Katy E. French, M.D.
Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Division of Anesthesiology, Critical Care, and Pain Medicine
Present Title & Affiliation
Primary Appointment
Professor, Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Division of Anesthesiology and Critical Care, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston
Patient Care Informatics Chair, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston
Physician Informaticist, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Physician Fellow, Institute for Cancer Care Innovation, Houston, TX
Education & Training
Degree-Granting Education
| 2003 | Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA, USA, MD, Medicine, Sports Medicine |
| 1996 | University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, USA, BA, Chemistry |
Postgraduate Training
| 2007-2008 | Clinical Fellowship, Cardiovascular Anesthesia, Texas Heart Institute / Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX |
| 2004-2007 | Clinical Residency, Anesthesiology, Tulane School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA |
| 2003-2004 | Clinical Internship, Internal Medicine, Maricopa Medical Center, Phoenix, AZ |
Board Certifications
| 2020 | BLS |
| 2008 | American Board of Anesthesiology |
Experience & Service
Academic Appointments
Executive Medical Director, Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 2021 - Present
Associate Professor, Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Division of Anesthesiology, Critical Care and Pain Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 2014 - 2020
Assistant Professor, Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Division of Anesthesiology and Critical Care, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 2008 - 2014
Co-Chief Resident, Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA, 2006 - 2007
Administrative Appointments/Responsibilities
Assistant Medical Director Perioperative Services, Department of Surgery and Anesthesia, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 2017 - 2021
Institutional Committee Activities
Patient Care Informatics-voting member, Employee Engagement Council (EEC), 2021 - Present
Co-Chair- Voting Member, Data Quality, 2020 - Present
Data Quality-Voting Member, Data Governance and Provenance, 2020 - Present
Patient Care Informatics-Voting Member, Quality Assessment Process Improvement (QAPI), 2020 - Present
Voting Member, Informatics Technology Executive Committee (ITEC), 2019 - Present
Chair, Patient Care Informatics (PCI), 2019 - Present
Co-Chair, Pain Task Force, 2018 - 2021
Member, Department of Surgery Executive Committee (DoSEC), 2017 - 2021
Member/ Co-chair, Patient Experience/ Data Transparency Task Force, 2017 - Present
Member, EPIC Implementation Team - Integrated Clinical Team (ICT), 2013 - 2016
Professional Memberships
Selected Publications
Peer-Reviewed Articles
- Andrabi, T., French, K., Qazilbash, M.. New Cancer Therapies: Implications for the Perioperative Period. Current Anesthesiology Reports, 2020.
- French, Katy M.D., Andrabi, Tayab M.D., Popovich, Shannon M.D., Speer, B. Bryce D.O., Starghill, Allison RN, Kowalski, Alicia M.D.. Advance Preoperative Assessment of Cancer Patients leads to lower percentage of same day surgery cancellations, increasing positive perioperative patient experience. Journal of Cancer Science & Therapy, 2018.
- French, Katy M.D., Andrabi, Tayab M.D., Popovich, Shannon M.D., Speer, B. Bryce D.O., Recinos, Iris MBA. Advance Electronic Screening of Cancer Patients Leveraging a New EHR Increases Efficiency of Care Delivery, Driving Clinical Care Pathways in a Perioperative Anesthesia Assessment Center(PAAC) at MD Anderson. Journal of Clinical Oncology, 2018.
- Ngo-Huang, An D.O., French, Katy M.D.. Implementing Prehabilitation as part of enhanced recovery after surgery(ERAS) efforts at a comprehensive cancer center: A team based approach. Journal of Clinical Oncology, 2018.
- French, Katy M.D., Speer, B. Bryce D.O., Guzman, Alexis MBA, Andrabi, Tayab M.D., Recinos, Iris MBA, Shook, Keith A. BS, Incalcaterra, James PhD., Frenzel, John M.D., Feeley, Thomas M.D.. Using a New EHR System to Increase Patient Engagement, Improve Efficiency, and Decrease Cost. New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) Catalyst, 2018.
