Ashleigh M. Francis, MD, FACS
Department of Plastic Surgery, Division of Surgery
About Dr. Ashleigh M. Francis
Dr. Ashleigh Francis is an assistant professor in the Department of Plastic Surgery at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. Dr. Francis specializes in reconstructive surgery with a focus in microsurgical reconstruction. Her areas of expertise include reconstruction of the head and neck, breast and lymphedema surgery. She has authored 12 peer-reviewed journal articles and 2 book chapters. She has been invited to speak 11 times and has presented at the prestigious American Surgical Association as well as other notable conferences. She is an active member of many national societies including American College of Surgeons and American Society for Reconstructive Microsurgery. She is a Diplomate of the American Board of Surgery.
Dr. Francis earned a B.S.P.H. in Biostatistics at the University of North Carolina’s School of Public Health. She obtained her Medical Doctorate at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, where she graduated with Alpha Omega Alpha distinction. Dr. Francis completed her General Surgery residency at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston. She completed a two-year NIH T32 fellowship in basic science and translation research at MD Anderson Cancer Center. Subsequently, she completed her Plastic Surgery residency at Harvard and a fellowship in microvascular reconstructive surgery at MD Anderson Cancer Center. Upon completion of her fellowship, Dr. Francis joined the faculty in the Department of Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery at MD Anderson.
Present Title & Affiliation
Primary Appointment
Assistant Professor, Department of Plastic Surgery, Division of Surgery, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Dual/Joint/Adjunct Appointment
Assistant Professor, Department of Plastic Surgery, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Education & Training
Degree-Granting Education
| 2010 | University of Texas Medical School - Houston, Houston, Texas, US, Medicine, MD |
| 2006 | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, US, Biostatistics, BS |
Postgraduate Training
| 2020-2021 | Clinical Fellowship, Reconstructive Microsurgery, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas |
| 2017-2020 | Clinical Residency, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Harvard, Boston, Massachusetts |
| 2012-2014 | Research Fellowship, Surgical Oncology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas |
| 2012-2014 | T32 Research Fellowship, Surgical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas |
| 2011-2017 | Clinical Residency, General Surgery, University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, Texas |
| 2010-2011 | Clinical Internship, General Surgery, University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, Texas |
Licenses & Certifications
| 2022 | American Board of Plastic Surgery |
| 2018 | American Board of Surgery |
Experience & Service
Faculty Academic Appointments
Clinical Specialist, Department of Plastic Surgery, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 2020 - 2021
Rotating Research Resident, Department of Surgical Oncology - Research, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 2014 - 2016
Extern, Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 2007 - 2007
Research Assistant, Department of Psychology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, TX, 2006 - 2006
Research Assistant, Department of Emergency Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 2004 - 2006
Extern, Department of Surgical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 2003 - 2006
Institutional Committee Activities
Alternate Delegate, Credentials Committee of the Medical Staff (CCMS), 2022 - 2025
Alternate Delegate, Value Analysis Team (VAT) Committee, 2022 - Present
Honors & Awards
| 2025 | 2025 Top Doctors, Castle Connolly |
| 2009 | Alpha Omega Alpha, Delta Chapter of Texas, University of Texas Medical School - Houston |
| 2007 | Outstanding Academic Achievement in Mammalian Physiology, University of Texas Medical School - Houston |
| 2007 | Outstanding Academic Achievement in Immunology, University of Texas Medical School - Houston |
| 2006 | Outstanding Academic Achievement in Histology, University of Texas Medical School - Houston |
| 2006 | Outstanding Academic Achievement in Introduction to Clinical Medicine, University of Texas Medical School - Houston |
| 2006 | Phi Beta Kappa, Alpha Chapter of North Carolina, University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill |
| 2003 - 2006 | Member, Honor Court, University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill |
| 2002 - 2006 | Dean's List, University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill |
Professional Memberships
Selected Presentations & Talks
Local Presentations
- 2017. A History of the Texas Medical Center: Pioneers and Breakthroughs. Conference. A History of the Texas Medical Center: Pioneers and Breakthroughs. Houston, TX, US.
