Internal Medicine

The Internal Medicine division provides cancer patients with the full spectrum of evidence-based cancer and internal medicine diagnostic evaluations, treatments, supportive care and prevention.

Our goal is to continually expand our lead as a patient-centered, research-driven internal medicine division in a comprehensive cancer center through the recruitment, retention, and development of the finest physicians, scientists, educators and staff. 

Onco-Medicine Care of the Cancer Patient
We provide patients with onco-medicine care – a term coined by by Division Head David J. Tweardy, M.D., upon his arrival to the division in 2014 to emphasize the uniqueness of the internal medicine care our providers give to cancer patients.

With new advances in cancer therapeutics and the accompanying side effects, there is a growing need for expert onco-medicine care.

We are committed to expanding our onco-medicine footprint within the institution and our network partners using a multi-faceted approach – clinical care, research, quality and safety and education.

Multidisciplinary, collaborative clinical care
MD Anderson’s highly-evolved multidisciplinary approach allows collaborations to occur from the moment a patient receives his/her diagnosis.

Internal Medicine providers in consultative services such as the Mary Ann Weiser Suspicion of Cancer Clinic, Endocrinology, Dermatology, Gastroenterology, and Pulmonary Medicine, are actively involved in making a cancer diagnosis and devising treatment plans.

In addition, providers within our 10 departments and three super sections offer the most advanced supportive care to treat the immediate side effects of cancer and its treatment, including infections, skin reactions, diabetes, diarrhea, fatigue, arthritis, and delirium.

Also, as the number of cancer survivors continues to increase, the long-term management of the late effects of cancer and cancer therapy has become increasingly important. Our division has leading experts in the fields of pulmonary rehabilitation, cardiotoxicity, renal complications, bone health, and neuropathy, to name a few.

In addition, our hospital medicine service, as well as our Acute Cancer Care Center physicians, play a vital role in the treatment of our patients when they become acutely ill. It is exciting to witness our expanding footprint into the Houston Area Locations (HALs) and throughout our national cancer network.

As MD Anderson leadership explores new partner relationships, Internal Medicine physicians are called upon to exchange knowledge, ignite new ideas and develop new relationships to allow a greater number of patients to receive their treatment closer to home.

Team science highlights research talent, capabilities
More than ever, investigation of cancer-related complications, acute and chronic, has become a key item in the onco-medicine research agenda.

The era of the solo researcher successfully attacking a problem is being replaced by team science, as research efforts in areas of greatest unmet medical need are increasingly understood to have many dimensions and require a multidisciplinary approach.

With a rapidly expanding “critical mass” of investigators from different disciplines, the Internal Medicine division continues making important contributions to the research mission of our institution. Indeed, team science research in the division reflects the esprit de corps of our talented and diverse research force.

In 2019, Division Head David J. Tweardy, M.D., facilitated the Immune Toxicity (IOTOX) Initiative, an institution-wide effort led by a partnership of leaders within the Internal Medicine and Cancer Medicine faculty, seeking to optimize the diagnosis and management of the debilitating side effects of immunotherapies, especially immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapies.

A major research effort led by this group focuses on understanding the molecular and cellular pathogenesis of ICI-related toxicities with the goals of earlier diagnosis and development of more effective therapies.

Leading Change in Quality and Safety

More than a decade ago, Internal Medicine leaders realized the need for quality improvement initiatives to improve our patients’ experiences.

In 2007, the Internal Medicine Quality and Safety Council was established to create, implement, monitor and evaluate quality improvement efforts within each Department.

The intent has been to improve the level of performance of key processes and outcomes and to build a culture of continuous quality, safety and excellence in patient care.

Building future internal medicine leaders
With a focus on the future, the division developed an Internal Medicine Residency Program in conjunction with Baylor College of Medicine in 2014.

The breadth of training in internal medicine, especially onco-medicine, offered by this program is unmatched with residents receiving training in premier venues, including the largest county hospital in Houston, the nation's largest VA medical center, and the world's No. 1 cancer center.

In addition, most departments within the division have established their own fellowship programs or participate in trainee programs with Texas Medical Center institutions, such as McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston and Baylor College of Medicine.

We take great pride in developing the next generation of outstanding practitioners and leaders in the field of onco-medicine.