Michaela Onstad Grinsfelder, M.D., M.P.H.
Department of Gynecologic Oncology and Reproductive Medicine, Division of Surgery
About Dr. Michaela Onstad Grinsfelder
Present Title & Affiliation
Primary Appointment
Fellowship Program Director, Gynecologic Oncology and Reproductive Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Associate Professor, The Harris Health System - Lyndon B. Johnson Hospital, 5656 Kelley St, Houston, TX
Associate Professor, Gynecologic Oncology and Reproductive Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Chief of Service, Gynecologic Oncology, Lyndon B. Johnson Hospital, Houston, TX
Dual/Joint/Adjunct Appointment
Associate Professor, The Harris Health System - Lyndon B. Johnson Hospital, 5656 Kelley St, Houston, TX
Associate Professor, Gynecologic Oncology and Reproductive Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Education & Training
Degree-Granting Education
| 2008 | University of California Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, California, US, MD |
| 2006 | University of California Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, California, US, Master of Public Health, MPH |
| 2001 | University of California Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, California, US, Neurobiology, Physiology, and Behavioral Sciences & Minor: Spanish, BS |
Postgraduate Training
| 2022-2022 | Leadership, Certified Leadership Coach for Associate Fellowship Director, The Doerr Institute for New Leaders at Rice University, Houston, Texas |
| 2013-2017 | Clinical Fellowship in Gynecologic Oncology, Gynecologic Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas |
| 2012-2013 | Clinical Fellowship in Breast Surgery, Breast Surgery, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University and Women & Infants Hospital of Rhode Island, Providence, Rhode Island |
| 2008-2012 | Clinical Residency, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University and Women & Infants Hospital of Rhode Island, Providence, Rhode Island |
| 2002-2003 | Post-Baccalaureate Program, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, California |
Licenses & Certifications
| 2021 | American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology Subspecialty |
| 2019 | American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology |
| 2016 | Texas Medical Board License |
Experience & Service
Faculty Academic Appointments
Assistant Professor, The Harris Health System - Lyndon B. Johnson Hospital, 5656 Kelley St, Houston, TX, 2019 - 2023
Assistant Professor, Gynecologic Oncology and Reproductive Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 2017 - 2023
Administrative Appointments/Responsibilities
Fellowship Program Director, Gynecologic Oncology and Reproductive Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 2024 - Present
Chief of Service, Gynecologic Oncology, Lyndon B. Johnson Hospital, Houston, TX, 2023 - Present
Leadership Coach, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 2022 - Present
Fellowship Program Associate Director, Gynecologic Oncology and Reproductive Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 2019 - 2024
Extramural Institutional Committee Activities
Member, Steering Committee, Crotts Global EMPD Consortium (CGEC), 2026 - Present
Member, Credentials Committee of the Medical Staff, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2023
Chair, Grand Rounds Planning Committee, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2021 - Present
Member, MD Anderson Faculty Academic Review Committee, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2019 - Present
Chair, Clinical Competency Committee for the Fellowship in Gynecologic Oncology at MD Anderson, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2019 - Present
Member, MD Anderson Junior Faculty Committee, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2018 - 2023
Member, Program Evaluation Committee for Fellowship in Gynecologic Oncology at MD Anderson, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2016 - Present
Member, Admissions Committee for the Fellowship in Gynecologic Oncology at MD Anderson, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2016 - Present
Member, Education Committee for Fellowship in Gynecologic Oncology at MD Anderson, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2013 - Present
Honors & Awards
| 2025 | National Patient Experience Recognition Award for 2025 - Top 1%, Clinician and Group Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CGCAHPS) |
| 2022 | National Patient Experience Recognition Award for 2022 - Top 1%, Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems |
| 2021 | National Patient Experience Recognition Award for 2021- Top 1%, Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems |
| 2015 | Conquer Cancer Foundation 2015 Oncology Trainee Travel Award for the 2015 American Society of Clinical Oncology, (ASCO) Annual Meeting |
| 2013 | Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center Travel Award, Advances in Endometrial Cancer Epidemiology and Biology Symposium |
| 2013 | Top Fellow Teacher of the Year Award, Women and Infants Hospital, Brown University |
| 2012 | David H. Nichols Award for Excellence in Pelvic Surgery, Women and Infants Hospital, Brown University |
| 2012 | Top Resident Teacher of the Year Award, Women and Infants Hospital, Brown University |
| 2011 | OB/Gyn Resident Humanism in Medicine Award, Women and Infants Hospital, Brown University |
| 2011 | Outstanding Resident Teacher, Warren Alpert School of Medicine of Brown University, Providence RI |
| 2009 - 2011 | Excellence in Teaching Medical Students, Warren Alpert School of Medicine of Brown University |
| 2008 | Alpha Omega Alpha, UC Davis School of Medicine Chapter |
Professional Memberships
Selected Presentations & Talks
Local Presentations
- 2025. Surgical management of cervical and endometrial cancer. Invited. Resident Education. Houston, Texas, US.
- 2024. Principles of gynecologic oncology. Invited. Fellow Education. Houston, Texas, US.
National Presentations
- 2026. You should know how! Providing feedback when a resident outperforms a fellow. Invited. CREOG & APGO Annual Meeting. Seattle, Washington, US.
- 2024. Finding your path – fostering professional growth in OBGYN fellowships. Invited. CREOG & APGO Annual Meeting. San Antonio, TX, US.
- 2023. Little words with a punch: Bias language in letters of recommendation for OBGYN fellowships. Invited. APO/CREOG Annual Conference. Washington, DC, US.
- 2022. The Secret Sauce: From Fellow to Faculty and Ingredients Needed When Finding a Job. Invited. CREOG & APGO Annual Meeting, US.
- 2021. Your Heart Will Go On: Navigating the transition from residency to fellowship. Invited. CREOG & APGO Annual Meeting, US.
- 2020. Management of Deeply Invasive Grade 3 Endometrioid Tumors. Invited. Endometrial Cancer Meeting: MDA, MSK & Mayo Collaboration. Houston, TX, US.
- 2019. Learners to Leaders: A Toolkit for Teaching to Lead the Wave of Change. Invited. APGO Martin L. Stone Faculty Development Seminar. Maui, HI, US.
- 2016. Poster Presentation - Adjuvant therapy for grade 3, deeply invasive endometrioid adenocarcinoma of the uterus. Conference. Society for Gynecologic Oncology (SGO) Annual Meeting. San Diego, CA, US.
- 2015. Poster Presentation - Society for Gynecologic Oncology (SGO) Annual Meeting. Conference. American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting. Chicago, IL, US.
- 2015. Poster Presentation - Omentin as a potential biomarker related to exercise and cancer risk. Conference. American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting. Chicago, IL, US.
- 2015. Sexual Function in Breast Cancer Survivors: What does surgery have to do with it?. Conference. Society for Surgical Oncology (SSO) Annual Meeting. Houston, TX, US.
- 2015. Oral Presentation - Sexual Function in Breast Cancer Survivors: What does surgery have to do with it?. Conference. Society for Surgical Oncology (SSO) Annual Meeting. Houston, TX, US.
- 2015. Poster Presentation - Introduction of a breast didactic program in an Obstetrics & Gynecologic Residency. Invited. CREOG & APGO Annual Meeting. San Antonio, TX, US.
- 2015. Poster Presentation - Introduction of a breast didactic program in an Obstetrics & Gynecologic Residency. Invited. CREOG & APGO Annual Meeting. San Antonio, TX, US.
- 2014. Oral Presentation - Omentin as a biomarker associated with improved overall survival in serous ovarian cancer. Conference. Society of Gynecologic Oncology (SGO) Early Career Educational Summit. Chicago, IL, US.
- 2014. Omentin as a biomarker associated with improved overall survival in serous ovarian cancer. Invited. Society of Gynecologic Oncology (SGO) Early Career Educational Summit. Chicago, IL, US.
- 2014. Oral Presentation - A potential tumor suppressor in the microenvironment associated with visceral obesity. Conference. 44th Annual Felix Rutledge Society Meeting. Scottsdale, AZ, US.
- 2014. Poster Presentation - Serum omentin concentration is a potential biomarker for complex atypical hyperplasia and endometrioid endometrial cancer. Conference. Society for Gynecologic Oncology (SGO) Annual Meeting. Tampa, FL, US.
- 2014. Oral Presentation - A potential tumor suppressor in the microenvironment associated with visceral obesity. Conference. Society of Gynecologic Oncology (SGO) Annual Meeting. Tampa, FL, US.
- 2011. Poster Presentation - Are early stage cancers being diagnosed with screening mammography in socioeconomically challenged populations accessing the Rhode Island Screening Program. Conference. New England Surgical Society Annual Meeting. Bretton Woods, NH, US.
- 2011. Oral Presentation - Sexual function and the surgical management of breast cancer. Conference. New England Association of Gynecologic Oncologists Annual Conference. Westbrook, CT, US.
- 2005. Poster Presentation - Survival of the fittest: can exercise prolong the time to ovarian cancer recurrence. Conference. American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting. Chicago, IL, US.
International Presentations
- 2022. Paget Disease of the Vulva. Invited. Colombian Gynecologic Oncology Society, CO.
Grant & Contract Support
| Date: | 2020 - 2022 |
| Title: | Initiating a patient navigation system for underserved patients with hereditary cancer syndromes |
| Funding Source: | Quasi Endowment |
| Role: | Investigator |
Selected Publications
Peer-Reviewed Articles
- Veerabagu SA, Li Y, Grinsfelder M, Little AJ, Srivastava D, Wehner MR. Lichen Sclerosus Prevalence and Squamous Cell Carcinoma Development in Female Medicare Beneficiaries. JAMA Dermatol, 2025. e-Pub 2025. PMID: 40699588.
- Pita-Grisanti V, Vélez-Bonet E, Chasser K, Hurst Z, Liette A, Vulic G, Dubay K, Lahooti A, Badi N, Ueltschi O, Gumpper-Fedus K, Hsueh HY, Lahooti I, Chavez-Tomar M, Terhorst S, Knoblaugh SE, Cao L, Huang W, Coss CC, Mace TA, Choueiry F, Hinton A, Culp S, Mitchell JM, Schmandt R, Onstad Grinsfelder M, Basen-Engquist K, Cruz-Monserrate Z. Physical Activity Decreases Inflammation and Delays Development of Obesity-Associated Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma. Cancer Res. e-Pub 2024. PMID: 38781455.
- Oaknin, A, Gladieff, L, Martinez-Garcia, J, Villacampa, G, Takekuma, M, De Giorgi, U, Lindemann, K, Woelber, L, Colombo, N, Duska, L, Leary, A, Godoy-Ortiz, A, Nishio, S, Angelergues, A, Rubio, MJ, Fariñas-Madrid, L, Yamaguchi, S, Lorusso, D, Ray-Coquard, I, Manso, L, Joly, F, Alarcón, J, Follana, P, Noguera, IR, Lebreton, C, Pérez-Fidalgo, JA, Yunokawa, M, Dahlstrand, H, D'Hondt, V, Randall, L, Abadie-Lacourtoisie, S, Andreetta, C, Anzizar, N, Aoki, D, Barretina-Ginesta, MP, Battista, MJ, Bellier, C, Bentzen, AG, Berton, D, Billemont, B, Bjørge, L, Bjurberg, M, Black, D, Bologna, A, Braicu, EI, Casanova, C, Chekerov, R, Chevalier, A, Cueva, JF, Onstad Grinsfelder, MA. Atezolizumab plus bevacizumab and chemotherapy for metastatic, persistent, or recurrent cervical cancer (BEATcc). The Lancet 403(10421):31-43, 2024. e-Pub 2024. PMID: 38048793.
- Morris VK, Jazaeri A, Westin SN, Pettaway C, George S, Huey RW, Grinsfelder M, Shafer A, Johnson B, Vining D, Guo M, Fellman B, Frumovitz M. Phase II Trial of MEDI0457 and Durvalumab for Patients With Recurrent/Metastatic Human Papillomavirus-Associated Cancers. Oncologist 28(7):618-623, 2023. e-Pub 2023. PMID: 37104874.
- Pita-Grisanti V, Dubay K, Lahooti A, Badi N, Ueltschi O, Gumpper-Fedus K, Hsueh HY, Lahooti I, Chavez-Tomar M, Terhorst S, Knoblaugh SE, Cao L, Huang W, Coss CC, Mace TA, Choueiry F, Hinton A, Mitchell JM, Schmandt R, Grinsfelder MO, Basen-Engquist K, Cruz-Monserrate Z. Physical Activity Delays Obesity-Associated Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma in Mice and Decreases Inflammation. bioRxiv, 2023. e-Pub 2023. PMID: 36711764.
- Batman S, Rauh-Hain JA, Grinsfelder MO, Harrison R, Avila M, Cun H, How JA, Tandon N, Wang X, Hinchcliff E, Jazaeri AA, Schmeler KM. Exceptional Response to Pembrolizumab for Treatment of Metastatic Chemorefractory Endometrial Carcinoma in a Patient with Lynch Syndrome: A Case Report. Case Rep Oncol 16(1):273-278, 2023. e-Pub 2023. PMID: 37123608.
- Hinchcliff E, Gunther J, Ponnie AE, Bednarski B, Onstad M, Shafer A, Frumovitz M, Jazaeri A, Urbauer D, Bodurka DC. A Not So Perfect Score. Journal of Cancer Education 37(3):615-620, 2022. e-Pub 2022. PMID: 32839894.
- Sezen D, Patel RR, Tang C, Onstad M, Nagarajan P, Patel SP, Welsh JW, Lin LL. Immunotherapy combined with high- and low-dose radiation to all sites leads to complete clearance of disease in a patient with metastatic vaginal melanoma. Gynecologic oncology 161(3):645-652, 2021. e-Pub 2021. PMID: 33795130.