- 2014. Targeting Cell Cycle Deregulation: From Cyclin E to the RB-pathway. Conference. Targeting Cell Cycle Deregulation: From Cyclin E to the RB-pathway. Houston, Texas, US.
- 2013. Targeting the RB-pathway in Sarcoma: Utility of CDK4/6 Inhibitors. Conference. Targeting the RB-pathway in Sarcoma: Utility of CDK4/6 Inhibitors. Houston, TX, US.
- 2013. Targeting Cell Cycle Deregulation: From Cyclin E to the RB-pathway. Conference. Targeting Cell Cycle Deregulation: From Cyclin E to the RB-pathway. Houston, TX, US.
National Presentations
- 2025. Keeping The Flow: Utilizing Lymphovenous Bypass (LVB) to Prevent Lymphedema in Lower Extremity Soft Tissue Sarcoma (STS) Patients. Poster. American Society of Reconstructive Microsurgery 2025 Annual Meeting. Kona, Hawaii, US.
- 2024. Prepectoral Versus Subpectoral Tissue Expander Placement On Free Flap Outcomes in Delayed-immediate Autologous Breast Reconstruction. Poster. American Association of Plastic Surgeons. Boston, MA, US.
- 2024. Free Flaps vs. Pedicled Flaps for Oncologic Breast Reconstruction. Conference. American Society for Reconstructive Microsurgery 2024 Annual Meeting. Nassau, BS.
- 2022. Pilot Study of Active Learning Methods for Visually Expressing Expectations of Appearance Outcomes. Poster. Pilot Study of Active Learning Methods for Visually Expressing Expectations of Appearance Outcomes. San Antonio, TX, US.
- 2022. Quantitative Imaging to Assess the Impact of Autologous Breast Reconstruction on Bra Fit. Poster. Quantitative Imaging to Assess the Impact of Autologous Breast Reconstruction on Bra Fit. San Antonio, TX, US.
- 2022. Flap Monitoring Microsurgery Skills Course for Physicians Assistants. Conference. Flap Monitoring Microsurgery Skills Course for Physicians Assistants. Houston, TX, US.
- 2015. Characteristics and Treatment of Patients with Advanced Breast Implant-Associated Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma. Conference. Characteristics and Treatment of Patients with Advanced Breast Implant-Associated Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma. Boston, MA, US.
- 2015. CDK4/6 inhibitor, PD-0332991 Synchronizes Sarcoma Cells for Synergistic Demise with WEE1 Inhibitor, MK-1775. Conference. CDK4/6 inhibitor, PD-0332991 Synchronizes Sarcoma Cells for Synergistic Demise with WEE1 Inhibitor, MK-1775. Las Vegas, NV, US.
- 2014. Targeting the RB-pathway in Sarcoma: Utility of CDK4/6 Inhibitors (Poster). Conference. Targeting the RB-pathway in Sarcoma: Utility of CDK4/6 Inhibitors (Poster). San Diego, CA, US.
- 2014. Esophageal Tumor Thickness on Computed Tomography as a Predictor of Residual Rumor in Esophageal Adenocarcinoma Following Preoperative Chemoradiation. Conference. Esophageal Tumor Thickness on Computed Tomography as a Predictor of Residual Rumor in Esophageal Adenocarcinoma Following Preoperative Chemoradiation. San Diego, CA, US.
- 2013. Radiation Therapy (IORT) Improves Local Control after Microscopic Margin-Positive (R1) Radical Resection of Locally Advanced Colorectal Cancer (Poster). Conference. Radiation Therapy (IORT) Improves Local Control after Microscopic Margin-Positive (R1) Radical Resection of Locally Advanced Colorectal Cancer (Poster). Washington, DC, US.
- 2013. Long-term Survival and Recurrence Rates Following Trimodality Therapy of Esophageal Adenocarcinoma – The Influence of Histologic Tumor Viability. Conference. Long-term Survival and Recurrence Rates Following Trimodality Therapy of Esophageal Adenocarcinoma – The Influence of Histologic Tumor Viability. Indianapolis, IL, US.
- 2013. Utility of Sentinel Lymph Node Dissection (SLND) in Ductal Carcinoma in Situ (DCIS) (Poster). Conference. Utility of Sentinel Lymph Node Dissection (SLND) in Ductal Carcinoma in Situ (DCIS) (Poster). National Harbor, MD, US.
