancer Pain without Increasing the Opioid Daily Dose among Patients Seen by an Inpatient Palliative Care Team. J Palliat Med. e-Pub 2019. PMID: 31687882.
Invited Articles
- Haider A, Reddy A. Levorphanol versus Methadone use: Safety Considerations. Ann Palliat Med 9(2):579-585, 2020. e-Pub 2020. PMID: 32156130.
Abstracts
- Haider A, Azhar A, Reddy A, Bruera E. The Usefulness of An Acute Palliative Care Unit In A Comprehensive Cancer Care Center. Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer (MASCC) Annual Meeting 2021, 2021.
- Haider A, Azhar A, Tanco K, Reddy S, Wu J, Williams J, Naqvi S.. Cancer patients' perceptions of physicians who use an integrated electronic health record (EHR) approach during clinic visits: A double-blinded randomized clinical trial (RCT). American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting 2020, 2020.
- Haider A, Qian Y, Lu Z, Naqvi S, Zhuang A, Reddy A, Dalal S, Arthur J,Tanco K, Dev R, Williams J, Wu J, Liu D, Bruera E.. Impact of Parenteral Opioid Shortage on Opioid Prescriptions among Patients seen by the Palliative Care Team of a Comprehensive Cancer Center. (Oral Presentation). American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine (AAHPM) Annual Meeting 2019, 2019.
- Haider A, Qian Y, Lu Z, Naqvi S, Zhuang A, Reddy A, Dalal S, Arthur J,Tanco K, Dev R, Williams J, Wu J, Liu D, Bruera E.. Impact of Parenteral Opioid Shortage on Opioid Prescriptions among Patients seen by the Palliative Care Team of a Comprehensive Cancer Center. Palliative Care in Oncology Symposium (ASCO) Annual Meeting 2018, 2018.
- Prado B, Haider A, Naqvi S, Pestana R, Williams J, Dibaj S, Liu D, Allo J, Cruz V, Bruera E. Changes in the Setting of First Consults to Palliative and Supportive Care over a 7 Year Period. Palliative Care in Oncology Symposium (ASCO) Annual Meeting 2018, 2018.
- Zhukovsky D, Haider A, Naqvi S, Joshi N, Soliman P, Mathew B, Bodurka D, Meyer L, Westin S, Frumovitz M, Archie L, Fenton S, Williams J, Boving V. A systematic process to enhance selection of a prepared medical decision maker. Palliative Care in Oncology Symposium (ASCO) Annual Meeting 2018, 2018.
- Haider A, Reddy S. Patient individualized discharge checklist for Acute Palliative Care Unit (APCU) patients with complex needs: Quality Improvement (QI) project. 22nd International Congress on Palliative Care 2018, 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) Annual Meeting 2018, 2018.
- Haider A, Kim S, Bruera E. Management Challenges in a Patient with Agitated Delirium and Benzodiazepine Withdrawal. Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Center (MASCC) Annual Meeting 2018, 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) Annual Meeting 2018, 2018.
- 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. Palliative Care in Oncology Symposium (ASCO) Annual Meeting 2017, 2017.
- Haider A, Williams J, Park M, Bruera E, Delgado Guay MO. The Association among Spiritual Pain and End of Life Care Among Advanced Cancer Patients at a Comprehensive Cancer Care Center. Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Center (MASCC) Annual Meeting 2017, 2017.
Book Chapters
- Haider A, Azhar A, Bruera E. Inpatient Palliative and Supportive Care Services. In: MD Anderson Manual of Medical Oncology Fourth Edition. McGraw Hill, 2021.
- Kim S, Nguyen N-N, Haider A,. Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation for Malignant Conditions. In: Symptom Control and Palliative Care in Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation. Elsevier, 379-393, 2019.
- Haider A, Azhar A, Madden K. Oncologic Critical Care. In: In: Palliative Care in Critically Ill Cancer Patients. In: Nates J., Price K. (eds) Oncologic Critical Care. Springer, Cham, 2019.
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.