Meet Kanchan Phalak, M.D.
Kanchan A Phalak, M.D.
Department of Breast Imaging, Division of Diagnostic Imaging
About Dr. Phalak
Dr. Kanchan A. Phalak is an associate professor in the Department of Diagnostic Imaging, Breast Imaging division. She completed medical school at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas in 2009. After medical school, she completed a residency in Diagnostic Radiology and fellowships in Breast Imaging at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas
Dr. Phalak joined MD Anderson in 2015 as part of MD Anderson Breast care partnership. Her research interests include MRI and high risk screening. She is dedicated to early cancer detection and screening and bringing the MD Anderson mission to the Houston community.
Present Title & Affiliation
Primary Appointment
Associate Professor, Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Division of Diagnostic Imaging, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX
Associate Professor, Department of Breast Imaging, Division of Diagnostic Imaging, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Education & Training
Degree-Granting Education
| 2009 | Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, US, Doctor of Medicine |
| 2003 | University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, US, Electrical Engineering, Bachelor of Science |
Board Certifications
| 2015 | International Society of Clinical Densitometry |
| 2015 | American Board of Radiology |
Experience & Service
Institutional Committee Activities
Member, Breast Imaging Scheduling Committee, 2023 - Present
Member, Breast Imaging Research Committee, 2020 - Present
Honors & Awards
| 2024 | Awesome Job Award - Stewardship, MD Anderson Cancer Center |
| 2023 | Texas Super Doctors Rising Stars, Texas Monthly |
| 2022 | Texas Super Doctors Rising Stars, Texas Monthly |
| 2021 | Top Doctors in Texas Rising Stars, Texas Monthly |
| 2021 | Safety Hero, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center Division of Diagnostic Imaging |
| 2020 | President’s Recognition of Faculty Excellence for Clinical Quality Improvement, MD Anderson |
| 2019 | Certificate of Reviewing Excellence, Clinical Imaging Journal |
| 2018 - 2019 | Texas Medical Association Leadership College Award, Texas Radiological Society Foundation |
| 2014 | Cum Laude Award, Radiological Society of North America |
| 2012 | Department of Radiology Resident Teaching Award, Baylor College of Medicine |
| 2012 | Best Case Award, American Institute for Radiologic Pathology |
Professional Memberships
Selected Publications
Peer-Reviewed Articles
- Cohen EO, Perr, RE, Legh, RS, Ts, H, Shin K, Speer M, Phalak K, Sun J, Leung J. Suspicious ultrasound-occult non-calcified mammographic masses, asymmetries, and architectural distortions are moderate probability for malignancy. Cancers 16(3), 2024. e-Pub 2024. PMID: 38339406.
- Omofoye TS, Leon, LH, Kalambo M, Teo SY, Lim WH, Chew DY, Lee SS, Lane DL, Kapoor MM, Martaindale S, Teichgraeber DC, Moseley T, Phalak K, Srinivasan A, Sun J, Whitman GJ, Leung J, Tan BS, Yang WT. Responsive web-based breast imaging core curriculum for international radiology residents with self-assessment. Acad Radiol 29(6):919-927, 2022. e-Pub 2022. PMID: 34389260.
- Phalak K, Gerlach K, Parikh JR. Peer learning in breast imaging. Clin Imaging 85:60-63, 2022. e-Pub 2022. PMID: 35247790.
- Cohen EO, Perry RE, Tso HH, Phalak K, Lesslie MD, Gerlach KE, Sun J, Srinivasan A, Leung JWT. Breast cancer screening in women with and without implants: retrospective study comparing digital mammography to digital mammography combined with digital breast tomosynthesis. Eur Radiol 31(12):9499-9510, 2021. e-Pub 2021. PMID: 34014380.
- Weaver O, Cohen EO, Perry RE, Tso HH, Phalak K, Srinivasan A, Bassett R, Leung JWT. Does lateral arm technique decrease the rate of clip migration in stereotactic and tomosynthesis-guided biopsies?. Insights Imaging 12(1):193, 2021. e-Pub 2021. PMID: 34931266.
- Omofoye TS, Leong L, Kalambo M, Teo SY, Lim W, Chew D, Lee S, Lane D, Kapoor MM, Martaindale S, Teichgraeber D, Moseley T, Phalak K, Srinivasan A, Sun J, Whitman G, Leung J, Tan BS, Yang WT. Responsive web-based breast imaging core curriculum for international radiology residents with self-assessment: a pilot. Acad Radiol, 2021. e-Pub 2021.
- Cohen EO, Lesslie M, Weaver O, Phalak K, Tso H, Perry R, Leung JWT. Batch reading and interrupted interpretation of digital screening mammograms without and with tomosynthesis. J Am Coll Radiol 18(2):280-293, 2021. e-Pub 2021. PMID: 32861601.
- Phalak K, Gerlach K, Parikh JR. Community outreach and integration of breast radiologists. Clin Imaging 66:143-146, 2020. e-Pub 2020. PMID: 32492625.
- Gerlach KE, Phalak K, Gupta M, Leung JWT. COVID-19: Current and future crisis planning in breast imaging. Breast J 26(8):1615-1617, 2020. e-Pub 2020. PMID: 32683734.
- Gerlach KE, Phalak K, Parikh JR. Enhancing quality using the inspection program (EQUIP): a primer for radiologists. J Breast Imaging 2(3):264-268, 2020. e-Pub 2020.
Manuals, Teaching Aids, Other Teaching Publications
- Phalak K, Gerlach K. Combatting Microaggressions in the Workplace Video Blog. YouTube, uploaded by RSNA, 2022 Sep 25, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xoiIYURB-wg, 2022.
Selected Presentations & Talks
Formal Peers
- 2022. High Reliability Organization Universal Skills. Houston, Texas, US.
- 2018. Breast MRI Biopsy Workshop Facilitator. Invited. Houston, Texas, US.
Grant & Contract Support
| Title: | 3D Printed Breast Models in the Surgical Management of Breast Cancer |
| Funding Source: | University Cancer Foundation via The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center Institutional Research Grant Program |
| Role: | Co-PI |
| ID: | 2021-1201 |
Patient Reviews
CV information above last modified June 06, 2025