Francis G. Celii, MD
Department of Interventional Radiology, Division of Diagnostic Imaging
About Dr. Francis G. Celii
Dr. Francis Celii is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Interventional Radiology at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center. Dr. Celii earned his undergraduate degree in Biochemistry, magna cum laude, from Saint Louis University and his medical degree from McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston, where he was inducted into Alpha Omega Alpha and nominated for the Gold Humanism Honor Society in recognition of his academic excellence and commitment to compassionate, patient-centered care.
Dr. Celii completed his Diagnostic Radiology residency and Interventional Radiology Integrated Residency/Fellowship at UTHealth Houston and MD Anderson Cancer Center. His interests include interventional oncology, prostate artery embolization, pain management for osseous metastatic disease, including thermal ablation and augmentation, pediatric interventions, machine learning applications in image-guided therapy, and improving the patient experience in interventional radiology.
Present Title & Affiliation
Primary Appointment
Assistant Professor, Department of Interventional Radiology, Division of Diagnostic Imaging, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
Research Interests
- Interventional oncology, including tumor ablation and embolization
- Prostate artery embolization
- Pediatric interventional radiology
- Applications of machine learning in image-guided interventions
- Vascular and venous interventions in cancer patients
- Enhancing patient experience in interventional radiology
- Medical education and curriculum development in interventional radiology
Education & Training
Degree-Granting Education
| 2019 | McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston, Houston, Texas, US, Doctor of Medicine, Doctor of Medicine |
| 2014 | St. Louis University, St. Louis, Missouri, US, Biochemistry, Bachelor of Science |
Postgraduate Training
| 2023-2025 | IR Integrated Residency/Fellowship, Interventional Radiology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center & McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston, Houston, Texas |
| 2020-2023 | IR Integrated Residency/Fellowship, Interventional Radiology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center and McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston, Houston, Texas |
| 2019-2020 | Internship, Internal Medicine, McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston, Houston, Texas |
Licenses & Certifications
| 2025 | DEA |
| 2024 | Texas Medical License |
| 2024 | ACLS |
Honors & Awards
| 2025 - Present | Best Case Award, Houston Angio Club |
| 2022 - Present | Best Poster Award, Texas Radiologic Society Annual Meeting |
| 2018 - Present | Alpha Omega Alpha |
| 2018 - Present | Gold Humanism Honor Society Nominee |
| 2009 - Present | Eagle Scout |
Professional Memberships
Selected Publications
Peer-Reviewed Articles
- Celii, FG, Celii, BA, Bhakta, N, Lano, K, Ljuboja, D, Shahin, M, Patel, M, Abdel Aal, AK. Machine Learning in Patient Selection for Stent Placement and Classification of Malignant SVC Syndrome. AJIR 07(S 01):A1276, 2023. e-Pub 2023.
- Celii, FG, Bhosale, PR. Congenital Hepatic Fibrosis and Autosomal Recessive Polycystic Kidney Disease with Late Presentation in an Adult. ACR Case in Point. e-Pub 2022.
- Celii, FG, Burris J, Hausner RJ, Wray CJ, Manisundaram N, Thupili, C, Tammisetti, VS. Barium Granulomatosis: A Rare Cause of Obstruction after Remote Bariatric Surgery and a Cautionary Tale of Contrast Selection with Surgical and Pathologic Correlation. JMICR 6(1):24-26, 2022. e-Pub 2022.
- Celii, FG, Zvavanjanja, RC. Percutaneous transhepatic use of rigid bronchial forceps as bailout in difficult biliary stent retrieval. Radiol Case Rep 14(2):246-250, 2018. e-Pub 2018. PMID: 30479681.
- Celii, FG, Beckmann, NM. Radiation-induced insufficiency fracture of the femur 18 years after radiation therapy. Radiol Case Rep 14(2):179-183, 2018. e-Pub 2018. PMID: 30425769.
- Zhang, Y., Xiong, S., Liu, B., Pant, V., Celii, FG., Lozano, G.. Somatic Trp53 mutations differentially drive breast cancer and evolution of metastases. Nat Commun 9(1):1-10, 2018. e-Pub 2018. PMID: 30262850.
Invited Articles
- Celii, FG, Zvavanjanja, RC. Role of Interventional Radiology in the Management of Pancreatic Trauma. Digestive Disease Interventions 09(04):242-256, 2025. e-Pub 2025.
Abstracts
- Celii, FG, Zvavanjanja, RC. Role of Interventional Radiology in the Management of Pancreatic Trauma. CIRSE, 2024.
- Celii, FG, Abdelsalam, ME, Foss, WT, Awad, A, Karam, J, Matin, S, Ahrar, K. Safety and Efficacy of Single-Session Prone Trans-Radial Embolization and Ablation Treatment of cT1 Renal Cell Carcinoma. GEST (Global Embolization Symposium & Technologies) 2024, 2024. e-Pub 2024.
- Celii, FG, Celii, BA, Awan, U, Patel, M. Machine Learning to Guide Patient Selection and Optimal Classification Systems for Stent Placement in the Treatment of Malignant Superior Vena Cava Syndrome. Texas Radiologic Society (TRS) 2022, 2022. e-Pub 2022.
- Bande, KR, Celii, FG. Review of Post-Surgical Appearances of Bariatric Weight Loss Procedures, Complications, and Important Diagnostic Considerations. Texas Radiologic Society (TRS) 2022, 2022. e-Pub 2022.
- Celii, FG, Ljuboja, D, Patel, M. Persistent Left SVC: What the Radiologist Needs to Know During Catheter Placement. Texas Radiologic Society (TRS) 2022, 2022. e-Pub 2022.
- Ramasamy, S, Bhakta, N, Benishay, E, Celii, FG. Image-guided nerve ablation and peripheral nerve blocks for pain management. CIRSE.
- Ramasamy, S, Lano, K, Choudhury, P, Celii, FG, Chen, S. Endovascular treatment of carotid blowout syndrome: systematic review and meta-analysis. CIRSE.
- Ramasamy, S, Lano, K, Celii, FG. Image-guided cryoneurolysis for phantom limb pain. CIRSE.
- Benishay, E, Malavia, M, Ramasamy, S, Celii FG. Percutaneous peritoneovenous shunt: an effective last line intervention for chylous ascites. CIRSE.
Book Chapters
- Celii, FG, Klusman, C, Garcia, L, Jefferson, X, Irshad, OM, Ezzeldin, O, Abdel Aal, T, Hoang, B, Burris, J, Abdel Aal, AK. Vascular Anatomy. In: Radiological Anatomy for Medical Students and Interns. 1st. MedBlend Publishing, 273–315, 2023.
- Celii, Francis G., Klusman, C, Burris, J, Jefferson, X, Abdel Al, AK. Interventional Radiology Procedures. In: Interventional Radiology Procedures. In Radiological Anatomy for Medical Students and Interns. 1st, 273-315, 2023.
- Celii, FG, Soni, JM, Pillai, AK. Portacaval Shunting for Portal Hypertension. In: Liver Diseases. 1. Springer Cham, 651-660, 2020.
- Celii, Francis G., Cardenas, N, Kuban, JD. Oncology III (IR oncology therapies). In: Oncology III (IR oncology therapies). Residency Essentials (Online Training Module), 2020.
Patient Reviews
CV information above last modified November 25, 2025