Joani Christensen, M.D.
Department of Plastic Surgery, Division of Surgery
About Dr. Joani Christensen
Dr. Joani Christensen is a board-certified Plastic Surgeon in the Department of Plastic Surgery at the University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Center. She specializes in microvascular reconstruction from head to toe and has a particular interest in breast reconstruction and the surgical treatment of lymphedema. She has authored over 39 papers and book chapters on various topics in reconstructive surgery, and her work has been presented in the United States and abroad. She is actively performing research to improve treatments and patient outcomes in breast reconstruction, lymphedema, and limb reconstruction. She has served on several panels and committees for the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.
Dr. Christensen graduated from the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine with Alpha Omega Alpha honors prior to completing Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery training in the Harvard Combined Plastic Surgery Residency, with clinical work at the Massachusetts General Hospital, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital, and Boston Children’s Hospital. This was followed by one year of advanced training in microvascular reconstruction at the MD Anderson Cancer Center. Dr. Christensen was then recruited to join the faculty at Washington University in St. Louis, where she worked to develop a comprehensive lymphedema surgery treatment program. Dr. Christensen returned to the MD Anderson Plastic Surgery Department in 2023.
Present Title & Affiliation
Primary Appointment
Assistant Professor, Department of Plastic Surgery, Division of Surgery, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Honors & Awards
| 2006 | Undergraduate Summer Research Program Fellowship, Vanderbilt |
| 2006 - Present | Undergraduate Summer Research Program Fellowship, Vanderbilt |
Professional Memberships
Selected Publications
Peer-Reviewed Articles
- Ibrahim Z, Mao Q, Grahammer J, Brat G, buretta K, Huang Y, <b>Christensen J</b>, Yuan N, Kang JU, Lee WPA, Brandacher G. 3D Image Guided Reconstructive Microsurgery Using Ultra High Speed Fourier Domain Optical Coherence Tomography. Amer Soc of Reconstru Microsurgery Annual Meeting, 2012.
- Buretta KJ, Brat GA, Christensen JM, Ibrahim Z, Grammer J, Cooney DS, Lee WPA, Brandacher G, Sacks JM. Near-Infrared Lymphography as a Minimally Invasive Modality for Imaging Lymphatic Reconstitution in a Rat Orthotopic Hind-Limb Transplantation Model. 8th Annual Amer Physician Scientist Assc Mtg, 2012.
- Christensen JM, Myers JN, Baumann DB, Buretta KJ, Sacks JM. Indocyanine Green Near-Infrared Laser Angiography Predicts Timing for the Division of a Forehead Flap. 97th American Medical Womens Assc Annual Mtg, 2012.
Abstracts
- Lin AM, Christensen JM, Liao EC, Cetrulo CL, Taghian AG, Winograd Jm, Smith BL, Austen WG, Colwell AS. The impact of post-mastectomy radiation therapy on permanent implants in direct-to-implant breast reconstruction versus tissue expanders in tow-stage breast reconstruction, 2018.
- Christensen JM, Wu LW, Furtmuller G, Khalifian S, Kimelman M, Barone AL, Yuan N, Sacks JM, Lee WPA, Brandacher G, Cooney DS. The Effect of CXCR4 Inhibition on Hindlimb Allograft Survival. Plast Reconstr Surg 133(3):194, 2014.
- Christensen JM , Pang J, Sarkar K, Khalifian S, Langdale ER, Sarhane K, Cooney DS, Brandacher G, Belkoff SM, Sacks JM. Vascular Perfusion and the Regenerative Response to Acellular Dermal Matrix. Plast Reconstr Surg 133(3):218, 2014.
- <b> Christensen JM</b>, Chen Y, Brat GA, Buretta KJ, Cooney DS, Brandacher G, Johnson K, Lee WPA, Li X, Sacks JM. Imaging with Idocyanine Green-Loaded Monocytes can Differentiation Cutaneous Infection from Sterile Inflammation in a Mouse Model. Plast Reconstr Surg 131(5):15, 2013.
- Buretta KJ, Brat GA, Christensen , Ibrahim Z, Grahammer J, Cooney DS, Lee WPA, Brandacher G, Sacks JM. Cutaneous Lymphatic Reconstitution Occurs During the Acute Inflammatory Phase in a Rat Orthotopic Hind Limb Transplantation Model. Plast Reconstr Surg 131(5):90, 2013.
- Ibrahim Z, Christen J , Sarhane K, Furtmuller G, Alrakan M, Hauer P, Polydefkis M, Cooney DS, Sacks JM. Cutaneous Collateral Axonal Sprouting Re-Innervates the Skin Component and Restores Sensation of Denervated Swine Osteomyocutaneous Alloflaps All. Plast Reconstr Surg 131(5):173, 2013.
