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Elizabeth Thomas, DO

UT Health San Antonio
Schedule an appointment: 210-743-4306
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Overview

Practice Locations

Insurance

About

Articles & Publications

Blogs
Specialty
Transplant Surgery
Board Affiliation/Certification
American Board of Surgery
Education
Midwestern University, 2006
Residency
University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, 2011
Fellowships
University of Southern California, 2013
Languages
English
Gender
Female

Texas Liver Tumor Center

4502 Medical Drive
Transplant Clinic, Rio Tower, Level 2
San Antonio,TX 78229
210-743-4306
Location Details

University Hospital

4502 Medical Drive
San Antonio,TX 78229
210-358-4000
Location Details
Insurance Accepted
6 Degrees - Transplant
90 Degree Benefits - Third Party Administrator
Administrative Concepts - Third Party Administrator
Aetna (Coventry) - Work Comp/Auto
Aetna Better Health - CHIP/CHIP Perinate Newborn
Aetna Better Health - Medicaid STAR
Aetna Health - Commercial (Choice POS II, Elect Choice EPO, Exchange (Silver/Gold HMO))
Aetna Health - Commercial (HMO, Managed Choice POS, Meritain, Open Choice PPO)
Aetna Health - Commercial (QPOS, SAISD, Select)
Aetna Health - Medicaid Dual Preferred (HMO D-SNP)
Aetna Health - Medicare Advantage (Eagle PPO, Freedom PPO, Premier HMO, Prime HMO, Value Plus PPO)
Aetna Health - Transplant ONLY
Allegiance - Universal Benefits Consortium
Allied Benefit Systems - Third Party Administrator
Allwell (Superior HealthPlan) - Medicare Advantage
Ancira Enterprises - Direct Employer
Benefit Administrative Systems - Third Party Administrator
BlueCross BlueShield (Federal Programs) - Commercial (Federal - All Products)
BlueCross BlueShield (Out-of-State) - Commercial (Out of State - Blue Card Program Only)
BlueCross BlueShield of Texas - Commercial (Blue Premier HMO, Blue Choice PPO)
BlueCross BlueShield of Texas - Commercial (CHIP, Blue Advantagage HMO, Blue Essentials HMO)
BlueCross BlueShield of Texas - Commercial (ERS, TRS, State of TX Employees)
BlueCross BlueShield of Texas - HPN/EPO (Narrow Network)
BlueCross BlueShield of Texas - Medicaid (STAR, STAR Kids, STAR PLUS)
BlueCross BlueShield of Texas - Medicare Advantage (HMO, PPO)
BlueCross BlueShield of Texas - Medicare-Medicaid Dual Eligible Plans
BlueCross BlueShield of Texas - Traditional/Par Network
BlueCross BlueShield of Texas - Transplant Network
Care Improvement Plus - Medicare Advantage (Special Needs Plan)
Century Healthcare - Third Party Administrator
CHAMPVA - Governmental
Cigna - Employer Specific Network (United Benefits Consortium)
Cigna - Employer Specific Network (USAA Employees & Dependents Only)
Cigna Health Spring - Medicare Advantage (WellMed)
Community First Health Plans - CHIP/CHIP Perinate Newborn
Community First Health Plans - Commercial (HMO, Exchange)
Community First Health Plans - Medicaid (STAR, STAR Kids, STAR PLUS)
Community First Health Plans - Medicare Advantage (HMO)
Community First Health Plans - University Family Care Plan
Curative - Commercial (All Products)
Driscoll Health Plan - Medicaid (All products)
EBSO Benefits - Third Party Administrator
El Paso Health - CHIP
El Paso Health - Medicaid STAR
Employers Health Network - Commerical (PPO)
Entrust - Third Party Administrator
First Health - Commercial (All Products)
FirstCare (Part of Baylor Scott & White) - Medicaid-STAR
Galaxy Health Network - Commercial (All products)
Gilsbar - Third Party Administrator
Group and Pension Administrators - Third Party Administrator
HealthSmart (Accel) - Commercial (All products)
HMA LLC - Third Party Administrator
Humana - Medicare Advantage (HMO, PPO, WellMed)
Humana - Transplant Network
Humana Military - TRICARE East Region
Imagine 360 - Third Party Administrator
Imperial Health - Commercial (Exchange)
Imperial Health Plan - Medicare Advantage
Independent Medical Systems - Commercial (PPO)
Independent Medical Systems - Workers Compensation
Injury Management Organization - Workers Compensation
Interlink - Transplant Network
International Benefits Administrators - Third Party Administrator
Kempton Group Administrators - Third Party Administrator