- French, K., Recinos, I., Aloia, T., Hernandez, M., Kee, S., Kowalski, A., Goravanchi, F., Cerny, J., Cleckler-Hughes, K., Rebello, E.. Continuous Quality Improvement Measured With Time-Driven Activity-Based Costing in an Outpatient Cancer Surgery Center. Journal of Oncology Practice, 2018.
- French K, Feeley T, Andrabi T, Guzman A, Coulhoun J. Cancer patients' answers to surveys: Incorporation into the electronic health record (EHR) can decrease manual data entry and increase patient-centered information. Journal of Clinical Oncology, 2017.
- Balachandran D, Faiz S, Hernandez M, Kowalski A, Bashoura A, Goravanchi F, Cherian S, Rebello E, Kee S, French K. Length of Stay in Ambulatory Surgical Oncology Patients at High Risk for Sleep Apnea as Predicted by STOP-BANG Questionnaire. Anesthesiology Research and Practice, 2016. e-Pub 2016.
- Long K, Ruiz J, Kee S, Kowalski A, Goravanchi F, Cerny J, French K, Hernandez Mike, Perrier N, Rebello, E. Effect of Adjunctive Dexmedetomidine on Postoperative Intravenous Opoid and Antiemetic Administration in Patients Undergoing Thyroidectomy in an Ambulatory Setting. Thyroid, 2016.
- French K.E., Guzman A.B., Rubio A.C., Frenzel J.C., Feeley T.W.. Value Based Care and Bundled Payments: Anesthesia Care costs for Outpatient Oncology Surgery Using Time-Driven Activity Based Costing. Healthcare: The Journal of Delivery Science and Innovation, 2015.
- French K, Frenzel A, Incalcaterra J., Rubio A., Feeley T.. Measuring the value of Process Improvement Initiatives ina Preoperative Assessment Center Using Time-Driven Activity-Based Costing. Healthcare: The Journal of Delivery Science and Innovation, 2013. e-Pub 2013.
- Goravanchi F, Kee SS, Kowalski AM, Berger JS, French KE. A case series of thoracic paravertebral blocks using a combination of ropivacaine, clonidine, epinephrine, and desamethasone. Journal of Clinical Anesthesia 24(8):664-667, 2012. e-Pub 2012.
- Farzin Goravanchi, DO,* Jeffrey Cerny, MD,* Spencer S. Kee, MD,* Alicia M. Kowalski, MD,* Elizabeth Rebello, MD,* Katy E. French, MD,* Mike Hernandez, MS,† Tariq A. Syed, MS,‡ Tyrone Burnett Jr., BS, ‡ John C. Frenzel, MD,δ Carin A. Hagberg, MD§. Randomized Comparison of the Ambu AuraGain and the Teleflex LMA Protector Using Clinical and Fiberoptic Assessment in Patients Undergoing Elective Outpatient Surgical Procedures. Anesthesia and Analgesia.
- Benjamin A. Arnold MDa, Jens Tan MDa, Shannon Hancher-Hodges MDa, Tyrone Burnett Jr. BSb, Tariq A. Syed MSb, Tayab Andrabi MDa , Shannon Popovich MDc, Katy E. French MDd, Mike Hernandeze, Carin A. Hagberg MD, FASAf. SuperNO2VA™ and general anesthesia postoperative care. Journal of Clinical Anesthesia.
Manuals, Teaching Aids, Other Teaching Publications
- Katy French, MD. Surgery: A Patient Guide - a manual for patients having surgery at MDA, 2017.
- . Hypnosedation and Breast Cancer Surgery - guide for perioperative management, 2016.
- Katy French, MD. Anesthesia Assessment Center (AAC) Advanced Practice Provider Guidelines and Reference Manual, 2014.