International Presentations
- 2025. Prophylactic Lymphovenous Bypass after Axillary and Inguinal Lymph Node Dissection for Melanoma. Invited. XIII Congress of the World Society for Reconstructive Microsurgery (WSRM 2025),. Barcelona, ES.
- 2025. Robotic Omental Harvest for Vascularized Omental Lymph Node Transfer. Invited. XIII Congress of the World Society for Reconstructive Microsurgery (WSRM 2025),. Barcelona, ES.
- 2025. 18 Years of Post-Pneumonectomy Reconstruction: The Brigham and Women’s Hospital Experience. XIII Congress of the World Society for Reconstructive Microsurgery (WSRM). Barcelona, ES.
- 2025. Individualized Lymphedema Risk Assessment in Mastectomy Patients with Axillary Lymph Node Dissection via Machine-learning: A Pilot Study. Poster. XIII Congress of the World Society of Reconstructive Microsurgery. Barcelona, ES.
- 2023. Prophylactic Algorithm for Lymphedema. Conference. Prophylactic Algorithm for Lymphedema. Genoa, IT.
- 2023. Supercharged Jejunal Flap for Esophageal Reconstrution - Indications and Technique. Conference. Supercharged Jejunal Flap for Esophageal Reconstrution - Indications and Technique, IL.
Grant & Contract Support
| Date: | 2024 - 2029 |
| Title: | A prospective, multicenter, open-label, non-randomized, controlled pivotal study to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of ARTIA reconstructive tissue matrix in implant-based two-stage prepectoral breast reconstruction Post-Mastectomy |
| Funding Source: | Abbvie |
| Role: | Co-PI |
| Date: | 2024 - 2028 |
| Title: | Clinical decision-support algorithms for interactive design of patient-specific breast molds |
| Funding Source: | NIH |
| Role: | Co-PI |
| ID: | R01CA286648 |
| Date: | 2024 - 2029 |
| Title: | Adaptable Medical Garment for Breast Cancer Rehabilitation |
| Funding Source: | NIH/NCI |
| Role: | Co-I |
| ID: | FP00019770 |
| Date: | 2023 - 2028 |
| Title: | Beyond Binders and Bookmarks: Deciphering Dr. Google to Enhance Patient-Provider Communication |
| Funding Source: | NIH |
| Role: | Co-PI |
| ID: | FP00017774 |
| Date: | 2023 - 2027 |
| Title: | Clinical Decision-Support Algorithms for Interactive Design of Patient-Specific Breast |
| Funding Source: | NIH |
| Role: | Co-PI |
| ID: | FP00016871 |
| Date: | 2023 - 2027 |
| Title: | Interactive Design of Patient-Specific Breast Molds for Tissue Shaping |
| Funding Source: | NIH |
| Role: | Co-PI |
| ID: | RO1-EB034353 |
Selected Publications
Peer-Reviewed Articles
- Liu, YT, Khan, NH, Bordes, MC, Reece, GP, Francis, AM, Chen, TA, Bravo, K, Markey, MK. Impact of autologous breast reconstruction on bra fit. Supportive Care in Cancer 32(2), 2024. e-Pub 2024. PMID: 38221586.
- Bayley EM, Ivy ML, Shewale JB, Ge PS, Antonoff MB, Francis AM, Hofsetetter WL, Mehran RJ, Rajaram R, Rice DC, Roth JA, Sepesi B, Vaporciyan AA, Walsh GL, Lee JJ, Louie BE, Swisher SG. High Risk Features of Esophageal Adenocarcinoma Following Neoadjuvant Chemoradiation: Patients for whom Surgery Should Not Be Delayed. Ann Surg 277(5):721-726, 2022. e-Pub 2022. PMID: 36052678.
- Karakas C, Francis AM, Ha MJ, Wingate HF, Meena RA, Yi M, Rasaputra KS, Barrera AMG, Arun B, Do KA, Sahin A, Keyomarsi K, Hunt KK. Cytoplasmic Cyclin E Expression Predicts for Response to Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy in Breast Cancer. Ann Surg 274(2):e150-e159, 2021. e-Pub 2021. PMID: 31436549.