Key Benefits Administrators - Third Party Administrator
LifeTrac - Transplant Network
Lucent Health - Third Party Administrator
Medicaid (Traditional) - Medicaid/Medicare
Molina Healthcare - CHIP/CHIP Perinate
Molina Healthcare - Commercial (Exchange)
Molina Healthcare - Medicaid (STAR, STAR Kids, STAR PLUS)
Molina Healthcare - Medicare Advantage
Molina Healthcare - Medicare-Medicaid Dual Eligible Plans
MultiPlan - Commercial (All products)
OptumHealth - Transplant Network
Oscar - Commercial Exchange
Point Comfort Underwriters - Refugee Medical Assistance (Adults, Children)
Prime Health Services - Commercial (PPO)
Prime Health Services - Medicare Advantage (All Products)
Prime Health Services - Workers Compensation
Private Healthcare Systems - Commercial (All Products)
ProCare Advantage - Medicare Advantage (Special Needs Plan)
Provider Network of America - Commercial (All Products)
Provider Partners Health Plan - Medicare Advantage (Special Needs Plan)
SANA Benefits - Commercial (All Products)
Scott & White Health Plan - Commercial (Exchange, HMO, PPO)
Scott & White Health Plan - Medicaid/Medicare Advantage (All Products)
Superior HealthPlan - CHIP/CHIP Perinate
Superior HealthPlan - Medicaid (STAR, STAR Health Foster Care, STAR Kids, STAR PLUS)
Superior HealthPlan - Medicare-Medicaid Dual Eligible Plans
Surest (United Healthcare) - Commercial (All Products)
Texas Independence Health Plan - Medicare Advantage (Special Needs Plan)
Three Rivers Provider Network (Contigo) - Commercial (PPO)
Tokio Marine - Transplant Network
TriWest - TRICARE West Region
TriWest - VA Community Care Network
Trustmark Benefits (f/k/a CoreSource) - Third Party Administrator
UnitedHealthcare - Commercial (Charter EPO/HMO/POS)
UnitedHealthcare - Commercial (Choice Plus POS/PPO/Choice Plus-HAS)
UnitedHealthcare - Commercial (Compass EPO/HMO/POS)
UnitedHealthcare - Commercial (Core and Core Choice Plus EPO/HMO)
UnitedHealthcare - Commercial (Doctors Plan EPO/HMO/POS)
UnitedHealthcare - Commercial (Heritage EPO/HMO/POS)
UnitedHealthcare - Commercial (Indemnity)
UnitedHealthcare - Commercial (Navigate EPO/HMO/POS)
UnitedHealthcare - Commercial (Nexus ACO/EPO/HMO/POS)
UnitedHealthcare - Commercial (PPO)
UnitedHealthcare - Commercial (Select EPO/HMO/POS)
UnitedHealthcare - Commercial (Select Plus EPO/HMO/POS)
UnitedHealthcare - Medicare Advantage (AARP Plans, Complete Care Plans, Erickson Advantage Plans)
UnitedHealthcare - Medicare Advantage (UnitedHealthcare Group Plans, WellMed)
UnitedHealthcare Community Plan - CHIP/CHIP Perinate
UnitedHealthcare Community Plan - Medicaid (STAR, STAR Kids, STAR PLUS)
UnitedHealthcare Community Plan - Medicare-Medicaid Dual Eligible Plans
Universal Benefits Consortium (Allegiance) - Direct Contract with TPA/Broker for select ISDs
University of Incarnate Word - Direct Contact with Employer
Velocity National Provider Network - Commercial (Multiple Payers)
Velocity National Provider Network - Commercial (PPO)
Veterans Administration - Governmental
WebTPA - Third Party Administrator
WellCare - Medicare Advantage
WellMed (Gonzaba Medical Group IPA) - Medicare Advantage (Transplant Only)
WellMed - Medicare Advantage (Cigna HealthSpring, Humana, United Healthcare, WellPoint)
WellPoint (Gonzaba) - Medicare Advantage (TRANSPLANTS ONLY)
WellPoint - CHIP/CHIP Perinate
WellPoint - Commercial (Exchange)
WellPoint - Medicaid (STAR, STAR Kids, STAR PLUS)
WellPoint - Medicare Advantage (All Products)
WellPoint - Medicare Advantage (Transplant Only)
WellPoint - Medicare Advantage (WellMed)
WellPoint - Medicare-Medicaid Dual Eligible Plans
Zelis - Third Party Administrator
Please contact your health insurance company to confirm provider participation. For billing and insurance questions, please call our Billing Department at 210-358-3260.
I am the surgical director of the living kidney donor and of the adult kidney transplant programs and the director of quality improvement and program enhancement. In addition, I am a clinical professor of surgery at UT Health San Antonio and professor of Glenn Halff, MD, Transplantation Endowment. Before joining University Health, I served in the division of transplantation and hepatobiliary surgery at the University of Florida.

