Karen E Gerlach, M.D., M.S, M.B.A.
Department of Breast Imaging, Division of Diagnostic Imaging
About Dr. Gerlach
Karen Gerlach, MD, recently joined the faculty of Breast Imaging. Having done her training at Tulane School of Medicine, her background in chemistry and biochemistry led her to complete her fellowship in Breast Imaging at the University of California Irvine. Dr. Gerlach's research interests include early breast cancer detection, mammography accessibility to underserved populations, patient value and safety.
Present Title & Affiliation
Primary Appointment
Associate Professor, Breast Imaging, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Dual/Joint/Adjunct Appointment
Associate Professor, Breast Imaging, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Research Interests
Clinical Interests
The impact of flavor descriptors on nonsmoking teens’ and adult smokers’ interest in electronic cigarette
Education & Training
Degree-Granting Education
| 2019 | Louisiana State University, Shreveport, Louisiana, US, Business Administration, Finance Concentration, MBA |
| 2017 | Rice University, Houston, Texas, US, Healthcare, Certificate |
| 2003 | Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana, US, Biochemistry, M.S |
| 2003 | Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana, US, MD |
Postgraduate Training
| 2019-2019 | Healthcare Management Certificate, Healthcare Admisnistration, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas |
| 2018-2018 | Radiology Leadership Institute Levels 1, 2, 3 & 4, Radiology, American College of Radiology, Reston, Virginia |
| 2012-2013 | Clinical Fellowship, Breast Imaging, University of California, Orange, California |
| 2007-2011 | Clinical Residency, Radiology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia |
| 2003-2005 | Clinical Residency, OB/GYN, University of Texas Houston - Lyndon Baines Johnson General Hospital, Houston, Texas |
Licenses & Certifications
| 2013 | Texas Medical Board Physician’s Permit |
| 2011 | The Medical Board of California |
| 2011 | Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners |
| 2011 | The American Board of Radiology |
Experience & Service
Faculty Academic Appointments
Assistant Professor, Breast Imaging, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 2015 - 2022
Other Professional Positions
Radiologist, Locum Tenens, Medical City Dallas, Woman's Wellness Center, Dallas, TX, 2014 - 2014
Radiologist, The Women's Hospital of Texas, Houston, TX, 2013 - 2015
Radiologist, Locum Tenens, Alta Bates Summit Medical Center, Oakland, CA, 2012 - 2012
Radiologist, Locum Tenens, Peninsula Prenatal Diagnostics, Mountain View, CA, 2011 - 2012
Post Katrina practice reorganization office and imaging auditing, Robert D. Lesser MD and Associates, New Orleans, LA, 2006 - 2007
Extramural Institutional Committee Activities
Member, Plant Effort Committee, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2026 - Present
Board Member, Houston Rose Society Board, Houston Rose Society, 2024 - Present
Physician Lead for Wait times, Diagnostic Imaging Added Value Committee, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2021 - Present
Physician Lead, Division of Diagnostic Radiology Patient Experience Committee for Wait Times, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2021 - Present
Member, Breast Imaging Department Return to Care Initiative for Screening Mammography During COVID-19, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2021 - 2022
Member, Breast Imaging Patient Education Video Development Initiative, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2020 - Present
Member, Faculty Senate, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2020 - 2022
Board Member, Diverse Works Art Organization Board, Diverse Works Art Organization, 2020 - 2025
Member, Breast Imaging PRS Committee, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2019 - Present
Co-Chief, Breast Imaging Patient Experience, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2019 - Present
Member, Breast Imaging Marketing and Legal Committee, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2019 - Present
Member, Memorial Hermann Radiology Clinical Practice Committee, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2019 - 2021
Member, Memorial Hermann Radiology Clinical Practice Committee, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2019 - 2021
Member, Memorial Hermann Breast Imaging Clinical Practice Committee, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2018 - 2021
Member, Memorial Hermann Clinical Practice Committee, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2018 - 2021