- Fleming ND, Westin SN, Meyer LA, Shafer A, Rauh-Hain JA, Onstad M, Cobb L, Bevers M, Fellman BM, Burzawa J, Bhosale P, Zand B, Jazaeri A, Levenback C, Coleman RL, Soliman PT, Sood AK. Correlation of surgeon radiology assessment with laparoscopic disease site scoring in patients with advanced ovarian cancer. International Journal of Gynecological Cancer 31(1):92-97, 2021. e-Pub 2021. PMID: 33154095.
- Onstad M, Coleman RL, Westin SN. Movement of Poly-ADP Ribose (PARP) Inhibition into Frontline Treatment of Ovarian Cancer. Drugs 80(15):1525-1535, 2020. e-Pub 2020. PMID: 32852746.
- Au-Yeung CL, Yeung TL, Achreja A, Zhao H, Yip KP, Kwan SY, Onstad M, Sheng J, Zhu Y, Baluya DL, Co NN, Rynne-Vidal A, Schmandt R, Anderson ML, Lu KH, Wong STC, Nagrath D, Mok SC. ITLN1 modulates invasive potential and metabolic reprogramming of ovarian cancer cells in omental microenvironment. Nat Commun 11(1):3546, 2020. e-Pub 2020. PMID: 32669559.
- Onstad M, Ducie J, Fellman BM, Abu-Rustum NR, Leitao M, Mariani A, Multinu F, Lu KH, Soliman P. Adjuvant therapy for grade 3, deeply invasive endometrioid adenocarcinoma of the uterus. Int J Gynecol Cancer 30(4):485-490, 2020. e-Pub 2020. PMID: 31980487.
- Onstad M. Can we make myomectomy a safer procedure?. J Minim Invasive Gynecol 25(4):553-554, 2018. e-Pub 2018. PMID: 29551478.
- Rojas KE, Matthews N, Raker C, Clark MA, Onstad M, Stuckey A, Gass J. Body mass index (BMI), postoperative appearance satisfaction, and sexual function in breast cancer survivorship. J Cancer Surviv 12(1):127-133, 2018. e-Pub 2018. PMID: 29043480.
- Gass JS, Onstad M, Pesek S, Rojas K, Fogarty S, Stuckey A, Raker C, Dizon DS. Breast-specific sensuality and sexual function in cancer survivorship. Ann Surg Oncol 24(11):12, 2017. e-Pub 2017. PMID: 28608119.
- Ring KL, Yates MS, Schmandt R, Onstad M, Zhang Q, Celestino J, Kwan SY, Lu KH. Endometrial cancers with activating KRas mutations have activated estrogen signaling and paradoxical response to MEK inhibition. Int J Gynecol Cancer 27(5):854-862, 2017. e-Pub 2017. PMID: 28498246.
- Rojas K, Onstad M, Raker C, Clark MA, Stuckey A, Gass J. The impact of mastectomy type on the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI), satisfaction with appearance, and the reconstructed breast’s role in intimacy. Breast Cancer Res Treat 163(2):273-279, 2017. e-Pub 2017. PMID: 28260139.
- Kwait RM, Pesek S, Onstad M, Edmonson D, Clark MA, Raker C, Stuckey A, Gass J. Influential Forces in Breast Cancer Surgical Decision Making and the Impact on Body Image and Sexual Function. Ann Surg Oncol 23(10):3403-11, 2016. e-Pub 2016. PMID: 27364508.
Review Articles
- Avila M, Grinsfelder MO, Pham M, Westin SN. Targeting the PI3K Pathway in Gynecologic Malignancies. Current oncology reports 24(12):1669-1676, 2022. e-Pub 2022. PMID: 36401704.
- Onstad MA, Schmandt RE, Lu KH. Addressing the Role of Obesity in Endometrial Cancer Risk, Prevention, and Treatment. J Clin Oncol 34(35):4225-4230, 2016. e-Pub 2016. PMID: 27903150.
- Stuckey AR, Onstad MA. Hereditary breast cancer: an update on risk assessment and genetic testing in 2015. Am J Obstet Gynecol 213(2):161-5, 2015. e-Pub 2015. PMID: 25747548.
- Onstad M, Stuckey A. Benign breast disorders. Obstet Gynecol Clin North Am 40(3):459-73, 2013. e-Pub 2013. PMID: 24021252.
Abstracts
- Veerabagu, SA, Li, Y, Grinsfelder, M, Little, AJ, Srivastava, D, Wehner, MR. Vulvar cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma trends in Female Lichen Sclerosus Medicare Patients. American Society of Dermatologic Surgeons Annual Conference.
Book Chapters
- Onstad MA, Pakish JB, Lu KH. Tumors of the Uterine Corpus. In: The MD Anderson Manual of Medical Oncology. McGraw-Hill, 2016.
- Onstad MA, Westin SN, Lu KH. Tumors of the Uterine Corpus. In: The MD Anderson Manual of Medical Oncology - Fourth Edition. McGraw Hill.
Patient Reviews
CV information above last modified September 11, 2026