Meet Richard Ehlers, M.D.
Richard A Ehlers II, MD, FACS
Department of Breast Surgical Oncology, Division of Surgery
About Dr. Ehlers II
Dr. Ehlers is a native Texan, born in Vernon, TX. He is a graduate of Rice University (B.A. 1991) and The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston (M.D. 1995, M.S. 1999). After medical school, he completed residency training in the Department of Surgery at The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston in 2002. He went on to become a Fellow and Clinical Specialist at The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in the Departments of Surgical Oncology and Critical Care. In 2010, he rejoined the staff of The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center where he now serves as the Executive Medical Director and Associate Vice President for all of M.D. Anderson’s Houston Area Locations outside of the Texas Medical Center. Dr. Ehlers specializes in the care of patients with breast cancer and melanoma. He is certified by the American Board of Surgery and is a Fellow of the Society of Surgical Oncology, the American Society of Breast Surgeons, and the American College of Surgeons and is a member of the American Association for Physician Leadership and the American College of Healthcare Executives.
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Present Title & Affiliation
Primary Appointment
Professor, Breast Surgical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
Education & Training
Degree-Granting Education
| 1999 | The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, US, Master of Medical Science, M.S |
| 1995 | The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, US, MD |
| 1991 | Rice University, Houston, Texas, US, English, BA |
| 2021 | The University of Houston Clear Lake, Houston, TX, US, MBA |
Postgraduate Training
| 2013-2018 | Certified Physician Executive, The American Association for Physician Leadership, Tampa, Florida |
| 2002-2004 | Clinical Fellowship, Surgical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas |
| 1999-2002 | Clinical Residency, General Surgery, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas |
| 1997-1999 | Research Fellowship, Gastrointestinal physiology/molecular biology, Department of Surgery, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas |
| 1995-1997 | Clinical Internship, General Surgery, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas |
Licenses & Certifications
| 2003 | Diplomat of the American Board of Surgery |
| 2001 | Texas Medical License |
Experience & Service
Faculty Academic Appointments
Associate Professor, Department of Surgery, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, 2018 - 2025
Associate Vice President, Houston Area Locations, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 2016 - 2025
Executive Medical Director, Houston Area Locations, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 2016 - 2025
Associate Professor, Breast Surgical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 2016 - 2023
Assistant Professor, Department of Surgery, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, 2016 - 2018
Hospital Appointment (Joint appointment), Memorial Hermann The Woodlands, The Woodlands, TX, 2016 - 2023
Hospital Appointment (Joint appointment), Memorial Hermann South East Hospital, Houston, TX, 2014 - 2023
Hospital Appointment (Joint appointment), Memorial Hermann Memorial City Hospital, Houston, TX, 2012 - 2023
Hospital Appointment (Joint appointment), Clear Lake Regional Medical Center, Clear Lake, TX, 2012 - 2023
Hospital Appointment (Joint appointment), Memorial Hermann Pearland, Pearland, TX, 2011 - 2023
Hospital Appointment (Joint appointment), St Luke's Woodlands Hospital, Woodlands, TX, 2011 - 2023
Assistant Professor, Breast Surgical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 2010 - 2016
Administrative Appointments/Responsibilities
Executive Medical Director, Houston Area Locations, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 2016 - 2025
Associate Vice President, Houston Area Locations, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 2016 - 2025
Center Medical Director, Bay Area Regional Care Center, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, 2012 - 2016
Associate Medical Director, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 2010 - 2011
Chief of Surgery, San Jacinto Methodist Hospital, Baytown, TX, 2006 - 2006
Executive Director and Surgical Oncologist, Bay Area Cancer Surgery, Webster, TX, 2004 - 2008
Administrative Chief Resident, Department of Surgery, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, 2001 - 2002
Other Professional Positions
Member, MD Anderson Ambulatory Practice Committee, Houston, TX, 2016 - 2017
Adventist Health Surgical site visit, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Network, Chicago, IL, 2015
Cancer Committee, Clear Lake Regional Medical Center, Houston, TX, 2014 - Present
Training and Manpower Pipeline Committee, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Network, Houston, TX, 2014 - 2015
