Marieberta Vidal, M.D.
Department of Palliative, Rehabilitation and Integrative Medicine, Division of Cancer Medicine
About Dr. Marieberta Vidal
Dr. Marieberta Vidal is an assistant professor of Palliative, Rehabilitation & Integrative Medicine. She obtained her medical degree from the University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine, completed internal medicine residency at the University of Houston, and palliative care fellowship at MD Anderson Cancer Center. Vidal has been a member of the MD Anderson community since 2006, earning her post as assistant professor in 2012. She is an active clinician who specializes in quality end-of-life care, focusing on palliative care interventions and symptom management in patients with solid and hematologic malignancies.
Present Title & Affiliation
Primary Appointment
Associate Professor, Department of Palliative Care and Rehabilitation Medicine, Division of Cancer Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Dual/Joint/Adjunct Appointment
Assistant Professor, Department of Palliative Care and Rehabilitation Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Education & Training
Degree-Granting Education
| 2002 | University of Puerto Rico, School of Medicine, San Juan, Puerto Rico, US, MD |
| 1998 | University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras Campus, Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico, US, Biology, BS |
Postgraduate Training
| 2011-2012 | Clinical Fellowship, Hospice and Palliative Care Fellowship, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas |
| 2002-2005 | Clinical Residency, University of Texas, Houston, Texas |
Licenses & Certifications
| 2012 | Palliative Medicine |
| 2005 | American Board of Internal Medicine |
Experience & Service
Faculty Academic Appointments
Instructor, Department of General Internal Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 2006 - 2012
Institutional Committee Activities
Member, PBHSRC Committee, 2018 - Present
Member, Faculty Health and Wellbeing Committee, 2016 - Present
Member, Clinical Effectiveness Committee, 2014 - 2017
Selected Presentations & Talks
Local Presentations
- 2019. Distress in Palliative Care Providers: Is Burnout a Problem?. Conference. The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. Houston, TX, US.
- 2018. Supportive Care for HSCT Patients: Pain Management and Challenge. Conference. The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. Houston, TX, US.
- 2017. Management of Ascites and Bowel Obstruction. Conference. 21st Annual Interdisciplinary Conference on Supportive Care, Hospice and Palliative Medicine. Houston, TX, US.
- 2017. Symptom Management for Enhanced Recovery-Stem Cell Transplant Patients. Conference. MD Anderson Cancer Center. Houston, TX, US.
- 2016. Treatment of Malignant Bowel Obstructions. Conference. The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. Houston, TX, US.
- 2016. The Role of Subcutaneous Hydration/Medications. Conference. The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. Houston, TX, US.
- 2016. New Developments in the Evaluation and Management of Constipation. Conference. The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. Houston, TX, US.
- 2013. DVT-Prophylaxis: Indications and Reasons to Stop!. Conference. The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. Houston, TX, US.
- 2013. Medical Management of Bowel Obstruction. Conference. The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. Houston, TX, US.
- 2012. Care for the Caregiver. Conference. Cancer Survivorship Conference. Houston, TX, US.
- 2012. (Moderator) What Do we Do Now? Child Life Helping Families Cope with Grief/Building a Legacy. Conference. The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center. Houston, TX, US.
- 2012. (Moderator) Management of Delirium in Geriatric Patients. Conference. The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center. Houston, TX, US.
- 2012. Malignant Bowel Obstruction. Conference. The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center. Houston, TX, US.
National Presentations
- 2019. BARRIERS TO PHYSICAL ACTIVITY IN CANCER PATIENTS. Oral Poster MASCC9-0753. Invited. MASCC. San Frnacisco, CA, US.
- 2019. PREDICTORS OF 24-HOUR MORTALITY AFTER TRANSFER TO THE ACUTE PALLIATIVE CARE UNIT (APCU) Oral Poster MASCC9-0534. Conference. MASCC. San Francisco, CA, US.
