Meet David Adelman, M.D., Ph.D.
David M. Adelman, MD, PhD, FACS
Department of Plastic Surgery, Division of Surgery
About Dr. Adelman
Dr. David M. Adelman is a professor of Plastic Surgery at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas. Dr. Adelman specializes in reconstructive surgery and microsurgery. His main clinical and research interests include breast reconstruction surgery, abdominal wall reconstruction, hernia repair surgery and head and neck reconstruction surgery, as well as other areas. Dr. Adelman has authored dozens of peer-reviewed journal articles on breast reconstruction, microsurgery and other topics. He is an active member of many national and local plastic surgery societies including the American Society for Reconstructive Microsurgery, American Society of Plastic Surgeons and Plastic Surgery Foundation and the Plastic Surgery Research Council. At MD Anderson, he serves as vice chair of the Tissue Transplantation Committee and the plastic surgery representative of the Multidisciplinary Breast Planning Clinic.
Present Title & Affiliation
Primary Appointment
Associate Professor, Department of Plastic Surgery, Division of Surgery, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Education & Training
Degree-Granting Education
2003 | University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA, MD, Medicine |
2001 | University of Chicago, Department of Pathology, Chicago, IL, USA, PhD, Molecular Biology |
1995 | Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA, BS and MS, Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry |
Postgraduate Training
2009-2010 | Clinical Fellowship, Clinical Specialist and Microsurgery Fellow, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX |
2008-2009 | Clinical Residency, Chief Resident, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, NYU Langone Medical Center/Bellevue Hospital Center, New York, NY |
2006-2008 | Clinical Residency, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, NYU Langone Medical Center/Bellevue Hospital Center, New York, NY |
2003-2006 | Clinical Residency, General Surgery, NYU Langone Medical Center/Bellevue Hospital Center, New York, NY |
Board Certifications
2011 | American Board of Plastic Surgery |
Experience & Service
Academic Appointments
Assistant Professor, Department of Plastic Surgery, Division of Surgery, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 2010 - 2015
Administrative Appointments/Responsibilities
Interim Director, TRAMCELL Basic Science Lab, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 2020 - Present
Clerkship Director, UTHSC 3rd Year Medical Student Elective, Introduction to Plastic Surgery, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 2015 - Present
Institutional Committee Activities
Member, Academic Review Committee, 2020 - Present
Member, Credentials Committee of the Medical Staff (CCMS), 2019 - 2022
Member, Clinical Effectiveness Subcommittee, 2016 - Present
Member, Center for Genetics and Genomics, 2014 - Present
Member, Council of Committee Chairs, 2014 - Present
Vice Chair, Tissue Transplantation Committee, 2014 - Present
Plastic Surgery Representative, Multidisciplinary Breast Planning Clinic, 2013 - Present
Member, Clinical Research Committee (CRC 1), 2013 - 2013
Associate Member, Center for Stem Cells & Developmental Biology, 2013 - Present
Member, Clinical Research Committee (CRC 3), 2011 - 2012
Member, Clinical Research Committee (CRC 4), 2010 - 2011
Honors & Awards
2019 | Most Outstanding Paper, American Society of Reconstructive Microsurgery |
2018 | Outstanding Presentation - Soft Tissue Reconstruction after Concomitant Vertebrectomy and Chest Wall Resection for Spinal Tumors |
2009 | Alumnus of Distinction Award, Given to Outstanding Alumni as Voted by Peers, Commack High School |
2003 | Overall Best Presentation, Senior Scientific Session, University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine |
2001 | Frank Fellow, Medical Scientist Training Program, University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine |
2001 | Scholarship Winner, Keystone Symposium on Pluripotent Stem Cells: Biology and Applications |
2000 | Best Pre-Doctoral Abstract Submission and Invited Speaker, Pennsylvania Muscle Institute Symposium on Cardiovascular Development |
1995 | The Edward McGuire Gordon Prize, Yale University |
1995 | Master’s Cup, Timothy Dwight College, Yale University |
1995 | Simultaneous Awarding of Bachelors and Masters Degrees, Department of Molecular, Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University |
1995 | Distinction in the Major, Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University |
Professional Memberships
Selected Publications
Peer-Reviewed Articles
- Mericli AF, Szpalski C, Schaverien MV, Selber JC, Adelman DM, Garvey PB, Villa MT, Robb G, Baumann DP. The Latissimus Dorsi Myocutaneous Flap Is a Safe and Effective Method of Partial Breast Reconstruction in the Setting of Breast-Conserving Therapy. Plast Reconstr Surg 143(5):927e-935e, 2019. PMID: 31033814.
- Ibrahim AE, Adelman DM, Parham C, Hong Z, Villa M, Chahine FM, Ghieh FM. The External Jugular Vein Used as Recipient Vessel in Head and Neck Free Flap Reconstruction: Outcomes Compared to the Internal Jugular Vein. J Craniofac Surg 30(1):178-183, 2019. e-Pub 2018. PMID: 30394970.