- Katy French, MD. Epidural Education Patient Handout, 2014.
Other Articles
- French, K., Speer, B., Popovich, S., Andrabi, T., Ruiz, J., Rahlfs, T. STOP-Bang Questionnaire Used in Pre-Operative Assessment of Surgical Oncology Patients to Assess Risk of Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA): Dose Higher Risk of OSA Affect Incidence of Oxygen Desaturation and Post- Operative Recovery Time. The Japanese Journal of Anesthesiology, 2018.
- French, K., Kowalski, A., Wargo, J., Aloia, T., Rahlfs, T. Enhanced NPO Compliance Maintains Patient Safety and Improves Satisfaction and OR Utilization: A Patient Education Intervention, 2017.
- French, K., Kowalski, A., Bellard, B., Andrabi, T. Perioperative Assessment Center Uses Technology to Increase Patient Centered Care and Decrease Time Spent in Data Entry, 2017.
- French, K., Kowalski, A., Kee, S., Rebello, E., Veazie, M., Goravanchi, F. I-Gel Associated with Lingual Nerve Neuropraxia: A Report of 2 Cases. Anesthesiology News: Airway Management, 5th annual, 2012.
Abstracts
- Weng, Julius; MD, et. al, French, Katy, MD. Optimizing Ambulatory Clinic Workflow Using Patient Flow Analysis With Real-Time Patient Tracking. Institute for Healthcare Improvement(IHI) Annual Meeting, 2021.
- Popovich, Shannon, M.D., Andrabi, Tayab, M.D., French, Katy, M.D., Dangler, Lori, M.D.. Implementation of Telemedicine Anesthesia Assessments for Preoperative Oncology Patients. Global Academic Program: UTMDACC, 2020.
- Dhanalakshmi Koyyalagunta, MD; Diane Novy, PhD; Carol Lewis, MD; Shannon Popovich, MD; Keyuri Popat, MD; Lei Feng, MS; Katy French, MD; Gang Zheng, MD; Tariq Syed, MS; Carin Hagberg, MD. Investigation of Post-operative Opioid Use and Symptom Burden in Patients with Head and Neck Cancer. ASA (American Society of Anesthesia) Annual meeting, 2020.
- Popovich; Shannon, M.D., French; Katy, M.D., Andrabi; Tayab, M.D. Dangler; Lori, M.D. Introduction of Telemedicine Assessments for Perioperative Oncology Patients. EBPOM(Evidenced Based Perioperative Medicine), 2020.
- French, K., Popovich, S., Andrabi, T.. Leveraging Technology and Standardization of Patient Flow Process in a Perioperative Clinic at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center: Measuring the Value Using Time Driven Activity Based Costing(TDABC). Clinical Informatics Conference, American Medical Informatics Association(AMIA), 2020.
- Popovich; Shannon, M.D., French; Katy, M.D., Andrabi; Tayab, M.D.. Preoperative Measurement of HbA1C in Diabetic Surgical Oncology Patients in the POEM Center at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. SPAQI; 15th Annual Perioperative Medicine Summit, 2020.
- Goravanchi F, Cerny J, Kowalski AM, Kee SS, Rebello E, French KE, Frenzel JC, Syed TA, Burnett T, Hernandez M and Hagberg CA.. Randomized comparison of the clinical performance of Ambu Auragain and Teleflex LMA Protector. World Airway Management Meeting, 2019.
- Goravanchi F, Cerny J, Kowalski AM, Kee SS, Rebello E, French KE, Frenzel JC, Syed TA, Burnett T, Hernandez M and Hagberg CA. Difficult Airway Management in the Ambulatory Setting. World Airway Management Meeting, 2019.
- Moningi, S., Aloia, T., Frenzel, J., French, K., Nguyen, Q., Herman, J.. Time Driven Activity Based Costing Methods Used in Radiation Oncology Clinics. ASCO Quality Symposium, 2019.