- 2019. Palliative Care and Pain Management. Invited. Medical Oncology and Hematology Conference. Houston, TX, US.
- 2017. Palliative Care: Navigating Challenging Discussions and End-of-Life Communication. Conference. JADPRO Live at APSHO. Houston, TX, US.
- 2017. Poster: Acute care medical interventions in the palliative care unit versus inpatient hospice. Conference. Palliative and Supportive Care in Oncology Symposium. San Diego, CA, US.
- 2017. Webinar: It's a Team Sport: Models of Palliative Care Pharmacy Practice. Conference. The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. Houston, TX, US.
- 2016. Pain Management for Gynecological Cancers. Conference. Department of Gyn Oncology. Houston, TX, US.
- 2014. Supportive Care and End of Life issues in Cancer. Invited. Oncology Group, Brasil. Houston, TX, US.
International Presentations
- 2018. Developing a Delphi for Survey in MD/APP’s About Distress Level after Supportive Care Inpatient Consults. Abstract # 236147. Invited. ASCO. San Diego, US.
- 2018. Cuidado de Apoyo a Pacientes con Cancer- Enfoque Multidisciplinario-Palliative Care in Patients with Cancer -Multidisciplinary Approach. Invited. XVIII International Week. Houston, US.
- 2016. Insurer pre-authorization and copayment for palliative patients with cancer receiving opioids other than morphine. Abstract #173427. Invited. ASCO. San Francisco, US.
- 2015. Exploring the preferences for place of death among cancer patients and their family caregivers. Abstract #155408. Invited. ASCO. Boston, US.
- 2014. Cuidados Palliativos y control de sintomas. Invited. Hospital Cancerologico. Bogota, CO.
- 2013. Cuidados Paliativos en Pacientes de Cancer-Palliative Care in Patients with Cancer. Invited. CDC Comprehensive Cancer Control Program. San Juan, PR.
Selected Publications
Peer-Reviewed Articles
- Arthur J, Pawate V, Lu Z, Yennurajalingam S, Azhar A, Reddy A, Epner D, Hui D, Tanco K, Delgado Guay MO, Vidal M, Chen M, Bruera E. Helpfulness of Question Prompt Sheet for Patient-Physician Communication Among Patients With Advanced Cancer: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Network Open 6(5), 2023. e-Pub 2023. PMID: 37129892.
- Agosta MT, Shih KK, Vidal M, Zhukovsky D, Bruera E. Patient behaviors during virtual clinic encounters in palliative care. Palliat Support Care 21(1):178-180, 2023. e-Pub 2023. PMID: 35670297.
- Subbiah IM, Charone MM, Roszik J, Haider A, Vidal M, Wong A, Bruera E. Association of Edmonton Symptom Assessment System Global Distress Score With Overall Survival in Patients With Advanced Cancer. JAMA Netw Open 4(7), 2021. e-Pub 2021. PMID: 34269810.
- Ng AH, Ngo-Huang A, Vidal M, Reyes-Garcia A, Liu DD, Williams JL, Fu JB, Yadav R, Bruera E. Exercise Barriers and Adherence to Recommendations in Patients With Cancer. JCO Oncol Pract 17(7):e972-e981, 2021. e-Pub 2021. PMID: 33739853.
- Reddy A, Vidal M, Haider A, Arthur J, Hui D, Wu J, Liu D, Holmes C, Carrol M, Dalal S, Dev R, Tanco K, Bruera E. A retrospective review of the use of oxymorphone immediate release for long term pain control in cancer patients with gastrostomy tubes. Ann Palliat Med 10(3):2662-2667, 2021. e-Pub 2021. PMID: 33549000.
- Vidal M, Rodriguez-Nunez A, Hui D, Allo J, Williams JL, Park M, Liu D, Bruera E. Place-of-death preferences among patients with cancer and family caregivers in inpatient and outpatient palliative care. BMJ Support Palliat Care. e-Pub 2020. PMID: 32253348.