- Adelman DM, Cornwell KG. Bioprosthetic Versus Synthetic Mesh: Analysis of Tissue Adherence and Revascularization in an Experimental Animal Model. Plast Reconstr Surg Glob Open 6(5):e1713, 2018. e-Pub 2018. PMID: 29922542.
- Ibrahim A, Atiyeh B, Karami R, Adelman DM, Papazian NJ. The Deltopectoral Flap Revisited: The Internal Mammary Artery Perforator Flap. J Craniofac Surg 27(2):e189-92, 2016. e-Pub 2016. PMID: 26854779.
- Adelman DM, Selber JC, Butler CE. Bovine versus Porcine Acellular Dermal Matrix: A Comparison of Mechanical Properties. Plast Reconstr Surg Glob Open 2(5):e141-e157, 2014. e-Pub 2014. PMID: 25289348.
- Clemens MW, Selber JC, Liu J, Adelman DM, Baumann DP, Garvey PB, Butler CE. Bovine versus Porcine Acellular Dermal Matrix for Complex Abdominal Wall Reconstruction. Plast Reconstr Surg 131(1):71-79, 2013. PMID: 22965235.
- Selber JC, Chang EI, Liu J, Suami H, Adelman DM, Garvey P, Hanasono MM, Butler CE. Tracking the Learning Curve in Microsurgical Skill Acquisition. Plast Reconstr Surg 130(4):551e-558e, 2012. PMID: 23018716.
- Crosby MA, Garvey PB, Selber JC, Adelman DM, Sacks JM, Villa MT, Lin HY, Park SJ, Baumann DP. Reconstructive Outcomes in Patients Undergoing Contralateral Prophylactic Mastectomy. Plast Reconstr Surg 128(5):1025-1033, 2011. PMID: 22030485.
- Baumann DP, Crosby MA, Selber JC, Garvey PB, Sacks JM, Adelman DM, Villa MT, Feng L, Robb GL. Optimal Timing of Delayed Free Lower Abdominal Flap Breast Reconstruction after Postmastectomy Radiation Therapy. Plast Reconstr Surg 127(3):1100-1116, 2011. PMID: 21364413.
- Ramirez-Bergeron DL, Runge A, Adelman DM, Gohil M, Simon MC. HIF-dependent Hematopoietic Factors Regulate the Development of the Embryonic Vasculature. Dev Cell 11(1):81-92, 2006.
- Cowden Dahl KD, Fryer BH, Mack FA, Compernolle V, Maltepe E, Adelman DM, Carmeliet P, Simon MC. Hypoxia-inducible Factors 1 alpha and 2 alpha Regulate Trophoblast Differentiation. Mol Cell Biol 25(23):10479-10491, 2005.
- Adelman DM, Simon MC. Hypoxic Gene Regulation in Differentiating ES Cells. Methods Mol Biol 185:55-62, 2002. PMID: 11769012.
- Keith B, Adelman DM, Simon MC. Targeted Mutation of the Murine Arylhydrocarbon Receptor Nuclear Translocator 2 (ARNT2) Gene Reveals Partial Redundancy with ARNT. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 98(12):6692-6697, 2001. e-Pub 2001. PMID: 11381139.
- Lindsten T, Ross AJ, King A, Zong WX, Rathmell JC, Shiels HA, Ulrich E, Waymire KG, Mahar P, Frauwirth K, Chen Y, Wei M, Eng VM, Adelman DM, Simon MC, Ma A, Golden JA, Evan G, Korsmeyer SJ, MacGregor GR, Thompson CB. The Combined Functions of Proapoptotic Bcl-2 Family Members Bak and Bax are Essential for Normal Development of Multiple Tissues. Mol Cell 6(6):1389-1399, 2000. PMID: 11163212.
- Adelman DM, Gertsenstein M, Nagy A, Simon MC, Maltepe E. Placental Cell Fates are Regulated In Vivo by HIF-mediated Hypoxia Responses. Genes Dev 14(24):3191-3203, 2000. PMID: 11124810.
- Adelman DM, Maltepe E, Simon MC. HIF-1 is Essential for Multilineage Hematopoiesis in the Embryo. Adv Exp Med Biol 475:275-284, 2000. PMID: 10849668.
- Adelman DM, Maltepe E, Simon MC. Multilineage Embryonic Hematopoiesis Requires Hypoxic ARNT Activity. Genes Dev 13(19):2478-2483, 1999. PMID: 10521392.
- Hodel A, Kautz RA, Adelman DM, Fox RO. The Importance of Anchorage in Determining a Strained Protein Loop Conformation. Protein Sci 3(4):549-556, 1994. PMID: 8003973.
Invited Articles
- Adelman DM, Hanasono MM, Robb GL. Mandibular Osteoradionecrosis in Free Flap Reconstruction Using Computer-aided design (CAD) and Medical Modeling. Plastic Surgery Hyperguide. e-Pub 2012.
Editorials
- Adelman DM, Butler CE. Invited Commentary: “Breast Diseases: A Year Book Quarterly” 24(1), 2013.
