The Department of Surgery at the University of Texas Medical School at Houston
Department of Surgery
Curtis J. Wray, MD

Faculty Biography

Department of Surgery
Division of General Surgery


Curtis J. Wray, MD

Assistant Professor of Surgery

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Education

1994-1998 University of Kentucky College of Medicine
MD Diploma May 1998
Lexington, Kentucky

1989-1993 University of Louisville
Bachelor of Science in Chemistry
Louisville, Kentucky

Post-graduate Training and Appointments

2008-present Assistant Professor, Department of Surgery
The University of Texas-Houston Medical School
Houston, Texas

2006-2008 Administrative Fellow, Surgical Oncology
The University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Center
Houston, Texas

2005-2008 Fellow, Surgical Oncology
The University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Center
Houston, Texas

2005-2008 Clinical Specialist, Department of Surgical Oncology
The University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Center
Houston, Texas

2004-2005 Clinical Instructor, General Surgery
Department of Surgery, University of Cincinnati
Cincinnati, Ohio

1999-2004 Resident, General Surgery
Department of Surgery, University of Cincinnati
Cincinnati, Ohio

1998-1999 Internship, General Surgery
Department of Surgery, University of Cincinnati
Cincinnati, Ohio

Research Experience

2006-2007 Research Fellow
Principal Investigator David J. McConkey, PhD
Department of Cancer Biology
University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
Houston, Texas

2000-2002 Research Fellow
Principal Investigator Per-Olof Hasselgren, MD, PhD
Department of Surgery, University of Cincinnati
Cincinnati, Ohio

1997-1998 Research Assistant
Principal Investigator Juan B. Ochoa, MD
Department of Surgery, University of Kentucky
Lexington, Kentucky

1993-1994 Research Assistant
Principal Investigator William Dean, PhD
Department of Biochemistry, University of Louisville
Louisville, Kentucky

Licensure

Texas State Medical Board
License Number M2208 (Active)

State Medical Board of Ohio
License Number 35-07-7572-W (Inactive)

Board Certification

2006 American Board of Surgery Certifying Exam Passed
2005 American Board of Surgery Qualifying Exam Passed

Committees Served

2006-2008 Internal Advisory Committee for Integrative Medicine Program
Surgical Oncology Representative

2003-2004 University of Cincinnati General Surgery Residency Committee
Resident Representative

Awards and Honors

2007 NIH Clinical Loan Repayment Program Grant
2002 Carl A. Moyer Award. Oral presentation American Burn Association 34th Annual Meeting
2001 Honorable Mention. Region V Committee on Trauma Resident Essay Contest
2001 Winner, Ohio Chapter American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma Clinical Abstract Essay Contest
2000-2002 National Institutes of Health T-32 training grant
1998 Graduate with High Distinction, University of Kentucky
1997 Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society
1997 Medical Student Program at the American College of Surgeons Clinical Congress Chicago, Illinois
1997 Recognized as Student Leader, University of Kentucky
1997 Academic Excellence Scholarship, full tuition reimbursement
1997 AMA Medical Student Section Poster Contest
Second Place for Tobacco Prevention Program
1996 Academic Excellence Scholarship, full tuition reimbursement
1995 May Academic Scholarship
1993 Chemistry Award, University of Louisville

Membership

1. American Society of Clinical Oncology Associate Member
2. Society of Surgical Oncology Candidate Group
3. Mont Reid Surgical Society
4. Cincinnati Surgical Society
5. American College of Surgeons Candidate Group
6. Ohio Chapter, American College of Surgeons Candidate Group
7. Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society
8. University of Louisville Alumni Association