Areas of Interests
I have a special interest in:
  • Quality patient care
  • Improving access to transplant
  • Optimizing deceased donor utilizations
  • Living donor kidney transplantation
  • Robotic-assisted nephrectomy
  • Clinical research
  • Institutional education

Book Chapters

  1. Hartjes T, Thomas E. AACN Core Curriculum for High Acuity, Progressive, and Critical Care Nursing, 7th Edition. [Book]. AACN. (Published) Oct. 2017. ISBN Number: 97814557710652.
  2. Thomas E, Fair J. Portal Hypertension: Critical Care Considerations. In: Textbook of Critical Care Considerations, Seventh Edition. Elsevier, Philadelphia, 2017.
  3. Thomas E, Butler W, Rippee L, Spoonhaltz K.Gastrointestinal Chapter. Concepts in Surgical Critical Care. First Edition. Jones and Bartlett Learning. Available on-line and in print. https://www.jblearning.com/catalog/productdetails/9781284175073.

Journal Articles

  1. Enoch J. Wong, Connor M. McDonald, Elizabeth Thomas, Ali Zarrinpar, Lawrence Lee, Karen M. Kim, Thomas M. Beaver, Raja Al-Bahou, Jonathan Gelfond AL, John H. Calhoon, Dawn S. Hui. "Outcomes of Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting for Asymptomatic Patients Referred for Renal Transplant." Clinical Transplantation Volume 39, Issue 3 March 2025 e70128.
  2. Ciaraglia A, Convertino V, Wang H, Cigarroa F, Thomas E, Fritze D, Nicholson S, Eastbridge B. "Intraoperative Use of Compensatory Reserve Measurement in Orthotopic Liver Transplant: Improved Sensitivity for the Prediction of Hypovolemic Events." MILITARY MEDICINE, Vol. 188, November/December Supplement 2023.
  3. Brubaker AL, Taj R, Jackson B, Lee A, Tsai C, Berumen J, Parekh JR, Mekeel KL, Gupta AR, Gardner JM, Chaly T, Mathur AK, Jadlowiec C, Reddy S, Nunez R, Bellingham J, Thomas EM, Wellen JR, Pan JH, Kearns M, Pretorius V, Schnickel GT. "Early patient and liver allograft outcomes from donation after circulatory death donors using thoracoabdominal normothermic regional: a multi-center observational experience." Front Transplant. 2023 Sep 11;2:1184620.
  4. Brubaker A, Lee A, Jackson B, Berumen J, Parekh J, Mekeel K.L, Gupta A.R, Gardner J.M, Chaly T, Mathur A.K, Jadlowiec C, Reddy K.S, Bellingham J, Thomas E, Wellen J.R, Kearns M, Pretorius V, Schnickel G.T. "Early outcomes for liver transplant with thoracoabdominal normothermic regional prefusion for donation after circulatory death": a multi-center experience. Submitted to Frontiers in Transplantation 6/2023.
  5. Klair T, Yamaguchi S, Halff G, Speeg K, Thomas E, Abrahamian G, Fritze D, Cigarroa F. “Liver Paired Exchange U.S. single center experience – pairs, chains, and use of compatible pairs Corresponding” AMJT-D-23-00680. 6/2023.