- Adelman DM, Crosby MA. Invited Commentary: “Breast Diseases: A Year Book Quarterly” 23(3), 2012.
- Adelman DM, Butler CE. Invited Commentary: David W. Chang and Sugene Kim. “Breast Reconstruction and Lymphedema”. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery 125(1):19-23, 2010.
Abstracts
- Mericli AF, Murariu DM, Adelman DM, Garvey PB, Rhines LD, Walsh G, Liu J, Baumann DP, Butler CB. Soft Tissue Reconstruction after Concomitant Vertebrectomy and Chest Wall Resection for Spinal Tumors. Plast Reconstr Surg GO 6(9 Suppl):196-196, 2018.
- Adelman DM, Cornwell K. Bioprosthetic versus Synthetic Mesh - Analysis of Tissue Adherence and Revascularization in an Experimental Animal Model, 2018.
- Adelman DM, Cornwell K. Analysis of Adherence and Vascularization Patterns of Bioprosthetic Mesh in a Rat Ventral Hernia Model. MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, Abdominal Wall Reconstruction Conference (AWR), 2014.
- Adelman DM. Defining the Transition from Device to Tissue in Acellular Dermal Matrix. Proceedings of the 5th European Plastic Surgery Research Council, Hamburg, Germany, 2013.
- Selber JC, Alrasheed T, Chang E, Liu J, Suami H, Adelman DM, Garvey P, Hanasono M, Butler CE. Tracking the Learning Curve in Microsurgical Skill Acquisition. Proceedings of the American Association of Plastic Surgeons, 92nd Annual Meeting & Symposia, New Orleans, LA, 2013.
- Clemens MW, Selber JC, Adelman DM, Baumann DP, Garvey PB, Butler CE. Bovine versus Porcine Acellular Dermal Matrix for Complex Abdominal Wall Reconstruction. Proceedings of the 91st Annual Meeting of the American Association of Plastic Surgeons, San Francisco, CA, 2012.
- Clemens MW, Selber JC, Adelman DM, Baumann DP, Garvey PB, Butler CE. Bovine versus Porcine Acellular Dermal Matrix for Complex Abdominal Wall Reconstruction. Plast Reconstr Surg 130(1S):64, 2012.
- Adelman DM, Garvey P, Sacks JM, Pettaway C, Yu P. Reconstruction of Penile and Perineal Oncologic Defects. Can J Plast Surg 19(Sup A):124A, 2011.
- Baumann DP, Crosby M, Selber J, Sacks J, Garvey P, Villa M, Adelman DM, Robb G. Optimal Timing of Delayed Free Lower Abdominal Flap Breast Reconstruction after Post-mastectomy Radiation Therapy. Plast Reconstr Surg 127(5s):13, 2011.
- Ramirez-Bergeron DL, Adelman DM, Simon MC. ARNT is Important for Proper Cardiovascular Development. 67th Symposium: The Cardiovascular System, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, NY, 2002.
- Adelman DM, Simon MC. Trophoblast Stem Cell Fate Decisions Rely on ARNT-mediated Hypoxia Responses. Keystone Symposium on Pluripotent Stem Cells: Biology and Applications, 2001.
- Adelman DM, Maltepe E, Simon MC. Hypoxic ARNT Activity is Critical for Both Mammalian Embryonic Development and Cancer. Gordon Research Conference on Vascular Cell Biology, Plymouth, NH, 2000.
- Adelman DM, Maltepe E, Simon MC. Multilineage Embryonic Hematopoiesis Requires Hypoxic ARNT Activity. American Society of Hematology 41st Annual Meeting, New Orleans, LA, 1999.
- Adelman DM, Maltepe E, Simon MC. HIF1-mediated VEGF Expression is Essential for Murine Hematopoiesis In Vivo. Oxygen Sensing: Molecule to Man, Philadelphia, PA, 1999.
- Adelman DM, Maltepe E, Simon MC. Role of ARNT in Hematopoiesis During Mouse Development. Meeting on Mouse Molecular Genetics, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, NY, 1998.
Book Chapters
- Adelman DM, Hanasono MM. Scalp and Calvarial Reconstruction. In: Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery: Pearls of Wisdom. 3rd. Lippincott, Williams and Wilkins, 777-784, 2016.
- Butler CE, Adelman DM. Principles in Microsurgery. In: Grabb and Smith’s Plastic Surgery. 7th. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins: Philadelphia, 70-76, 2014.
- Adelman DM, Butler CE. History of Plastic Surgery. In: Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery Board Review: Pearls of Wisdom. 2. McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc, 9-12, 2011.
- Adelman DM, Hanasono MM. Scalp and Calvarial Reconstruction. In: Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery Board Review: Pearls of Wisdom. 2. McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc, 683-690, 2011.
- Adelman DM, Kronowitz SJ. Breast Reconstruction Following Mastectomy, Chapter 79. In: Acute Care Surgery: Evidence Based Practice. 1. People’s Medical Publishing House, 2011.