- French, Katy, M.D., Speer, Bryce, D.O., Popovich, Shannon, M.D., Recinos, Iris, MBA, Sahai, Sunil, M.D., Andrabi, Tayab, M.D.. Application of TDABC in Perioperative Clinic: Nurses Working at the top of their License Improves Efficiency of Care Delivery and Patient Experience. 4th International Nursing and Primary Healthcare Conference, 2019.
- Nguyen L, Cleckler-Hughes K, Quizon A, Ok S, Sapire K, Goravanchi F, Rebello E, Kee S, Cerny J, French K, Kowalski A.. Medication Safety in the Perioperative Period. Proceedings of the 4th World Congress on Patient Safety and Quality Healthcare, 2019.
- French, K. MD, Sahai, S. MD, Andrabi, T. MD, Recinos, I. MBA, Parikh, M., Popovich, S. MD.. The Evolution of Perioperative Care: Measuring the Benefits of Integrated Practice Unit (IPU) Creation. Global Academic Program: University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2019.
- French, K. MD, Sahai, S. MD, Andrabi, T. MD, Recinos, I. MBA, Parikh, M., Popovich, S. MD.. The Evolution of Perioperative Care at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center (UTMDACC): Collaboration between the Departments of Internal Medicine (I.M.) and Anesthesia form an integrated practice unit (IPU) and quantify the benefits to the perioperative patient experience. 14th Annual Perioperative Medicine Summit/SPAQI, 2019.
- French, Katy, Andrabi, Tayab, Popovich, Shannon, Spear, Bryce, Sahai, Sunil. The Evolution of Perioperative Care at the UT MD Anderson Cancer Center: Colloboration efforts between the Departments of GIM and Anesthesia to form an integrated practice unit(IPU) in the perioperative experience. 13th Annual Perioperative Medicine Summit/SPAQI, 2018.
- Speer B, French K. A Case Report: Lidocaine Toxicity following tumescent administration for fat grafting treated with intravenous lipid emulsion 20% in PACU. 16th annual pain medicine meeting, ASRA 2017, 2017.
- Speer B, French K, Popovich S.. A Case Report: Bilateral, Continuous Quadratus Lumborum Catheters as a Rescue Intervention for Abdominal Pain after Failed Thoracic Epidural. 16th annual pain medicine meeting ASRA 2017, 2017.
- Goravanchi F, Cerny J, French K, Lim J, Hagberg C. Difficult Airway Management in the Ambulatory Setting. Society of Airway Management, Newport, CA, 2017.
- French K, Andrabi T, Guzman A, Calhoun J, Feeley T. Cancer Patients’ Answers to Surveys: Incorporation into the Electronic Health Record (EHR) can decrease manual data entry and increase patient- centered information. UT MD Anderson Cancer Cancer Global Academic Programs annual meeting 2017, 2017.
- Nguyen L, Ross M, Cerny J, Vu C, French K, Lim J, Goravanchi F. Anesthetic Challenges in Patients with Progressive Supranuclear Palsy. UT MD Anderson Cancer Cancer Global Academic Programs annual meeting 2017, 2017.
- Nguyen L, Ross M, Cerny J, Vu C, French K, Lim J, Goravanchi F. Anesthetic Challenges in Patients with Progressive Supranuclear Palsy. IARS 2017 Annual Meeting and International Science Symposium, 2017.
- Rebello E, Kowalski A, Goravanchi F, Cerny J, French K, Hernandez M, Ruiz J, Kee S. Thyroidectomy in the Ambulatory Setting: the effect of lidocaine infusion. 16th Annual World Congress of Anesthesiologists, 2016.
- Goravanchi F, Kowalski A, French K, Kee S, Rebello E, Cerny J. Effect of Caudal Nerve Block on Pain Management of Penile Prosthesis Surgery. 8th Annual Study in Multidisciplinary Pain Research (SIMPAR), 2016.
