Monica T Agosta, PSYD
Department of Palliative, Rehabilitation and Integrative Medicine, Division of Cancer Medicine
Present Title & Affiliation
Primary Appointment
Assistant 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
| 1998 | Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, US, Clinical Psychology, PsyD |
| 1995 | Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, US, Master of Science, M.S |
| 1992 | West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia, US, Psychology, BS |
Postgraduate Training
| 1998-1999 | Clinical Internship, Post Doctorate Internship, Behavioral Healthcare Associates, Houston, Texas |
| 1997-1998 | Clinical Internship, Psychology, University of Miami-Jackson Memorial Hospital, Miami, Florida |
Licenses & Certifications
| 1999 | Texas State Board of Examiners of Professional Psychologists |
Experience & Service
Faculty Academic Appointments
Instructor, Department of Palliative Care and Rehabilitation Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 2017 - 2022
Psychologist, Department of Palliative Care and Rehabilitation Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 2015 - 2017
Other Professional Positions
Contract Clinical Psychologist, Private Practice, Houston, TX, 2005 - 2015
Staff Clinical Psychologist, Houston Headache Clinic, Houston, TX, 2000 - 2005
Clinical Psychologist, Behavioral Healthcare Associates, Houston, TX, 1998 - 2000
Intramural Institutional Committee Activities
Member, Psychosocial Distress Research Work Group, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2023 - Present
Extramural Institutional Committee Activities
Member, Medical Records Committee, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2025 - Present
Member, Junior Faculty Committee, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2025 - Present
Alternate, Credentials Committee of the Medical Staff (CCMS), The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2023 - Present
Member, Faculty Senate, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2023 - 2025
Editorial Activities
Reviewer, BMC Palliative Care, 2025 - Present
Selected Presentations & Talks
Local Presentations
- 2021. A Focus on Caregivers. Conference. Cancer in the Workplace Employee Network. Houston, TX, US.
Regional Presentations
- 2025. Grief and Bereavement. Conference. 2025 Updates in Hospice and Palliative Care and Intensive Physician Board Review. Houston, Texas, US.
- 2023. Grief and Bereavement. Conference. 2023 Updates in Hospice and Palliative Care and Intensive Physician Board Review. Houston, Texas, US.
- 2022. Grief and Bereavement. Conference. 2022 Updates in Hospice and Palliative Care and Intensive Physician Board Review. Houston, Texas, US.
- 2021. Co-Presenters C. Carmack and S. Ann-Yi. Anticipatory Grief: Helping patients and families transition from active treatment to purely Palliative Care. Invited. 24th Supportive and Palliative Care Clinical and Research Symposium. Houston, TX, US.
National Presentations
- 2016. Co-Presenters Ann-Yi S, Bruera E, Guzman D, Najera J, Raznahan M, Williams JL, Carmack CL. Characteristics and Outcomes of Psychology Referral in Palliative Care. Conference. ASCO Palliative Care in Oncology Symposium. San Francisco, CA, US.
International Presentations
- 2022. Psycho-oncology. Invited. Project ECHO Palliative Care Africa Team. Houston, US.
Selected Publications
Peer-Reviewed Articles
- Agosta MT, Jimenez-Torres GJ, Garcia-Hocker M, Azhar A, Bruera E, Carmack C. Language barriers and patient safety in supportive care: Two case reports bridging system-level gaps. Palliat Support Care, 2026. e-Pub 2026.
- Agosta MT, Min J, Pangemanan I, Ann-Yi S, Bruera E. “He needs to die in the hospital” – A Caregiver’s Distress Call. Palliat Support Care, 2025. e-Pub 2025.
- Agosta MT, Jimenez GJ, Bruera E, Carmack CL. Left Behind: Addressing the Impact of Family Separation on the Suffering of Patients with Advanced Cancer. J Palliat Med. e-Pub 2025.
- Agosta M, Dev R, Fellman B, Reddy A, Baldwin S, Arthur J, Haider A, Carmack C, Hui D, Bruera E. Coping Strategies and Associated Symptom Burden Among Patients with Advanced Cancer. Oncologist 29(2), 2024. e-Pub 2024. PMID: 37669020.
- Carmack CL, Agosta M, Ann-Yi S, Bruera E. Treating Radiation Anxiety with Systematic Desensitization: Head and Neck Cancer Case Reports. J Palliat Med 26(7):1020-1023, 2023. e-Pub 2023. PMID: 36730789.
- Agosta M, Shih KS, Vidal M, Zhukovsky DS, Bruera E. Patient Behaviors During Virtual Clinic Encounters in Palliative Care. Palliat Supp Care:178-180, 2023. e-Pub 2022.
- Agosta M, Tang M, Carmack CL, Bruera E. Social isolation at the end of life: A case report of one person’s journey navigating the medical landscape during the COVID-19 pandemic. Palliat Supp Care, 2022. e-Pub 2022. PMID: 35587538.
- Ann-Yi S, Bruera E, Wu J, Liu DD, Agosta M, Williams JL, Balankari VR, Carmack CL. Characteristics and Outcomes of Psychology Referrals in Palliative Care Department. J Pain Symptom Manage 56(3):344-351, 2018. e-Pub 2018.
Patient Reviews
CV information above last modified March 06, 2026