Carmen E. Gonzalez, MD, FACP FACMQ
Department of Emergency Medicine
About Dr. Gonzalez
About Dr. Gonzalez
Dr. Carmen E. Gonzalez is a Professor, and Quality Officer of the Division of Internal Medicine at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. She works to foster improvements in the care of patients with oncologic emergencies in the Emergency Center. Her main research interest is in quality improvement, patient safety, pneumonia in cancer patients, sepsis, and end of life issues in patients with cancer.
Dr. Gonzalez is certified in Quality Medicine from the American College of Medical Quality since 2013. In addition, she is currently pursuing a Master's degree in Healthcare Quality and Patient Safety at Jefferson University.
Present Title & Affiliation
Primary Appointment
Professor, Department of Emergency Medicine, Division of Internal Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Divisional Quality Officer, Division of Internal Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Research Interests
My research interest has been in HIV, sepsis, pneumonia. I am currently working in quality research endeavors: to improve handoff between the ED and the hospitalist; providing high value of care at the end-of life.
This year, I participated in the Internal Review Study Section (INTEREST), NIH, reviewer. The goal of INTEREST at MD Anderson is to leverage the expertise of our experienced faculty in writing fundable research proposals. I participated in the review of extramural grant proposals -Sepsis Collaborative, to improve, critique and offer experience in the grant review process.
Clinical Interests
My clinical interest is in the care of patients with oncologic emergencies. Those emergencies include but are no limited to: neutropenic fever, healthcare associated pneumonia, sepsis and septic shock, hypercalcemia, brain edema, seizures, bleeding. I have over 15 years of experience caring for critically ill patients with oncologic emergencies. I am editor of the Oncologic Emergencies. In: MD Anderson Cancer Care Series, and authored the chapter of infectious diseases for the this book. I February of 2016, I was honored with the MDACC President's Faculty Excellence Award, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.
Education & Training
Degree-Granting Education
| 1986 | University of Puerto Rico, School of Medicine, San Juan, PRI, MD, Medicine |
| 1982 | University of Puerto Rico, Ponce, PRI, BS, General Sciences |
Postgraduate Training
| 1992-1994 | Clinical Fellowship, Nuclear Medicine, University of Michigan Hospitals, Ann Arbor, MI |
| 1986-1989 | Clinical Residency, Internal Medicine, Damas Hospital, Ponce |
Board Certifications
| 1994 | American Board of Nuclear Medicine |
| 1989 | American Board of Internal Medicine |
| 1987 | Board of Medical Examiner, Commonwealth of Puerto |
Experience & Service
Academic Appointments
Associate Professor, Department of General Internal Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 2008 - 2017
Administrative Appointments/Responsibilities
Committee Chair, DoIM Quality Council The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 2013 - Present
Deputy Department Chair, Department of Emergency Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 2011 - 2015
Quality Officer, Department of Emergency Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 2010 - Present
Section Chief, Section of Emergency Care, Department of General Internal Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 2009 - 2010
Institutional Committee Activities
Member, Acute & Critical Care Subcommittee, 2015 - Present
Honors & Awards
| 2016 | MDACC President's Faculty Excellence Award in Clinical Quality, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center |
| 2015 | 3rd Prize, Best Poster: HIV screening at a comprehensive cancer center, UT MD Anderson Cancer Center |
| 2015 | 2016 Conquer Cancer Foundation of ASCO Merit Award, Conquer Cancer Foundation of ASCO and the 2016 ASCO Quality Care Symposium Program Committee |
| 2012 | 3rd Place Poster winner: Vaccination and Tobacco Screening Rates among adult cancer patients at a comprehensive cancer center, DoIM Research Retreat |
| 2009 | Multiyear Appointment Award, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center |
Professional Memberships
Selected Publications
Peer-Reviewed Articles
- Wu W, Liu X, Chaftari P, Cruz Carreras MT, Gonzalez C, Viets-Upchurch J, Merriman K, Tu SM, Dalal S, Yeung SC. Association of Body Composition with Outcome of Docetaxel Chemotherapy in Metastatic Prostate Cancer: A Retrospective Review. PLoS One 10(3):e0122047, 2015. e-Pub 2015. PMID: 25822612.
- Shapiro B, Gonzalez E, Weissman A, McHugh T, Markel SF. Malignant paraganglioma of the prostate: case report, depiction by meta-iodobenzylguanidine scintigraphy and review of the literature. J Med 41(1):36-41, 1997. PMID: 9195851.
- Gonzalez CE, Fig LM, Cano M, Gross MD, Shapiro B. Technetium-99m-red blood cell scintigraphy in the localization of nonenteric hemorrhage. J Med 35(8):1333-7, 1994. PMID: 8046489.
- Weissman AF, Gonzalez CE, Shapiro B, Shulkin B, Francis IR, Leach K. Multiple chemodectomas. Carotid body tumor masked by salivary gland uptake on I-123 MIBG scintigraphy. Clinical Nuclear Medicine 19(6):527-31, 1994. PMID: 8062474.
Manuals, Teaching Aids, Other Teaching Publications
- Gonzalez, CE. When is an emergency an emergency? A patient's guide for use of MD Anderson Emergency Center Facility. Network Summer, A publication of the Anderson Network, 2007.
Abstracts
- Johnson T, Wattari S, Gonzalez CE, Rolston K. Vaccination Rates among Adult Cancer Patients at a Comprehensive Cancer Center. Clinical Microbiology and Infection 18(Supplement 3; R2798), 2012.