- Yu J, Wong FK, Aycart M, Francis AM, Thompson KM, Labow B, Upton J, Taghinia A. Overcoming Microsurgical Anastomotic Challenges in Supercharged Pedicled Jejunal Interpositon for Pediatric Esophageal Reconstruction. Plast Reconstr Surg Glob Open 9(8):e3780, 2021. e-Pub 2021. PMID: 34667706.
- Hamaguchi R, Francis AM, Kramer KM, Lian CG, O'Leary MP, Orgill DP. Multimodal Surgical Management of Severe Scrotal Lymphedema and Buried Penis. Urology 144:e19-e23, 2020. e-Pub 2020. PMID: 32593626.
- Francis AM, Taghinia A. Peer commentary of “The Ethics of Hand Transplantation: A Systematic Review” by Cooney et al. PSEN: Literature Reviews, 2017. e-Pub 2017.
- Francis AM, Alexander A, Liu Y, Vijayaraghavan S, Low KH, Yang D, Bui T, Somaiah N, Ravi V, Keyomarsi K, Hunt KK. CDK4/6 Inhibitors Sensitize Rb-positive Sarcoma Cells to Wee1 Kinase Inhibition through Reversible Cell-Cycle Arrest. Mol Cancer Ther 16(9):1751-1764, 2017. e-Pub 2017. PMID: 28619757.
- Srinivasa DR, Miranda RN, Kaura A, Francis AM, Campanale A, Boldrini R, Alexander J, Deva AK, Gravina PR, Medeiros LJ, Nast K, Butler CE, Clemens MW. Global Adverse Event Reports of Breast Implant-Associated ALCL: An International Review of 40 Government Authority Databases. Plast Reconstr Surg 139(5):1029-1039, 2017. e-Pub 2017. PMID: 28157770.
- Francis AM, Haugen CE, Grimes LM, Crow JR, Yi M, Mittendorf EA, Bedrosian I, Caudle AS, Babiera GV, Krishnamurthy S, Kuerer HM, Hunt KK. Is Sentinel Lymph Node Dissection Warranted for Patients with a Diagnosis of Ductal Carcinoma In Situ?. Ann Surg Oncol 22(13):4270-9, 2015. e-Pub 2015. PMID: 25905585.
- Francis AM, Clemens MW. Assessment of Patient Factors, Surgeons, and Surgeon Teams in Immediate Implant-Based Breast Reconstruction Outcomes: Gfrerer L, Mattos D, Mastroianni M, et al (Massachusetts General Hosp, Boston; Harvard Stem Cell Inst, Cambridge, MA) Plast Reconstr Surg 135:245e-252e, 2015. Breast Diseases: A Year Book Quarterly 26(4):328-330, 2015. e-Pub 2015.
- Francis AM, Sepesi B, Correa AM, Blum MA, Erasmus JJ, Lee JH, Maru DM, Mehran RJ, Rice DC, Roth JA, Vaporciyan AA, Walsh GL, Welsh JW, Swisher SG, Hofstetter WL, Cancer Group UOTMAE. The influence of histopathologic tumor viability on long-term survival and recurrence rates following neoadjuvant therapy for esophageal adenocarcinoma. Ann Surg 258(3):500-7, 2013. e-Pub 2013. PMID: 24022442.
- Bolton WD, Hofstetter WL, Francis AM, Correa AM, Ajani JA, Bhutani MS, Erasmus J, Komaki R, Maru DM, Mehran RJ, Rice DC, Roth JA, Vaporciyan AA, Walsh GL, Swisher SG. Impact of tumor length on long-term survival of pT1 esophageal adenocarcinoma. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 138(4):831-6, 2009. e-Pub 2009. PMID: 19660349.
- Yendamuri S, Swisher SG, Correa AM, Hofstetter W, Ajani J, Francis A, Maru D, Mehran RJ, Rice D, Roth JA, Walsh G, Vaporicyan AA. Esophageal Tumor Length is Independently Associated with Long-Term Survival. Cancer 115(3):508-516, 2009. e-Pub 2009.