Publications

Book Chapters
  1. Wray CJ, Shah AN, Berman RS and Ahmad SA. Tumor biology of colorectal liver metastases. In. Audisio (ed.): Liver Metastases. Springer (In press).
  2. Wray CJ and Ahmad SA. Controversies in the surgical management of pancreatic cancer. In. Evans, DB (ed.): Pancreatic Cancer. MD Anderson (In press).
  3. Wray CJ, Berman RS and Ahmad SA. Tumor biology of colorectal liver metastases. In. Lee, F. (ed.): Liver Cancer: New Research. First Edition. Vol. 11. New York: Nova Science Publishers Inc. 2006:43-57.
  4. Wray CJ. Pancreas. In: Fischer DR, Kelly B, eds. Mont Reid Surgical Handbook. Fifth edition. St. Louis: Mosby. 509-29.
  5. Wray CJ. Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm. In: Fischer DR, Kelly B, eds. Mont Reid Surgical Handbook. Fifth edition. St. Louis: Mosby. 567-75.
Peer Reviewed Manuscripts
  1. B. Badgwell, J.N. Cormier, C.J. Wray, G. Borthakur, W. Qiao, K.V. Rolston, R.E. Pollock. Challenges in Surgical Management of Abdominal Pain in the Neutropenic Cancer Patient. Annals of Surgery. (in press).
  2. Wray CJ, Rich TA, Waguspack SA, Gagel R, Lee JE, Evans DB and Perrier ND. Failure to recognize Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia 2B: More common than we think? Ann Surg Oncol. 2007. Jan;15(1):293-301.
  3. Mammen JMV, Molloy M, Williams AB, Wray CJ and Sussman JJ. The relationship of lymph node dissection and colon cancer survival in the Veterans Affairs central cancer registry. Am J Surg. 2007. 194(3):349-54.
  4. Wray CJ, Lowy AM, Park S, Hanto DW, James LE, Soldano DA, Matthews JB and Ahmad SA. Intra-operative margin re-resection for colorectal liver metastases. J Surg Education. 2007. 64(3):150-7.
  5. Guererro MA, Wray CJ, Kee SS, Frenzel J and Perrier ND. Minimally invasive parathyroidectomy complicated by pneumothoraces: a report of four cases. J Surg Education. 2007. 64(2):101-7.
  6. Mohiddin SS, Tan D, Collison R, Gonzalez R and Wray CJ. Is it really appendicitis: Appendiceal carcinoma case report. Contemporary Surgery. 2006. 62(8):380-83.
  7. Ahmad SA, Wray CJ, Rilo HR, Choe KA, Gelrud A, Howington JA, Lowy AM and Matthews JB. Chronic pancreatitis: recent advances and ongoing challenges. Curr Probl Surg. 2006. 43(3):127-238.
  8. Ahmad SA, Lowy AM, Wray CJ, D’Allesio DA, Somogyi L, Choe KA, Soldano DA, Matthews JB and Rodriguez-Rilo HL. Factors associated with insulin and narcotic independence after islet auto-transplantation patients with severe chronic pancreatitis. J Am Coll Surg. 2005. 201(5):680-87.
  9. Wray CJ, Ahmad SA, Lowy AM, D’Allesio DA, Somogyi L, Choe KA, Soldano DA, Matthews JB and Rodriguez-Rilo HL. Clinical significance of bacterial cultures from 28 autologous islet cell transplant solutions. Pancreatology. 2005. 5(6):562-69.
  10. . Wray CJ, Lowy AM, Park S, Hanto DW, James LE, Soldano DA, Matthews JB and Ahmad SA. The significance and clinical factors associated with a sub-centimeter resection of colorectal liver metastases. Ann Surg Oncol. 2005. 12(5):374-80.
  11. Wray CJ, Ahmad SA, Matthews JB and Lowy AM. Surgery for pancreatic cancer: recent controversies and current practice. Gastroenterology. 2005. 128(6):1626-41.
  12. Menconi M, Wei W, Yang H, Wray CJ and Hasselgren PO. Treatment of cultured myotubes with the calcium ionophore A23187 increases proteasome activity via a CaMK II-caspase-calpain-dependent mechanism. Surgery. 2004.136(2):135-42.
  13. Wray CJ, Rilo HR and Ahmad SA. Colon cancer angiogenesis and anti-angiogenic therapy. Expert Opin Investig Drugs. 2004.13(6):631-41.
  14. Hershko DD, Robb BW, Wray CJ, Luo GJ Hasselgren PO. Superinduction of IL-6 by cyclohexamide is associated with mRNA stabilization and sustained activation of p38 MAP kinase and NF-kappaB in cultured Caco-2 cells. J Cell Biochem. 2004. 91(5):951-61.
  15. Sun X, Wray C, Tian X, Hasselgren PO and Lu J. Expression of uncoupling protein 3 is upregulated in skeletal muscle during sepsis. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab. 2003. 285(3):E512-20.
  16. Luo G, Hershko DD, Robb BW, Wray CJ and Hasselgren PO. IL-1 beta stimulates IL-6 production in cultured skeletal muscle cells through activation of MAP kinase signaling pathway and NF-Kappa B. Am J Physiol Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiol. 2003. 284(5):R1249-54.
