Yvonne J. Heung, MD, MS, FACP, FAAHPM
Department of Palliative, Rehabilitation and Integrative Medicine, Division of Cancer Medicine
Present Title & Affiliation
Primary Appointment
Associate Professor, Department of Palliative, Rehabilitation, and Integrative Medicine, Division of Cancer Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Dual/Joint/Adjunct Appointment
Associate Professor, Department of Palliative, Rehabilitation and Integrative Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
Education & Training
Degree-Granting Education
| 2011 | Albany Medical College, Albany, New York, US, MD |
| 2008 | Union Graduate College, Schenectady, New York, US, Healthcare Management, MS |
| 2007 | Union College, Schenectady, New York, US, Biology, Music, Leadership in Medicine, BS |
Postgraduate Training
| 2014-2015 | Clinical Fellowship, Hospice and Palliative Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas |
| 2012-2014 | Clinical Residency, Internal Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai St. Luke's-Roosevelt, New York, New York |
| 2011-2012 | Clinical Internship, Internal Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai St. Luke's-Roosevelt, New York, New York |
Licenses & Certifications
| 2018 | American Board of Hospice and Palliative Medicine |
| 2017 | Texas Medical Board |
| 2016 | American Board of Internal Medicine |
Experience & Service
Faculty Academic Appointments
Assistant Professor, Department of Palliative, Rehabilitation, & Integrative Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 2017 - 2025
Assistant Professor, Department of Medicine, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, California, 2016 - 2017
Assistant Professor, Department of Family Medicine, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, California, 2016 - 2017
Instructor, Department of Family Medicine, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, California, 2015 - 2016
Administrative Appointments/Responsibilities
Rotation Site Director, Department of Palliative, Rehabilitation, and Integrative Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, 2024 - Present
Associate Program Director, Department of Palliative, Rehabilitation, and Integrative Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 2021 - Present
Other Professional Positions
President, Union College, Schenectady, New York, 2005 - 2006
Secretary, Union College, Schenectady, New York, 2004 - 2005
Institutional Committee Activities
Member, Palliative Care Clinical Rounds Planning Committee, 2023 - Present
Member, Supportive Care Faculty Scheduling Committee, 2023 - 2025
Member, Supportive Care Center Continuity of Care Initiative Committee, 2022 - Present
Member, Hospice and Palliative Medicine Fellowship Program Evaluation Committee (PEC), 2021 - Present
Member, Hospice and Palliative Medicine Fellowship Clinical Competency Committee (CCC), 2021 - Present
Member, Hospice and Palliative Medicine APP Selection Committee, 2019 - Present
Senator, Division of Cancer Medicine Faculty Senate, 2019 - 2022
Member, Junior Faculty Committee, 2019 - Present
Member, Hospice and Palliative Medicine Fellowship Selection Committee, 2019 - Present
Member, MD Anderson Interdisciplinary Conference on Supportive Care, Hospice and Palliative Medicine Planning Committee, 2017 - 2021
Member, Loma Linda University Cancer Center Committee, 2015 - 2017
Member, Albany Medical College Admission Committee, 2007 - 2011
Member, Union College Admissions Committee, 2003 - 2007
Honors & Awards
| 2023 | Fellow of American Association of Hospice and Palliative Medicine, American Association of Hospice and Palliative Medicine |
| 2022 | Fellow of American College of Physicians, American College of Physicians |
| 2011 | Kenneth B. Olsen Prize, Albany Medical College |
| 2003 - 2007 | Union College Dean's List, Union College |
| 2003 - 2007 | Union College Presidential Scholarship, Union College |
| 1999 - 2003 | Top 10% of Class, La Jolla High School |
Professional Memberships
Selected Presentations & Talks
Local Presentations
- 2024. Lost in No Man's Land: Unique Challenges in Supportive/Palliative Care for AYA. Invited. Palliative, Rehabilitation, and Integrative Medicine Grand Rounds. Houston, Texas, US.
- 2023. Quality of End-of-Life Care During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Invited. Palliative, Rehabilitation, and Integrative Medicine Grand Rounds. Houston, Texas, US.
- 2019. Palliative Care: Patient Home Visits with Compassus Hospice. Invited. Community Bus Rounds. Houston, TX, US.
