Kanchan A Phalak, M.D.
Department of Breast Imaging, Division of Diagnostic Imaging
Present Title & Affiliation
Primary Appointment
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 |
Licenses & Certifications
| 2015 | American Board of Radiology |
| 2015 | International Society of Clinical Densitometry |
| 2013 | Texas Medical Board |
Experience & Service
Extramural Institutional Committee Activities
Member, Breast Imaging Scheduling Committee, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2023 - Present
Member, Breast Imaging Research Committee, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2020 - Present
Honors & Awards
| 2024 | Awesome Job Award - Stewardship, The University of Texas 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, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center |
| 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 Presentations & Talks
Formal Peers
- 2022. High Reliability Organization Universal Skills. Houston, Texas, US.
- 2018. Breast MRI Biopsy Workshop Facilitator. Invited. Houston, Texas, US.
Selected Publications
Peer-Reviewed Articles
- Kommula N, Legha RS, Mayo RC, Le-Petross H, Phalak KA, Speer M, Shin K, Kalambo M. Supply Chain Vulnerabilities in Breast Imaging: Site- and Network-Level Strategies for a Concentrated Consumable Market. J Am Coll Radiol. e-Pub 2026.
- Cohen EO, Tso HH, Shin K, Martaindale SR, Bragg AC, Phalak KA, Perry RE, Sun J, Leung JW. Lymphadenopathy on Extent-of-Disease Breast MRI: Proposed Audit Metrics. AJR Am J Roentgenol, 2025. e-Pub 2025. PMID: 41439775.
- Cohen EO, Tso HH, Shin K, Martaindale SR, Bragg AC, Phalak KA, Perry RE, Sun J, Leung JWT. Feasibility of Auditing Preoperative Breast MRI for Extent-of Disease Evaluation Using the BI-RADS v2025 Manual. Radiology 317(1), 2025. e-Pub 2025. PMID: 41085394.
- Cohen EO, Perry RE, Legha RS, Tso 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. PMID: 34389260.
- 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. PMID: 38424984.
Professional Educational Materials
- 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.
Other Articles
- Cohen, EO, Tso, H, Shin, K, Martaindale, S, Bragg, AC, Phalak, K, Perry, RE, Sun, J, Leung, JW Erratum for Feasibility of Auditing Preoperative Breast MRI for Extent-of-Disease Evaluation Using the BI-RADS v2025 Manual. Radiology 317(1):e259018, 2025. PMID: 41147915.
Letters to the Editor
- Cohen EO, Tso HH, Skin K, Martaindale SR, Bragg AC, Phalak KA, Perry RE, Sun J, Leung JW. Reply to “Clinical Implications of Nodal Findings on Extent-of-Disease MRI. AJR Am J Roentgenol 226, 2026.
Patient Reviews
CV information above last modified July 27, 2026