- French K, Palmer L, Kurian J, Andrabi T. Effort to Reduce Additional Blod Draws in the Preoperative Anesthesia Assessment Center(AAC) at MD Anderson Cancer Center: Is the “July Effect” a contributing factor to our results?. 11th Annual Perioperative Medicine Summit, 2016.
- Basra G, Cardenas-Turanzas M, Andrabi T, French K, Bellard B, Murphy W, Lopez-Olivo M, Suarez-Almazor M. Fiber optic intubation in patients with rheumatoid arthritis who had a surgical procedure. ACR/ARHP Annual Meeting, 2015.
- Cowles C, Luongo N, Cata J, French K, Jones J, Holmes H, Andrabi T. The implementation of a pre-operative geriatric assessment tool and the impact on patients at a large cancer center. National Patient Safety Foundation, 2015.
- Rebello E, Kee S, Goravanchi F, Burke F, French K, Kowalski A. Pre-anesthetic pregnancy screening: is she or isn't she?. Society of Ambulatory Anesthesia 30th Annual Meeting of SAMBA, 2015.
- Rebello E, French K. The effect of dexmedetomidine on postoperative intravenous opioid and antiemetic administration in patients undergoing thyroidectomy. 7th Annual Study in Multidisciplinary Pain Research (SIMPAR), 2015.
- French K, Smith U, Andrabi T. Same Day Surgery Cancellation at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center: Incidence, Causes and Contributing Factors. 10th Annual Perioperative Medicine Summit, 2015.
- Rebello E, Kowalski A, Goravanchi F, French K, Mitchell-Mollard N, Hernandez M, Barboza A, Kee S. Reducing Cancer Costs using Time Driven Activity based costing in process mapping and utilizing a fast track process for patients undergoing Port-A-Cath Placement under monitored anesthesia care in the Ambulatory Care Setting. American Society of Anesthesia Annual Meeting, 2014.
- Goravanchi F, Rigby D, Rebello E, Lange G, Kowalski A, Kee S, Lucci A, Caudle A, Baumann D, French K, Kuerer H. Outpatient Breast Surgery is Safe: Recent Experience with 10836 Patients at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center. 49th International Congress of European Society of Surgical Research, 2014.
- Rebello E, Kee S, Kowalski A, French K, Guzman A, Hernandez M, Mitchell-Mollard N. Using time driven activity based costing in process mapping cancer care: Fast Track Patients Undergoing Port-a Cath placement under monitored anesthesia care in the ambulatory setting. Society of Ambulatory Anesthesia 29th Annual meeting of SAMBA, 2014.
- Goravanchi F, Kowalski A, French K, Kee S, Rebello E. 5 Days of Postoperative Analgesia with Unique Solution. 6th Annual Study in Multidisciplinary Pain Research (SIMPAR), 2014.
- French K, Kowalski A, Kee S, Rebello E, Cerny J, Goravanchi F. Paravertebral Block vs. IV Lidocaine in Unilateral Total Mastectomy: Comparison of Perioperative Opioid Requirements. 6th Annual Study in Multidisciplinary Pain Research (SIMPAR), 2014.
- Kowalski A, French K, Goravanchi F, Kee S, Rebello E, Mitchell-Mollard N, Chiang J. Concomitant Acustimulation of P6 and TH-5 prevents PONV. 9th Annual Perioperative Medicine Summit, 2014.
- French K, Smith U, Andrabi T. MD Anderson Maintains a Same Day cancellation rate of less than 3% by assessing all patients prior to scheduled procedure. 9th Annual Perioperative Medicine Summit, 2014.
- Patel P, French K, Faiz S, Goravanchi F, Sarkiss M, Bashoura L, Faruki A, Balachandran D. Does the Higher Risk of Obstructive Sleep Apnea Hypopnea Syndrome (OSAHS) Predict an Increased Length of Stay in the PACU in Patients with Bladder Cancer Undergoing Cystoscopy?. American Academy of Sleep Medicine 27th Annual Meeting, 2013.