- 2019. Advance Care Planning at the Palliative Care Referral. Invited. Palliative, Rehabilitation, and Integrative Medicine Grand Rounds. Houston, Texas, US.
- 2019. The Palliative Care Referral. Invited. Palliative, Rehabilitation, and Integrative Medicine Grand Rounds. Houston, Texas, US.
- 2018. Lost in No Man's Land: Unique Challenges in Supportive/Palliative Care for AYA. Invited. Palliative, Rehabilitation, and Integrative Medicine Grand Rounds. Houston, Texas, US.
- 2015. Discussing Code Status in Advanced Cancer. Invited. Palliative, Rehabilitation, and Integrative Medicine Grand Rounds. Houston, Texas, US.
- 2013. Prolymphocyctic Leukemia. Invited. Leukemia Case Conference. New York, NY, US.
- 2013. Ph+ Acute Myeloid Leukemia. Invited. Leukemia Case Conference. New York, NY, US.
- 2012. Consolidation for Elderly with Acute Myeloid Leukemia. Invited. Leukemia Case Conference. New York, NY, US.
Regional Presentations
- 2017. Communication. Invited. End-of-Life Nursing Education Consortium (ELNEC). Loma Linda, California, US.
- 2016. Communication. Invited. End-of-Life Nursing Education Consortium (ELNEC). Loma Linda, California, US.
- 2008. Postoperative pain management: assessment of patient perceptions at Riverside Community Hospital. Invited. Albany Medical College Medical Student Investigation Day. Albany, NY, US.
National Presentations
- 2025. What to expect when you’re not expecting: Cefepime-induced neurotoxicity in advanced cancer. Poster. 2025 Annual Assembly of Hospice and Palliative Medicine. Denver, Colorado, US.
- 2024. Opioid Rotation. Invited. 2024 Updates in Hospice and Palliative Medicine and Intensive Physician Board Review. Houston, Texas, US.
- 2023. Opioid Rotation. Invited. 2023 Updates in Hospice and Palliative Medicine and Intensive Physician Board Review. Houston, TX, US.
- 2023. Characteristics of Inpatient Deaths During the COVID-19 Pandemic at a Comprehensive Cancer Center. Poster. 2023 Annual Assembly of Hospice and Palliative Medicine. Montreal, CA.
- 2022. Opioid Rotation. Invited. 2022 Updates in Hospice and Palliative Medicine and Intensive Physician Board Review. Houston, TX, US.
- 2021. Supportive Care for Advanced Cancer. Invited. Interdisciplinary Collaborative Cancer Care Conference (postponed due to COVID-19). Aspen, CO, US.
- 2021. What to Expect Now? Prognostication in the Last Week of Life. Invited. 24th Annual Interdisciplinary Conference on Supportive Care, Hospice and Palliative Medicine. Houston, TX, US.
- 2021. Supportive/Palliative Care for the Pancreatic Cancer Patient. Invited. Multidisciplinary Conference on Pancreas Cancer. Houston, TX, US.
- 2021. Advance Care Planning During COVID-19. Invited. Practical Applications of New Agents in Oncology Conference. San Antonio, TX, US.
- 2020. Prognostication. Invited. 2020 Updates in Hospice and Palliative Care and Intensive Physician Board Review. Houston, TX, US.
- 2020. What to Expect When You’re Not Expecting: A Challenging Case of Prolonged Palliative Sedation. Poster. 2020 Annual Assembly of Hospice and Palliative Medicine. San Diego, CA, US.
- 2020. Frequency and Characteristics of First-Time Palliative Care Referrals During the Last Day of Life. Poster. 2020 State of the Science in Hospice and Palliative Care. San Diego, CA, US.
- 2019. What to Expect Now? Prognostication in the Last Week of Life. Invited. 23rd Annual Interdisciplinary Conference on Supportive Care, Hospice and Palliative Medicine. Houston, TX, US.
- 2019. Prognostication. Invited. 2019 Updates in Hospice and Palliative Medicine and Intensive Physician Board Review. Houston, TX, US.
- 2018. What to Expect Now? Prognostication in the Last Week of Life. Invited. 22nd Annual Interdisciplinary Conference on Supportive Care, Hospice and Palliative Medicine Conference. Houston, TX, US.
- 2017. Suffering After Cancer: Transitioning into Survivorship Through Palliative Care. Invited. 2017 Annual Assembly of Hospice and Palliative Care. Phoenix, AZ, US.