  6. Ciaraglia A, MD1, Convertino V, PhD2, Wang H, PhD3, Cigarroa F, MD4, Thomas E, DO4, Fritze D, MD4, Nicholson S, MD1, Eastridge B, MD. "Intraoperative Use of Compensatory Reserve Measurement (CRM) in Orthotopic Liver Transplant: Improved Sensitivity for Prediction of Hypovolemic Event. Submitted to Military Medicine. 4/2023.
  7. Kanegi S.L, Crane G.D, Scott K.L, Thomas E. "A unique case of tacrolimus-induced dysphagia and dysarthria in the absence of diagnostic findings." Dove Press. 5 September 2022 Volume 2022:14. 47-51.
  8. Patnaik R, Rabbani M U, Thomas E, et al. (February 28, 2021). Urine Leak From the Necrotic Lower Pole of a Transplant Recipient. Cureus 13(2): e13613. DOI 10.7759/cureus.13613.
  9. Petrochko J, Cigarroa F, Abrahamian G, Thomas E. "Colonic mucormycosis in solid organ transplantation: Case report and review of the literature (colonic mucormycosis after DDLT). Transpl Infect Dis. 2020 Dec; 22(6):e13362.
  10. Klair T, Halff G, Fritze D, Thomas E, Abrahamian G, Speeg V.K, Cigarroa F. "Liver Paired Exchange Using Compatible Pais - US Single Center Experience." Ann Surg. 2020 Dec;272(6):e282-e283.
  11. Thomas E, Milton J, Cigarroa F. "The Advancing American Kidney Health Executive Order: An Opportunity to Enhance Organ Donation." JAMA. 2019;322(17)1645-1646.
  12. Hawkins R, Raymond S, Hartjes T, Efron P, Larson S, Andreoni K, Thomas E. "Review: The perioperative use of the thromboelastography for liver transplant patients." Transplant Prc. 2018 Dec; 50(10);3552-3558.
  13. Hawkins R, Raymond S, Hartjes T, Efron P, Larson S, Andreoni K, Thomas E. "Review: The perioperative use of thromboelastography for liver transplant patients." Transplant Prc. 2018 Dec; 50 (10); 3552-3558.
  14. Jiang M, Hernandez D, Thomas E. "A Case of Extensive Hepatic Adenomatosis in a Renal Transplant Patient." J Surge Case rep. 2018 Aug 6. 2018 (8);rjy 195.
  15. Chun SK, Lee S, Flores-Toro J, U RY, Yang MJ, Go KL, Biel TG, Miney CE, Pierre Louis S, Law BK, Law ME, Thomas E, Behrns K.E, Leeuwenburgh C, Kim J.S. "Loss of Sirtuin 1 and Mitofusin 2 Contributes to Enhanced Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury in Aged Livers." Aging Cell. 2018 Aug; 17 (4): e12761.
  16. Giordano C, Johnson C, Lawson J, Rajasekhar A, Thomas E. "Administering RiaSTAP for Congenital Afibrinogemia During Liver Transplant." Exp Clin Transplant May 2018. PMID: 29766777.
  17. Johnson M.W, Zarrinpar A, Thomas E, Andreoni K. "Liver Transplantation for Hepatoma: Raising the Bar." Springer Nature. March 2018.
  18. Johnson M, Zarrinpar A, Thomas E, Andreoni K. "Is the Updated Kidney Allocation System Working?" Current Transplantation Reports 5, 139-144 (2018).
