Gang Zheng, MD
Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Division of Anesthesiology, Critical Care Medicine, and Pain Medicine
Present Title & Affiliation
Primary Appointment
Professor, Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Dual/Joint/Adjunct Appointment
Professor, Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Education & Training
Degree-Granting Education
| 1983 | Peking University Health Science Center (PUHSC), Beijing, CN, BM in Medicine |
Postgraduate Training
| 2009-2010 | Master Educator Fellowship, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida |
| 2000-2003 | Clinical Residency, Anesthesiology, University of Miami School of Medicine, Miami, Florida |
| 1999-2000 | Clinical Internship, General Surgery, State University of Michigan, Grand Rapids, Michigan |
| 1997-1999 | Research Fellowship, Harvard Medical School, Harvard Institutes of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts |
Licenses & Certifications
| 2011 | State of Texas Medical License |
| 2004 | American Board of Anesthesiologists |
| 2002 | State of Florida Medical License |
Experience & Service
Faculty Academic Appointments
Associate Professor, Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 2012 - 2019
Assistant Professor, Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, The University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL, 2004 - 2011
Administrative Appointments/Responsibilities
Fellowship Program Director, Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 2019 - Present
Professor and Section Chief of Head and Neck Anesthesia, Anesthesiology & PeriOper Med, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, 2015 - 2022
Other Professional Positions
Member, Non-clinical Time Committee, Department of Anesthesiology & Perioperative Medicine, Houston, TX, 2018 - Present
Member, Task Force for Difficult Airway, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 2018 - Present
Member, HNS Enhanced Recovery Program Steering Committee, Houston, TX, 2015 - Present
Extramural Institutional Committee Activities
Associate member, Graduate Medical Education Committee (GMEC), The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2018 - Present
Member, Operating room efficacy improvement, the six-sigma program, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2015 - 2016
Editorial Activities
Member of Editorial Review Board, Perioperative Safety and Quality Assurance, 2016 - 2020
Member of Editorial Review Board, Journal of Otolaryngology and Ophthalmology of Shandong University, 2014 - 2020
Honors & Awards
| 2023 | SAM Grand Award, The Society for Airway Management (SAM) |
| 2018 | Award of Significant Clinical Service, 2018, Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine |
| 2018 | Top publication of the year awards for 2018, Division of Anesthesiology, Critical Care and Pain Medicine |
| 2010 | Outstanding Poster by a Professional Medical Educator, Medical Education Scholarship Awards by American Association of Medical College, AAMC) |
| 2010 | The Best Exhibit in Clinical Application, New York Post Graduate Assembly (PGA) |
| 2009 - Present | Transition to practice Teacher of the Year Award, The University of Florid College of Medicine |
| 2008 - Present | Transition to Practice Teacher of the Year Award, The University of Florida College of Medicine, Department of Anesthesiology |
| 2007 - Present | Transition to Practice Teacher of the Year Award, The University of Florida College of Medicine, Department of Anesthesiology |
| 2006 - 2009 | Transition to Practice Teacher of the Year Award, The University of Florida College of Medicine, Department of Anesthesiology |
Professional Memberships
Selected Presentations & Talks
Regional Presentations
- 2012. Continuous postive airway pressure (CPAP) equiment development and their clinical applications. Conference. PGA. NY, NY, US.
National Presentations
- 2020. The association between oral multimodal analgesic administration and preoperative opioid requirement in patients undergoing head and neck surgery with free flap reconstruction. Invited. Global Enhanced Recovery Symposium. Houston, TX, US.
- 2018. Non clinical time distritubation within an academic anesthesiology department. Conference. The New York Society of Anesthesiologists. New York, NY, US.
- 2018. Airway management for extraction of a large subglottic foreign body in an adult: A case report. Invited. The Society for Airway Management (SAM). Chicago, IL, US.
- 2018. The length of surgery is associated with increasing flap complications. Conference. American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA). San Francisco, CA, US.
- 2018. Parker Flex-Tip tracheal tube: an effective tracheal intubation tool. Invited. Salter Labs. San Francisco, CA, US.
- 2018. Airway management for retrieval of a large subglottic foreign body. Conference. Society for Airway Managment (SAM) annule meeting, 2018. Michigan, IL, US.
- 2018. The cons of front of neck access. Conference. Internatinal Airway Managment Society. Xian, Shanxi, US.
- 2018. Predicitng difficult airways: What do we know and we do not kwnow?. Conference. Shenzhen Nanshang Hospital. Shenzhen, Gangdong, US.
- 2017. Airway intubation in patients with oral cavity or oropharyngeal cancer. Invited. American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) Annual Meeting. Boston, MA, US.