- 2016. Delirium in Advanced Cancer: It's Not as Clear as We Thought. Poster. 84th Annual Postgraduate Convention. Loma Linda, CA, US.
- 2015. Suffering After Cancer: Transitioning into Survivorship Through Palliative Care. Poster. 19th Annual Interdisciplinary Conference on Supportive Care, Hospice and Palliative Medicine. Houston, TX, US.
- 2015. Embracing Hope for A Miracle: When Medical Coping and Spiritual Coping Mix. Poster. 19th Annual Interdisciplinary Conference on Supportive Care, Hospice and Palliative Medicine. Houston, TX, US.
- 2011. Ecthyma gangrenosum: Pseudomonas on the surface. Poster. Medical Society of State of New York Annual Poster Symposium. Tarrytown, NY, US.
International Presentations
- 2023. Inhalation of isopropyl alcohol for the management of nausea and vomiting: A systematic review. Invited. 2023 Annual Meeting of Supportive Care in Cancer. Nara, JP.
- 2022. Characteristics of Inpatient Deaths During the COVID-19 Pandemic at a Comprehensive Cancer Center. Invited. 2022 Annual Meeting of Supportive Care in Cancer. Toronto, CA.
- 2019. Frequency and Characteristics of First-Time Palliative Care Referrals During the Last Day of Life. Invited. 2019 Annual Meeting of Supportive Care in Cancer. San Francisco, US.
Formal Peers
- 2020. Advance Care Planning. Houston, Texas, US.
- 2020. Goals of Care Conversations/Advance Care Planning: Q&A. Houston, Texas, US.
- 2020. Family Meetings: A Powerful Tool for Conducting Goals of Care Conversations. Houston, Texas, US.
- 2020. Discussing Goals of Care: A Roadmap for Health Care Professional. Houston, Texas, US.
- 2020. Prognostication. Houston, Texas, US.
- 2020. Challenging Conversations in Achieving Goal-Concordant Care. Houston, Texas, US.
- 2020. Mind the Gap, Have the Talk. Houston, Texas, US.
- 2020. PUI and COVID+ Goals of Care and Advance Care Planning Communication Guide. Houston, Texas, US.
- 2018. How to Place a DNR Order. Houston, Texas, US.
Selected Publications
Peer-Reviewed Articles
- Hui D, Maxwell JP, de la Rosa A, Jennings K, Vidal M, Reddy A, Azhar A, Dev R, Tanco K, Heung Y, Delgado-Guay M, Zhukovsky D, Arthur J, Reddy S, Yennu S, Ontai A, Bruera E. The impact of a web-based prognostic calculator on prognostic confidence in outpatient palliative care. Support Care Cancer 32(11):714, 2024. e-Pub 2024. PMID: 39377783.
- Tang M, Heung Y, Fellman B, Bruera E. Frequency of vaccine hesitancy among patients with advanced cancer. Palliat Support Care 22(2):1-7, 2024. e-Pub 2024. PMID: 37525556.
- Heung Y, Clark M, Tschanz J, Bruera E. Opioid Prescription Denials by Community Pharmacies for Cancer-Related Pain: A Case Series. J Pain Symptom Manage 66(3):e431-e435, 2023. e-Pub 2023. PMID: 37356595.
- Zhukovsky DS, Soliman P, Liu D, Meyer M, Haider A, Heung Y, Gaeta S, Lu K, Stepan K, Stanton P, Rodriguez A, Bruera E. Patient Engagement with Early Stage Advance Care Planning at a Comprehensive Cancer Center. Oncologist 28(6):542-550, 2023. e-Pub 2023. PMID: 36848260.
- Heung Y, Zhukovsky D, Hui D, Lu Z, Andersen C, Bruera E. Quality of End-of-Life Care during the COVID-19 Pandemic at a Comprehensive Cancer Center. Cancers (Basel) 15(8), 2023. e-Pub 2023. PMID: 37190130.
- Zhukovsky DS, Heung Y, Enriquez P, Itzep N, Lu Z, Nortje N, Stanton P, Wong A, Bruera E. Just-in-Time Decision Making: Preliminary Findings of a Goals of Care Rapid Response Team. J Pain Symptom Manage 65(4):e337-e343, 2023. e-Pub 2023. PMID: 36496112.