  19. Johnson M.W, Zarrinpar A, Thomas E, et al. "Liver Transplantation for Hepatoma: Raising the Bare Curr Transpl Rep 5, 139-144 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40472-018-0191-z.
  20. Andreoni K, Thomas E, et al. "Refractory Ascites After Liver Transplantation: A Stepwise Approach to Diagnosis and Treatment." Advanced Research in Gastroenterology & Hepatology. 2016. ARGH-MRW-16-586.
  21. Thomas E, Matsouk L, Alexopoulos S, Parekh D. "Laparoscopic Hand-Assisted Parenchymal-Sparing Resections for Presumed Side-Branch Intraductal Papillary Mucinous Neoplasms." Journal of Laparoendoscopic and Advanced Surgical Techniques. July 2016.
  22. Alexopoulos S, Thomas E, Berry E, Whang G, Matsuoka L. "The Portal Vein-Variceal Anastomosis: An Important Technique for Establishing Portal Vein Inflow." Clinical Transportation. Volume 28, Issue 1, pages 52-57, January 2014.
  23. Alexopoulos S, Thomas E, Berry E, Whang G, Matsuoka L. "The portal vein-variceal anastomosis: An important technique for establishing portal vein inflow" Clinical Transportation, November 2013.
  24. Alexopoulos S, Matsuoka L, Cho Y, Thomas E, Sheikh M, Stapfer M, Dhanireddy K, Sher L, Selby R, Genyk Y. "Outcomes After Liver Transplantation in Patients Achieving a Model for End-Stage Liver Disease Score of 40 or Higher." Transplantation, February 2013.
  25. Alexopoulos S, Matsuoka L, Barmparas G, Sheikh M.R, Thomas E, Stapfer M, Dhanireddy K.K, Sher L, Genyk Y. "Outcomes Following Liver Transplantation In Patients achieving a MELD ≥ 40." Liver Transplantation 2013; 95(3): 507-512. Hepatobiliary/Pancreatic and Abdominal Transplantation Division, Department of Surgery, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California Department of Surgery, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California.
  26. Woelfel, I. (Co-Author), Vaughn Whittaker, MD; Ahmed E Elsabbagh, MD, MS, MRCS, PhD; Vanesssa Humphreville, MD; David Leeser, MD; Heather O'Dell, PA; Ana Maria Torres, ACNP; Chintalapati Varma, MD; Robert Montgomery, MD, PhD; Sameh Fayek, MD; Andre Dick, MD; Vanessa Cowan, MD; Jennifer Berumen, MD; Sander Florman, MD; Navpreet Kaur, MD; Clark Kensinger, MD; Trevor Nydam, MD; Oren Shaked, MD; Vighnesh Venkatasamy, MD; Michael Rees, MD, PhD; Ning Duan; Elizabeth Thomas, DO; Jennifer Carpenter, MD; Stephanie Yi, MD; Amit Mathur, MD, MS. "Taking Action to Increase Living Donation Now: American Society of Transplant Surgeons' Living Donor Committee Recommendations for Transplant Programs." American Journal of Transplantation, Manuscript Number: AMJT-D-25-00659.
  27. Casey, K. (Corresponding Author), Thomas, E. (Co-Author). "Variability in Clinical triggers for organ donation referrals." American Journal of Transplantation, Manuscript Number: AMJT-D-25-00705.

