Cassius Kwasi Botwe Mensah
Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Division of Anesthesiology, Critical Care Medicine, and Pain Medicine
Present Title & Affiliation
Primary Appointment
Associate Professor, Department of Division of Anesthesia, Critical Care, & Pain Medicine (DACCPM), Division of Anesthesiology, Critical Care Medicine, and Pain Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
Dual/Joint/Adjunct Appointment
Voluntary Clinical Associate Professor, Department of Anesthesiology & PeriOper Med, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
Voluntary Clinical Associate Professor, Department of Clinical Sciences, The University of Houston, Tilman J. Fertitta College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
Associate Professor, Department of DACCPM, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
Education & Training
Degree-Granting Education
| 2013 | Baylor College of Medicine (BCM), Houston, Texas, US, Medicine, Medical Doctorate |
| 2009 | Rice University, Houston, Texas, US, Biological Sciences, Bachelor of Biological Sciences |
Postgraduate Training
| 2017-2018 | Postgraduate Fellow, Cardiovascular Anesthesiology, Texas Heart Institute (THI), Houston, Texas |
| 2013-2017 | Residency, Anesthesiology, BCM, Houston, Texas |
Licenses & Certifications
| 2022 | Texas Medical License |
| 2019 | American Board of Anesthesiology Diplomate |
| 2018 | Advanced Perioperative Transesophageal Echocardiography |
| 2011 | ACLS |
Experience & Service
Faculty Academic Appointments
Assistant Professor, Department of Anesthesiology, BCM- Michael E DeBakey Veteran Affairs Medical Center (MEDVAMC), Houston, Texas, 2018 - 2023
Administrative Appointments/Responsibilities
Director of Anesthesia Equipment, Department of DACCPM, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, 2024 - Present
Alternate Delegate, Texas Society of Anesthesiologist (TSA), Austin, Texas, 2023 - Present
Director of Cardiac Anesthesia, MEDVAMC, Houston, Texas, 2022 - 2023
Residency Site Director, MEDVAMC, Houston, Texas, 2021 - 2023
Chief Resident, BCM, Houston, Texas, 2016 - 2017
Resident Delegate, TSA, Austin, Texas, 2014 - 2017
Student Liaison, Department of School of Medicine, BCM, Houston, Texas, 2010 - 2013
Co-President, Student National Medical Association, BCM Chapter, Houston, Texas, 2010 - 2011
Intramural Institutional Committee Activities
Member, Hospital Aquired Pressure Injury Skin Champions, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2025 - Present
Member, Institutional Environmental Sustainability Advisory Committee (IESAC), The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2025 - Present
Member, Anesthesia Sustainability Advisory Committee, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2024 - Present
Senator, Faculty Senate, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2024 - 2025
Member, Inclusion and Excellence Council, BCM, 2021 - 2023
Member, Wellness Committee, BCM, 2021 - 2023
Member, Anesthesiology Residency Admissions Committee, BCM, 2021 - 2023
Founder, Perioperative Recycling Committee, MEDVAMC, 2020 - 2023
Member, Simulation Lab Committee, BCM, 2020 - Present
Member, Department of Anesthesiology Curriculum Committee, BCM, 2020 - 2023
Member, Clinical Competency Committee, BCM, 2020 - 2023
Honors & Awards
| 2024 | Student Registered Nurse Anesthetist Faculty of the Year, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center |
| 2024 | Thoracic Faculty of the Year, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center |
| 2022 | Early Career Faculty Award for Excellence in Patient Care, BCM Office of Faculty Development |
| 2022 | Power of Professionalism (POP) Award Recipient, BCM Center for Professionalism |
| 2022 | Golden Apple Award for Teaching Excellence, MEDVAMC |
| 2021 | Golden Apple Award for Teaching Excellence, MEDVAMC |
| 2017 | Outstanding Resident Cardiovascular Anesthesia, THI |
| 2017 | Alon P. Winnie Award for Excellence in Regional and Acute Pain Management, BCM |
| 2017 | Outstanding Resident Cardiovascular Anesthesia, MEDVAMC |
| 2015 | Outstanding Resident Geriatric Anesthesia, MEDVAMC |
| 2015 | Virginia Apgar Award for Excellence in Obstetric Anesthesia, BCM |
| 2014 | Intern of the Year, BCM |
| 2013 | Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society Member, BCM |
Professional Memberships
Selected Presentations & Talks
Local Presentations
- 2024. Wellness: A Foundation for Joy in Life. Invited. BCM Grand Rounds. Houston, Texas, US.
- 2024. Thoracotomies. Invited. Senior Seminar. Houston, Texas, US.
- 2024. Anesthesia for Transjugular Intrahepatic Portosystemic Shunt. Invited. DACCPM Grand Rounds. Houston, Texas, US.