- Mao Q, Huang Y, Zhu S, Tong D, Ibrahim Z, Christensen , Pang , Cooney DS, Li J, Li Y, Lee WP, Kang JU, Brandacher G. Using Real-Time Three-Dimensional Fourier-Domain Optical Coherence Tomography for Intravital Imaging of Thrombosis. Plast Reconstr Surg 131(5):129, 2013.
- Wu L, Yuan N, Rubin JP, Christensen , Grahammer J, Ibrahim Z, Lee A, Schneeberger S, Sacks JM, Cooney DS, Brandacher G. In vitro Comparison of the Immunoregulatory Effects of Bone Marrow and Adipose Derived Stem Cells. Plast Reconstr Surg 131(5):127, 2013.
- Christensen j, IbraiZ, Wu L, Barone AL, Furtmuller G, Sarhane K, Al-Rakan M, Schneeberger S, Shores J, Bonawitz S, Cooney D, Sacks JM, Lee WPA, Brandacher G. Mechanical Trauma Can Reactivate an Alloimmune Response Against the Skin-Component in a Large Animal Vascularized Composite Allotransplantation (VCA) Model of Operational Tolerance. AM J Transplant 13(5):203, 2013.
- Barone AL, Ibrahim Z, Wu l, Furtmueller G, Sarhane K, Alrakan M, Pang J, Zhu S, Christensen J, Wimmers E, Schneeberger S, Shores J, Bonawitz S, Sacks JM, Cooney D, Lee WPA, Brandacher G. Immune Tolerance across a Full MHC Barrier in a Swine Hind Limb Transplantation Model Using a Combined Co-Stimulatory Blockade and Donor Bone Marrow Cells Approach. AM J Transplant 13(5):31, 2013.
- Wu L, Yuan N, Christensen J, Ibrahim Z, Furtmuller G, Barone AL, Zhu S, Schneeberger S, Lee W, Cooney D, Brandacher G. Immunoregulatory Effects of Bone Marrow and Adipose Derived Stem Cells -- An In vitro Comparison. AM J Transplant 13(5):238, 2013.
- Mao Q, Huang Y, Zhu S, Tong D, Ibrahim Z, Christensen J, Li Y, Li J, Lee W, Kang J, Bandacher G. Real-Time Three-Dimensional Fourier-Domain Optical Tomography for Intravital Imaging of Thrombosis after Vascularized Composite Allotransplantations Procedures. AM J Transplant 13(5):286, 2013.
- Mao Q, Christensen J, Zhu S, Sucher R, Lin C, Schneeberger S, Sacks J, Cooney D, Lee WPA, Brandacher G. A Novel Non-Suture Vascular Anastomosis Technique for Reconstructive Microsurgery, 2012.
- Christensen JM, Chen Y, Brat GA, Buretta KJ, Cooney DS, Brandacher G, Johnson K, Lee WPA, Li X, Sacks JM. Imaging cutaneous infection using ICG-loaded monocytes. Inflamm Res 61(1), 2012.
- Buretta KJ, Brat GA, Christensen JM, Ibrahim Z, Grahammer J, Cooney DS, Lee WPA, Brandacher G, Sacks JM. Near-Infrared Lymphography as a Minimally Invasive Modality for Imaging Lymphatic Reconstitution in a Rat Orthotopic Hind-Limb Transplantation Model. AM J Transplant 12(273), 2012.
- Mao Z, Liang W, Zhang Y, Brat GA, Grahammer J, Christensen Jm, Cooney D, Li X, Lee WPA, Brandacher G. Two-Photon Microscopy Reveals Changes in Cellular Morphology and NADH and FAD Oxidation-Reduction States in Ischemic Small Bowel Allografts. AM J Transplant 12(SI 3):273, 2012.
- Ibrahim Z, Mao Q, Grahammer J, Brat G, Buretta K, Huang Y, Christensen J, Yuan N, Kang JU, Lee WPA, Brandacher G. 3D Image Guided Reconstructive Microsurgery Using Ultra High Speed Fourier Domain Optical Coherence Tomography. AM J Transplant 12(SI 3):274-275, 2012.
- Brat GA, Afthinos A, <b>Christensen JM</b>, Buretta KJ, Gordon C, Cooney DD, Lee WPA, Brandacher G, Sacks JM. Intensity and Time-Based Analysis for Prediction of Flap Necrosis Using Near-Infrared Angiography. Plast Reconstr Surg 130(1):105, 2012.
- Christensen JM, Myers JN, Baumann DB, Buretta KJ, Sacks JM. Indocyanine Green Near-Infrared Laser Angiography Predicts Timing for the Division of a Forehead Flap, 2012.
Patient Reviews
CV information above last modified December 12, 2023