  17. Wray CJ, Mammen JM, Hershko DD and Hasselgren PO. Sepsis upregulates the gene expression of multiple ubiquitin ligases in skeletal muscle. Int J Biochem Cell Biol. 2003. 35(5):698-705.
  18. Wray CJ, Sun X, Gang GI and Hasselgren PO. Dantrolene downregulates the activity and gene expression of the ubiquitin-proteasome proteolytic pathway in septic skeletal muscle. J Surg Res. 2002. 104:82-87.
  19. Hershko DD, Bishara B, Paxton JH, Robb BW, Wray CJ and Eitan A. Interposition of a jejunal segment as an alternative one stage operation for acute left colon obstruction. Surgery Today. 2002. 32(9):804-808.
  20. Wray CJ, Mayes T, Khoury J, Warden GD and Gottschlich M. Metabolic effects of vitamin D on serum calcium, magnesium and phosphorus in pediatric burn patients. J Burn Care Rehabil. 2002. 23(6):416-23.
  21. Wray CJ, Tomkinson B, Robb BW and Hasselgren PO. Tripeptidyl-Peptidase II expression and activity are increased in skeletal muscle during sepsis. Biochem Biophys Res Comm. 2002. 296(1):41-47.
  22. Fang CH, Li BG, Wray CJ, and Hasselgren PO. Insulin-like growth factor-1 inhibits lysosomal and proteasome-dependent proteolysis in skeletal muscle after burn injury. J Burn Care Rehabil. 2002. 23(5):318-25.
  23. Penner CG, Gang GI, Sun X, Wray C, and Hasselgren PO. C/EBP DNA-binding activity is upregulated by a glucocorticoid-dependent mechanism in septic muscle. Am J Physiol Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiol. 2002. 282(2):439-44.
  24. Sun X, Fischer DR, Pritts TA, Wray CJ and Hasselgren PO. Expression and binding activity of the glucocorticoid receptor are upregulated in septic muscle. Am J Physiol Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiol. 2002. 282(2):509-18.
  25. Hasselgren PO, Wray C, and Mammen J. Molecular regulation of muscle cachexia – It may be more than the proteasome. Biochem Biophys Res Comm. 2002. 290(1):1-10.
  26. Wray CJ, Mammen JM and Hasselgren PO. Catabolic response to stress and potential benefits of nutritional support. Nutrition. 2002. 18(11-12):971-77.
  27. Wray CJ, Luo G, Hungness ES, and Hasselgren PO. Genomic analysis of glucocorticoid-induced muscle cachexia. Owen H. Wangensteen Surgical Forum. Vol. LII:142-44.
  28. Penner CG, Gang G, Wray C, Fischer JE and Hasselgren PO. The transcription factors NF-?B and AP-1 are differentially regulated in skeletal muscle during sepsis. Biochem Biophys Res Comm. 2001. 281(5):1331-36.
  29. Figert PL, Wray CJ, Malley ME, Gellin GL, Kearney PA and Ochoa JB. Induced nitric oxide synthesis is modulated by increased arginase activity after trauma. Owen H. Wangensteen Surgical Forum. Vol. LXIX:58-59.
Abstracts
  1. Wray CJ, Gomez HF, Vauthey JN, Abdalla EK, Lee JE, Wang H, Evans DB and Pisters PWT. Pancreatic transection margin at the time of pancreatico-duodenectomy: clinical implications of a positive margin. HPB. 2007. 9(1):S37.
  2. Wray CJ, Rich TA, Waguspack SA, Gagel R, Lee JE, Evans DB and Perrier ND. Lymphadenectomy at initial operation for medullary thyroid cancer in MEN2B patients improves disease-free survival. Ann Surg Oncol. 2007. 14(2):S13.
  3. Wray CJ, Lowy AM, Gelrud A, et al. Factors associated with clinical failure following pancreatectomy and autologous islet cell transplantation. J Gastrointest Surg. 2005. 9(4):535.
  4. Wray CJ, Lowy AM, Park S, Hanto DW, James LE, Soldano DA, Matthews JB and Ahmad SA. The significance of intra-operative margin re-resection of colorectal liver metastases. Ann Surg Oncol. 2005. 12:S13.
  5. Wray CJ, Lowy AM, Park S, Hanto DW, James LE, Soldano DA, Matthews JB and Ahmad SA. The significance and clinical factors associated with a sub-centimeter resection of colorectal liver metastases. HPB. 2004. 6:S61.
  6. Wray CJ, Mammen JMV and Hasselgren PO. Subtraction suppression hybridization of muscle RNA during sepsis: upregulation of MuRF1, a novel ubiquitin ligase. J Am Coll Surg. 2002 195:S78.
  7. Mammen JMV, Penner CG, Wray CJ and Hasselgren PO. Transcription factor C/EBP is activated by dexamethasone in septic rat skeletal muscle. J Am Coll Surg. 2002. 195:S78.
  8. Wray CJ, Mayes T, Khoury J, Warden GD and Gottschlich M. Metabolic effects of vitamin D on serum calcium, magnesium and phosphorus in pediatric burn patients. J Burn Care Rehabil. 2002. 23(2):S79.
