Monica T Agosta, PSYD
Department of Palliative, Rehabilitation and Integrative Medicine, Division of Cancer Medicine
Present Title & Affiliation
Primary Appointment
Assistant Professor, Palliative Care and Rehabilitation Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Dual/Joint/Adjunct Appointment
Assistant Professor, 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, Palliative Care and Rehabilitation Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 2017 - 2022
Psychologist, 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
Extramural Institutional Committee Activities
Interviewer, Palliative Fellowship Interview Committee, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2026 - 2026
Member, Fellow Performance Improvement Program, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2026 - Present
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
Interviewer, Palliative Fellowship Interview Committee, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2025 - 2025
Alternate, Credentials Committee of the Medical Staff (CCMS), The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2023 - 2026
Member, Faculty Senate, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2023 - 2025
Member, Psychosocial Distress Research Work Group, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2023 - Present
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
- 2026. Co-Presenters: S, Garcia, J, Tennison, and R, Dev. Interdisciplinary Care for Anorexia-Cachexia Syndrome in Patients with Cancer-Psychological Support for Patients with Cancer Cachexia. Conference. 29th Supportive and Palliative Care Clinical and Research Symposium. Houston, Texas, US.
- 2026. Understanding Grief in Patients and Their Families: A Review. Invited. 2026 Updates in Hospice and Palliative Medicine and Intensive Physician Board Review Course. Houston, Texas, US.
- 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
- 2026. Psychological Distress in Patients with Advanced Disease. Invited. Supportive Care Collaborative. Houston, Texas, US.
- 2026. Co-Authors: Dev R, Kadakia KC, Tennison J, Agosta M, Yaceczko S Del Fabbrp E. Interdisciplinary Care for Anorexia-Cachexia Syndrome in Patients with Cancer. Poster. 2026 American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine Annual Assembly. Chicago, Illinois, US.
International Presentations
- 2026. Psycho-Oncology: Addressing Psychological Distress in Patients as They Approach End of Life. Invited. Project ECHO Palliative Care Africa Team. Houston, US.
- 2022. Psycho-oncology. Invited. Project ECHO Palliative Care Africa Team. Houston, US.
Selected Publications
Peer-Reviewed Articles
- 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, 2026. e-Pub 2026.
- 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 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.
Abstracts
- Dev R, Tennison J, Agosta MT, Garcia S. Interdisciplinary Care for Anorexia Cachexia Syndrome in Patients with Cancer. 29th Supportive & Palliative Care Clinical and Research Symposium, 2023. e-Pub 2023.
Patient Reviews
CV information above last modified September 28, 2026