- Mittendorf EA, Wang X, Perrier ND, Francis AM, Edeiken BS, Shapiro SE, Lee JE, Evans DB. Followup of patients with papillary thyroid cancer: in search of the optimal algorithm. J Am Coll Surg 205(2):239-47, 2007. e-Pub 2007. PMID: 17660070.
- Hofstetter W, Correa AM, Bekele N, Ajani JA, Phan A, Komaki RR, Liao Z, Maru D, Wu TT, Mehran RJ, Rice DC, Roth JA, Vaporciyan AA, Walsh GL, Francis A, Blackmon S, Swisher SG. Proposed Modification of Nodal Status in AJCC Esophageal Cancer Staging System. The Annals of Thoracic Surgery 84(2):365-375, 2007. e-Pub 2007.
- Shen J, Gilcrease MZ, Babiera GV, Ross MI, Meric-Bernstam F, Feig BW, Kuerer HM, Francis AM, Ames FC, Hunt KK. Feasibility and Accuracy of Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy After Preoperative Chemotherapy in Breast Cancer Patients With Documented Axillary Metastases. Cancer 109(7):1255-1263, 2007. e-Pub 2007.
Invited Articles
- Sputova K, Kim LM, Francis AM. Surgical Prevention of Lymphedema. Current Surgery Reports 11(8):188-195, 2023. e-Pub 2023.
- Francis AM, Mericli AF. Spine Reconstruction: From Basics to Cutting Edge. Current Surgery Reports 10(12):255-264, 2022. e-Pub 2022.
- Shuck JW, Francis AM, Chang EI. Commentary: Gastroepiploic vascularized lymph node transfer for extremities' lymphedema: Is two better than one? A retrospective case-control study. J Plast Reconstr Aesthet Surg 75(9):3138-3139, 2022. e-Pub 2022. PMID: 35752589.
Review Articles
- Francis, AM, Kopplin, NG, Chang, EI. The MD Anderson Algorithm for Lymphedema Management. Journal of Clinical Medicine 14(6), 2025. e-Pub 2025. PMID: 40142659.
- Sputova, K, Kim, LM, Francis, AM. Surgical Prevention of Lymphedema. Current Surgery Reports 11(8):188-195, 2023. e-Pub 2023.
- Francis, AM, Mericli, AF. Spine Reconstruction. Current Surgery Reports 10(12):255-264, 2022. e-Pub 2022.
Abstracts
- Karakas C, Francis AM, Yi M, Sahin AA, Keyomarsi K, Hunt KK. Cyclin E as a Prognostic Marker and Predictor of Response to Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy and Adjuvant Hormonal Therapy in Patients with Stage II-III Breast Cancer. Cancer Research 75:3772, 2015. e-Pub 2015.
- Francis AM, Carey JP, Alexander A, Keyomarsi K, Hunt KK. Targeting the RB-pathway in Sarcoma: Utility of CDK4/6 Inhibitors. Cancer Research 74:1327, 2014. e-Pub 2014.
- Francis AM, Correa AM, Betancourt-Cuellar SL, Kim JY, Sepesi B, Ajani JA, Komaki R, Erasmus J, Maru DM, Mehran, Rice DC, Roth JA, Vaporciyan AA, Walsh GL, Hofstetter WL, Swisher SG. Esophageal Tumor Thickness on Computed Tomography as a Predictor of Residual Rumor in Esophageal Adenocarcinoma Following Preoperative Chemoradiation. J Surgical Research 186(2):680, 2014. e-Pub 2014.
- Francis AM, Grimes LM, Yi M, Mittendorf EA, Bedrosian I, Caudle A, Meric-Bernstam F, Babiera G, Krishnamurthy S, Kuerer HM, Hunt KK. Utility of Sentinel Lymph Node Dissection (SLND) in Ductal Carcinoma in Situ (DCIS). Ann Surg Onc 20(Supp 52), 2013. e-Pub 2013.
Book Chapters
- Sood RF, Francis AM, Talbot SG. SCORE Module: Tendon – Repair. In: The SCORE Portal, 2019.
- Blumenauer BJ, Francis AM, Clemens MW. Surgical Considerations of Wounds in the Cancer Patient. In: Scientific American Plastic Surgery.
Patient Reviews
CV information above last modified July 30, 2025