Other Publications

  1. Harrell K, Puente S, Woodworth J, Thomas E. Living Donor Champion Program: “Innovation Leads to Lives Saved”. Presenter: Harrell K. Power point presentation. American Transplant Congress, San Diego, CA. 06/2023.
  2. Yi S, Whittaker V, Dunn T, Goldaracena N, Humphreville V, Kubal C, Kuhr C, Leeser D, Pomposelli J, Thomas E, Turgeon N, Varma N, Rees M, Mathur A. “The cost and logistical challenges to kidney paired donation”. Presenter: Yi, S. Poster presentation. American Transplant Congress. Boston, MA. 06/2022.
  3. Patnaik R, Rabbani U, Abrahamian G, Thomas E. “Urine leak from necrotic lower pole of a transplanted kidney: a rare complication in deceased donor kidney transplant recipients Texas Transplant Society Scientific Meeting". Trinkle-Banowsky Abstract & Case Presentation Winner. Virtual presentation. Dallas, TX. 11/2020.
  4. John M, Maguigan K, Schain D, Thomas E, Efron P, Nelson J. "Impact of short and narrow course of perioperative antibiotic prophyaxis on multi‐drug-resistant surgical site infections in adult orthotopic liver transplant". Presenter: John M. Poster presentation. American Transplant Congress. Boston, MA. 06/2019.
  5. Thomas E, Nelson J, Andreoni K, Johnson M, Delitto D, Diaz E. "Multimodal Pain Control Regimen in Living Donor Laparoscopic Nephrectomies." Presenter: Thomas E. Power point presentation. American Transplant Congress, Seattle, WA. 06/2018.
  6. Rosenthal M, Szpila B, Croft C, Dantes G, Thomas E, Mohr A, Moore F, Smith R. “Emergent Liver Transplantation Following Blunt Liver Injury.” Presenter: Rosenthal M. Poster presentation. Southwestern Surgical Congress. Napa, CA. 06/2018.
  7. Thomas E, Anderoni K, Johnson W, Diaz E, Nelson J. "Improving Care of Laparoscopic Patients Through Implementation of a Multimodal Pain Control Regimen." Presenter: Thomas, E. Poster Presentation. Presented at the Department of Surgery, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL. 04/2018.
  8. Socias S, Nelson J, Andreoni K, Battula N, Johnson M, Thomas E, Zarrinpar A. "Evaluating the Efficacy of Provider-Guided Post-Transplant Tacrolimus Drug Dosing" Presenter: Socias S. Poster Presentation. Presented at the Department of Surgery, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainsville, FL. 03/2018.
  9. Thomas E, Andreoni K. "Impact of Early Acute Rejection on Outcomes of Liver Transplant Recipients." Presenter: Thomas E. Presented at the 68th Annual Meeting of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases. Walter E. Washington Convention Center, Washington DC. 10/2017.
  10. Chun S.K, Lee S.S, Lee J, Flores-Toro C, Miney S, Thomas E, Kim J-S. "Irinotecan Impairs Hepatic Autophagy Through FIP2000 Inhibition. Presenter: Chun, S.K. Presentation. Presented at the Department of Surgery, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainsville, FL. 03/2017.
  11. Flores-Toro C, Miney S, Lee S, Chun S, Louis P, Thomas E, Kim J-S. "Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury in the Fatty Liver." Presenter: Flores-Toro. Poster Presentation. Presented at the Department of Surgery, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL. 03/2017.
  12. Thomas E, Andreoni K, Johnson M, Crippen C, Tripp C, Coleman S, Moore S, Kelly R. "Judicious Use of Central Lines for Blood Sampling Access Does Not Increase Rates of Line Related Complications in Renal Transplant Recipients." Presenter: Andreoni K. Poster Presentation. Presented at University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL. 03/2017.
  13. Hartjes T, Patel R, Thomas E, Poekert P. "Creating a DNP focused Designated Educational Unit in Critical Care: Innovative Strategies to Promote Research and Practice." Presenter: Rohit p, Elizabeth M. T, Phillip E. Abstract Presentation. AACN Doctoral Education Conference in Coronado, CA. 01/2017.
  14. Thomas E, Matsuoka L, Alexopoulos S, Weaver F, Selby R, Parekh D. "Pancreatic Enucleation for Side-Branch Intraductal Papillary Mucinous Neoplasms." Presenter: Thomas E. Power point presentation. Pacific Coast Surgical Association. Dana Point, CA. 02/2012.
  15. Liao L, Sideman M, Thomas E, Goodwiller G, Eastridge B, Dent D, Mueller D, Myers J, Stewart R. "Endovascular repair of secondary aortoenteric fistula after abdominal gunshot wound." Presenter: Liao L. Poster Presentation. Annual Fall Meeting of the Texas Society for Vascular and Endovascular Surgery in San Antonio, TX. 01/2010.
Understanding Kidney Transplants
July 7, 2025
Living Kidney Donors Are Important for Those in Kidney Failure
June 19, 2024
The Benefits of Robotic Surgery for Living Kidney Donation
March 21, 2024
How Transplant Patients Are Getting Organs Sooner and Living Longer
April 16, 2019
Call 210-743-4306 to request an appointment with this doctor.
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