- Erdogan-Ongel E, Heung Y, Rozman de Moraes A, Geng Y, Bruera E. Inhalation of Isopropyl Alcohol for the Management of Nausea and Vomiting: A Systematic Review. J Palliat Med 26(1):94-100, 2023. e-Pub 2023. PMID: 36178929.
- Patel S, Hoge G, Fellman B, Kaur S, Heung Y, Bruera E, Hui D. Timing of referral to outpatient palliative care for patients with haematologic malignancies. Br J Haematol 198(6):974-982, 2022. e-Pub 2022. PMID: 35866185.
- Hui D, De La Rosa A, Chen J, Delgado Guay M, Heung Y, Dibaj S, Liu D, Bruera E. Palliative care education and research at US cancer centers: A national survey. Cancer 127(12):2139-2147, 2021. e-Pub 2021. PMID: 33662148.
- Heung Y, Azhar A, Ali Akbar Naqvi SM, Williams J, Park M, Hui D, Dibaj S, Liu D, Bruera E. Frequency and Characteristics of First-Time Palliative Care Referrals During the Last Day of Life. J Pain Symptom Manage 61(2):358-363, 2021. e-Pub 2021. PMID: 32822749.
- Hui D, De La Rosa A, Wilson A, Nguyen T, Wu J, Delgado-Guay M, Azhar A, Arthur J, Epner D, Haider A, De La Cruz M, Heung Y, Tanco K, Dalal S, Reddy A, Williams J, Amin S, Armstrong TS, Breitbart W, Bruera E. Neuroleptic strategies for terminal agitation in patients with cancer and delirium at an acute palliative care unit: a single-centre, double-blind, parallel-group, randomised trial. Lancet Oncol 21(7):989-998, 2020. e-Pub 2020. PMID: 32479786.
- Hui D, Abdelghani E, Chen J, Dibaj S, Zhukovsky D, Dev R, Tanco K, Haider A, Azhar A, Reddy A, Epner D, Arthur J, Dalal S, Heung Y, Reddy S, De La Cruz M, Liu D, Bruera E. Chronic Non-Malignant Pain in Patients with Cancer Seen at a Timely Outpatient Palliative Care Clinic. Cancers (Basel) 12(1), 2020. e-Pub 2020. PMID: 31952220.
- Hui D, De La Rosa A, Chen J, Dibaj S, Delgado Guay M, Heung Y, Liu D, Bruera E. State of Palliative Care Services at US Cancer Centers: An Updated National Survey. Cancer 126(9):2013-2023, 2020. e-Pub 2020. PMID: 32049358.
- 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.
- 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.
- Xue L, Zhou B, Liu X, Heung Y, Chau J, Chu E, Li S, Jiang C, Un F, Yen Y. Ribonucleotide reductase small subunit p53R2 facilitates p21 induction of G1 arrest under UV irradiation. Cancer Res 67(1):16-21, 2007. e-Pub 2007. PMID: 17210678.
- Xue L, Zhou B, Liu X, Wang T, Shih J, Qi C, Heung Y, Yen Y. Structurally dependent redox property of ribonucleotide reductase subunit p53R2. Cancer Res 66(4):1900-5, 2006. e-Pub 2006. PMID: 16488986.
Review Articles
- Hui D, Heung Y, Bruera E. Timely Palliative Care: Personalizing the Process of Referral. Cancers (Basel) 14(4), 2022. e-Pub 2022. PMID: 35205793.
- Heung Y, Reddy A. How to Use Methadone in an Era of an Opioid Epidemic. Curr Treat Options Oncol 21(4):30, 2020. e-Pub 2020. PMID: 32193644.
Professional Educational Materials
- Heung Y. Goals of Care and Advance Care Planning Communication Guide for PUI and COVID-19+ Patients, 2020.
Editorials
- Heung Y, Bruera E. End-of-life care quality metrics in patients with cancer: challenges and opportunities. Int J Gynecol Cancer 32(6):704-705, 2022. PMID: 35483737.
Abstracts
- Heung Y, Erdogan-Ongel E, Rozman de Moraes A, Geng Y, Bruera E. Inhalation of isopropyl alcohol for the management of nausea and vomiting: A systematic review. Supportive Care in Cancer 31(Supplement 1):S5, 2023. e-Pub 2023.