Cancer Committee Member, Houston Methodist St. John Hospital, Nassau Bay, TX, 2013 - 2016
Surgical Oncologist, Surgical Specialists of Clear Lake, Clear Lake, TX, 2008 - 2010
Surgical Executive Committee, Clear Lake Regional Medical Center, Houston, TX, 2008 - 2010
Pharmacy and Therapeutics, ICU Advisory, General Medical Education, OR; Committee Member, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, 1996 - 1999
Cardiothoracic Surgery, Radiology, Pathology, Family Medicine; Internal Residency Review Committee, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, 1996 - 1998
Extramural Institutional Committee Activities
Committee Member, Dept of Breast Surgical Oncology Engagement Committee, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2024 - Present
Co-Lead, Engagement Circle, Wellbeing & Resiliency, Leadership Institute, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2023 - 2024
Committee Member, Credentials Committee of the Medical Staff, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2021 - Present
Committee Member, Leadership Development Council, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2018 - Present
Committee Member, Leadership Institute Core Planning Team, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2018 - 2018
Committee Member, Clinical Operations Leadership Team, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2017 - 2025
Committee Member, Institutional Biospecimen Utilization Committee, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2017 - 2019
Committee Member, Demand Generation Task Force, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2017 - 2019
Committee Member, Patient Experience Strategic Initiative Task Force, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2017 - 2017
Committee Member, Expansion Strategy Task Force, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2017 - 2017
Committee Member, Utilization Review Committee, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2015 - Present
Committee Member, Strategic Team P2-4 Room Allocation Strategy, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2014 - 2015
Committee Member, Medical Quality Planning, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2014 - 2015
Committee Member, Division of Surgery Cancer Network Operations, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2014 - 2016
Committee Member, Houston Strategy Advisory, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2014 - 2014
Advisory Committee, Continuing Medical Education, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2011 - 2014
Honors & Awards
| 2025 | Awesome Job Award, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center |
| 2024 - 2025 | Excellence in Clinical Teaching Award |
| 2020 - 2024 | Commitment to Mentoring Award, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center |
| 2006 | Smoke Free Spokesman, American Cancer Society |
| 1999 | Singleton Surgical Society Scientific Award, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX |
| 1998 | Jeanne B. Kempner Scholar Award, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX |
| 1996 | Outstanding Surgical PG-1 House Officer, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX |
| 1995 | Herman A. Barnett Memorial Award for Outstanding Performance in Anesthesiology and General Surgery, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX |
| 1994 | Alpha Omega Alpha National Medical Honor Society, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX |
| 1994 | Honors in Surgery and Family Medicine, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX |
| 1991 | Hanszen College of Senior Service Award, Rice University |
| 1987 | National Merit Scholar, Rice University |
Professional Memberships
Selected Presentations & Talks
National Presentations
- 2021. Optimizing ambulatory clinic workflow using patient flow analysis with real time patient tracking. Conference. Optimizing ambulatory clinic workflow using patient flow analysis with real time patient tracking. Orlando World Center Marriot, FL, US.
- 2006. Surgical Treatment of Pancreatic Cancer. Invited. Southern Medical Association Annual Scientific Assembly. Charlotte, NC, US.
Grant & Contract Support
| Title: | Surgical Studies of Signaling Mechanisms in GI Cancers |
| Funding Source: | National Institute of Health Fellowship Award |
| Role: | PI |
| ID: | F32 CA79187 |
Selected Publications
Peer-Reviewed Articles
- Ehlers II RA. Infections Due to Corynebacterium kroppenstedtii with Focus on Granulomatous Lobular Mastitis for Tissue Specificity, Pathogenesis, Bacteriologic Workup and Treatment. Archives of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine. e-Pub 2024.
- Schaverien MV, Singh P, Smith BD, Qiao W, Akay CL, Bloom ES, Chavez-MacGregor M, Chu CK, Clemens MW, Colen JS, Ehlers RA, Hwang RF, Joyner MM, Largo RD, Mericli AF, Mitchell MP, Shuck JW, Tamirisa N, Tripathy D, Villa MT, Woodward WA, Zacharia R, Kuerer HM, Hoffman KE. Premastectomy Radiotherapy and Immediate Breast Reconstruction: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Netw Open 7(4):e245217, 2024. e-Pub 2024. PMID: 38578640.
