Larissa Velez, M.D.

Dr. Velez obtained a bachelor’s degree in Sciences from the University of Puerto Rico. She completed Medical School in 1996 and went on to pursue residency training in Emergency Medicine, also at the University of Puerto Rico. She moved to Dallas in 1999 in order to train in Toxicology. After finishing her fellowship training, she remained as full-time faculty at UT Southwestern. Her clinical work occurs at Parkland Health and Hospitals System, the busiest single-location emergency department in the nation. She also is a clinical toxicology staff at the North Texas Poison Center. In the past, she has also staffed the emergency department at Children’s Health Dallas.

Dr. Velez has served in a variety of roles for the EM Training Program, most recently completing an 8-year tenure as the Program Director. Currently, she is the Vice Chair for Education in the Department of Emergency Medicine. In this role, she helps with program strategy and oversight of the core program and its affiliated fellowship programs (3 ACGME and 4 TMB-accredited fellowships). In 2019, Dr. Velez assumed the role of Associate Dean for Graduate Medical Education. The office provides institutional sponsorship and oversight for over 180 training programs with a combined workforce of close to 1500 residents and fellows.

Medical School

University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine (1996)

Internship

Puerto Rico Medical Center (1997), Emergency Medicine

Residency

Puerto Rico Medical Center (1999), Emergency Medicine

Fellowship

Parkland Memorial Hospital (2001), Toxicology

• Access to Health Care by minorities
• Barriers to access to Poison Center Services
• Emergency Medicine Education
• Toxicology

Featured Publications

An algorithm for transition of care in the emergency department.

Kessler C, Shakeel F, Gene Hern H, Jones JS, Comes J, Kulstad C, Gallahue FA, Burns BD, Knapp BJ, Gang M, Davenport M, Osborne B, Velez LI Acad Emerg Med 2013 Jun 20 6 605-10

Two cases of disseminated intravascular coagulation due to "bath salts" resulting in fatalities, with laboratory confirmation

Young, A. C. Schwarz, E. S. Velez, L. I. Gardner, M. 2013

Intravenous fat emulsion therapy for intentional sustained-release verapamil overdose.

Young AC, Velez LI, Kleinschmidt KC Resuscitation 2009 May 80 5 591-3

Heavy metals: Iron, Lead, Arsenic and Mercury

Velez LI, Delaney KA In: Marx JA, Hockberger RS, Wallas RM, et al (eds) Rosen’s Emergency Medicine: concepts and clinical practice 2006 6th edition. Philadelphia pp 2418-2451

Antidotes in depth: Dextrose.

Velez LI, Delaney KA In: Flomenbaum NE, Goldfrank LR, et al (Eds). Goldfrank?s Toxicologic Emergencies. 2006 8th edition pp764-769

Chemical warfare agents: the V series

Benitez F, Velez LI, Keyes DC In Emedicine.com 2001

A Survey of Handoff Practices in Emergency Medicine.

Kessler C, Shakeel F, Hern HG, Jones JS, Comes J, Kulstad C, Gallahue FA, Burns BD, Knapp BJ, Gang M, Davenport M, Osborne B, Velez LI Am J Med Qual 2013 Sep

Two cases of disseminated intravascular coagulation due to "bath salts" resulting in fatalities, with laboratory confirmation.

Young AC, Schwarz ES, Velez LI, Gardner M Am J Emerg Med 2013 Feb 31 2 445.e3-5

A dispensing error resulting in possible fluoxetine overdose and subsequent discontinuation syndrome in a child.

Velez LI, Feng SY, Neerman MF Clin Pediatr (Phila) 2010 Nov 49 11 1072-4

Role of hydroxocobalamin in acute cyanide poisoning.

Shepherd G, Velez LI Ann Pharmacother 2008 May 42 5 661-9

 Featured Books

Antidotes in depth: Dextrose. In Goldfrank?s Toxicologic Emergencies

Velez LI, Delaney KA (2010). New York, NY, McGraw-Hill

Heavy metals. In Rosen?s Emergency Medicine: Concepts and clinical practice

Velez LI, O?Connell E (2013). Philadelphia, PA, Mosby Elsevier

Anticholinergics. In Rosen?s Emergency Medicine: Concepts and clinical practice

Velez LI, Feng SY (2013). Philadelphia, PA, Mosby Elsevier

Corrosives and chemical burns. In Harwood Nuss? The Clinical Practice of Emergency Medicine

Velez LI (2014). Philadelphia, PA, Lippincott-Raven

• Alpha Omega Alpha
  (1996)

• American Academy of Clinical Toxicology
• American College of Emergency Physicians (1996)
• American College of Medical Toxicology (1999)
• Council of Residency Directors - EM (2003)
• European Association of Poison Control Centers and Clinical Toxicologists (2000-2007)
• Society of Academic Emergency Medicine (2014)
• Texas College of Emergency Physicians (1999)