- Heung Y, Zhukovsky D, Hui D, Lu Z, Anderson C, Jennings K, Bruera E. Characteristics of Inpatient Death During the COVID-19 Pandemic at a Comprehensive Cancer Center. Supportive Care in Cancer 30(Supplement 1):S23, 2022. e-Pub 2022.
- Zhukovsky D, Enriquez P, Nortje N, Heung Y, Itzep N, Wong A, Lu Z, Stanton P, Bruera E. Goals of Care Rapid Response Team at a Comprehensive Cancer Center: Feasibility and Preliminary Outcomes. Journal of Pain and Symptom Management 63(5):926, 2022. e-Pub 2022.
- Subbiah IM, Xu C, Lu SC, Haider A, Azhar A, Swan A, Amaram-Davila J, Tang M, Heung Y, Shih K, Bruera E, Sidey-Gibbons C. Development of patient reported outcomes-based machine learning algorithm for the six-month mortality prediction in patients with advanced cancer. Journal of Clinical Oncology 39(28), 2021. e-Pub 2021.
- Hui D, De La Rosa A, Shelal Z, Maxwell J, Hosain M, De La Cruz M, Vidal M, Reddy A, Azhar A, Dev R, Tanco K, Wong A, Heung Y, Delgado-Guay M, Zhukovsky D, Arthur J, Reddy S, Yennu S, Bruera E. The impact of a web-based prognostic intervention on physicians’ prognostic confidence. Journal of Clinical Oncology 39(15):12106-12106, 2021. e-Pub 2021.
- Heung Y, Azhar A, Ali Akbar Naqvi SM, Williams J, Park M, Hui D, Dibaj S, Liu D, Bruera E. Frequency and Characteristics of First-Time Palliative Care Referrals During the Last Day of Life. Journal of Pain and Symptom Management 60(1):271-272, 2020. e-Pub 2020.
- Hui D, De La Rosa A, Wilson A, Nguyen T, Wu J, Delgado-Guay M, Azhar A, Arthur J, Epner D, Haider A, De La Cruz M, Heung Y, Tanco K, Dalal S, Armstrong T, Breitbart W, Bruera E. Neuroleptic rotation for refractory agitation in cancer patients with delirium in the acute palliative care unit: A double-blind randomized clinical trial. Journal of Clinical Oncology 38(15):12006-12006, 2020. e-Pub 2020.
- Hui D, De La Rosa A, Chen J, Delgado-Guay M, Heung Y, Liu D, Hess K, Bruera E. Growth of palliative care (PC) in United States cancer centers: A national survey. Journal of Clinical Oncology 37(15):11601-11601, 2019. e-Pub 2019.
- Heung Y, Azhar A, Park M, Williams J, Liu D, Bruera E. Frequency and Characteristics of First-Time Palliative Care Referrals During the Last Day of Life. Supportive Care in Cancer 27(Supplement 2):S192, 2019. e-Pub 2019.
- Heung Y. “What to expect when you’re not expecting: Cefepime-induced neurotoxicity in advanced cancer”. 2025 Annual Assembly of Hospice and Palliative Care presented by the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine (AAHPM).
Book Chapters
- Heung Y, Reddy S. Pain Management. In: Supportive and Palliative Care Handbook. 7th, 18-41, 2023.
- Heung Y, Reddy S. Introduction to Pain. In: Supportive and Palliative Care Handbook. 7th, 12-17, 2023.
- Heung Y, Reddy A, Reddy S. Pain Management. In: Supportive and Palliative Care Handbook. 6th, 17-40, 2018.
- Heung Y, Reddy A, Reddy S. Introduction to Pain. In: Supportive and Palliative Care Handbook. 6th, 11-16, 2018.
- Heung Y, Reddy A, Reddy S. Pain Management. In: Supportive and Palliative Care Handbook. 5th, 16-38, 2015.
- Heung Y, Reddy A, Reddy S. Introduction to Pain. In: Supportive and Palliative Care Handbook. 5th, 11-16, 2015.
Letters to the Editor
- Reddy A, Heung Y, Bruera E. Caution, Vigilance, and Personalization: A Must for Any Opioid Conversion. J Pain Symptom Manage 56: e3-e5, 2018.
Patient Reviews
CV information above last modified September 02, 2025