Francis C. Nichols, III, M.D.
Dr. Francis C. Nichols, III is a cardiothoracic and general surgeon at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. In his role, he applies his extensive surgical expertise to the treatment of patients diagnosed with lung cancer, esophageal cancer, malignant pleural mesothelioma, and other thoracic malignancies. He works as part of a multidisciplinary team to offer each patient the options that are most appropriate for their specific condition and their personal goals.
The surgical treatments available to mesothelioma patients being treated at Mayo Clinic include biopsy, extrapleural pneumonectomy, subtotal parietal pleurectomy, and total pleurectomy.
Education and Career
Dr. Nichols earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry from Holy Cross University and his medical degree from the University of Virginia. He completed an internship and residency in General Surgery at the Mayo Graduate School of Medicine, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, during which time he was named Chief Resident of General Surgery. He also completed residencies in General Thoracic Surgery and Cardiothoracic Surgery and was named Chief Resident in both of those programs as well.[1]
Professional Memberships and Activities
Dr. Nichols is actively involved in numerous medical organizations and activities in support of advancing knowledge for surgeons and furthering the cardiothoracic surgery profession. These include:[1]
- Workforce on Health Policy, Reform, and Advocacy Committee of the Society of Thoracic Surgeons
- Workforce on Coding and Reimbursement of the Society of Thoracic Surgeons
- Chair, Fee Committee, Mayo Clinic Rochester
- Hospital Census Management Oversight Group
- International Society for Diseases of the Esophagus
- American Association for Thoracic Surgery
- Cardiothoracic Surgery Network
- General Thoracic Surgical Club
Research
Dr. Nichols is actively involved in research concerning outcomes of surgical and other treatments for patients with lung cancer and esophageal cancer. He has also been honored for his research in collaboration with the Society of Thoracic Surgery regarding the need for improvements in reimbursements and educating cardiothoracic surgeons on coding and billing procedures.
His most recent publications include:[2]
Sublobar Resection, Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy, and Percutaneous Ablation Provide Comparable Outcomes for Lung Metastasis-Directed Therapy. Gits HC, Khosravi Flanigan MA, Kapplinger JD, Reisenauer JS, Eiken PW, Breen WG, Vu LH, Welch BT, Harmsen WS, Day CN, Olivier KR, Park SS, Garces YI, Hallemeier CL, Merrell KW, Ashman JB, Schild SE, Grams MP, Lucido JJ, Shen KR, Cassivi SD, Wigle D, Nichols FC, Blackmon S, Tapias LF, Callstrom MR, Owen D.Chest. 2023 Dec 14:S0012-3692(23)05853-1. doi: 10.1016/j.chest.2023.12.013. Online ahead of print.PMID: 38103730
Esophagectomy Enhanced Recovery After Surgery Initiative Results in Improved Outcomes.
Sims CR 3rd, Abou Chaar MK, Kerfeld MH, Cassivi SD, Hofer RE, Nichols FC, Reisenauer J, Saddoughi SS, Shen KR, Stewart TM, Tapias LF, Wigle DA, Blackmon SH.Ann Thorac Surg. 2023 Dec 2:S0003-4975(23)01220-1. doi: 10.1016/j.athoracsur.2023.10.032. Online ahead of print.PMID: 38043851
Determinants of Long-term Survival Decades After Esophagectomy for Esophageal Cancer. Abou Chaar MK, Godin A, Harmsen WS, Wzientek C, Saddoughi SA, Hallemeier CL, Cassivi SD, Nichols FC, Reisenauer JS, Shen KR, Tapias LF, Wigle DA, Blackmon SH.Ann Thorac Surg. 2023 Nov;116(5):1036-1044. doi: 10.1016/j.athoracsur.2023.05.033. Epub 2023 Jun 22.PMID: 37353102
Impact of FDG PET Standardized Uptake Value in Resected Clinical Stage IA Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer. Tapias LF, Shen R, Cassivi SD, Reisenauer JS, Lunn BW, Lechtenberg BJ, Nichols FC, Wigle DA, Blackmon SH.Ann Thorac Surg. 2023 Apr 19:S0003-4975(23)00394-6. doi: 10.1016/j.athoracsur.2023.04.013. Online ahead of print.PMID: 37080373
The Endangered State of Medicare Reimbursement for Cardiothoracic Surgery: A Call to Action. Strobel RJ, Savage CY, Horvath KA, Nichols FC 3rd, Savage EB, Kasirajan V, Cleveland JC Jr, Mayer JE Jr, Lahey SJ; STS Workforce on Health Policy, Reform, and Advocacy and the STS Workforce on Coding and Reimbursement.Ann Thorac Surg. 2022 Nov;114(5):1542-1549. doi: 10.1016/j.athoracsur.2022.07.044. Epub 2022 Aug 10.PMID: 35963441
Addressing the Need for Education on Billing and Coding. Blitzer D, Jacobs JP, Nichols FC, Meyerson SL, Milewski R; STS Workforce on E-Learning and Educational Innovation.Ann Thorac Surg. 2023 Jun;115(6):1562. doi: 10.1016/j.athoracsur.2022.07.030. Epub 2022 Jul 31.PMID: 35921855 No abstract available.