- 2016. Dose intraoperative use of vasopressors increase the risk of flap thrombosis. Invited. American Association of Plastic Surgeons and Plastic Surgery Research Council. New York, NY, US.
- 2012. Applied physiology: Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) and patietn safety. Invited. Post Graduate Assembly (PGA). New York, NY, US.
- 2010. Emerging Issues in Medical Education: Competencies, Collaboration and Communication. Invited. Regional conferences of the Southern Group on Educational Affairs of American Association of Medical College (AAMC). Oklahoma City, OK, US.
- 2009. Pilot study on pre-surgery memory impairment and frequency of post-operative cognitive decline. Invited. The annual meeting of American Society of Anesthesiologists. New Orleans, LA, US.
- 1999. Evidence of protected HIV reservoir in semen. Invited. The 94th Annual Meeting of American Urological Association. Dallas, TX, US.
International Presentations
- 2019. The role of baroreflex dysfunction in airway management. Invited. The World Airway Management Meeting (WAMM)2019. Amsterdam, NL.
- 2019. The histopahtologic characteristics of xanthoma disseminatum does not increase the risk of intubation or extubation. Invited. The World Airway Management Meeting (WAMM) 2019. Amsterdam, NL.
- 2019. Applied high flow nasal oxygen for a high risk lung biopsy: A challenging case report. Invited. The World Airway Management Meeting (WAMM) 2019. Amsterdam, NL.
- 2019. Tracheal tube exchanging with a color labelled bougie reduces excessive device movement. Invited. The World Airway Management Meeting (WAMM) 2019. Amsterdam, NL.
- 2018. The cons of front of neck access. Invited. International Airway Managment Society (IAMS). Xian, CN.
- 2017. Beyond Mallampati Score: What do we know and unknow?. Invited. International Conference of Airway Management-Confederacion Latinoamericana de Sociedades de Anestesiologia (CLASA). Bariloche City, AR.
- 2017. Anesthetics impose negative chronotropic effects on patients with head and neck radiation therapy. Invited. International Anesthesia Research Society. Washington, US.
- 2015. The impacts of head and neck radiation therapy to airway management: A case controlled review study. Invited. World Airway Management Meeting. Dublin, IE.
- 2014. 10-year experiences in airway management for patients with oral cavity or oropharyngeal cancer with and without head and neck radiation. Invited. International Anesthesiology Research Society Annual Meeting. Montreal, CA.
- 1998. Analysis of the distinct reservoir of HIV in semen: genetic evidence for protease inhibitor sensitivity different from that of blood HIV in some cases, but not in others. Invited. The 2nd International Workshop on HIV Drug Resistance and Treatment Strategies. Lake Maggiore, IT.
- 1993. The speed of trans-eardrum pressure gradient change during high speed ascending is the major cause of vertigo in jet pilots. Invited. The 3rd national symposium of vertigo. Beijing, CN.
- 1992. The pressure induced inner ear injuries in guinea pigs. Invited. The 2nd meeting of Asia Pacific Aviation Medicine Association (APAMA). Beijing, CN.
- 1990. The role of acoustic impedance measurement in detecting malfunction of Eustachian tube during high speed ascending in a supersonic jet. Invited. The Otolaryngology Annual Meeting of Chinese Army. Jinan, CN.
Formal Peers
- 2023. Airway workshop. Round Rock, Texas, US.
- 2019. Airway assessment: Present and Future. Invited. Amman, JO.
- 2019. Assessment of a difficult airway. Invited. Xining, Qinghai, CN.
- 2018. Predicting difficult airway. Invited. Guangzhou, guangdong, CN.
- 2018. Predicting a difficult airway: What do we know and we don't know. Invited. Shenzhen, Guangzhou, CN.
- 2017. Mallampati and Beyond: What We Know and We Don't Know ?. Invited. Bariloche, Rio Negro Province, AR.
- 2017. The Blind Zone: Middle Segment of An Airway. Invited. Hangzhou, Zhejiang, CN.
- 2017. Is AFOI the choice for all high risk airway management? The Cons,. Invited. Shanghai, CN.
- 2016. The pattern analysis of post operative respiratory related sudden death. Invited. Xi'an, Shangxi, CN.
- 2016. Post operative respiratory related sudden death. Invited. Ho Chi Minh City, VN.
- 2016. At risk airway extubation and case discussion. Invited. N/A, CN.
- 2015. Difficult airway extubation: How much do we know?. Invited. Yantai, Shandong, CN.
- 2015. Airway extubation and beyond. Invited. Taichung, TW.
