Michael Talanker, MD

I knew from my rotations during medical school that nothing compares to the unique spectrum of cases and support from the faculty here. I’ve also been in Houston for most of my life. Being able to stay close to my family while working for the city that raised me is a dream come true.

Michael Talanker, MD

Undergraduate Education: The University of Texas at Austin

  • B.S., Biomedical Engineering

Med School Education: McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston

Selected Awards:

    • Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society Inductee (2024)
    • Webber Prize for Student Research (2021)
    •  Alpha Eta Mu Beta Biomedical Engineering Honor Society Inductee (2019)

Selected Publications

  • Nye, J, Mitchell D, Talanker M, Hopkins, D, Obinero C, Barrera, J. Greives, M, Wu-Fienberg, Y, Bhadkamkar, M. Elevating Lower Extremity Reconstruction: An Algorithmic Approach to Free Flap Re-Elevation. Journal of Reconstructive Microsurgery Aug 2024.
  • Obinero C, Talanker M, Green J, Paidisetty P, Nye J, Barrera J, Boyd A, Wei S, Parikh J, Maricevich M, Greives MR, Sputova K, Marques E. What did we catch? Predictors of infection after tissue expander-based breast reconstruction in a safety-net system. Journal of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery Sept 2024.
  • Talanker M., Nye J., Mitchell D., Freet D.J. Postsurgical pyoderma gangrenosum after penile inversion vaginoplasty: case with review of diagnostic and management strategies. ePlasty June 2024.
  • Hassan A, Franco C, Shah N, Talanker M, Mericli A, Adelman D, Largo R, Chu C, Butler CE, Selber JC. Outcomes of Complex Abdominal Wall Reconstruction with Biologic Mesh in Patients With 8 Years of Follow-up. World Journal of Surgery 2023 Sept 4.
  • Hassan A, Egro F, Talanker M, Liu J, Maricevich RS, Chang E, Hanasono MM, Selber JC, Butler CE. Independent Versus Integrated Plastic Surgery Trainees: Comparison of Microsurgical Skills and Long-term Surgical Outcomes. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Global Open 2023 Mar 8.
  • Wancura M, Nkansah A, Robinson A, Toubbeh S, Talanker M, Jones S, Cosgriff-Hernandez E. PEG-Based Hydrogel Coatings: Design Tools for Biomedical Applications. Annals of Biomedical Engineering 2023 Feb 11.
  • Talanker M, Fallah K, Hartline C, Freet DJ. Total reconstruction of lower lip and chin following firework injury using composite bilateral radial forearm-fascia lata flaps: A case report. ePlasty 2023 Jan 19.
  • Vincent L, Talanker M, Butler, D, Zhang X, Podbielski J, Wang Y, Chen-Goodspeed A, Hernandez Gonzalez S, Fox E, Cotton BA, Wade CE, Cardenas JC. Time-dependent changes in antithrombin activity dictate responsiveness to enoxaparin prophylaxis and risk of trauma-related venous thromboembolism. JAMA Surgery 2022 Aug 1.
  • Wancura M, Talanker M, Toubbeh S, Bryan A, Cosgriff-Hernandez E. Bioactive hydrogel coatings of complex substrates using diffusion-mediated redox initiation. Journal of Material Chemistry B Apr 2020.

PRS Interests: Microsurgery

Hobbies: Drawing, painting, crafting, brewing, woodworking, hiking

Michael was born in the Texas Medical Center and raised in Houston, Texas. Born to Russian immigrants, he was raised in and has lived in the Houston area most of his life. He went to The University of Texas at Austin for his undergraduate degree in Biomedical Engineering and returned home to Houston for medical school here at UTHealth. With a passion for anatomy, a lifetime of experience in art, and a passion for biomaterials/tissue engineering, Michael engages his background in his training to become a plastic surgeon. He believes that after training, plastic surgeons are poised to be agents of change at the fulcrum of patients’ healing journeys.

In his spare time, Michael continues his scattered artistic endeavors – including pencil drawing, painting, digital art, sculpture, and other crafts. He also specializes in growing plants in the unforgiving Houston heat. Michael more recently has also picked up woodworking, albeit with extensive precautions to avoid some of the all-too-familiar hand injuries that we manage on our service.