- Hui D, Ross J, Park M, Dev R, Vidal M, Liu D, Paiva CE, Bruera E. Predicting survival in patients with advanced cancer in the last weeks of life: How accurate are prognostic models compared to clinicians' estimates?. Palliat Med 34(1):126-133, 2020. e-Pub 2020. PMID: 31564218.
- Wong A, Vidal M, Prado B, Hui D, Epner M, Balankari VR, De La Cruz VJ, Cantu HP, Zapata KP, Liu DD, Williams JL, Lim T, Bruera E. Patients' Perspective of Timeliness and Usefulness of an Outpatient Supportive Care Referral at a Comprehensive Cancer Center. J Pain Symptom Manage 58(2):275-281, 2019. e-Pub 2019. PMID: 31029808.
- Vidal M, Reddy A, Rodriguez E, Park M, Liu D, Bruera E. Challenges to Opioid Prescription Access among Patients with Advanced Cancer. J Palliat Med 22(2):121-122, 2019. e-Pub 2019. PMID: 30707073.
- Tanco K, Vidal M, Arthur J, Delgado Guay M, Hui D, Liu D, Chisholm G, Bruera E. Testing the feasibility of using the Edmonton Symptom Assessment System (ESAS) to assess caregiver symptom burden. Palliat Support Care 16(1):14-22, 2018. e-Pub 2018. PMID: 28264740.
- Reddy A, Vidal M, Stephen S, Baumgartner K, Dost S, Nguyen A, Heung Y, Kwan S, Wong A, Pangemanan I, Azhar A, Tayjasanant S, Rodriguez E, Waletich J, Lim KH, Wu J, Liu D, Williams J, Yennurajalingam S, Bruera E. The Conversion Ratio From Intravenous Hydromorphone to Oral Opioids in Cancer Patients. J Pain Symptom Manage 54(3):280-288, 2017. e-Pub 2017. PMID: 28711751.
- Hui D, Frisbee-Hume S, Wilson A, Dibaj SS, Nguyen T, La Cruz MD, Walker P, Zhukovsky DS, Delgado-Guay M, Vidal M, Epner D, Reddy A, Tanco K, Williams J, Hall S, Liu D, Hess K, Amin S, Breitbart W, Bruera E. Effect of Lorazepam With Haloperidol vs Haloperidol Alone on Agitated Delirium in Patients With Advanced Cancer Receiving Palliative Care A Randomized Clinical Trial. The JAMA Network, 2017. e-Pub 2017.
- Vidal M, Hui D, Williams J, Bruera E. A Prospective Study of Hypodermoclysis Performed by Caregivers in the Home Setting. J Pain Symptom Manage 52(4):570-574.e9, 2016. e-Pub 2016. PMID: 27640727.
- Reddy A, de la Cruz M, Vidal M, Tanco K, Azhar A, Silvestre J, Liu DD, Wu J, Bruera E. Impact of a Palliative Care Checklist on Clinical Documentation. J Oncol Pract 12(2):e241-7, 2016. e-Pub 2016. PMID: 26733626.
- Reddy A, Tayjasanant S, Haider A, Heung Y, Wu J, Liu D, Yennurajalingam S, Reddy S, de la Cruz M, Rodriguez EM, Waletich J, Vidal M, Arthur J, Holmes C, Tallie K, Wong A, Dev R, Williams J, Bruera E. The opioid rotation ratio of strong opioids to transdermal fentanyl in cancer patients. Cancer 122(1):149-56, 2016. e-Pub 2016. PMID: 26451687.
- Pimentel LE, Yennurajalingam S, Chisholm G, Edwards T, Guerra-Sanchez M, De La Cruz M, Tanco K, Vidal M, Bruera E. The Frequency and Factors Associated with the Use of a Dedicated Supportive Care Center Telephone Triaging Program in Patients with Advanced Cancer at a Comprehensive Cancer Center. J Pain Symptom Manage 49(5):939-44, 2015. e-Pub 2015. PMID: 25666520.