- 2014. Prevention of intraoperative fire in patients with head and neck surgery. Invited. Yantai, Shandong, CN.
- 2014. Failure of airway extubation- A mistake made before a tracheal intubation (case analysis). Invited. Xi'an, Shangxi, CN.
- 2011. Dexmedetomidine applications in high-risk patients with head and neck tumor. Invited. Xi'an, Shangxi, CN.
- 2011. Anesthesia options in high-risk obstetric patients for C-section. Invited. Ninbo, Zhejiang, CN.
- 2010. Clinical applications of dexmedetomidine. Invited. Jinan, Shangdong, CN.
Grant & Contract Support
| Date: | 2019 - 2023 |
| Title: | Application of Optiflow THRIVE in patients with potential high risk fairway obstruction during total intravenous anesthesia (TIVA) while undergoing interventional radiology procedures |
| Funding Source: | Fisher & Paykel Healthcare |
| Role: | PI |
| ID: | 2019-0348 |
Selected Publications
Peer-Reviewed Articles
- Zheng Gang, Hernandez Mike, Hagberg Carin A.. Use of Optiflow THRIVE high flow nasal oxygen system versus a non-rebreather oxygen delivery device in patients with increased risk of airway obstruction in interventional radiology procedures. BMC Anesthesiology 26(473), 2026. e-Pub 2026. PMID: 42251313.
- Nunez-Rodriquez Eduardo, Cata Juan P., Cortes-Mejia Nicolas A., Islam Tarikul, Cao Jinwen, Kee Spencer, Hagberg Carin A, Zheng Gang. Clinical performance of supraglottic devices in patients undergoing cancer surgery: A retrospective study. Anesthesia & Analgesia 143(2), 2026. e-Pub 2026. PMID: 42442339.
- Su J, Bailard N, Tan J, Lim J, Vu C, Dong W, Zheng G. Factors Associated with Emergency Difficult Tracheal Intubation and Difficult Airway Management in a Non–Operating Room Setting at a Cancer Treatment Center. Advance in Cancer Education and Quality Improvement 1(1), 2025. e-Pub 2025.
- Muthukumar A, Dong WL, Zheng G. Effects of head and neck radiotherapy on airway management outcomes. JCA Advancers 1(3-4), 2024. e-Pub 2024.
- Sharma I, Dong W, Vu CN, Zheng G. The impact of head and neck radiation on airway management : a retrospective data review. Can J Anaesth. e-Pub 2022. PMID: 36271267.
- Kiong KL, Moreno AK, Vu CN, Zheng G, Rosenthal RI, Weber RS, Lewis C. Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) in head and neck oncologic surgery: Impact on return to intended oncologic therapy (RIOT) and survival. Oral Oncology 130(105906):1-8, 2022. e-Pub 2022. PMID: 35594776.
- Zheng G, Liu J, Yu P. Intraoperative fluid management implies insignificant influence to surgical outcomes in head and neck microvascular reconstruction cases. Plast Reconstr Surg 147(4):627e-633e, 2021. e-Pub 2021. PMID: 33776038.
- Kiong KL, Vu CN, CMKL Y, Kruse B, Zheng G, Yu P, Weber RS, Lewis CM. Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) in Head and Neck Oncologic Surgery: A Case-Matched Analysis of Perioperative and Pain Outcomes. Ann Surg Oncol 28(2):867-876, 2021. e-Pub 2021. PMID: 32964371.
- Low GMI, Kiong KL, Amaku R, Kruse B, Zheng G, Weber RS, Lewis CM. Feasibility of an enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) pathway for major head and neck oncologic surgery. American Journal of Otolaryngology 41(6), 2020. e-Pub 2020. PMID: 32836043.
- Vu CN, Lewis CM, Bailard NS, Kapoor R, Rubin ML, Zheng G. Association between multimodal analgesia administration and perioperative opioid requirements in patients undergoing head and neck surgery with free flap reconstruction. JAMA Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery 8(146):708-713, 2020. e-Pub 2020. PMID: 32556065.
- Zheng G, Feng L, Lewis CM. A data review of airway management in patients with oral cavity or oropharyngeal cancer: a single-insitution experience. BMC Anesthesiology 19(92), 2019. e-Pub 2019. PMID: 31153379.
- Zheng G, Dong W, Lewis CM. General anesthesia imposes negative effects on heart rate and blood pressure regulation in patients with a history of head and neck radiation therapy. Anesthesia and Analgesia 125(6):2056-2062, 2017. e-Pub 2017. PMID: 28961561.