- Weng J, Mesko S, Chronowski G, Lee P, Choi S, Das P, Koong AC, French K, Aloia T, Ehlers R, Elrod-Joplin D, Kerr A, Smith R, Martinez W, Bloom E, Shah SJ, Ning MS, Liao Z, Herman J, Moningi S, Moreno AC, Nguyen Q. Optimizing Outpatient Radiation Oncology Consult Workflow by Using Time-Driven Activity-Based Costing: Efficiency and Financial Impacts. JCO Oncol Pract 20(5):732-738, 2024. e-Pub 2024.
- Kuerer, HM, Smith, B, Krishnamurthy, S, Yang, WT, Valero, V, Shen, Y, Lin, Y, Lucci, A, Boughey, JC, White, RL, Diego, EJ, Rauch, GM, Moseley, T, van la Parra, RF, Adrada, BE, Leung, J, Sun, SX, Teshome, M, Miggins, MV, Hunt, KK, DeSnyder, SM, Ehlers II, RA, Hwang, RF, Colen, JS, Arribas, E, Samiian, L, Lesnikoski, BA, Piotrowski, MJ, Bedrosian, I, Chong, CD, Correa Refinetti, AP, Huang, ML, Candelaria, RP, Loveland-Jones, C, Mitchell, MP, Shaitelman, SF. Eliminating breast surgery for invasive breast cancer in exceptional responders to neoadjuvant systemic therapy. The lancet oncology 23(12):1517-1524, 2022. e-Pub 2022. PMID: 36306810.
- Amaria RN, Reddy SM, Tawbi HA, Davies MA, Ross MI, Glitza IC, Cormier JN, Lewis C, Hwu WJ, Hanna E, Diab A, Wong MK, Royal R, Gross N, Weber R, Lai SY, Ehlers R, Blando J, Milton DR, Woodman S, Kageyama R, Wells DK, Hwu P, Patel SP, Lucci A, Hessel A, Lee JE, Gershenwald J, Simpson L, Burton EM, Posada L, Haydu L, Wang L, Zhang S, Lazar AJ, Hudgens CW, Gopalakrishnan V, Reuben A, Andrews MC, Spencer CN, Prieto V, Sharma P, Allison J, Tetzlaff MT, Wargo JA. Neoadjuvant immune checkpoint blockade in high-risk resectable melanoma. Nat Med 24(11):1649-1654, 2018. e-Pub 2018. PMID: 30297909.
- Fayanju OM, Mayo TL, Spinks TE, Lee S, Barcenas C, Smith BD, Giordano SH, Hwang RF, Ehlers RA, Selber JS, Walters R, Tripathy D, Hunt KK, Bucholz TA, Feeley TW, Kurer HM. Value-Based Breast Cancer Care: A Multidisciplinary Approach for Defining Patient-Centered Outcomes. Annals of Surgical Oncology, 2016. e-Pub 2016. PMID: 26979306.
- Williams SA, Ehlers RA, Hunt KK, Yi M, Kuerer HM, Singletary SE, Ross MI, Feig BW, Symmans WF, Meric-Bernstam F. Metastases to the breast from non breast solid neoplasms: presentation and determinants of survival. Cancer 110(4):731-7, 2007. e-Pub 2007. PMID: 17582626.
- Ethridge RT, Chung DH, Slogoff M, Ehlers RA, Hellmich MR, Rajaraman S, Saito H, Uchida T, Evers BM. Cyclooxygenase-2 gene disruption attenuates the severity of acute pancreatitis and pancreatitis-associated lung injury. Gastroenterology 123(4):1311-22, 2002. e-Pub 2002. PMID: 12360491.
- Ethridge RT, Hashimoto K, Chung DH, Ehlers RA, Rajaraman S, Evers BM. Selective inhibition of NF-kappaB attenuates the severity of cerulein-induced acute pancreatitis. J Am Coll Surg 195(4):497-505, 2002. e-Pub 2002. PMID: 12375755.
- Angel CA, Ehlers RA. Images in clinical medicine. Atloido-occipital dislocation in a small child after air-bag deployment. N Engl J Med 345(17):1256, 2001. e-Pub 2001. PMID: 11680446.
- Ethridge RT, Ehlers RA, Hellmich MR, Rajaraman S, Evers BM. Acute pancreatitis results in induction of heat shock proteins 70 and 27 and heat shock factor-1. Pancreas 21(3):248-56, 2000. e-Pub 2000. PMID: 11039468.