  9. Fang CH, Li B, Wray CJ and Hasselgren PO. IGF-I inhibits lysosomal and proteasome-dependent proteolysis in muscle after burn injury. J Burn Care Rehabil. 2002. 23(2):S78.
  10. Wray CJ, Sun X, Gang GI and Hasselgren PO. Dantrolene downregulates the activity and gene expression of the ubiquitin-proteasome proteolytic pathway in septic skeletal muscle. J Surg Res. 2001. 100:256.
Oral Presentations
  1. Pancreatic transection margin at the time of pancreatico-duodenectomy: clinical implications of a positive margin. 7TH Annual Meeting, American Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Association. Las Vegas, NV. April 20, 2007.
  2. Failure to recognize Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia 2B: More common than we think? Oral Presentation. 60th Annual Cancer Symposium, Society of Surgical Oncology. Washington, DC. March 16, 2007.
  3. Results Following Pancreatectomy with Autologous Islet Cell Transplantation for Small Versus Large Duct Pancreatitis: Are They Equivalent? Oral Presentation. 2005 Pancreas Club. Chicago, IL. May 15, 2005.
  4. Factors Associated with Clinical Failure Following Pancreatectomy and Autologous Islet Cell Transplantation. Oral Presentation. 2005 American Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Association. Hollywood, FL. April 16, 2005
  5. The Significance of Intra-operative Margin Re-resection of Colorectal Liver Metastases. Oral Presentation. 58th Annual Cancer Symposium, Society of Surgical Oncology. Atlanta, GA. March 4, 2005.
  6. The Significance and Clinical Factors Associated with a Sub-centimeter Resection of Colorectal Liver Metastases. Oral Presentation. 6th World Congress of the International Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Association. Washington, DC. June 6, 2004.
  7. Upregulation of a Novel Ubiquitin Ligase in Septic Skeletal Muscle. Oral Presentation. American College of Surgeons Clinical Congress. San Francisco, CA, October 8, 2002.
  8. Metabolic Effects of Vitamin D on Serum Calcium, Magnesium and Phosphorus in Pediatric Burn Patients. Oral Presentation. American Burn Association 34th Annual Meeting. Chicago, IL, April 24, 2002.
  9. The Expression and Activity of the Giant Protease Tripeptidyl-Peptidase II is Increased in Skeletal Muscle During Sepsis. Oral Presentation. Society University Surgeons Honolulu, HI, February 14, 2002.
  10. Dantrolene Downregulates the Activity and Gene Expression of the Ubiquitin-Proteasome Proteolytic Pathway in Septic Skeletal Muscle. Oral Presentation. Association of Academic Surgery, Milwaukee, WI, November 16, 2001.
  11. Metabolism of Vitamin D in Pediatric Burn Patients. Oral Presentation. Region V Committee on Trauma Annual Meeting. Indianapolis, IN, Nov, 2001.
  12. Genomic Analysis of Glucocorticoid-Induced Muscle Cachexia. Oral Presentation. American College of Surgeons Clinical Congress. New Orleans, LA, October 8, 2001.
  13. The Expression of Tripeptidyl-Peptidase II is Increased in Septic Rat Skeletal Muscle. University of Cincinnati Surgical Grand Rounds. June 15, 2001.
Posters
  1. Activation of the unfolded protein response in melanoma cell lines exposed to proteasome inhibitor-induced ER stress. Society of Surgical Oncology. Chicago, IL. March 2008.
  2. Combination proteasome- and histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor treatment of pancreatic cancer. ASCO GI. Orlando, FL. January 2008.
  3. Isolated Limb Perfusion for Unresectable Extremity Sarcoma. Connective Tissue Oncology Society. Venice, Italy. November 2006.
  4. The Significance of Intra-operative Margin Re-resection of Colorectal Liver Metastases. Poster Presentation. ASCO GI Cancers Symposium. Ft. Lauderdale, FA, January 28, 2005.
  5. Sub-centimeter Resection of Colorectal Liver Metastases. Poster Presentation. Ohio Chapter American College of Surgeons 49th Annual Meeting. Columbus, Ohio, May 4, 2004.

Contact Information

Curtis J. Wray, MD
  • Curtis J. Wray, MD

  • Assistant Professor of Surgery

  • Department of Surgery

  • The University of Texas Medical School at Houston
    5656 Kelley,
    Houston, TX 77026

  • phone: (713) 566-5095
    e-mail: Curtis.J.Wray@uth.tmc.edu: