
John M Skibber, MD, FACS
Department of Colon & Rectal Surgery, Division of Surgery
Present Title & Affiliation
Primary Appointment
Professor, Department of Colon & Rectal Surgery, Division of Surgery, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Education & Training
Degree-Granting Education
1981 | Thomas Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, PA, USA, MD, Medical Degree |
1977 | University of Scranton, Scranton, PA, USA, BS, Biology |
Postgraduate Training
2008-2008 | Training Program, Patient Safety Officer Executive Development Program, Institute for Healthcare Improvement, Cambridge, MA |
2006-2006 | Training Program, Clinical Safety and Effectiveness, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX |
2006-2006 | Advanced Training Program, Healthcare Delivery Improvement, Intermountain Healthcare Institute for Healthcare Delivery Research, Salt Lake City, UT |
1989-1989 | Clinical Residency, Chief Resident, General Surgery, New York University Medical Center, New York, NY |
1989-1991 | Clinical Fellowship, Surgical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX |
1983-1986 | Clinical Fellowship, Surgery Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD |
1981-1982 | Clinical Internship, General Surgery, New York University Medical Center, New York, NY |
1981-1983 | Clinical Residency, General Surgery, New York University Medical Center, New York, NY |
Board Certifications
1990 | The American Board of Surgery |
Experience & Service
Academic Appointments
Professor, Department of Surgical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 2003 - 2020
Associate Professor, Department of Surgical Oncology, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 1997 - 2003
Assistant Professor, Department of Surgical Oncology, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 1991 - 1997
Junior Faculty Associate, Department of Surgical Oncology, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 1989 - 1991
Instructor, Department of Surgery, New York University Medical Center, New York, NY, 1988 - 1989
Teaching Assistant, Department of Surgery, New York University Medical Center, New York, NY, 1981 - 1987
Administrative Appointments/Responsibilities
Activity Director, Mortality and Morbidity Conference - Colon & Rectal Surgery, Department of Colon & Rectal Surgery, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 2021 - Present
Leader of Instrument Reduction Initiative, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 2006 - Present
Faculty Senate Representative, Department of Surgical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 1996 - 1999
Organizer, Mortality and Morbidity Conference - Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 1996 - 2021
Quality Improvement Reviewer, Department of Surgical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 1996 - Present
Medical Director, Department of Enterostomal Therapy Education Program, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 1995 - 2005
Institutional Committee Activities
Chair, Preoperative Assessment Working Group, 2012 - Present
Member, Ongoing Professional Practice Review Policy Committee, 2009 - 2010
Member, Quality Operations Group, 2009 - Present
Member, Conduct in the Operating Room Committee, 2007 - 2008
Surgical Indicators Committee, MD Anderson Physicians Network Surgical Indicators Committee, 2006 - 2015
Member, Perioperative Enterprise Visioning Focus Group, 2006 - 2006
Member, Perioperative Enterprise Core Vision Team, 2006 - 2006
Leader, Retained Foreign Object Team, 2006 - Present
Member, Clinical Faculty Review Committee, 2005 - 2007
Member, Operating Room Patient Safety Committee, 2005 - Present
Representative for the Department of Surgical Oncology, JCAHO Liaison, 2005 - Present
Quality Concordance Committee, M. D. Anderson Physicians Network, 2005 - 2006
Colorectal Cancer Guidelines Committee, M. D. Anderson Physician's Network, 2005 - 2008
Member, Operating Room Operations Team, 2005 - 2006
Member, Senior Operations Team, 2004 - 2005
Member, Incident Command System, 2004 - 2006
Board of Directors, M. D. Anderson Physicians Network, 2002 - Present
Member, Quality Assurance Committee for GI Center, 1999 - 2001
Member, Physicians Referral Service Professional Affairs Committee, 1999 - 2000
Member, Psychosocial, Behavioral, and Health Services Research Committee, 1998 - 2000
Member, Second Opinion/Telemedicine Clinical/Technical Committee, 1998 - 1999
Member, Utilization Management Committee of Cancer, 1997 - 1998
Member, Ethics Committee, 1996 - 1999
Member, Academic Planning Committee of Faculty Senate, 1996 - 1999
Consultantships
Advisor, Quality of Colorectal Cancer Care, United Healthcare, Houston, Texas, 2006 - Present
Advisor, Medtronic Oncology Advisory Panel, Houston, TX, 1997 - 2003
Honors & Awards
2018 | Top Doctor in Houston, TX, International Association of HealthCare Professionals |
2006 | The Sharon K. Martin Award for Performance Improvement Excellence, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center |
2005 | America's Top Doctors for Cancer |
2001 | Partners in Courage Achievement Award, American Cancer Society, Houston Chapter |
2001 | Best Doctors in America |
1999 | Outstanding Teacher Award, Department of Surgical Oncology, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center |
1996 | Outstanding Teacher Award, Department of Surgical Oncology, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center |
1986 | Resident Research Award, Association of Academic Surgery |
1981 | George Willauer Award for Excellence in General Surgery, Jefferson Medical College |
1981 | Mohler Award in Therapeutics, Jefferson Medical College |
1981 | Honorable Mention - Menduke Research Award, Jefferson Medical College |
Selected Publications
Peer-Reviewed Articles
- Rogers JE, Woodard TL, Dasari A, Kee B, Das P, Bednarski BK, Skibber JM, Rodriguez-Bigas MA, Eng C. Fertility discussions in young adult stage III colorectal cancer population: a single-center institution experience. Support Care Cancer 29(12):7351-7354, 2021. e-Pub 2021. PMID: 34050401.
- Hester R, Advani S, Rashid A, Holliday E, Messick C, Das P, You YN, Taniguchi C, Koay EJ, Bednarski B, Rodriguez-Bigas M, Skibber J, Wolff R, Chang GJ, Minsky BD, Foo WC, Rothschild N, Morris VK, Eng C. CEA as a blood-based biomarker in anal cancer. Oncotarget 12(11):1037-1045, 2021. e-Pub 2021. PMID: 34084278.
- Benson AB, Venook AP, Al-Hawary MM, Arain MA, Chen YJ, Ciombor KK, Cohen S, Cooper HS, Deming D, Farkas L, Garrido-Laguna I, Grem JL, Gunn A, Hecht JR, Hoffe S, Hubbard J, Hunt S, Johung KL, Kirilcuk N, Krishnamurthi S, Messersmith WA, Meyerhardt J, Miller ED, Mulcahy MF, Nurkin S, Overman MJ, Parikh A, Patel H, Pedersen K, Saltz L, Schneider C, Shibata D, Skibber JM, Sofocleous CT, Stoffel EM, Stotsky-Himelfarb E, Willett CG, Gregory KM, Gurski LA. Colon Cancer, Version 2.2021, NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology. J Natl Compr Canc Netw 19(3):329-359, 2021. e-Pub 2021. PMID: 33724754.
- Tzeng CD, Teshome M, Katz MHG, Weinberg JS, Lai SY, Antonoff MB, Bird JE, Shafer A, Davis JW, Adelman DM, Moon B, Reece G, Prabhu SS, DeSnyder SM, Skibber JM, Mehran R, Schmeler K, Roland CL, Tran Cao HS, Aloia TA, Caudle AS, Swisher SG, Vauthey JN. Cancer Surgery Scheduling During and After the COVID-19 First Wave: The MD Anderson Cancer Center Experience. Ann Surg 272(2):e106-e111, 2020. PMID: 32675511.
- Benson AB, Venook AP, Al-Hawary MM, Arain MA, Chen YJ, Ciombor KK, Cohen S, Cooper HS, Deming D, Garrido-Laguna I, Grem JL, Gunn A, Hoffe S, Hubbard J, Hunt S, Kirilcuk N, Krishnamurthi S, Messersmith WA, Meyerhardt J, Miller ED, Mulcahy MF, Nurkin S, Overman MJ, Parikh A, Patel H, Pedersen K, Saltz L, Schneider C, Shibata D, Skibber JM, Sofocleous CT, Stoffel EM, Stotsky-Himelfarb E, Willett CG, Johnson-Chilla A, Gurski LA. NCCN Guidelines Insights: Rectal Cancer, Version 6.2020. J Natl Compr Canc Netw 18(7):806-815, 2020. PMID: 32634771.
- Malakorn S, Yang Y, Bednarski BK, Kaur H, You YN, Holliday EB, Dasari A, Skibber JM, Rodriguez-Bigas MA, Chang GJ. Who should get lateral pelvic lymph node dissection after neoadjuvant chemoradiation?. Dis Colon Rectum 62(10):1158-1166, 2019. PMID: 31490825.
- Benson AB, Venook AP, Al-Hawary MM, Arain MA, Chen YJ, Ciombor KK, Cohen SA, Cooper HS, Deming DA, Garrido-Laguna I, Grem JL, Hoffe SE, Hubbard J, Hunt S, Kamel A, Kirilcuk N, Krishnamurthi S, Messersmith WA, Meyerhardt J, Miller ED, Mulcahy MF, Nurkin S, Overman MJ, Parikh A, Patel H, Pedersen KS, Saltz LB, Schneider C, Shibata D, Skibber JM, Sofocleous CT, Stoffel EM, Stotsky-Himelfarb E, Willett CG, Johnson-Chilla A, Gregory KM, Gurski LA. Small bowel adenocarcinoma, version 1.2020, NCCN clinical practice guidelines in oncology. J Natl Compr Canc Netw 17(9):1109-1133, 2019. PMID: 31487687.
- Benson AB 3rd, Venook AP, Al-Hawary MM, Cederquist L, Chen YJ, Ciombor KK, Cohen S, Cooper HS, Deming D, Engstrom PF, Grem JL, Grothey A, Hochster HS, Hoffe S, Hunt S, Kamel A, Kirilcuk N, Krishnamurthi S, Messersmith WA, Meyerhardt J, Mulcahy MF, Murphy JD, Nurkin S, Saltz L, Sharma S, Shibata D, Skibber JM, Sofocleous CT, Stoffel EM, Stotsky-Himelfarb E, Willett CG, Wuthrick E, Gregory KM, Freedman-Cass DA. Anal Carcinoma, Version 2.2018, NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology. J Natl Compr Canc Netw 16(7):852-871, 2018. PMID: 30006428.
- Benson AB 3rd, Venook AP, Al-Hawary MM, Cederquist L, Chen YJ, Ciombor KK, Cohen S, Cooper HS, Deming D, Engstrom PF, Grem JL, Grothey A, Hochster HS, Hoffe S, Hunt S, Kamel A, Kirilcuk N, Krishnamurthi S, Messersmith WA, Meyerhardt J, Mulcahy MF, Murphy JD, Nurkin S, Saltz L, Sharma S, Shibata D, Skibber JM, Sofocleous CT, Stoffel EM, Stotsky-Himelfarb E, Willett CG, Wuthrick E, Gregory KM, Gurski L, Freedman-Cass DA. Rectal Cancer, Version 2.2018, NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology. J Natl Compr Canc Netw 16(7):874-901, 2018. PMID: 30006429.
- Benson AB 3rd, Venook AP, Al-Hawary MM, Cederquist L, Chen YJ, Ciombor KK, Cohen S, Cooper HS, Deming D, Engstrom PF, Garrido-Laguna I, Grem JL, Grothey A, Hochster HS, Hoffe S, Hunt S, Kamel A1, Kirilcuk N, Krishnamurthi S, Messersmith WA, Meyerhardt J, Miller ED, Mulcahy MF, Murphy JD, Nurkin S1, Saltz L, Sharma S, Shibata D, Skibber JM, Sofocleous CT, Stoffel EM, Stotsky-Himelfarb E, Willett CG1, Wuthrick E, Gregory KM, Freedman-Cass DA. NCCN Guidelines Insights: Colon Cancer, Version 2.2018. J Natl Compr Canc Netw 16(4):359-369, 2018. PMID: 29632055.
- Bednarski BK, Slack RS, Katz M, You YN, Papadopolous J, Rodriguez-Bigas MA, Skibber JM, Matin SF, Chang GJ. Assessment of Ileostomy Output Using Telemedicine: A Feasibility Trial. Dis Colon Rectum 61(1):77-83, 2018. PMID: 29215474.
- Holliday EB, Hunt A, You YN, Chang GJ, Skibber JM, Rodriguez-Bigas MA, Bednarski BK, Eng C, Koay EJ, Minsky BD, Taniguchi C, Krishnan S, Herman JM, Das P. Short course radiation as a component of definitive multidisciplinary treatment for select patients with metastatic rectal adenocarcinoma. J Gastrointest Oncol 8(6):990-997, 2017. PMID: 29299359.
- Voong KR, Rashid A, Crane CH, Minsky BD, Krishnan S, Yao JC, Wolff RA, Skibber JM, Feig BW, Chang GJ, Das P. Chemoradiation for High-grade Neuroendocrine Carcinoma of the Rectum and Anal Canal. Am J Clin Oncol 40(6):555-560, 2017. PMID: 26237193.
- Reyngold M, Niland J, Ter Veer A, Bekaii-Saab T, Lai L, Meyer JE, Nurkin SJ, Schrag D, Skibber JM, Benson AB, Weiser MR, Crane CH, Goodman KA. Trends in intensity modulated radiation therapy use for locally advanced rectal cancer at National Comprehensive Cancer Network centers. Adv Radiat Oncol 3(1):34-41, 2017. PMID: 29556578.
- Gunther JR, Chadha AS, Shin US, Park IJ, Kattepogu KV, Grant JD, Weksberg DC, Eng C, Kopetz SE, Das P, Delclos ME, Kaur H, Maru DM, Skibber JM, Rodriguez-Bigas MA, You YN, Krishnan S, Chang GJ. Preoperative radiation dose escalation for rectal cancer using a concomitant boost strategy improves tumor downstaging without increasing toxicity: A matched-pair analysis. Adv Radiat Oncol 2(3):455-464, 2017. PMID: 29114614.
- Chang GJ, Bailey CE, Hu CY, You YN, Bednarski BK, Rodriguez-Bigas MA, Skibber JM, Cantor SB. Increasing Disparities in Age-Related Incidence of Colon and Rectal Cancer in the United States, 1975-2010. JAMA Surg 150(1):17-22, 2015.
- Agarwal A, Chang GJ, Hu CY, Taggart M, Rashid A, Park IJ, You YN, Das P, Krishnan S, Crane CH, Rodriguez-Bigas M, Skibber J, Ellis L, Eng C, Kopetz S, Maru DM. Quantified pathologic response assessed as residual tumor burden is a predictor of recurrence-free survival in patients with rectal cancer who undergo resection after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy. Cancer 119(24):4231-41, 2013. e-Pub 2013. PMID: 24089344.
- Stucky CC, Pockaj BA, Novotny PJ, Sloan JA, Sargent DJ, O'Connell MJ, Beart RW, Skibber JM, Nelson H, Weeks JC. Long-term follow-up and individual item analysis of quality of life assessments related to laparoscopic-assisted colectomy in the COST trial 93-46-53 (INT 0146). Ann Surg Oncol 18(9):2422-31, 2011. e-Pub 2011. PMID: 21452066.