- Ehlers RA, Sh K, Zhang Y, Ethridge RT, Murrilo C, Hellmich MR, Evans DB, Townsend CM, Mark Evers B. Gut peptide receptor expression in human pancreatic cancers. Ann Surg 231(6):838-48, 2000. e-Pub 2000. PMID: 10816627.
- Ehlers RA, Zhang Y, Hellmich MR, Evers BM. Neurotensin-mediated activation of MAPK pathways and AP-1 binding in the human pancreatic cancer cell line, MIA PaCa-2. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 269(3):704-8, 2000. e-Pub 2000. PMID: 10720480.
- Wang Q, Ding Q, Dong Z, Ehlers RA, Evers BM. Downregulation of mitogen-activated protein kinases in human colon cancers. Anticancer Res 20(1A):75-83, 2000. e-Pub 2000. PMID: 10769637.
- Ehlers RA, Hernandez A, Bloemendal LS, Ethridge RT, Farrow B, Evers BM. Mitochondrial DNA damage and altered membrane potential (delta psi) in pancreatic acinar cells induced by reactive oxygen species. Surgery 126(2):148-55, 1999. e-Pub 1999. PMID: 10455877.
- Ethridge RT, Ehlers RA. Pancreatic heat shock protein 27 is increased with acute pancreatitis. Surg Forum 50:27-29, 1999. e-Pub 1999.
- Ehlers RA, Bonnor RM, Wang X, Hellmich MR, Evers BM. Signal transduction mechanisms in neurotensin-mediated cellular regulation. Surgery 124(2):239-46; discussion 246-7, 1998. e-Pub 1998. PMID: 9706144.
- Ehers RA, Evers BM. Stimulation of the JNK signaling pathway by the gut hormone neuotensin acting through its high-affinity receptor. Surg Forum 49:159-160, 1998. e-Pub 1998.
Invited Articles
- Ehlers RA, W Pisters PP, Perrier ND. MD Anderson's 10-year experience with regional surgical oncology in the Houston area locations. Surgery 171(4):1115-1118, 2022. e-Pub 2022. PMID: 34933757.
Professional Educational Materials
- Ehlers RA. Pocket Companion to Sabiston: Textbook of Surgery. WB Sanders, 2002.
Other Articles
- Ehlers RA The Right Team to Treat Your Cancer. Bottom Line Health 32(5):5-6, 2018.
Abstracts
- X-L R, Hellmich HL, Ehlers RA, Fleming RYD, Evers BM, Jr TC, Hellmich MR. A novel cholecystokinin-B/gastrin receptor splice variant is expressed in human colon cancers. Gastroenterology 118:A533, 2000. e-Pub 2000.
- Ethridge RT, Chung DH, Ehlers RA, Rajaraman S, Evers BM. Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) gene disruption markedly attenuates the severity of acute pancreatitis and pancreatitis-associated lung injury. Gastroenterology(118):A166, 2000. e-Pub 2000.
- Ehtridge RT, Ehlers RA, Evers BM. Acute pancreatitis results in induction of heat shock factor-1 and heat shock protein 70. Gastroenterology 116:A1122, 1999. e-Pub 1999.
- Ehtridge RT, Ehlers RA, Evers BM. Coordinate induction of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and NF-kB in acute pancreatitis. Gastroenterology 116:A1122, 1999. e-Pub 1999.
- Leonard LD, Sun J, Bassett R, Ehlers II RA, Refinetti A, Johnson H, Akay H, Suarez Colon J, Bedrosian I, Hunt K, Tamirisa N. Surgeon Interpretation of Margin Status Utilizing Intraoperative 3D Tomosynthesis During Breast Conserving Surgery. American Society of Breast Surgeons Annual Meeting.
Book Chapters
- Ehlers RA, Kuerer HM, Singletary ES. Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy in Breast Cancer. In: The M.D. Anderson Cancer Center Approach. BC Decker: Hamilton, 2004.
- Ehlers RA, Evers BM. Signaling pathways in GI cancers. In: Molecular Mechanisms of Gastrointestinal Cancers. Landes Bioscience, 1999.
Patient Reviews
CV information above last modified August 25, 2026