- Reddy A, Yennurajalingam S, Desai H, Reddy S, de la Cruz M, Wu J, Liu D, Rodriguez EM, Waletich J, Shin SH, Gayle V, Patel P, Dalal S, Vidal M, Tanco K, Arthur J, Tallie K, Williams J, Silvestre J, Bruera E. The opioid rotation ratio of hydrocodone to strong opioids in cancer patients. J Pain Symptom Manage, 2014. e-Pub 2014.
- Hui D, Didwaniya N, Vidal M, Shin SH, Chisholm G, Roquemore J, Bruera E. Quality of end-of-life care in patients with hematologic malignancies: A retrospective cohort study. Cancer, 2014. e-Pub 2014. PMID: 24549743.
- Hui D, Vidal M, Didwaniya N, Bruera E. Maladaptive medical coping: a means to avoid end-of-life discussions. Journal of Palliative Care, 2014. e-Pub 2014. PMID: 24826442.
- Reddy A, Vidal M, de la Cruz M, Yennu S, Bruera E. Snapshot of an Acute Palliative Care Unit in a Tertiary Cancer Hospital. Palliative & Supportive Care, 2013. e-Pub 2013.
- Hui D, Morgado M, Vidal M, Withers L, Nguyen Q, Chisholm G, Finch C, Bruera E. Dyspnea in hospitalized advanced cancer patients: subjective and physiologic correlates. Journal of Palliative Medicine, 2013. e-Pub 2013. PMID: 23398052.
- Vidal M, Tayjasanant S, Hui D, Wu J, Liu D, Frisbee-Hume S, Bruera E. Changes in the Frequency of Constipation and Opioid Prescription at the Time of Referral to Outpatient Palliative Care.
Review Articles
- Vidal M, Hui D, Bruera E. Palliative Care in Patients with Leukemia: When and How?. Curr Oncol Rep 20(12):95, 2018. e-Pub 2018. PMID: 30421217.
Other Articles
- Bekele L, Vidal M, Adjei AA Systemic Chemotherapy in Patients with Renal Failure. American Journal of Clinical Oncology 24:382-384.
Abstracts
- Hui D, Morgado M, Vidal M, Withers L, Nguyen Q, Chisholm G, Finch C, Bruera E. Dyspnea in hospitalized advanced cancer patients: subjective and physiologic correlates. Journal of Palliative Medicine, 2013. e-Pub 2013.
- Hui D, Vidal M, Didwaniya N, Bruera E. Medical Coping to Avoid End of Life Discussion. Journal of Palliative Care.
- Vidal M, Kantarjian H, O'Brien S, Rios MB, Verstovsek S, Cortes J. Sudden Blastic Transformation (SBT) in Patients (PTS) with Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML) Treated with Imatinib Mesylate.
Book Chapters
- Bolognesi D, Centeno C, Biasco G. Hospice and Palliative Medicine Certification. In: Specialisation in Palliative Medicine for Physicians in Europe 2014 A supplement of the EAPC Atlas of Palliative Care in Europe. EAPC Press, Pg 48, 2014.
- Reddy SK, Vidal M, Bruera E, Higginson IJ, Von Gunten CF, Morita T. Causes & Mechanisms of Pain in Palliative Care Patients. In: Textbook of Palliative Medicine and Supportive Care 2E. 2 edition. CRC Press, 1120.
- Vidal M. Deep Venous Thrombosis. In: Internal Medicine Issues in Palliative Cancer Care. Oxford University Press.
- Vidal M. Bleeding Disorders. In: Internal Medicine Issues in Palliative Cancer Care. Oxford University Press.
- Vidal M. Pulmonary Embolism. In: Internal Medicine Issues in Palliative Cancer Care. Oxford University Press.
Patient Reviews
CV information above last modified June 05, 2025