- 2024. A Day in the Life of an Anesthesiologist. Invited. DeBakey High School Career Day. Houston, Texas, US.
- 2022. Penicillin Allergy Study Talk. Invited. Grand Rounds. Houston, Texas, US.
- 2022. Endotracheal Tube Cuff Pressures: How Much is Enough?. Poster. Grand Rounds. Houston, Texas, US.
- 2021. Obstructive Sleep Apnea & Respiratory Surgery. Invited. Senior Seminar Leader. Houston, Texas, US.
- 2021. Preoperative Testing Considerations. Invited. Grand Rounds. Houston, Texas, US.
- 2021. Improving OR to ICU Transport Time via COVID 19 Testing. Poster. Grand Rounds. Houston, Texas, US.
- 2021. Biventricular Systolic & Diastolic Function. Invited. Residency Lecture. Houston, Texas, US.
- 2021. Recycling in the Operating Room. Invited. Grand Rounds. Houston, Texas, US.
- 2021. Healthcare Economics. Invited. Resident Lecture. Houston, Texas, US.
- 2020. Anesthetic Considerations of Pulmonary Disease. Invited. Senior Seminar. Houston, Texas, US.
- 2020. Anesthesia Case Conference. Invited. Grand Rounds. Houston, Texas, US.
- 2020. Introduction to Anesthesia. Invited. Medical Student Anesthesia Handbook. Houston, Texas, US.
- 2019. Post-Transplant Patients for Non-Cardiac Surgery. Invited. Senior Seminar. Houston, Texas, US.
- 2019. Anesthesia Topics for Surgery. Invited. Problem Based Learning Discussion. Houston, Texas, US.
- 2019. Oral Board Case Conference. Invited. Grand Rounds. Houston, Texas, US.
- 2017. Enhanced Recovery After Surgery Oral Meds. Invited. Grand Rounds. Houston, Texas, US.
- 2017. Serenity Courage Wisdom. Invited. Case Conference. Houston, Texas, US.
National Presentations
- 2025. Point of Care Ultrasound and Hemodynamic Monitoring Workshop. Invited. Texas Society of Anesthesiologists (TSA) Annual Meeting. San antonio, US.
- 2025. Perioperative Management of the Oncologic Patient Undergoing Immunotherapy with Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors. Invited. National Medical Association 2025 Annual Convention & Scientific Assembly. Chicago, Illinois, US.
- 2024. Point of Care Ultrasound and Hemodynamic Monitoring Workshop. Invited. Texas Society of Anesthesiologists (TSA) Annual Meeting. San Antonio, Texas, US.
- 2024. Perioperative Antibiotic Optimization at Ben Taub General Hospital & MEDVAMC: Increasing the use of Cephalosporins in the Penicillin Allergic Patient. Poster. International Anesthesia Research Society Annual Conference. Seattle, Washington, US.
- 2024. Quadratus Lumborum Catheters to the Rescue: Open RPLND for Testicular Cancer. Poster. American Society of Regional Anesthesia Annual Meeting (ASRA). San Diego, California, US.
- 2018. Perioperative Plasmapheresis for Acute Heparin Induced Thrombocytopenia. Poster. Society of Cardiac Anesthesiologists Annual Meeting. Phoenix, Arizona, US.
Formal Peers
- 2022. Non-Cardiac Surgery for Patients with LVAD or Heart Transplant. Houston, Texas, US.
Selected Publications
Peer-Reviewed Articles
- Vaughan A, Mensah CK, Pennycuff J, Venneman SS, Risborough V, Baker DG, Nowak KJ, Williams RL, Nolen TL, Kosten TR, Verrico CD. Pharmacokinetic Interactions Between Ethanol and PT150, a Selective Glucocorticoid Receptor Antagonist, in Healthy Volunteers. J Addict Med, 2025. e-Pub 2025. PMID: 40794488.
- Guerra-Londono, JJ, Moreno-Lopez, SM, Gundre, S, Jehanzeb, A, Wong, R, Cortes-Mejia, NA, Bejarano-Ramirez, DF, Mensah, CB, Cata, JP. Association between intravenous 5 % albumin administration and acute kidney injury after partial nephrectomy. A retrospective study. Journal of Clinical Anesthesia 104, 2025. e-Pub 2025. PMID: 40373496.
- Maffei SR, Lamba HK, Mensah CK, Bracey A, Civitello A, Delgado R, Simpson L, Nair A, Frazier O, Morgan JA. Plasmapheresis in Patients with Heparin-Induced Thrombocytopenia Requiring Ventricular Assist Device. The Annals of Thoracic Surgery 109(6):439-440, 2019. PMID: 31715152.
Patient Reviews
CV information above last modified October 17, 2025