Larissa Velez, M.D.

A. Compton Broders III, M.D. Chair in Emergency Medicine
Distinguished Teaching Professor

Emergency Medicine

Biography

Dr. Velez obtained a Bachelor degree in Sciences from the University of Puerto Rico. She finished Medical School in 1996 and went on to pursue 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 stayed to work full time as faculty at Parkland Memorial Hospital and UT Southwestern, Dallas. During her fellowship, she also completed the coursework for a Masters Degree in Public Health from UT Houston.

Currently, Dr. Velez is involved with the EM Training Program as the Program Director. She also is a clinical toxicology staff at the North Texas Poison Center.

Dr. Velez was included in D Magazine's Best Doctors list for 2018, 2020, 2021, and 2022.

In 2018, Dr. Velez received UT Southwestern's Mentoring Award.

Education & Training

Fellowship - Parkland Memorial Hospital (1999-2001), Toxicology
Residency - Puerto Rico Medical Center (1997-1999), Emergency Medicine
Internship - Puerto Rico Medical Center (1996-1997), Emergency Medicine
Medical School - University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine (1992-1996)

Professional Associations & Affiliations

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

Honors & Awards

D Magazine Best Doctor, 2018, 2020-2022
Mentoring Award – UT Southwestern 2018
Alpha Omega Alpha 1996

Books & Publications

Books
- Corrosives and chemical burns in Harwood Nuss? The Clinical Practice of Emergency Medicine
  Velez LI (2014), Philadelphia, PA, Lippincott-Raven
- 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), Mosby Elsevier
- Anticholinergics in Rosen?s Emergency Medicine: Concepts and clinical practice
  Velez LI, Feng SY (2013), Mosby Elsevier
Publications
- 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 American journal of medical quality : the official journal of the American College of Medical Quality 2013 Sep
- 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 Academic emergency medicine : official journal of the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine 2013 Jun 20 6 605-10
- Two cases of disseminated intravascular coagulation due to "bath salts" resulting in fatalities, with laboratory confirmation.
  Young AC, Schwarz ES, Velez LI, Gardner M The American journal of emergency medicine 2013 Feb 31 2 445.e3-5
- 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
- A dispensing error resulting in possible fluoxetine overdose and subsequent discontinuation syndrome in a child.
  Velez LI, Feng SY, Neerman MF Clinical pediatrics 2010 Nov 49 11 1072-4
- Intravenous fat emulsion therapy for intentional sustained-release verapamil overdose.
  Young AC, Velez LI, Kleinschmidt KC Resuscitation 2009 May 80 5 591-3
- Role of hydroxocobalamin in acute cyanide poisoning.
  Shepherd G, Velez LI The Annals of pharmacotherapy 2008 May 42 5 661-9
- Recurrent life-threatening ventricular dysrhythmias associated with acute hydrofluoric acid ingestion: observations in one case and implications for mechanism of toxicity.
  Vohra R, Velez LI, Rivera W, Benitez FL, Delaney KA Clinical toxicology (Philadelphia, Pa.) 2008 Jan 46 1 79-84
- Ethylene glycol ingestion treated only with fomepizole.
  Velez LI, Shepherd G, Lee YC, Keyes DC Journal of medical toxicology : official journal of the American College of Medical Toxicology 2007 Sep 3 3 125-8
- Ethylene glycol poisoning: current diagnostic and management issues.
  Velez LI, Gracia R, Neerman MF Journal of emergency nursing: JEN : official publication of the Emergency Department Nurses Association 2007 Aug 33 4 342-5
- Systemic toxicity after an ocular exposure to xylazine hydrochloride.
  Velez LI, Shepherd G, Mills LD, Rivera W The Journal of emergency medicine 2006 May 30 4 407-10
- 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
- Systemic toxicity after an ocular exposure to xylazine hydrochloride
  Mills LD, Rivera W, Velez LI, Shepherd G JEM 2006 30(4) 407-410
- Intentional bupropion overdoses.
  Shepherd G, Velez LI, Keyes DC The Journal of emergency medicine 2004 Aug 27 2 147-51
- Delayed salicylate toxicity at 35 hours without early manifestations following a single salicylate ingestion.
  Rivera W, Kleinschmidt KC, Velez LI, Shepherd G, Keyes DC The Annals of pharmacotherapy 2004 Jul-Aug 38 7-8 1186-8
- Unintentional intravenous infusion of Golytely in a 4-year-old girl.
  Rivera W, Velez LI, Guzman DD, Shepherd G The Annals of pharmacotherapy 2004 Jul-Aug 38 7-8 1183-5
- Language preferences among callers to a regional Poison Center.
  Shepherd G, Larkin GL, Velez LI, Huddleston L Veterinary and human toxicology 2004 Apr 46 2 100-1
- Serotonin syndrome with elevated paroxetine concentrations.
  Velez LI, Shepherd G, Roth BA, Benitez FL The Annals of pharmacotherapy 2004 Feb 38 2 269-72
- Intentional bupropion overdoses
  Shepherd JG, Velez LI, Keyes, DC JEM 2004 27(2) 147-151
- Iron bezoar retained in colon despite 3 days of whole bowel irrigation.
  Velez LI, Gracia R, Mills LD, Shepherd G, Feng SY Journal of toxicology. Clinical toxicology 2004 42 5 653-6
- Death by quinine.
  Morrison LD, Velez LI, Shepherd G, Bey T, Benitez FL Veterinary and human toxicology 2003 Dec 45 6 303-6
- Inhalational methanol toxicity in pregnancy treated twice with fomepizole.
  Velez LI, Kulstad E, Shepherd G, Roth B Veterinary and human toxicology 2003 Feb 45 1 28-30
- Inhalation Methanol Toxicity in Pregnancy Treated Twice with Fomepizole
  Velez LI, Roth B, Shepherd G Veterinary and Human Toxicology February 2003 45(1)
- Opisthotonic Posturing With Neuromuscular Irritability Due to 4-Aminopyridine Ingestion by a Healthy Pediatric Patient
  Velez LI, Shirazi FM, Goto CS, Shepherd JG Pediatrics January 2003 111(1) e82-4
- Elemental Mercury Poisoning in a family of seven
  Cherry D, Lowry L, Velez L, Cottrell C, Keyes DC Family and Community Health 2002 24(4) 1-8
- Chemical warfare agents: the V series
  Benitez F, Velez LI, Keyes DC In Emedicine.com 2001
- Chemical warfare agents: the binary agents
  Velez LI, Benitez FL, Keyes DC Emedicine.com 2001
- Central Nervous System Agitation
  Velez LI, Delaney KA In Ford MD, Delaney KA, Ling LJ, et al (eds) Clinical Toxicology 2000 1st ed 146-153

Research

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