- Fang L, Liu J, Yu CC, Hanasono MM, Zheng G, Yu P. Intraoperative use of vasopressors does not increase the risk of free flap compromise and failure in cancer patients. Annals of Surgery 268(2):279-384, 2017. e-Pub 2017. PMID: 28489683.
- Zheng G, Zhao J. The current opinions in perioperative recovery. Chinese Journal of Anesthesiology 35(3):269-273, 2015. e-Pub 2015.
- Soliz J, Lim J, Zheng G. Anesthetic management of a patient with sustained severe metabolic alkalosis and electrolyte abnormalities caused by ingestion of baking soda. Case Rep Anesthesiol 2014(930153):930153, 2014. e-Pub 2014. PMID: 25180100.
- Zheng G. Effects of heliox on respiratory management for a patient undergoing laparoscopic bariatric surgery. Jurnalul Roman de Anestezie Terapie Intensiva 20(1):17-22, 2013. e-Pub 2013.
- Eyre RC, Zheng G, Kiessling A. Multiple drug resistance mutations in human immunodeficiency virus in semen but not blood of a man on antiretroviral therapy. The Journal of Urology 55(4):591, 2000. e-Pub 2000. PMID: 10754183.
- Zheng, al G. Is the speed of trans-ear drum pressure gradient change matter to the level of pressure induced inner ear injuries? (Article in Chinese). Chinese Journal of Aviation Medicine 6(2):100-103, 1995. e-Pub 1995.
- Zheng, Li G. Hypobaric chamber induced hemorrhage in labyrinth of guinea pigs' inner ear resulting in otoliths detachment (Article in Chinese). Chinese Journal of Aviation Medicine 4(2):86-89, 1993. e-Pub 1993.
- Zheng, al G. Establishing a chronic aviation otitis model in guinea pigs (Article in Chinese). Chinese Journal of Aviation Medicine 3(2):91-93, 1992. e-Pub 1992.
- Zheng, Li G. Investigation of succinate dehydrogenase activity in hair cells of guinea pigs' cochlea after hypobaric chamber induced aviation otitis (Article in Chinese). Chinese Journal of Otorhinolaryngology 26(4):221, 1991. e-Pub 1991.
- Zheng Gang, Eduardo Nunez-Rodriguez, Juan P. Cata. Stellate ganglion block for preventing perioperative arrhythmias. British Journal of Anaesthesia 136(2):495-506.
Invited Articles
- Zhang H, Zheng G. Root Cause Analysis (RCA): An important tool for risk prevention. Preoperative Safety and Quality Assurance 3(2):109, 2019. e-Pub 2019.
- Zheng G, Zhao J. Surgery of Head and Neck: Outside of ERAS ERA. Preoperative Safety and Quality Assurance 1(1):269-273, 2015. e-Pub 2015.
Other Articles
- Nunez-Rodriguez E, Mishima R, Martinez H, Aveni-Strafile P, Zheng G, Hicklen RS, Tsai E, Cata H Stellate ganglion block for preventing postoperative arrhythmias: a protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMJ Open, 2025.
- Vu C, Zheng G, Hagberg CA Neck radiotherapy increases the risk of synocpe during awake airway management: A report of two cases. Head Neck & Spine Surgery 4(1):1-3, 2019.
- Zheng G Predicting difficult airway: What do we know and we do not know?. Manul of International Summit Forum on Airway and Respiratory Management Meeting, 2018.
- Zheng G, Chen CX, Huang N, Lewis CM The impacts of head and neck radiation therapy to airway managment: A case controlled review study. World Airway Managment Meeting book, 2015.
- Zheng G, Downs J, Noble J Continuous positive airway pressure and patients safety. Post Graduate Assembly meeting book, 2014.
- Zheng G 10-year experiences in airway managment for patients with oral cavity or oropharyngeal cancer with and without head and neck radiation. International Anesthesia Research Annual Meeting Book, 2014.
- Pricer CC, Moffett K, Landanski K, Zheng G, HermanM Pilot study on pre-surgery memory impairment and frequency o fpost-operative cognitive decline. Anesthesiology Annual Meeting, 2009.
Abstracts
- Zheng G, et al. Investigation of postoperative opioid use and symptom burden in patients with head and neck cancer. ASA Virtual Meeting (Annual 2020) Abstract Achieve (2020). e-Pub 2020.
- Tan J, Ruize J, Zheng G. The histopathologic characteristics of xanthoma disseminatum does not increase the risk of intubation or extubation. Trends in Anaesthesia and Critical Care (Journal of EAMS) WAMM ePostOnline (2019). e-Pub 2019.