Member, Memorial Hermann Cypress Tumor Board Planning Committee, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2018 - 2021
Member, Memorial Hermann Cypress Credentialing Committee, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2017 - 2021
Member, Clinical Imaging Committee, Memorial Hermann, 2017 - 2017
Member, Present Review Board, Memorial Hermann, 2017 - 2017
Lead Interpreting Physician, Memorial Hermann, Cypress, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2016 - 2021
Member, AD HOC HIPPA QA/QC, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2016 - Present
Member, Research Committee, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2015 - Present
Member, Memorial Hermann Administrative Planning Committee, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2015 - 2020
Lead Interpreting Physician, Memorial Hermann Willowbrook, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2015 - 2018
Honors & Awards
| 2025 | Departmental Top Actual RVU’s, 8h in Actual RVU’s, 2025 (9% above dept mean), The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Breast Imaging |
| 2024 | Outstanding Reviewer, Journal of Breast Imaging |
| 2024 | Departmental Top Actual RVU’s, 4th in Normalized RVU’s, 2024, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Breast Imaging |
| 2022 | Certificate of Excellence in Reviewing, Clinical Imaging |
| 2019 | Year After Year Award, Memorial Hermann |
| 2019 | System Wide Annual Patient Satisfaction Award, Memorial Hermann |
| 2019 | Top Doctor (Diagnostic Radiology), Houstonia Magazine |
| 2018 | Top Doctor (Diagnostic Radiology), Houstonia Magazine |
| 2017 - 2020 | Top 10% Productivity Memorial Hermann Outreach, Memorial Hermann Outreach |
| 2017 - 2018 | Facility of the Month, Memorial Hermann |
| 2017 | American Association of University Radiologists, Faculty Development |
Professional Memberships
Selected Presentations & Talks
Local Presentations
- 2025. Breast Cancer Awareness. Invited. Houston, Texas, US.
- 2025. Breast Cancer Awareness. Invited. Houston, Texas, US.
- 2025. Wellness. Invited. Houston, Texas, US.
- 2025. Breast Cancer Awareness. Invited. Houston, Texas, US.
- 2025. Breast Cancer Awareness. Invited. Houston, Texas, US.
- 2025. Wellness. Invited. Houston, Texas, US.
- 2025. Breast Cancer Awareness. Invited. Houston, Texas, US.
- 2025. Breast Cancer Awareness. Invited. Houston, Texas, US.
- 2021. Breast Imaging Procedures. Conference. UT Houston Resident Conference. Houston, TX, US.
- 2015. Breast imaging procedures. Conference. UT Houston Resident Conference.
- 2015. Interesting MRI cases. Conference. Houston Radiological Society Breast Imaging Meeting.
National Presentations
- 2020. Full Field Synthetic Mammography: Outcomes as Assessed by Stereotactic Biopsy Results. Conference. 106th Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting of the Radiological Society of North America. Oak Brook, Illinois, US.
- 2019. Community Education Sessions on Mammography. Invited. Duke Alumni Association, US.
- 2019. I tomo, therefore i am?. Conference. Society of Breast Imaging/American College of Radiology Breast Imaging Symposium 2019. Hollywood, Florida, US.
- 2018. Does tomosynthesis work For everyone?. Conference. 104th Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting of the Radiological Society of North America. Oak Brook, Illinois, US.
- 2018. Does tomosynthesis work for everyone?. Conference. 104th Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting of the Radiological Society of North America. Oak Brook, Illinois, US.
- 2018. Webinar Presentation. Invited. Radiology Leadership Institute Practicum. Reston, Virginia, US.
Formal Peers
- 2026. Best Practices Academy Webinar. Houston, Texas, US.
- 2020. Physician & hospital leadership seminar, in peer review, credentialing, finance, physician leadership, and executive leadership. Invited. Chicago, IL, US.
- 2019. Physician & hospital leadership seminar, in peer review, credentialing, finance, physician leadership, and executive leadership. Invited. New Orleans, LA, US.
- 2018. Physician & hospital leadership seminar, in peer review, credentialing, finance, physician leadership, and executive leadership. Invited. Palm Desert, CA, US.
Selected Publications
Peer-Reviewed Articles
- Gerlach KE. Education and awareness: important steps in breast cancer screening in the transgender population. American Roentgen Ray Society. e-Pub 2026.
- Gerlach KE, Leung JWT. Improving the transgender patient experience in the breast imaging center. Clin Imaging 109:110119, 2024. e-Pub 2024. PMID: 38490081.