- Goravanchi F, Kee S, Kowalski A, Rebello E, French K. Paravertebral Block for Multiple Opiate Hypersensitivities. Society of Ambulatory Anesthesia 28th Annual Meeting (SAMBA), 2013.
- Kowalski A, Kee S, Rebello E, Goravanchi F, French K. Pulse-oximeter as a monitor to prevent Ischemia. Society of Ambulatory Anesthesia 28th Annual Meeting (SAMBA), 2013.
- Rebello E, French K, Kowalski A, Goravanchi F, Kee S. Effective Use of Technology to Overcome Language Barriers in the Perioperative Setting. Society of Ambulatory Anesthesia 28th Annual Meeting (SAMBA), 2013.
- French K, Balachandran D, Kowalski A, Goravanchi F, Rebello E, Kee S, Andrabi T. Does the Higher Risk of Obstructive Sleep Apnea Hypopnea Syndrome(OSAHS) Predict an Increased Length of Stay in the PACU in Patients with Bladder Cancer Undergoing Cystoscopy?. Society of Ambulatory Anesthesia 28th Annual Meeting (SAMBA), 2013.
- French K, Goravanchi F, Kee S, Kowalski A, Smith U, Andrabi T. Anesthesia Perioperative Assessment Clinic (APAC): Decreasing Steps in “The Process” of Seeing Patients Streamlines Flow, Increasing Efficiency & Patient Satisfaction. Society of Perioperative Medicine and Quality Improvement: Perioperative Medicine Summit 8th Annual Meeting (SPAQI), 2013.
- Goravanchi F, Wang S, Kowalski A, Rebello E, French K, Kee S. Management of Breast Needle Localization Patients with Severe Phobia. Inaugural Global Conference on Perioperative Medicine: Care of the Elderly and the Cancer Patient, 2012.
- French K, Goravanchi F, Kowalski A, Veira R, Smith U, Andrabi T. Increasing Efficiency in the Anesthesia Assessment Center(AAC) using New, Smarter, Digital Technology. Inaugural Global Conference on Perioperative Medicine: Care of the Elderly and the Cancer Patient, 2012.
- Goravanchi F, Kowalski A, Rebello E, Kee S, French K. Pain and Anxiety Perception during breast needle localization. 17th World Congress on Breast Diseases of the Senologic International Society, 2012.
- Goravanchi F, Rebello E, Kee S, Kowalski A, French K. Anesthesia for Outpatient Breast Surgery in Patients Who are not General Anesthesia Candidates. American Society of Anesthesia National Meeting (ASA), 2012.
- French K, Goravanchi F, Kowalski A, Kee S, Veira R, Smith U, Andrabi T. Increasing Efficiency in the Anesthesia Assessment Center(AAC) using New, Smarter Digital Technology. American Society of Anesthesia Annual National Meeting (ASA), 2012.
- Goravanchi F, Kee S, Kowalski A, Rebello E, French K. Management of Breast Needle Localization Patients with Severe Phobia. Canadian Society of Anesthesia Annual Meeting, 2012.
- Kowalski A, Kee S, Rebello E, Goravanchi F, French K. I-Gel Case Report with Lingual Nerve Neropraxia: a report of 2 cases. Society for Ambulatory Anesthesia 27th Annual Meeting (SAMBA), 2012.
- French K, Kee S, Goravanchi F, Rebello E, Kowalski A. Breast Cancer Surgery with Paravertebral Block in Malignant Hyperthermia Patients. Society for Ambulatory Anesthesia 27th Annual meeting (SAMBA), 2012.
Book Chapters
- French-Bloom K. Deep Extubation (Anesthetized Extubation). In: 5 Minute Clinical Anesthesia Consult. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins: Philadelphia, PA, 2013.