- Vu C, Porche VH, Zheng G. The role of baroreflex dysfunction in airway management. Trends in Anaesthesia and Critical Care (Journal of EAMS) WAMM ePostOnline (2019), 2019. e-Pub 2019.
- Yu CC, Li Z, Zheng TT, Zheng G. Tracheal tube exchanging with a color labelled bougie reduces excessive device movement. Trends in Anaesthesia and Critical Care (Journal of EAMS) WAMM ePostOnline (2019), 2019. e-Pub 2019.
- Zheng, G, Liu, J, Yu, P. The length of surgery is associated with increasing flap complications. Anesthesiology Abstract Achieve (2018), 2019. e-Pub 2019.
- Lim J, Chiang J, Zheng G. Applied high flow nasal oxygen for a high risk lung biopsy: A challanging case report. Trends in Anaesthesia and Critical Care (Journal of EAMS) WAMM ePostOnline (2019). e-Pub 2019.
- Vu C, Zheng G. The challenge of managing a patient with the combination of difficult airway, emergent delirium and combativeness. Anesthesiology Abstract Achive (2017), 2017. e-Pub 2017.
- Zheng G, Feng L. Airway intubation in patients with oral cavity or oropharyngeal cancer. Anesthesiology Abstract Achive (2017), 2017. e-Pub 2017.
- Zheng G, Dong W, Lewis CM. Anesthetics impose negative chronotripic effects on patients with HNRT. IARS Poster Achive (05/2017) IARS Poster Session (2017), 2017. e-Pub 2017.
- Fang L, Hanasono M, Liu J, Zheng G, Yu P. Does intraoperative use of vasopressors increase the risk of flap thrombosis?. American Association of Plastic Surgeons, Plastic Surgery Research Council (AAPS) Mian Site AAPS Meeting Abstracts (2016), 2016. e-Pub 2016.
- Zheng G, Chen CX, Huang N, Feng L, Lewis CM. The impacts of head and neck radiation therapy to airway management: A case controlled review study. World Airway Managment Meeting (WAMM) 2015 WAMM ePosterOnline (2015), 2015. e-Pub 2015.
- Zheng G, Lewis CM, Dong W, Huang N, Rozner MA. The influences of head and neck radiation therapy on intraoperative hemodynamic responses: A 10 year data review. Anesthesiology Abstract Archive (2013), 2013. e-Pub 2013.
- Zheng G, Gravenstein N, Lampotang S, Morey TE, Ben-david K. Comparison of respiratroy effects: heliox vs. air/oxygen mixture in laparoscopic bariatric surgery. Anesthesiology Abstract Archive (2010), 2010. e-Pub 2010.
- Zheng G, Schwab W, Gravenstein N, Morey T, Lampotang S. Heliox as Carrier Gas for Isoflurane Wash-out. Anesthesiology Abstract Archive (2008), 2008. e-Pub 2008.
- Zheng Gang. The Obesity Supine Death Syndrome: A case report. The World Airway Management Meeting (WAMM) 2025.
Book Chapters
- Zheng Gang. Anesthesia for laryngeal surgery. In: UpToDate. Wolters Kluwer, 2025.
- Zheng G. Airway Management in Special Situations. In: Hagberg: Perioperative Care of the Cancer Patient. 1st. Elsevier, 2022.
- G Zheng G. Anesthesia for Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery. In: Morgan & Mikhail's Anesthesiology Cases (Chapter 32). 1st. McGraw-Hill (Lange), 249, 2020.
- Hagberg CA, Zheng G, Diemunsch P. Preanesthetic airway assessment. In: Core Topics in Airway Management. 3rd. Cambridge University Press, 2020.
- Zheng G. Anesthesia for Laryngeal Surgery. In: UpToDate. UpToDate, 2019.
- Zheng G, Hagberg C. Management of the airway in cancer patients. In: Oncologic Critical Care. 1st. Springer, Cham, 1557-1569, 2018.
- Wang X, Zheng G. ARDS. In: Analysis of Clinical Hot Spots in Anesthesia (In Chinese). 1st. Science Press, 2015.
- Lucas S, Zheng G, Gravenstein D. Extracorpeal Shock wave Therapy and Percutaneous Neophrolithotripsy. In: Anesthesia for Urological Surgical. 1st. Springer Publishing, 2014.
- Zheng Gang. Management of airway in cancer patients. In: Oncologic Critical care. Springer Nature.
Letters to the Editor
- Zheng G, Gravenstein N. Warning: increased risk of surgical fire. Anesth Analg 108: 1713, 2009.
Patient Reviews
CV information above last modified August 14, 2026