- Gerlach KE, Phalak KA, Cohen EO, Chang KN, Bassett R, Whitman GJ. Stepwise implementation of 2D synthesized screening mammography and its effect on stereotactic biopsy of microcalcifications. Diagnostics (Basel) 13(13), 2023. e-Pub 2023. PMID: 37443627.
- Phalak KA, 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 KA, 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.
- Gerlach K, Phalak K, Patel 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.
- Phalak K, Gerlach K, Parikh JR. Community outreach and integration of breast radiologist. Clinical Imaging:143-146, 2020. e-Pub 2020.
- Gerlach K, Phalak K, Parikh JR. Enhancing quality using the inspection program (EQUIP): a primer for radiologists. Journal of Breast Imaging 2(3):264-268, 2020. e-Pub 2020.
- Gerlach K, Phalak K, Parikh J. EQUIP: a primer for radiologists. J of Breast Imaging 2(3):264-268, 2020. e-Pub 2020.
- Kushwaha AC, Shin K, Kalambo M, Legha R, Gerlach KE, Kapoor MM, Yang WT. Overutilization of health care resources for breast pain. Am J Roentgenol 211(1):1-7, 2018. e-Pub 2018. PMID: 29792736.
- Aminololama-Shakeri S, Flowers CI, McLaren CE, Wisner DJ, de Guzman J, Campbell JE, Bassett LW, Ojeda-Fournier H, Gerlach K, Hargreaves J, Elson SL, Retallack H, Joe BN, Feig SA, Wells CJ. Can radiologists predict the presence of ductal carcinoma in situ and invasive breast cancer?. Am J Roentgenol 208(4):933-939, 2017. e-Pub 2017.
Review Articles
- Kadom, N, Goldberg, JE, Cham, M, Wyatt, RE, Thomas, KL, Gerlach, K, Gomez, EN, Vincoff, NS. Patient decision aids (PDA): An opportunity in radiology. Current Problems in Diagnostic Radiology 55(2):200-205, 2026. e-Pub 2026. PMID: 41242919.
- Gerlach KE, Phalak KA, Parikh JR. The disruptive radiologist. Clin Imaging 87:5-10, 2022. e-Pub 2022. PMID: 35447372.
- Gerlach K, Phalak K, Parikh JR. Optimizing patient experience scores in outpatient breast centers. Clin Imaging 60(1):141-145, 2020. e-Pub 2020. PMID: 31884122.
- Cohen EO, Weaver OO, Tso HH, Gerlach KE, Leung JWT. Breast cancer screening via digital mammography, synthetic mammography, and tomosynthesis. Am J Prev Med 58(3):470-472, 2020. e-Pub 2020. PMID: 31732323.
Professional Educational Materials
- Gerlach K, Phalak K. Combatting Microaggressions in the workplace video blog. RSNA News, 2022.
Other Articles
- Gerlach, K Editorial Comment. American Journal of Roentgenology 222(3), 2024. PMID: 38197762.
Editorials
- Gerlach K. Editorial Comment: Managing Breast Imaging Follow-Up After a Prior Breast Cancer Diagnosis. American Journal of Roentgenology, 2024.
Abstracts
- Gerlach K, Phalak K, Cohen EO, Chang K, Whitman G. Full field synthetic mammography: outcomes as assessed by stereotactic biopsy results. Proceedings of Radiological Society of North America Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, 2020. e-Pub 2020.
- Cohen E, Weaver O, Tso H, Gerlach K, Leung J. I tomo, therefore I am?. Proceedings of 2019 Society of Breast Imaging/American College of Radiology Breast Imaging Symposium, 2019. e-Pub 2019.
- Cohen E, Perry R, Srinivasan A, Tso H, Phalak K, Lesslie M, Gerlach K, Leung J. Does tomosynthesis work for everyone?. 104th Annual Meeting and Scientific Assembly of the Radiological Society of North America Meeting Program, 2018. e-Pub 2018.
Book Chapters
- Garret NM, Roberts CE, Gerlach K, Shetty MK. Breast intervention: breast cancer screening and diagnosis. In: Breast Cancer Screening and Diagnosis. Springer, 233-262, 2015.
Patient Reviews
CV information above last modified September 03, 2026